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Mark Wheeler
Mark 1:14-20
“Fish Stories Worth Remembering”
01/24/2021
Lidgerwood Presbyterian Church
Can we see a show of hands from everyone here who has seen the 1953 Disney animated movie, Peter Pan? I mean, I realize that this movie doesn’t pass all the politically correct standards, but,,, it is one of my favorite Disney movies.
Early on, when the Darling children first arrive in Never-Never-Land, Peter is leading the Lost Boys through the wilds of the island and they’re all singing: “Following the Leader, the leader, the leader. We’re following the Leader, where-ever he may go.”
Last Wednesday we inaugurated our nation’s 46th President – and, as has been true for the last four years, so will be true for the next four, blindly “following the leader” with no regard for who is truly our Leader will lead us into trouble.
With that said, welcome to this collection of Christ-followers as we listen for and to the voice of the Lord of lords and Leader of leaders, whether in house or on-line, as we worship and pray together.
We gather today, with aches and pains, worries and fears, doubts and debts, hopes and dreams, and in the midst of all of that we gather to focus on our Savior and Lord.
Holy God, we thank You for the glimpses we catch of Your gifts of peace, love, joy and hope, and light. Even in the midst of fear, of challenge, of struggle – even when we have not been sure of tomorrow,
You have ignited the Light within us … that we might glow with its brilliance from the inside out. Keep reminding us how to Believe … and welcome … and know we are welcomed … even when …. Amen.
Let’s take a second to greet each other, and those in the room, look at the camera and say HI to your friends who are at home. Tell your loved ones, “May the Hope of Christ be in you.”
Welcome to this “gathering” in God’s name. We are assembled in NorthEast Spokane, WA, along with people from all over the world. We are very glad you are “here” with us.
For those who made it into the building this morning – thank you for wearing your masks and following the seating and walking protocols. We do this not to protect ourselves from others, but to protect others from ourselves. Because we love each other, we wear masks and keep distance to keep each other safe from this “invisible potential enemy”. COVID numbers are way up in our area – let’s not give them an opportunity to climb even higher. Our Elders are listening to CDC guidelines and deciding on what seems best practices for each others’ safety. We love you, and we want everyone to be and to stay well.
Be filled with God’s Holy Spirit presence and power, in your homes, through your phones and computers, in this building here, and in your lives. Pray with us … and hear and be transformed by God’s Word.
Listen now and join in as Linda Tufto leads our Call to Worship from Psalm 62 – and listen for and proclaim aloud Who our God is and how He rules!
Our song of praise today sings a proclamation of our God’s Almighty Presence! – I Sing the Mighty Power of God –sung by Jake Davis!
Through the Written Word,
And endorsed by our spoken word,
May we know Your Living Word,
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Hope and Oran and Riley – have you ever played “Follow the Leader”? I know your parents have! I played the game when I was a child, my parents played the game when they were children, their parents played the game when they were children. Follow the Leader is a game that is played and enjoyed by children all over the world.
The rules are very simple. You choose a leader and you follow that leader wherever she goes and do whatever she does. You stomp through puddles, climb over fences, swing from a tree — all to stay in the game because nobody wants to get kicked out!
Follow the Leader is a great game, but in our daily lives we play follow the leader too. In school, in Church, in sports, in Girl Scouts, in any activity we are in, there are always leaders. Every day we make choices of which leader we will follow. We must be sure to choose a leader that will lead us in the right direction.
Today’s Gospel reading invites us to choose the Leader we will follow.
Hear the Word of God … Mark 1:14-20 …. —- [The screen will show this passage.]
14 After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. 15 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”
16 As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 17 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 18 At once they left their nets and followed him.
19 When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. 20 Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.
Jesus said, “Follow me” … and they … did! Jesus followers. They name Jesus their Leader, and they follow Him wherever He goes, and they do whatever He does.
Last Fall we had a Monday evening book group that read this book together: Rediscipling the White Church: from cheap diversity to true solidarity, by David W. Swanson. This is not an easy read – not because it has a lot of hard words in it, but because the words in it are really hard to read.
One of the first things the author does, though, which is essential in any discussion that talks about “discipleship” is define the word. Using Dallas Willard’s work, he reminds us that the word “disciple” is not a uniquely Christian word. Disciple simply means: “An apprentice who has decided to be with another person, under appropriate conditions, in order to become capable of doing what that person does or to become what that person is.”
In a Christian perspective, then, a Christian disciple is “following Jesus, to become like Jesus, in order to do what Jesus does.”
Jesus invites these fishermen to “follow” Him (to become like Him, in order to do what He does).
Are we following Jesus like this?
What does it mean to be “like Jesus”? What is Jesus “like”? Name some Jesus-character-traits: [kind, loving, faithful, obedient, wise, all-knowing, sacrificial, love, joy, peace, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle and self-controlled,,,,]
Does this describe us? Does it describe me? You?
What does Jesus do? [I mean, we can start with miraculous things – heals the sick; gives sight to the blind; hearing to the deaf; life to the dead – but He also prays for His persecutors; forgives those who oppose Him; brings together those who oppose each other; loves His enemies; He proclaims the Good News of God’s grace through faith; He holds to biblical truth when succumbing to society seems safer; He demands justice (that’s why He died for you and for me on the cross).
Can we do these things? Do I do them? Do you?
One day Jesus was walking along the lakeside. He saw two fishermen, Simon and Andrew, throwing their fishing nets out into the lake. Jesus called out to them, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.”
The Bible tells us that they laid down their nets and followed Jesus. Jesus went a little farther and he saw two more men, James and John sitting in their boat mending their nets. Jesus called out to them and the Bible tells us that they left their boat and followed Jesus.
Jesus is still calling people to follow Him today. He has called you and me to follow Him. Now it’s up to us to decide if we will follow the Leader of all leaders, too.
Dear Jesus, You have called us to follow You. May we, like Peter, Andrew, James, and John say “Yes, Lord, I’ll follow You—wherever You may lead.” In Your name we pray, Amen.
Prayer Page –
And now – call out a name, a place, a people, a situation, you are lifting to the Lord in prayer …. “Have mercy on us, O Lord.” [Lord’s Prayer] Amen.
– Offering (4449 N Nevada St, Spokane, 99207 ; or click HERE; or text 833-976-1333, code “Lidgerwood”)
Expedition Song – Holy, Holy, Holy! …. sung by Donna & Ken Stone (our suggestion is no congregational singing, but if you’re wearing your masks appropriately, who would know who is singing?).
Next Sunday, like we did today – please RSVP to us if you plan to attend so we can properly set up – and please CALL IN or email or text – so we can share with you what the plans will be – whether we will be allowed to continue to meet or not.
We close with this benediction: Friends –
may we grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ,
becoming more faithful with each passing day of struggle and victory,
with each encounter with the Holy Spirit,
giving glory to God today and forever!
Resources:
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