Sermon Tone Analysis

Scripture Reading: Lk 5:1-11

Introduction

Summary of Lectionary Texts and BLUF

Good Morning my Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Hearers of the Good News,

On this fifth Sunday after Epiphany God’s call pervades today’s scripture readings highlighting that God uses all kinds of people in all kinds of situations and circumstances to reveal His glory.

“Who will go for us?” queries the voice of the Lord; and a man of unclean lips exclaims, “Here am I; send me!”

And Paul, a former persecutor of the church of God, recognizes that his call to proclaim God’s message is a gift of grace that allows him to do what he was created to do; a beautiful truth echoed in today’s Psalm: “The Lord will fulfill [God’s] purpose for me.

()” And what about the fishermen who couldn’t catch a thing, and yet they are invited to enlist in a mission much larger than themselves.

The story in is about the beginning of a life-changing journey for Jesus and his future disciples, including you and me.

But before we delve into the text and uncover its meaning for us today, join me in asking God to open our hearts, our minds, and souls in the revelation of His Word.

Let us pray...

“Who will go for us?” queries the voice of the Lord.

A man of unclean lips, a former persecutor of the church of God, and three fishermen who couldn’t catch a thing.

More surprising, still, perhaps, is that we are also called.

continues to highlight unlikely instruments and circumstances appointed to reveal the glory of the Lord.

“Who will go for us?” queries the voice of the Lord.

A man of unclean lips, a former persecutor of the church of God, and three fishermen who couldn’t catch a thing.

More surprising, still, perhaps, is that we are also called.

A man of unclean lips, a former persecutor of the church of God, and three fishermen who couldn’t catch a thing.

More surprising, still, perhaps, is that we are also called.

,a former persecutor of the church of God, and three fishermen who couldn’t catch a thing.

More surprising, still, perhaps, is that we are also called.

and three fishermen who couldn’t catch a thing.

More surprising, still, perhaps, is that we are also called.

Throughout this season after Epiphany, scripture reminds us of the myriad ways that God calls each and every one of us.

It also reminds us of the challenge we face, even when we gladly answer, and quickly follow, that call

Prayer

Prayer

Before we delve into God’s Word, join me in prayer.

Center us, O God on your Holy Word and let your Spirit come.

Come Holy Spirit Come! (2X)

...And fall afresh on us.

May the Words of your Scripture open our hearts, our minds, and our souls so that we may more fully understand what it means to be called Your disciples and to go where you lead.

O'Lord, may my preparation be worthy to you.

Speak now either through me or in spite of me.

Either way, reveal your Glory!

And all of this we pray in the Jesus’ name.

Amen.

Introductory Story

After the temptation of the devil in , Jesus began to teach in the synagogues.

He reveals what he is going to do in his ministry, reading the scroll of the prophet Isaiah: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor” ().

After he proclaims that this Scripture is fulfilled, he teaches the crowd, heals the sick, casts out the demons, and preaches the good news of the kingdom of God.

Thus, the pressing crowd gathers around Jesus in .

APPLICATION QUESTION

Exegetical: Basic information - background, meaning, etc.

Introductory Story

This past weekend, my family I watched the movie McFarland USA, which is a true story about a 1987 cross country team from a mainly Latino high school in California.

In the opening scenes of the movie, Kevin Costner’s character, Jim White, who is a dedicated coach trying to shape the character of the next generation, is ushered out an a-fluent community for letting his temper rise as he upheld his moral teaching.

In pursuit of a job, the only school that would hire him is a poor, Latino picker community in California.

Interestingly, as we open to today’s Gospel lesson, we need to remember that in the previous chapter Jesus, who had been teaching in the synagogues, dropped the proverbial mic when he opened the scroll of the prophet Isaiah and said “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor” ().

And what did the people do?

They tried to throw him off a cliff.

Needless to say, he too was ushered out of the community, but different from Jim White’s a-fluent community, for Jesus it was the religious elites.

Such a stunt would assure that Jesus never to get hired as Rabbi in a big important center-city synagogue.

Instead, he was relegated to lowly work of a traveling, itinerate preacher who in turn makes the world his parish.

community never to be a Rabbi in a big important center-city synagogue.

He was relegated to lowly work of a traveling, itinerate preacher who in turn makes the world his parish.

After the temptation of the devil in , Jesus began to teach in the synagogues.

He reveals what he is going to do in his ministry, reading the scroll of the prophet Isaiah: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor” ().

After he proclaims that this Scripture is fulfilled, he teaches the crowd, heals the sick, casts out the demons, and preaches the good news of the kingdom of God.

Thus, the pressing crowd gathers around Jesus in .

The rest of the chapter four reveals the beginning of Jesus ministry as he fulfills his proclamation; he teaches the crowd, heals the sick, casts out the demons, and preaches the good news of the kingdom of God.

Now, we find Jesus standing beside the water and the crowd is seemingly pressing in around Him.

APPLICATION QUESTION

APPLICATION QUESTION

The Scriptures remind us that the harvest is plentiful, yet they are not here.

So then, how are we (who are called) find “the crowds that are pressing in” wanting to hear the word of God?

helps Peter to understand who Jesus is and compels him to repent on his knees ().

But, couldn’t we also hone our focus to the miracle of the great catch and ....

Is it a Call Narrative, a miracle story, or story about Discipleship?

Well, you could say all of the above and be correct, but “the theme of discipleship provides a theological anchor for this story about the fishermen and their experience with Jesus.”

FotW, Yr C, Vol1.

pg 333 Exe Perspective.

Byron, Gay.