Deploy

Introduction

Definition of insanity: doing the same thing over and over - or a variation of it over and over expecting different results.

Especially when major disruptions happen -

Jesus and the religious establishment - It wasn’t working; he didn’t try to fix it; called people to a different way

Every major societal shift in history

American church: writing on the wall; COVID

Many: When it’s over, we’ll get back to normal.

What if normal is not fruitful?

Going Fishing

John 21:1–14 ESV

After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way. Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea. The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off. When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.

I Will Make you to Become...

Life of a Fisherman

Fishing - livelihood. Catch nothing = no food, no income. Close up shop.

Matthew 4:19 - I will Make you to become fishers of men

Return to Galilee Until I Come to You

Passage still calls them disciples - learner, apprentice; a person who follows after and seeks to learn from another. Modify lifestyle to become like the teacher/person you're learning from.

Multiple interpretations

1. Go hang out until I see you there. BUT, already seen him twice before this.

2. Going back to life before Jesus. The gig is up.

Peter goes back to do what he was doing before Jesus called him. Not successful at all. I will make you fishers of men - called to an action. Walked away.

Peter goes back - drifted away, comfortable, no future. Here, reminder of promise, call.

No Fish

100 Yds From Shore

Any Fish Relish?

Some guy: Throw next on the right side and you will find some

Not in deep water but shallow

Not, turn the boat around but use your boat in every way opposite what you’ve been taught, done, etc.

It goes against everything you believe to be true about fishing, how you think about it, do it, etc but if you want to be the people I said I would make you become, dismantle it all and create it differently, practice fishing differently.

Jesus is signalling: Things are still changing

What it takes to throw nets on the other side of the boat

Fishing on the side of the boat it was designed to. Nothing. Other side. Harder.

A clear rearrangement.

Key: doing what Jesus said.

The Big Catch

First time Jesus approached them: mending nets.

Despite there being so many fish, the net was not torn. Details: historical event.

Recognize Jesus

John - the disciple whom Jesus loved.

Peter Swims to Shore

Replay of the feeding of the 5k

Come and eat

When they brought the haul of fish, Jesus already had a fire going with fish and bread cooking on it.

Bring yours over here too.

Next Section: Who/what do we love more?

Do we love Jesus more than these…the way we fish

Consumer Church

15-17.

Jesus or our formulas? The Daily Bread Devotional Guide? ACTS prayer

Jesus or my preferences

Jesus or...

Be disciples who make disciples

What does that mean?

Feed, tend

Story: Lunch this week - what, how of discipleship

We are more than Sunday

The gig wasn’t up, it was just beginning.

When life changing events happen, we can't go back to do what we always did and expect to be fruitful.

- Right where you are

- Don't have to go elsewhere

- Have to change the way you fish though

Jesus always (especially in times of disruption) calls us away from what we know, like, prefer in order to be more fruitful.

In this time of disruption, Do you love me more than...

Our tendency is to go back to what is familiar despite the fact that what is familiar no longer produces fruit.

Jesus is calling us to a life in him personally and as a church that moves away from what we know, like, and prefer in order to be more fruitful.

It’s not over, just beginning.

The gathering is for the purpose of walking in life and faith together and being equipped; not for doing the same things over and over all the while watching the fruit decline.

Deploying Disciples: Throwing Nets On the Other Side

Often the call to throw our nets on the other side of the boat (change) comes from a voice we don't recognize at first but it's Jesus. Will recognize it in the doing of what we've been told to do.

The process of learning to throw our nets on the other side (being disciples and church) involves taking apart thinking, systems and structures, our culture, and creating something new that aligns with the new thing God is doing in and through us.

Stop trying to fix the church/do it better - it’s not a machine and society has lost interest in it. All our church activity has had little impact.

Learn to be with Jesus beyond devotions

Learn to be with others beyond programs and events.

Church as place

Consumer mentality where church is evaluated on how good its programs are.

How will we attract people to our activities

Spirituality seen as participating in church activities

Inability to have spiritual conversations but rather talk about church activity rather than kingdom priorities or repeat concepts and phrases that reinforce the status quo and keep us immature.

The Kingdom of God - life that God intends it - is the center of God’s plan and purpose - not the church as we know it.

Jesus focused on the Kingdom

Kingdom in action: healing, etc to demonstrate God’s intention to redeem human existence.

Priority of the Kingdom of heaven is to manifest itself on earth.

Ekklesia - We look after our own - something we were never supposed to focus on: ourselves.

Called out from among the community to serve the town or village by looking after it’s welfare. A stewardship of community life.

Jesus wants us to pray for and deeply desire and dedicate ourselves to seeing the Kingdom as it operates in heaven made visible and active in our daily experience here on earth.

Disciples are those who further the Kingdom’s priorities on earth.

Everywhere we go, we will see God at work; we are saved for the work of the kingdom.

Keeping to ourselves stunts our growth.

God is working in every area so that people can experience life as he intends it - restoring, redeeming what has been lost.

Everywhere we go, the church is and is to point to the kingdom

Everywhere we go, we express our relationship with God; all of life is mission; finding ways to bless people.