Download Sermon: “Follow Me”

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Sermon: “Follow Me” Matthew 4:12-23 | 1/22/2017
As I was preparing for this morning’s message about Jesus and the fisherman, I naturally
thought back to a wonderful movie that I know some of you have seen, “A River Runs Through It”.
There within this film are contained some wonderful scenes of the techniques and patient care that is
involved in fly fishing. If you have a chance to see this film directed by Robert Redford and starring a
young Brad Pitt and a delightful performance by Tom Skerritt as a Presbyterian minister, than I
would certainly take it.
This morning’s gospel lesson from Matthew has Jesus beginning to preach repentance, and as
he does, he also calls some fishermen to be his disciples, saying, "Follow me, and I will make you
fishers of men." Just like the fly fisherman in the movie, Jesus casts the line, presents the fly, and sets
the hook. Ever since then, from that time along the shores of the Sea of Galilee to today, discipleship,
evangelism and fishing have often been spun from the same reel and rod.
We are each fishers for Christ, evangelists who are invited by God to fish for souls. As believers,
we know that faith is more art than logic, more heart than mind.
We share the beautiful rhythm of a life lived in Christ, immersed in the river of God, in the
river of life, while standing sure-footed on the river's rounded, rocky bottom, alone in the river, yet
with the company of others, within its flow, enjoying the fresh force of its surge. It is here, in the river
itself, in our life full of chances, that God calls us, through Christ, to call others to Christ, to fish for
souls, to present the fly of faith.
Fly fishermen say that the most difficult aspect of fly fishing is "the presentation of the fly." To
catch fish, you must animate an artificial fly so it appears to be alive - or let it float "dead drift," if
that's how fish would find it.
Often the most difficult part of evangelism is the actual presentation of, or sharing of, your
faith. Long before you reach a racing river's edge to present the fly to the trout, or your faith to
persons, there are fishing forms and techniques to master, that make the presentation effective
enough to hook a trout, or to catch a soul.
In evangelism, as in fishing, practiced forms can make success.
After acquiring fishing equipment and familiarizing yourself with it enough to know a rod from
a reel, a line from a fly, it's time to start to practice.
First comes CASTING. Experts say, "To propel a fly line, your forearm and hand move
backward and forward. The movement looks like a V with your elbow at the bottom of it. That's the
basic casting stroke. It's exactly like the motion you'd use to throw a chunk of potato off the tines of a
dinner fork. Imagine that."
You want to try fly fishing. Never mind the neighbors. Go outside, aim away from the house,
and try throwing a chunk of raw potato off a dinner fork. "First," say those in the know, "throw a
potato chunk behind you, up and over your shoulder. Still relaxed but with your wrist rigid, throw
another piece of potato forward, up and away from you. If you try the potato exercise, you will see that
the chunk takes off when you snap and STOP the stroke. The potato flies where the tip of the fork is
pointing at the snap - stop. That's exactly how the fly-casting stroke works: The line flies where the
rod tip is pointing when you snap - stop the stroke."
[NOTE: Give it a shot with either a fork and a potato or a reel. Avoid aiming toward the stained glass
windows.]
As with many new things, it helps to practice before you try it for real. If you want to share your
faith, first try chucking a potato - no, first try practicing on someone you know, someone you trust,
someone who won't think you're weird if the words don't come out just right. Have you ever sat down
to think about what precisely are the core elements of your faith? What do you believe? What is it
about your faith you'd like to cast out there in the stream of life?
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After you master the practice, it may be time to get your feet wet, to wade in toward the real
thing. There are few sights more frightening than clumsy Christians stomping, slipping and sloshing
their way toward speaking about their faith. Wade wisely. That's the advice of fly-fishing experts.
WADING. "Fish usually are closer than you think; if you cast from the bank, you probably will
catch as many or more fish than you will by wading across a stream. If you must wade into flowing
water, shuffle into the current sideways so the water has less surface to push against."
There's probably a person near to you who actually wants to hear your faith story. Chances are
they already know you go to church. There's no need to go out on a street corner with an artificial
smile and a Bible in your tackle box to preach to the heathen trout about their salvation. All you need
to do is cautiously wade toward the edge of your life, not too far from shore, getting your toes wet, not
your knees, and you'll find folks who are spiritually hungry, looking for faith-flies to bite.
When you do venture out into territory beyond family or friends, you may wish to faith-fish in
twos. Jesus sent his fishing friends out two by two. It was a good idea then, and it still is. Just as two
heads are better than one, so are two hearts, two souls and four legs.
"When you're fishing with a companion, lock arms and wade close together through heavy
currents: That's the angler's version of four-wheel drive. When you're alone, a wading staff with a
metal tip will give you additional support."
When you are faith-fishing alone, and you wade from shore, further from other faith
fisherwomen and men, focused prayer can be your metal-tipped wading staff on which to lean. It's the
additional support you may need. Pray carefully, move slowly, be sure of your faith footing.
PRESENTING THE FLY. This is the most difficult task of successful fly fishing. "To catch fish,
you must animate an artificial fly. Sometimes, you make a fly appear as though it is swimming or
crawling or fleeing. When you're fishing a floating mayfly imitation, however, it has to behave like all
the other mayflies caught in the current, drifting with no unusual movement."
When faith-fishing, try to land your faith-fly in the heart of the hearer. Avoid the eye, for there
is nothing as obnoxious as an overbearing Christian who chucks potato faith in your face.
Some people prefer to see animated faith in action. They may need to see you do more than
soul fishing; they may need to see you caring for faith fish, for souls, for children, for the elderly. They
may need to observe your behavior, how you talk, how you treat others - if they are to swallow the fly.
Other seekers need an intellectual discourse; still others may need a simple explanation of the
reasons you are a Christian, or how Christ has affected your life. In any case, fish from your heart,
present your faith-fly to their hearts.
In the same way a fly fisherman would never use a Sulfur Nymph when the fish are biting
Quick Site Beetles, you too must understand how to present your fly to your seeker in the river where
he swims.
Isn't this what evangelism's all about? Presenting the fly. Whether a soul fish bites or not, gets
hooked, or bites then spits the fly, is up to God. Our job is to present the fly of faith. Yet our task isn't
done then.
LANDING AND RELEASING. "Reacting too quickly is probably the main reason fly fishers lose
fish on floating flies. Seeing a trout rise to your dry fly or a bass attack your popper is so exciting that
you may lift the rod tip and pull the fly right out of the fish's mouth."
Don't get over-excited when faith-fishing; don't jerk the faith out of their heart by going off the
deep end, or jumping into a theological water hole that's over your head. Just relax and talk about
what you know. Fish from the heart - after all, it is an art of grace.
"Relax. Let the fish strike, and only after the fly disappears should you strike back. When you
have a fish under control, reel in enough line so you can reach out to the fish. Keep the rod tip high."
Relax. Don't force your beliefs on others. If they bite your faith-fly, be "straight up," talk
openly, honestly and sincerely, answer their questions the best that you are able, invite them to
church with you, ask them to a Bible study, don't panic. Give them line if they need it, don't fight, be
real.
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These days most fly fishermen and women practice "catch and release" instead of catch and
consume. This is a good idea for us too. Don't faith-fish with a pledge card in your tackle box, or ask
the person to join a committee. Being overanxious and trying to convince them they'd be the perfect
seventh grade Sunday School teacher is the surest way to scare them off.
So here we are, ready to faith fish. Remember the process.
Familiarize yourself with your faith equipment: your Bible, your heart, your prayer life.
Practice chucking it out there with people you love.
Wade into the river of life, with a buddy or alone. Be sure of your faith footing. Enjoy the river's
flow. Be in the beauty of God's surroundings.
Present your faith-fly, and if God is willing, you'll catch a trout for Christ.
Catch and release, don't catch and consume.
And be real, always be real, when you reel in your faith-fly.