"Formed by Presence" sermon preview

This week is Christian Formation Sunday in our denomination which has caused me to think more about the ways that we are formed.  We are formed by our DNA, by our life experiences and by relationships with other people.  But it seems to me that we are also formed and even reformed by the presence of Christ in our lives and by engaging in the Biblical narrative.

Which brings us to Luke 5:1-11, our passage for this week.  Here we encounter the story of Jesus calling his first disciples. In particular we gain a window into Peter's experience with encountering the presence of Christ and what that meant for his life.  As the story begins Peter is clearly tired from a long night of unsuccessful fishing, and yet he is obedient and perhaps even open to Jesus' instructions to go into deeper water and cast his nets.  This likely seemed like foolishness to Peter and yet he was obedient.

Out of his obedience comes God's abundant faithfulness.  Not only did Peter have an unexpected catch, but it turned out also to be a catch so large that it threatened to break his nets and sink both his and his partner's boats.  Whether or not Peter had a good attitude as he re-cast those nets, he was obedient and God was abundantly faithful.

But in the midst of this, it is interesting to note his responses of repentance, fear, and following to this experience of the presence of Christ.  He was so overwhelmed by all of this that all that he could do was collapse before Jesus and repent of his sinfulness.  And clearly he experienced a sense of fear as well because Jesus words to him begin with "Don't be afraid."  But ultimately the presence of Jesus reformed him in such a profound way that he left behind his boat and all that he knew and followed Jesus.  Thus Peter was re-formed by presence and now we in turn may be formed by engaging in this Biblical narrative.  We too are invited into Jesus presence, to set aside all that we have known, to take on this alternative narrative as our own and to choose to live into it within our own lives.

As you consider Peter's story in Luke 5:1-11, reflect on these questions in a time of silence, through journaling or in group dialogue.

1. What has formed you in life and faith, both in good and perhaps difficult ways?  In particular, what are the narratives or stories that have shaped who you are?

2. In what ways has God or may God be calling you to be obedient even though it may seem to you like folly that He is calling you to?

3. How have you experienced or what stories have you heard of God's abundant faithfulness?  How has this experience or story shaped you?

4. When you experience a miraculous movement of God in your midst, what is your response to it?  Do you like Peter experience a need to confess your shortfalls or experience a sense of reverent fear?  Does it call you to leave behind all that you know and follow?  If not, how would you describe your response?

5. Part of Peter's new formation in Christ's presense was to cast aside the narrative of his former self, a fisherman.  He left behind all that he knew to follow Christ.  Are there things that you as a believer or we as a congregation are being called to let go of as we seek to be more fully formed in the image of Christ?

May Jesus richly bless you in this week ahead, leading you in His kingdom purposes. Amen