A Sermon for Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church
26th January 2025
Isaiah 6:1-8
Luke 5.1-11
I have a friend who has, over the years,
occasionally
invited me to go fishing with him.
Reflecting on this now, I realise how much his descriptions of
fishing
—the patience
required, the moments of sudden unexpected action,
and the trust that eventually all
the effort will be rewarded—
mirror the themes
of our passage this morning from Luke’s gospel.
Fishing, I’m told, requires a willingness to embrace uncertainty
and a readiness
to act when the moment is right,
and these speak to like the life of discipleship
that Jesus offered
to the fishermen by the sea of Galilee.
My friend tells me of the excitement of the catch,
the thrill of the
chase, and all that!
He’s shown me countless photos of himself
proudly holding
record-breaking carp,
and he speaks eloquently of the peacefulness
of sitting for
hours in God’s creation
with time to think, reflect, and receive from God.
Well, I have to say, I can’t see it myself!
I may be speaking from a position of ignorance,
but it all sounds
to me like a lot of time
and not a lot to
show for it.
Certainly, this had been the experience of Simon, James, and John
—fishing partners
incorporated, Sea of Galilee, Founded 18AD.
They had spent the best part of the last decade
learning their
profession as fishermen.
Night after night, they would set out in their boats,
making their way
into a sea brim-full of fish
in the hope of
bringing home a reasonable catch.
They had the equipment, the theory, and the lake.
Yet on the
morning Jesus came along, they had no fish.
It’s a vivid image—professionals with years of experience,
their best
equipment, their hard-won knowledge,
and yet: empty
nets.
And then along comes Jesus, not a fisherman but a carpenter,
telling them to
go out again and try something new.
Into the deep waters,
where the risks
are greater but so are the rewards.
Let’s step back for a moment.
Simon, James, and John were no novices.
They were seasoned
professionals
who understood
the intricacies of their trade.
They knew the best times to fish,
the precise
locations on the Sea of Galilee
where fish were most likely to
gather,
and how to read
the weather patterns
to ensure a safe and successful
outing.
Their years of practice had honed their skills to an art.
Yet here they
were, on this particular morning,
with nothing to
show for all their expertise.
It’s against this backdrop of their deep knowledge and
disappointing results
that Jesus’
command to try again
—in a way that defied their
professional instincts—
stands out so
starkly.
These were people who knew their stuff,
their nets were
carefully cleaned and mended, the holes just the right size:
big enough to let the tiddlers
through,
small enough to catch the fish worth
catching.
They had everything in place for success—everything except fish.
And, to make things worse, when Jesus shows up,
it turns out he’s
brought a crowd with him,
people longing to
hear the word of God.
The problem is, there isn’t really anywhere for him to stand
where he can make
himself heard.
So he asks Simon if he can borrow his boat,
and after
teaching the crowd, Jesus turns to Simon
and suggests they
set out into deeper water and try again.
Imagine Simon’s internal reaction:
“It’s time for
bed. The fish are all hiding today.
Who does this
carpenter think he is?”
Yet somehow, Simon’s respect for Jesus prevails.
“If you say
so,” he replies, and lets down the nets.
What happens next is nothing short of miraculous.
The catch is so
abundant that the nets begin to break,
and the boats
start to sink.
Simon, overwhelmed, falls to his knees,
recognising in
this moment not only Jesus’ power but his own unworthiness:
“Go away from
me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!”
But Jesus’ response takes things in a different direction:
“Do not be
afraid; from now on you will be catching people.”
And so, when they brought their boats to shore,
they left
everything and followed him.
Isaiah’s Vision: A Call to Deeper Trust
Before diving into the lessons we might draw from Luke’s fishing
story,
let’s reflect for
a moment on our Old Testament reading from Isaiah 6:1-8,
which provides a striking parallel
to Simon Peter’s
experience.
In Isaiah’s vision, he encounters the overwhelming glory of God,
filling the
temple with majesty and holiness.
His immediate reaction is one of unworthiness:
"Woe is
me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips!"
This prefigures Simon Peter’s similar response
as he falls to
his knees before Jesus,
overcome by a
sense of his own inadequacy:
"Go away
from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!"
But in both stories,
God’s response is
not condemnation but commissioning.
Isaiah’s lips are touched with a burning coal,
symbolising
purification and readiness for mission.
Peter hears Jesus’ words of reassurance:
"Do not
be afraid; from now on you will be catching people."
Both men are called not because they are perfect,
but because they
are willing to respond in faith.
This is a reminder to us that God’s call often comes when we feel
least qualified,
and it is God’s
grace alone that equips us for the task ahead.
Going Deeper in Our Spirituality
This year, we have committed ourselves as a church
to deepening our
relationship with God and with one another.
Jesus’ call to Simon Peter to venture into deeper waters
is not just a
metaphor for mission;
it is also an
invitation to go deeper in our spiritual lives.
Isaiah’s encounter with God shows us that deep spirituality
begins with a
recognition of God’s holiness
and of our need
for his cleansing grace.
Just as Isaiah’s lips were touched with the coal,
so we too are
transformed
when we open
ourselves to God’s refining presence.
One of the ways we are doing this as a community
is through our
monthly ‘Breathing Space’ meetings,
and I do hope you
will be staying for this today
after coffee at
the end of the service.
These gatherings provide an opportunity to pause, to reflect,
and to grow in
our relationship with Jesus
through the
Spirit that inspires us.
In these quiet, prayerful times, we share our experiences,
articulate our
faith, and listen for the voice of God calling us deeper.
Like Simon lowering his nets at Jesus’ command,
these moments
require trust, vulnerability,
and an openness
to what God might reveal to us.
Deepening our spirituality isn’t always comfortable.
It may involve
facing aspects of ourselves we’d rather avoid
or allowing God
to reshape our priorities.
But just as Simon Peter discovered abundance in the deep waters
and Isaiah was
empowered to say, "Here am I; send me,"
so we too will find that when we make space for God,
we encounter
grace, renewal, and the joy of a closer walk with Christ.
This story is not just about fish, you see.
It’s about
calling, transformation,
and the
willingness to trust Jesus enough to go deeper.
So what lessons might we draw for 2025?
1. The Risk of Deep Water
Jesus calls Simon to leave the shallow waters
and head into the
deep.
For us today, this might mean addressing
some of the most
pressing and uncomfortable issues in our world
—climate change, systemic racism,
economic inequality—
and recognising
that the answers may not be simple or immediate.
It could involve stepping into relationships or ministries
that challenge
our assumptions and stretch our faith.
The deep water is a place of risk,
but it is also
where true transformation and abundance are found.
For us as a congregation, the deep might represent
stepping into
areas of ministry where the outcomes are uncertain
—engaging with
marginalised communities, tackling systemic injustices,
or starting initiatives that
challenge the status quo.
It might mean committing to conversations about diversity and
inclusion,
or facing the
discomfort of addressing issues like mental health,
poverty, or
environmental responsibility in a meaningful way.
I hope you’ve all got 9th March in your diaries for the
afternoon with Evelyne
where we will be
taking a fun but challenging look at the biodiversity crisis,
and what we can
do to address this.
The deep is daunting,
but it’s where
transformation happens.
In the same way, we are often called to step out of our comfort
zones.
As a church, it’s
tempting to stay in safe, familiar places,
engaging only
with those who are already here
or with those who fit our
expectations.
But Jesus’ call is to cast our nets where the risks are higher
—to engage with
people and communities that may challenge us,
stretch us, and
even, at times, frustrate us.
In her commentary, Karoline Lewis writes that this story
illustrates the
surprising and unsettling nature of discipleship.
It’s not about maintaining the status quo;
it’s about being
open to transformation.
Are we, as a church, willing to risk breaking our nets and rocking
our boat
for the sake of
the catch Jesus promises?
Think about the ways in which our world has changed in recent
years.
The
cost-of-living crisis has left many struggling to make ends meet.
Political
uncertainty has created fear and division.
And in the church, the challenge of engaging younger generations
remains a
pressing issue.
These are our deep waters
—places of need,
vulnerability, and potential.
Will we venture into them, trusting Jesus to provide?
2. The Call to Collaboration
When Simon’s nets began to break, he called his partners for help.
This is a
powerful reminder that we cannot do this work alone.
The church is not a solitary endeavour but a collaborative one.
And in 2025, as
we navigate the challenges of our time,
partnerships—with
other churches, other faith communities,
and even secular organisations—are
more important than ever.
Our work with London Citizens is a great example.
Just last year we partnered with other local organisations
to campaign for
fairer wages for healthcare workers across our city,
resulting in
several major employers committing to the Living Wage.
This collaborative effort not only brought justice to hundreds of
workers
but also
demonstrated the power of working together
to bring about
meaningful change.
This tangible impact reminds us of what can be achieved
when we step out
in faith and work collaboratively
for justice and
the common good.
It’s a reminder that when we trust Jesus to guide us,
the results can
exceed our expectations.
By joining with others, we amplify our voice and extend our reach,
working together
for justice, equity, and the common good.
But this kind of collaboration requires humility and trust.
It means being
willing to share the catch,
even when it
threatens to break our nets.
3. The Danger of Empty Nets
Simon’s initial response to Jesus was one of scepticism:
“We have worked
all night and caught nothing.”
How often do we, as individuals or as a church,
feel this same
sense of futility?
We’ve tried everything, but the nets are still empty.
Jesus’ response to Simon reminds us
that success in
ministry is not about our efforts alone
but about our
willingness to obey his call.
It’s not about having the best equipment
or the most
sophisticated strategies
but about trusting that Jesus knows where the fish are.
Are we willing to let him direct our efforts,
even when it goes
against our instincts?
4. The Call to Inclusivity
When we cast our nets into deep water,
we don’t get to
choose what we catch.
The kingdom of God is inclusive,
drawing in people
from all walks of life.
Are we prepared to welcome those whom Jesus sends our way,
even when it’s
messy or uncomfortable?
This might mean opening our doors to those experiencing chaos in
their lives
and navigating
the complexities that come with offering real support.
It could involve welcoming people with challenging pasts
or those whose
lifestyles and perspectives
stretch our
understanding of community.
These situations are not always easy,
but they reflect
the radical love and hospitality of the kingdom of God.
Are we willing to let go of our preconceptions and preferences
to embrace the
diversity of God’s kingdom?
The abundance of the catch in this story is a sign of God’s
generosity.
God’s grace is
not limited by our expectations or boundaries.
This abundance challenges us to expand our vision
and to be a
community that reflects the radical inclusivity of God’s love.
A Question for Us
So where are we as Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church in 2025?
Are we out in the deep water, casting our nets with faith and
courage?
Or are we moored
in the shallows,
cleaning our nets
and reminiscing about past catches?
The choice before us is clear.
We can play it safe, remaining anchored in comfort and
familiarity,
or we can take
the risk of trusting Jesus and venturing into the unknown.
It’s not an easy choice.
The deep water is daunting, and the catch may be overwhelming.
But it is also
where Jesus is calling us to go.
As we move forward together,
may we have the
courage to let down our nets,
the humility to work with others,
and the faith to
trust that Jesus will provide.
And may we, like Simon, James, and John,
leave everything
and follow him.
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