1-22-23Sermon Notes“Remembering Why We Are Here”

Let me tell you about one of my struggles. This one is hereditary, I think. My dad also had this struggle. Here’s how it goes: I go into a store, and I forget why I am there. It’s not that my memory is bad, per se. It’s not a “senior moment,” as we like to say. It’s that there are too many distractions. My dad once went shopping to get some things for my mom, and he came back with a 50 pound bag of dog food. The problem? We didn’t have a dog at that time. When my mom pointed this out, Dad said, “But it was such a good bargain!”

The same thing happens to me when I go to a place like…say…Publix. I go in with a list - usually a short list - of things that I need. And then I see those “buy one get one free” signs. My buggy gets full, and I’m happy as can be. Then this little voice in my head says, “Sam, why are you here?” Oh yeah…back to the list.

Remembering why we are here is important for Christians, and important for the church. There are many things to distract us. There are so many “voices” telling us what we “should” be doing. It’s easy to get bogged down and forget why we are here. Wouldn’t it be great if we could go back to a “list” to jog our memory about why we are here (like I go to my grocery list at Publix)?

At the very beginning of Jesus’ public ministry, he gives a message that is a defining message for all who claim the name Christian, and he calls his first disciples in a way that is a defining call for all who seek to be His disciples throughout the centuries. The message and the calling for the basis for why we are here. In Matthew 4: 12-23, we read:

12 Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. 13 He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:

15 “Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali,

on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—

16 the people who sat in darkness

have seen a great light,

and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death

light has dawned.”

17 From that time Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

18 As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.

23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people.

Join us this Sunday as we remember why we are here!

Pastor Sam