Personally Invited
Stories
Lectionary Tales For The Pulpit
Series IV, Cycle B
Object:
Personally Invited
As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea -- for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, "Follow me and I will make you fish for people." And immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him. (vv. 16-20)
For fifteen years, Jerry Rice was the star receiver for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League. He followed that with stints with the Oakland Raiders and the Seattle Seahawks. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest receivers in the history of football, if not the greatest. He has won three Super Bowls and was once named the Super Bowl Most Valuable Player. Ten times he has been All Pro and in 1987 was voted as the NFL MVP. Rice holds the all-time NFL records for touchdowns, receptions, and receiving yards for both the regular season and the Super Bowl. In his NFL career, he has over 20,000 receiving yards.
As a great star with all these records and accolades, you would think Jerry Rice must have come from some legendary college team like Notre Dame or the University of Miami. But he didn't. He played for tiny Mississippi Valley State University -- an NCAA Division 1-AA school in Itta Bena, Mississippi. Ever hear of it? The town might as well be called Itty Bitty, Mississippi, for no bigger than it is.
Rice was once asked, "Why did you attend a small, obscure university like Mississippi Valley State?"
Rice responded, "Out of all the big-time schools (such as UCLA) to recruit me, MVSU was the only school to come to my house and give me a personal visit."
The major universities recruited Jerry Rice through cards, letters, and advertisements. But only Mississippi Valley State came to meet Rice and showed him personal attention. It makes a difference in this world to meet people eye to eye and issue the invitation to be included.
As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee and recruited his disciples, he did so in a personal way. He didn't carry a banner or send a letter. He talked to them face to face. He dealt with them as individuals, and not as a commodity.
This is Jesus' example to us as well. He calls us to fish for people. We are called to invite people face to face. Cards and letters to invite someone into the kingdom can only do so much. Advertising is so impersonal. But it makes all the difference to shake a hand and to extend a heartfelt invitation. It's probably what brought you into the kingdom and into our church. Someone personally invited you. Can we offer anything less?
As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea -- for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, "Follow me and I will make you fish for people." And immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him. (vv. 16-20)
For fifteen years, Jerry Rice was the star receiver for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League. He followed that with stints with the Oakland Raiders and the Seattle Seahawks. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest receivers in the history of football, if not the greatest. He has won three Super Bowls and was once named the Super Bowl Most Valuable Player. Ten times he has been All Pro and in 1987 was voted as the NFL MVP. Rice holds the all-time NFL records for touchdowns, receptions, and receiving yards for both the regular season and the Super Bowl. In his NFL career, he has over 20,000 receiving yards.
As a great star with all these records and accolades, you would think Jerry Rice must have come from some legendary college team like Notre Dame or the University of Miami. But he didn't. He played for tiny Mississippi Valley State University -- an NCAA Division 1-AA school in Itta Bena, Mississippi. Ever hear of it? The town might as well be called Itty Bitty, Mississippi, for no bigger than it is.
Rice was once asked, "Why did you attend a small, obscure university like Mississippi Valley State?"
Rice responded, "Out of all the big-time schools (such as UCLA) to recruit me, MVSU was the only school to come to my house and give me a personal visit."
The major universities recruited Jerry Rice through cards, letters, and advertisements. But only Mississippi Valley State came to meet Rice and showed him personal attention. It makes a difference in this world to meet people eye to eye and issue the invitation to be included.
As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee and recruited his disciples, he did so in a personal way. He didn't carry a banner or send a letter. He talked to them face to face. He dealt with them as individuals, and not as a commodity.
This is Jesus' example to us as well. He calls us to fish for people. We are called to invite people face to face. Cards and letters to invite someone into the kingdom can only do so much. Advertising is so impersonal. But it makes all the difference to shake a hand and to extend a heartfelt invitation. It's probably what brought you into the kingdom and into our church. Someone personally invited you. Can we offer anything less?
