Weekly Sermon: What about my needs? - 05-04-2025

The Holy Gospel according to John. Glory to you, O Lord.

After he appeared to his followers in Jerusalem, Jesus showed himself again

to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he showed himself in this way.

Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the twin,

Nathaniel of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples.

Simon Peter said to them, I am going fishing. They said to him, We will go with you.

They went out and got into the boat. That night they caught nothing.

Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach, but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.

Jesus said to them, Children, you have no fish, have you? They answered him, No.

He said to them, Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some.

So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish.

That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, It is the Lord.

When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes where he

was naked and jumped into the sea.

But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish,

for they were not far from land, but only a couple hundred yards off.

When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there with fish on it and bread.

Jesus said to them, Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.

So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore full of large fish, 153 of them.

And there were so many that the net was not torn.

Jesus said to them, Come and have breakfast. Now none of the disciples dared

to ask him, Who are you? Because they knew it was the Lord.

Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish.

This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he had raised from the dead.

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter,

Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?

He said to him, Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.

Jesus said to him, Feed me. He said to him, Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.

Sorry, skipped a line or two.

Jesus said to him, Tent to my sheep. He said to him the third time,

Simon, son of John, do you love me?

Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, Do you love me?

And he said to him, Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.

Jesus said to him, Eve, my sheep.

Very truly I tell you, when you were younger, you use to fasten your own belt

and to go wherever you wish.

But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will

fasten your belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.

He said this to indicate the kind of depth by which you would glorify God.

After this, he said to him, Follow me. The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord. Please be seated.

Good morning. I'm Abby Coffman. I'm the, as shared earlier, the president and

CEO of Network of Community Ministries. We are a non-profit based here in Richardson,

Texas that serves the 14 zip codes in Richardson Independence.

Um, and normally at this point, this is where I'd advance my slide and keep

going through a very informative PowerPoint.

But, um, pastor Linda, when she reached out to me, she asked to do the sermon and I am not a minister.

Um, I have a bachelor's and master's degree in communication.

I'm very comfortable with public speaking.

Um, but for me, my faith is personal. And so standing in front of you is,

um, really an honor to be able to share about network.

Um, but also y'all don't come here just to learn about

network you come here to be spiritually fed um so

i was given the title of the sermon what about my needs and

i sat and i prayed and um i really thought you know what what do i want to say

to y'all that resonates um or at least resonated with me and um i kept coming

back to that question what about my needs and that's the question i want to

hold before us this morning.

It's a question that's whispered by worried hearts.

It has been shouted in moments of crisis, and it's one that many in our community

and perhaps even our own lives have asked in recent days or even this very morning.

And I know it's a question that neighbors, when they come to network,

are asking, what about my needs?

In John 21, we find the disciples after the resurrection returning to what they know, which is fishing.

They're confused, disoriented, unsure of what's next.

It's very common when somebody comes to network for the first time that they share those feelings.

Jesus has risen, but now what? They're not just fishing for the fun of it.

They're fishing for food to provide for themselves.

Maybe thinking, what about our needs now that Jesus is no longer with us every day.

They fish all night and they catch nothing. They come up empty again.

They're hungry, tired, and maybe a little afraid.

Then that voice from the shore calls out, children, have you no fish? They reply, no.

And the voice says, cast the net on the right side.

You know the story. We just read it together. They catch so many fish,

they can hardly haul it in.

And in that moment, they realize that it's Jesus, that the risen Lord is still

providing, still showing up, still meeting their needs, not only for food,

but for relationship, for restoration, and for purpose.

Peter jumps into the water and swims to shore. Jesus already has that fire built,

going, ready for breakfast. And he says, come and have breakfast.

And Jesus addresses their physical hunger first. Then he turns to Peter and

asks, not once, but three times, do you love me?

And Jesus says, feed my lambs, tend my sheep, feed my sheep.

And here's what we've learned about in the sacred story. And Ashley and I should

have coordinated our messages because what she said to the children is what I'm about to say to you.

Jesus cares about our needs, both body and soul. He knows that we're hungry. He knows that we worry.

He knows the cry of our hearts when we ask, what about my needs?

But in the same breath that he tends to us, he invites us to do the same for others.

And this is where the work of Network of Community Ministries becomes beautifully

aligned with the gospel.

Network exists because there are people all around us, neighbors in our very

zip codes, who are quietly asking, what about my needs?

Will anyone notice that I can't pay my rent this month? Will anybody notice when my fridge is empty?

Will anybody help me get a job? Will anybody check on me when I've grown old and I'm now homebound?

Will anyone walk with me when I feel lost or afraid?

At Network, we respond with the love of Christ. Through our community market,

which is a client choice food pantry that neighbors shop like they would in

a grocery store, neighbors can receive food with dignity.

That meets their dietary needs or their cultural preferences.

Through our clothing closet set up like a thrift store. Neighbors can shop and

receive everything from daily attire to winter coats and school uniforms,

prom dresses, Halloween costumes.

So a child feels great when they go to school every day or people feel prepared

when they walk into a job interview or just that we feel good.

We all wear clothes. We want to feel good in what we wear.

Through our stabilization services, which is our case management,

our neighbors are coached towards employment, financial independence.

They might receive assistance with their utility bills or their rental needs

or even continuing education to help them upskill or reskill for a higher wage career.

Through our Seniors Net program, our most vulnerable in our community are connected

to resources like home-delivered groceries or Companions Who Care are making

phone calls just to check in and say, how are you doing?

Making sure our neighbors can stay and age in place by building ramps,

installing grab bars, or even simply changing a light bulb.

And through our mental health services, burdens that are invisible are treated

with both tenderness and truth.

And families can come to network to build

community whether that's in our parent cafe

and our grief support on our seniors day

or through our community events but network

does not do this alone i'm here this morning because st

luke's is a stakeholder of network and what that means is we ask two of four

things um one monetary donations we have to keep the lights on and the doors

open we know that's not feasible for everybody in kind donations so collecting

food or clothing items that we can use in our community market by providing your time,

talent, and treasure as a volunteer, because it takes 80 volunteers a day for network to run,

or by serving as a referral resource, because you as a congregation of many gifts that you can give,

in your house of worship right here.

And return network says, any referral that you provide to us,

regardless if you live in our service area, we're going to take care of that

individual. We're going to tend to this congregation and flock.

So it's the work of a community, faith, partners, volunteers,

donors, and staff, living out the call that Jesus gave to Peter, feed my sheep.

When you support Network, you are answering Christ's question,

do you love me? And you are responding with action.

Yes, Lord, you know I love you, and so I will care for your sheep.

We live in a world that often tells us to first look out for ourselves.

But the gospel flips that around.

When we feed others, we are fed. When we meet the needs of our neighbors,

our own needs, especially the deepest ones for purpose, community,

and connection are fulfilled.

Jesus doesn't ignore our needs. He meets us on the shore.

He prepares a meal for us, but then he also asks you to the fire and asks, will you love me?

Will you fed others as I fed you so maybe the better question this morning isn't

just what about my needs but how can i be part of meeting the needs of others

in jesus's name that's what network does every single day,

that's what we're invited to do in the church and so

i challenge you to say yes i hope that you jump in the water and i hope that

we all meet jesus on the shore amen filled with the joy of new life go in peace

to love serve and welcome all if you're inspired by this week's.