Family Sunday Peter

At the Campfire with Jesus

Staging note: I bought some 3d campfire cardboard cutout, I plan to be sitting around the campfire on stage…

You have already heard that this week our kids have been learning the story of Peter.

Peter was a disciple of Jesus, in fact he was one of the top 3 disciples of Jesus. And he became the spokesperson for the disciples.

Peter is so much like all of us.

Jesus gives him the name Peter (Petros) which means “the rock” but his ability to live up to that name is often in doubt in the gospels.

One of the most famous stories about Peter is that when Jesus told his disciples that he had to die for them and this was a good thing Peter said this:

Matthew 26:35 ESV

Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” And all the disciples said the same.

Peter was strong and he made big and bold statements.

This is how we all are at times, tough talk but when it comes time to be bold in front of others we chicken out…

and that is exactly what Peter did

After jesus was arrested and beaten this is what happened.

John 18:25–27 ESV

Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “You also are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Did I not see you in the garden with him?” Peter again denied it, and at once a rooster crowed.

Now I dont know about you but whenever I fail at something, sometimes I feel disqualified from doing that thing

Like I am not good enough to ever do it again

Some of us have failed at things and then never picked them up again. we have allowed that failure to define us and therefore we have given our failures authority in our life!

This is what was happening to Peter!

Many of us know the story.

The next day, Jesus died and it seemed like all was lost…

A few days later, Peter went home, to Galilee where he re-started his career as a fisherman

In fact Peter probably thought that he failed so epicly that he just went back to what he used to do…

Instead of Fishing for Men like Jesus promised, Peter was back in his old boat

And he didn’t know it yet but Jesus was sitting there on the shore around a camp fire…

By the way the gospel of John is really careful to point out that the fire that Jesus was sitting around was a lot like the one…It would have been a charcoal fire…

There are a lot of Greek words to describe the state of fires and John used the exact same description for the fire that Peter was standing around when he denied Jesus…

My Point: Jesus is absolutely sitting Peter up for a moment…

We are around that camp fire today and I want to show you what Jesus was doing in that moment:

John 21:4–10 ESV

Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” He said to them, “Cast the net on 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 of the quantity of fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea. The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off. When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.”

It is no mistake what Jesus is doing here…From this fire Jesus is helping Peter to see his faithfulness in Peter’s life

In fact this entire scene helped Peter to recall when Jesus first called Peter into his service.

The first time Jesus and Peter met, Peter had been fishing all night with absolutely no luck!

I think Sir Launce and Lady Heather might be able to help us understand this a bit better

SKIT: Peter is called:

Skit 1: "I have a new purpose"

Lady Heather w/book enters or sits by campfire and greets the court again, excited to share with them the king's finished story --> Sir Launce rides in on Thunder (coconuts) and parades through audience to meet Lady H to share memories of theirs and Peter's past adventures --> Lady H recaps some of camp about her fears of unworthiness, but is glad to report that she has been made the official royal scribe: a new purpose! --> Sir L relates how hers matches Peter's story, moving from one life to another, until the story touches and invites us all to join in!

man this camp fire and this miraculous catch of fish reminds me of a lesson

Jesus gives Peter a new purpose

You know before this moment in Peter’s life he was a fisherman

And not that there is anything wrong what Peter’s vocation, it was a fine vocation but Jesus had a bigger purpose for peter than he even saw for himself

and that is what this campfire is reminding Peter of…

Peter…Remember your purpose…You are no longer a fisherman! You are my spokesperson to the nations…

Get out of the boat! Stop running from your purpose!

You know one of the interesting things that happened in this story is that when Peter realizes that it is his friend Jesus on shore, he jumps in and he swims to shore…

But there is another thing that this reminds me of

Did you know that one time Peter walked on water with Jesus?

Skit: Peter walks on water:

Skit 2: "Faith > Fear"

Sir L relates of how Ness seemed like a nuisance, even a scary one at first: stealing the king's things, the black roses, taking his sword --> but Lady H reminds him that even someone with even a little faith can overcome those fears --> Sir L concludes that the water was like his unspoken past, and stepping out on to it like what Peter did is what set into motion the pattern for other "good ducks" to follow in his wake!

I have always wondered if whenever Peter jumps in the water if he thought, I used to walk on this water…

But now I swim in it.

You know the point of that story when Jesus walked on water is that the very first day of creation there is chaotic waters and the Spirit of God is hovering over the water…and then from there God began to separate and gather creation together and he began to do something new

Jesus is now walking on the chaotic waters…Why: He is the one who will bring about the new creation!

In him our lives will be made new

Well in the story of Jesus walking on water the disciples are all afraid and Jesus says, It is I, Dont be afraid!

Jesus reminds Peter that faith is more powerful than fear

Remember when Peter saw the chaos of the storm he began to sink…But Jesus was never further than an arms reach away

Jesus reached out his hand…almost to remember that jesus is always near

You know there is one more thing that this story of the campfire reminds me of

Skit: Peter Denies Jesus

Skit 3: "Restorative Forgiveness Restores Purpose"

Lady H adds on to what Sir L said about Ness, rejoicing at her change of heart as she realized we weren't the tyrants she might have thought of us as --> Sir L realizes that Peter, flaws and all, is a perfect example of what we can expect in our own lives --> Jesus' forgiveness is not just wiping away the old sin, it also sets us right to pursue a new path into a new purpose or a purpose remade anew!

I think in this campfire moment, Jesus wanted to remind Peter of his entire life with him

He wanted Peter to recall it all…

Sometimes the greatest way to see the faithfulness of God is to look back in our lives

This is why your testimony is powerful by the way

Has god done something in your life? Look back and tell someone about the Power of God in your life.

And in the same way that Peter denied Jesus three times…Jesus will ask him the same thing three times!

John 21:15–17 ESV

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.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved 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, “Feed my sheep.

I love that Jesus asks Peter if you love me more than these…

These fish?

jesus is like, Hey Peter, dont I mean more to you than a pile of fish?

And three times Jesus tells Peter to return to his God given purpose…

This moment right here restores Peter from feeling like a failure…From running from his God given purpose

Back to his Purpose in Jesus

Jesus restores Peter to his purpose

Sometimes when we make a mistake in our lives, we will fall into believing a lie

The lie that we are not worthy to do what God has been leading us to do

One of the things that the Bible says that really reminds me of the story of peter and of my story too is this

2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

See when Peter denied Jesus and ran away…he was living into that old part of him that was fearful

but when Peter embraced the purpose that Jesus was giving him he would go on to start the church

Peter was a new creation, doing new things with the Lord!

Peter would go on to be an apostle to the gentiles

he would go on to write books of the Bible

He would go on to boldly die for his faith

See once Peter had an encounter with the risen Jesus around that fire he no longer doubted but lived as a new creation!

Maybe your here today and Jesus wants to invite you around his campfire…

if Jesus were doing that he would want to remind you that he has been faithful in your life

that he has been there when you stumbled

that he has given you a new purpose

Maybe you can imagine what Jesus would say to you around that camp fire…

Maybe just during this last song you need to say Jesus speak to me