Become Like Him

Good morning. I am so glad that we gather here today. Today is the second sunday of Easter. We often forget that Easter Season is longer than we realize. We are still celebrating our risen Lord.

It was this idea that had me thinking about what it was like for the disciples after Jesus was resurrected. I mean we have stories about things that happened.

Jesus appearing to his disciples when they were scared and afraid of what the Jewish leaders might do to them. I mean he showed up in a locked room. That is some cool magic tricks right.

Or

We have the Great catch of fish which in many ways is a call back for Peter to how it all started. Sitting on the beach after they had such a great catch cooking them some breakfast.

It was this story that captured my attention for a moment. Not so much the story of the great catch but the one after it.

John 21:15–17 NIV

15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” 16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” 17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.

Jesus Reinstates Peter

This section of scripture is known as the reinstatement of Peter. Peter had denied Christ and he was in many ways a broken and lost man. He was not who had once been under Christ.

Yet, in this moment Jesus knew what Peter needed to hear. He called Peter back. He wanted him to complete a task.

Peter was someone who had been following his Master. His rabbi. He had been working to be with him often, and to become like him in all his life but now it was the time to do as he did.

Look at it again what is Jesus calling peter to do.

John 21:15–17 NIV

15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” 16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” 17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.

Feed and Care for My Sheep

Jesus was calling Peter to care for his sheep. To do what he was doing to adhere to all that he had been taught and to do as he did.

I prayed about this for awhile and though well man Peter should be down the beach and getting to work. I mean come one what is wrong with him.

There is work to be done.

What did the disciples do after moments like this.

They kept following Jesus but they kept asking questions that were still missing what Jesus came to do.

Acts 1:4–6 NIV

4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” 6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”

Jesus when are you going to restore the Kingdom?

What is going on here Jesus what are you waiting for?

They were so focused on their direction that they missed the promise he had just made them.

They are too busy looking for what they want they miss what he wants for them.

Peter suffered for a long time the same problems. Jesus was calling all of them to something more he wanted them to see that he had a direction for them.

Building the Church

The disciples after Jesus ascended didn’t just run out and start building churches and starting sunday schools. They went and they prayed. They waited for the power of the Holy Spirit. Than amazing things happened.

Flames come down Peter preaches. People were so amazed at the work of the Spirit they thought the disciples were Drunk.

They called people to repent and be baptized.

Acts 2:40–41 NIV

40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

Can you imagine for a moment what it would be like if we went out into the world and preached and 3,000 came to know Christ.

OH yes Pastor we can do it. We want that.

Do we really want that?

Think about that for a moment. Actually let me change the question a little bit. I don’t doubt in our hearts we want that but we have to ask ourselves this.

Are we Ready for that?

Are we Ready?

What would we do if this week I went to the school or some other gathering in the area and I started preaching and 3,000 people came to know Christ for the first time. How would we even begin to deal with that?

I got to be honest with you I don’t know if we would even begin to understand what to do with that.

It wouldn’t mean we were an instant mega church or that we would have to build a new building but how would we be able to minister and help all those new believers grow in their faith.

There truly is only one answer.

The Power of the Holy Spirit.

God would help and provide for us but the prospect of it is overwhelming. Not because he wouldn’t be able to do it in us but because are we really open to letting the Spirit lead and work and move in us that our goal is to care and feed the sheep that God has provided us.

What do we do?

Does this mean we stop preaching? Absolutely not.

Does this mean we stop praying? Absolutely not.

Does this mean we might need to start opening ourselves up to letting God lead more and getting out of his way. Absolutely.

How do we begin to do this though.

Church this is the Journey we have been on. We have been following the Path and I think its time I share with you something that God has put on my heart and something can help remind us of who we are called to be.

Let me begin with this question.

Why does Sylvania Wesleyan Church exist?

Is it to just provide a place for us few believers to gather and worship or is it something else?

Is it so we can listen to some music we like and hear someone talk for 20 min?

Is it so we can see people we like well sometimes right?

Are we a Social Club?

Are we a Church?

Again I ask Why does Sylvania Wesleyan Church Exist?

I should add one qualifier for this question. Don’t forget. This isn’t why you want it to exist why does God want it to exist?

It was this question that has been on my mind and a task that I have been working to answer over the last several years. In fact, I have been working with the board to help us figure out this exact thing.

A few months back I asked the board to help me come up with a Mission statement for the church. To basically answer this question.

Mission Statement

Now this isn’t an attempt to make us like a business or come up with some Pie in the sky ideal. This is to help ground us in who we are as a church.

To answer the question of why we exist.

It helps remind us of our core values. The non-negotiable attitudes that we hold on to as a body of believers.

It also helps us be prepared when we share with the community who we are. It helps us give a clear purpose behind what we do and how we do it each and every day.

When people think about Sylvania Wesleyan church these are the attitudes that we have to engage.

With that being said it is also essential that they capture the heart of what it means to be a follower of Christ.

To follow after our rabbi. To be with him, become like him, and to go do as he did.

IF this statement is founded in our doctrinal beliefs and if they don’t line up with the Bible then it is pointless.

Presenting all this to the board I added one more challenge. It had to be only 8 words. We failed this by the way. It took us 11.

It took us awhile because we wanted to think and to pray on these words and what they mean for us. In many ways we took something that we already had in the history of this church and we just brought it to right here and right now.

Sylvania Wesleyan Church wants to be...

United by God to Serve, Worship, and build a loving Community.

Can we make this something that is a core to who we are?

Is this something that God can call us to?

Is this who we want to be as a People?

Over the next couple weeks we will be looking at this idea and what this means and the vision behind it.

This is what we build upon. This is the frame work of the house built upon the foundation of God.

Can we journey together on this?