Joy and Repentance

CALL TO WORSHIP

Come, let us enter the presence

of the One who sits on the heavenly throne.

Let us join with every creature in heaven and earth,

and add our voices to the choir of angels,

worshipping and praising our Creator,

the One Most Holy.

Amen.

HYMN

All heaven declares (StF 293)

GATHERING PRAYER

  As we enter prayer now, we pause to be still.

  To breathe slowly, to re-center our scattered senses

  Upon the presence of God

PRAYER OF CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION

Lord, we stand before you, expectantly. Speak to us, and prepare us to do what you ask. Amen.

The net was full of fish, yet did not break. The disciples heard the voice of Jesus and just did what he asked of them.

Lord, sometimes my net is too full of ‘what ifs?’ If I had been down on that shore with Jesus, I might have spent time worrying whether these were the right sort of fish for him, or whether the net would hold. Please forgive me for all the times when I lack trust in you, and I spend too much time worrying, instead of just getting on and doing. Forgive me for the times my life is too full of negatives, and not full enough of you. Amen.

You, Lord, are always willing to forgive, nothing is beyond your Grace

Nothing is beyond your love for each of us.

Amen

THE LORD’S PRAYER

Our Father who art in heaven,

Hallowed be thy name,

Thy kingdom come,

Thy will be done.

On earth as it is in heaven,

Give us this day our daily bread,

And forgive us our trespasses,

As we forgive those that trespass against us,

And lead us not into temptation,

But deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory,

Forever and ever Amen.

HYMN

Thine be the Glory (StF 313)

READING 1

Psalm 30

1 I will exalt you, Lord, for you lifted me out of the depths and did not let my enemies gloat over me. 2 Lord my God, I called to you for help, and you healed me. 3 You, Lord, brought me up from the realm of the dead; you spared me from going down to the pit.

4 Sing the praises of the Lord, you his faithful people; praise his holy name. 5 For his anger lasts only a moment, but his Favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.

6 When I felt secure, I said, “I will never be shaken.” 7 Lord, when you favoured me, you made my royal mountain[c] stand firm; but when you hid your face, I was dismayed.

8 To you, Lord, I called; to the Lord I cried for mercy: 9 “What is gained if I am silenced, if I go down to the pit? Will the dust praise you? Will it proclaim your faithfulness? 10 Hear, Lord, and be merciful to me; Lord, be my help.”

11 You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, 12 that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. Lord my God, I will praise you forever.

READING 2

John 21:1-19

21 Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee.[a] It happened this way: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus[b]), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. 3 “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So, they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.

5 He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”

“No,” they answered.

6 He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.

7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. 8 The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards.[c] 9 When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.

10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14 This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.

Jesus Reinstates Peter

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. 18 Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”

HYMN

Come with me, come wander (StF 462)

SERMON

I don’t know if you ever watch the TV programs about renovation of old houses. Karon and I often look at them, you find an old property in a very poor state of repair and usually with the help of a designer he building is brought back to life. The results are often amazing.

The thing is when the property was newly built it would have been pristine, it was due to the years passing by and maybe some neglect that the property becomes run down.

For me both our reading today are not about redemption, but about restoration, we have by becoming followers of Christ all been redeemed, but there are times when we need restoration or if you like rejuvenation, getting back to where we should be in our relationship with Christ.

Both Psalm 30 and John 21 are focused on restoration. As I have said these are not redemption stories these are stories about losing sight of God, and they also speak of our own relationship with Christ, they show us how God can turn from sadness to joy if we follow Him faithfully even in our trials.

And more especially the temptation that when the troubles have passed, we can often slip and lose sight of the one who saves us.

1. From Mourning to Joy

Psalm 30 is believed to be a praise Psalm written by David thought to around the time David decided to bring the Ark of the covenant to Jerusalem.

No doubt David’s intentions where good, but it was his own idea not God’s. That’s when the troubles start, when we try to do things in our own strength.

Firstly, he puts the ark on a cart which was against God’s instructions of how it should be moved and as a consequence it led to the death of Uzzi.

 In Psalm 30:1-5 shows David reflecting on God’s deliverance after this disastrous plan it describes the move from despair to joy.

It tells us that our sorrow and failures don’t have the last word; God’s presence can turn sorrow into joy, this is the very same renewal Christ offers. David is brought to call out in gratitude and worship, which is how as followers of Christ should react. As we to are also called to worship with gratitude.

2. Pride to Humility

Psalm 30:6-12

Further in the Psalm we see awareness of what happens if we do God’s things in our own way it’s a warning against self-reliance and this can be a problem when everything seems to be going well. The psalm shows how easily our confidence can falter; it reminds us of our need for the continuous need of God's grace.

Christ teaches throughout his ministry about our need to depend on God. In the psalm it shows a realization of needing God for true stability and joy, those who have faith in Christ, can find unshakeable hope and new purpose, especially after times giving into self-doubt or pride or time when we feel we have let Christ down, if we are not careful, it can mare our relationship with God.

3. Provision and Purpose

John 21:1-14

In our reading Peter decides to go fishing, I wonder if there is more to this is he thinking of his old life I guess it was far less complicated, I think sometimes when we face what seems an unsurmountable problem, we draw back to the old the familiar, it often seems easier.

The disciples are out fishing and see someone on shore who signals to cast their nets on the other side. Perhaps the person can see something they can’t, so they do as they are instructed, and the number of fish make it almost impossible to bring on the boat.

 We are told the one Jesus loved recognised him it is assumed John is talking about himself. He calls to Peter and says “it’s the Lord”

Peter can’t wait for the boat to get back to shore, he jumps in to get to Jesus as quickly as he can.

If you notice on shore, there is a fire with fish already being cooked and bread all prepared for the fishermen. Jesus, the Lord and saviour is cooking breakfast for his friends.

We see throughout the Bible when God provides, he provides abundantly.

Jesus is the manifestation of God’s love and abundant grace, whatever he provided be it wine at a wedding food for a crowd of people everything he provided was the best.

The purpose of Christ doing this was to show the love of God in a practical way. And we too are called to share abundantly with love and concern for others.

4. Restoration and Calling

John 21:15-19

If we look back at another miraculous catch of fish only found in Luke’s gospel, Peter says to Jesus “Go away from me I am a sinful man”.

Here again in John’s gospel there is another miraculous catch of fish. I often wonder who took the time to count the fish when Jesus was there, I know what would have been more important to me, but It again I think it serves as a metaphor for the fruitfulness of following Christ’s guidance. Jesus' presence brings clarity and renewal to an ordinary day, it shows us how He restores purpose after failure,

As we look at Peter even though he had met the risen Christ several time, this time there is a discourse between Peter and Jesus, I wonder how Peter had felt being with Jesus. I suspect his denial was burning within him at each meeting, isn’t that like us when we have done something we may even think it’s something unforgivable.

I suspect as Jesus ask him three times if Peter loved him, I imagine he would be squirming a bit, in the presence of Jesus who is asking very direct questions. How would you feel?

For me I think Jesus had to bring Peter to face his failure, and that he had to except that Jesus was offering forgiveness.

This passage reassures believers that Christ is present in our lives, ready and willing to restore and rejuvenate our calling and mission, despite past inadequacies or failures.

He redeems believers past failures.

This passage shows us that the personal calling to follow and serve Christ. There is growth through forgiveness, it demonstrates Christ’s commitment to our transformation on our discipleship journey.

This is a powerful reminder of Christ’s grace that renews and empowers us to fulfil our God-given purpose.

True renewal comes when we faithfully follow Christ, even after our darkest moments, because that is where the joy is.

HYMN

Be Still, for the presence of the Lord (StF 20)

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION

Lord, we read that there were 153 fish in the net; such a precise number. It makes us think of the precise love you have for us, you know and care about every detail of our lives; whereas we can sometimes be pretty lax about things. There (may/may not) be 153 of us here this morning, but you know exactly how many of us there are, and all our concerns and needs. We are here in your net of love, and we thank you and praise you. Amen.

Lord, we come before you this morning, conscious that though we might think we do not have everything we want or need, there are many in our world who have so much less. We pray for people who haven’t got food, or homes, or the basic necessities of life. We pray for the right help to reach them at the right time. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

We pray for our world, that resources may be more fairly distributed, that we ourselves might learn to manage with less so that others can have more. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

We pray for the Church worldwide, for those who meet in glorious buildings and for those who meet in a tiny room. We are all part of the same family; thank you, Lord. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

We pray for those we know who are sick. We pray for those who care for them, both at home and in hospitals, that they will receive the strength, love and kindness to equip them in their task. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

We pray for those who have lost loved ones, that they might know your presence with them, and feel secure in the net of your love and compassion. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

Lord, you give us so much. May we be willing to share your love as we go about our daily lives. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer. Amen.

HYMN

I am a new creation (StF 553)

BLESSING

We have met with Jesus and we have been blessed. Go out now in his name, to bring his hospitality to a world in need. Amen.