Third Sunday of Easter (2025)

*Opening Prayer

*Call to Worship

(Based on Psalm 30)

Leader: Lift up your hearts and sing to the Lord, all you who love His name!

People: We give thanks with joy, for His mercy endures forever!

Leader: Though the night brings sorrow, the morning breaks with gladness!

People: God has turned our mourning into dancing; He has clothed us with songs of joy!

Leader: So our hearts will not be silent; we will shout our praise to the Lord!

People: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Hymn # 508 I Will Sing The Wondrous Story

Scripture Reading

Acts 9:1–6 NIV

Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

Children's Message

Scripture Reading

John 21:1–19 NIV

Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way: Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. “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. Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered. 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. 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. The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” 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. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead. 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.” 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.” 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. 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.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”

Sermon

There is a lot going on in this passage. But this may be my favorite post-resurrection story—because once again, it warns us not to simply move on from Easter. It challenges our assumptions that life can return to normal. It invites us—especially those of us who say we believe—to take stock of our lives and ask: Who will I live for in light of the resurrection? The scene takes place sometime between one and two weeks after Easter. The disciples have already seen Jesus alive twice. They’ve felt the joy of knowing death didn't win.

And yet… Simon Peter says, “I’m going fishing.” Fishing was Peter’s trade before Jesus called him. It’s what he knew. It’s what felt familiar. And the others go with him. It’s as if the last three years of ministry with Jesus—of miracles and meals and mission—are being packed away like old clothes. Time to go back to the “normal life.” But things don’t go well.

They fish all night and catch nothing. And for professionals, that’s a problem. No fish means no money. No way to provide for your family. Maybe they begin to wonder: Have we been out of the game too long? Are we really any good at this anymore?

Then comes the voice from the shore: “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” Ouch. Salt in the wound. The question probably stings more than the empty nets. You can almost hear the unspoken reply: “If you think it’s so easy, why don’t you come do it yourself?”

Then the man calls out: “Throw your net on the right side of the boat.” Maybe they roll their eyes. Maybe they try it just to prove him wrong. Or maybe—just maybe—something in them hopes. And then the net is full. Overflowing.

John’s eyes widen. “It’s the Lord!” Peter doesn’t wait—he jumps into the water and swims for shore. And now the story becomes interesting. When they arrive, they find Jesus standing next to a fire of burning coals. There’s already fish on the fire. Bread, too.

Where did He get it? Who knows? Maybe He brought it. Maybe He provided it like He always did. But it’s not the food that stands out. To me, it’s the fire. John says it was a fire of burning coals. Now, think back. When’s the last time we saw Peter near burning coals? John 18:18. The night Jesus was arrested. The courtyard. The cold. The fire. Peter warming his hands… and denying Jesus—three times.

Science tells us smell is a powerful trigger for memory. Can you imagine what that moment was like for Peter? The smell of burning coals… the sting of failure rushing back. “I don’t know the man.” “I don’t know the man.” “I don’t know the man.”

But Jesus says, “Let’s eat.” He feeds them. He shares the fire, the food, the fellowship. And then… He turns to Peter.

“Simon, son of John, do you love me?” “Yes, Lord.” “Then feed my sheep.”

Three times Jesus asks. Three times Peter answers. Three times Jesus gives him purpose. Why three? Because Jesus is not shaming Peter. He is restoring him. Jesus doesn’t want Peter trapped in the past. He wants Peter ready to live a new future—a resurrected future.

And then Jesus says something strange: “When you are old, someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” John tells us this was to show how Peter would one day die for Jesus. And then comes the call—simple, familiar, and holy: “Follow me.” This was the same call Peter and others had heard three years ago at the start of Jesus’ public ministry. Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.”

Peter had already seen the empty tomb. But here on the shore, he comes face to face with the truth of Easter: Knowing the risen Christ means you can’t go back to normal. You can’t pretend like it never happened. You can’t slip quietly back into the boat. The resurrection rewrites our story.

Maybe some of us have gone back to the “normal” life. Maybe we carry the smell of failure. Maybe we’ve decided that brokenness has the final word. But here stands Jesus—again—and He asks us: “Do you love me?” He’s not here to shame us. He’s here to restore us. He invites us, not just to believe He’s alive, but to live like He’s alive.

🕊️ Transition to Communion

And just like Peter, we now come to a table.

We don’t come because we’ve always gotten it right. We come because Jesus meets us in our failures and feeds us with grace. Here, Jesus says again, “Let’s eat.” Here, He reminds us: You are forgiven. You are called. Follow me. Let us prepare our hearts to receive the gift of Christ in Communion.

Communion

Sharing of Joys and Concerns

Hymn #202, v. 2 Amazing Grace

Silent Prayer

Pastoral Prayer

Lord's Prayer

Giving of Tithes and Offering

Doxology

Prayer of Dedication

Hymn #4 How Great Thou Art

*✝️ Benediction

Go now in the peace of the risen Christ. Not to return to “normal,” but to walk in resurrection life.

May the memory of grace be stronger than your regrets, and may the voice of Jesus ring louder than your past.

He has called you, forgiven you, and restored you— now go, and follow Him. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Hymn #286 Blest Be The Tie That Binds

*Call to Worship

(Based on Psalm 30)

Leader:

Lift up your hearts and sing to the Lord,

all you who love His name!

People:

We give thanks with joy,

for His mercy endures forever!

Leader:

Though the night brings sorrow,

the morning breaks with gladness!

People:

God has turned our mourning into dancing;

He has clothed us with songs of joy!

Leader:

So our hearts will not be silent;

we will shout our praise to the Lord!

People:

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.

Amen.

*Opening Prayer

Hymn #499 I Will Sing The Wondrous Story

Scripture Reading Acts 9:1-6

Scripture Reading

John 21:1-19

Sermon

There is a lot going on in this passage. But this may be my favorite post-resurrection story—because once again, it warns us not to simply move on from Easter. It challenges our assumptions that life can return to normal. It invites us—especially those of us who say we believe—to take stock of our lives and ask: Who will I live for in light of the resurrection? The scene takes place sometime between one and two weeks after Easter. The disciples have already seen Jesus alive at least once. They’ve felt the joy of knowing death didn't win.