Do You Love Me?
Seeing Jesus Through the Eyes of a Friend • Sermon • Submitted
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· 13 viewsJesus wants Peter to know that he loves Him.
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Introduction
Greet everyone (be in front of the pulpit)
Attention (Why should they listen to you?)
What is the Hearer’s problem? This life is full of choices. Good choices, poor choices, better and best choices. We confronted each day with choice upon choice. It can get overwhelming. There are days that I feel like choosing to stay in bed and avoid all the challenges that are facing me. But that would have significant consequences. In fact, all of our choice have consequences. Sometimes good and sometimes bad. But our choices always affect something or someone...
Peter made a series of poor choices while in the ministry with Jesus. And choosing to reject Jesus three times was at the top of that list. Of course this caused him great shame. And even though he saw the resurrected Christ, twice, he was still discourage and guilt-ridden because of his outright, public rejection of Jesus. This guilt drove him back to his old occupation of fishing. This guilt caused him to rely on himself instead of the promises of God. This guilt drove him away from Jesus
Maybe that’s something you are dealing with today. Maybe you think you’ve outsinned the grace of God and that He couldn’t possibly take you back or use you again?
What is the Biblical Solution? Well, if that is you, I have some very good news for you this morning. Not only can He take you back, He wants you back AND He wants to use you for His service! Imagine, a King who wants a treasonous person to be His personal servant? Only by the grace of God is this possible.
What do the hearers need to know? You need to know that there is hope for you through the gospel of Jesus Christ. That you can be forgiven and restored!
Main Textual Idea: Jesus is restoring Peter from his denial of Christ to service for Christ - From a Failed Fisherman to a Shepherd of the King!
It really boils down to a very important choice for you.
Main Sermon Idea: Your Past Failures or His Future Plans - Which Will You Choose?
Your Past Failures or His Future Plans - Where Will You Live?
Peter was about to transition From a Failed Fisherman to a Shepherd of the King!
From a Failed Fisherman to a Shepherd of the King!
Interrogative: Why is it so important that you make this choice? Because choices have consequences. Will you stay in your past failures or will you listen to the tender words of Jesus and be restored full to fellowship and service of the King of the universe? This is what Peter faced and we know in spite of his past, he chose well. Will you?
Transition: There two simple (albeit difficult) choices you need to make this morning...
1. Will You Choose to Love Jesus? (vs. 15-17)
Lead in…If you were with us last week you got to see Jesus set the stage for the restoration we are going to see today...
15 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.” 16 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.” 17 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.
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Explanation -
15 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.”
Verse 15 - The smell of charcoal fire mixed with fish and toasted bread is in the air. And I have got to believe that as Peter breathes in the sent of the burning charcoal, his mind races back to that fateful evening when he denied his Master three times! Jesus warned him it would happen.
33 Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” 34 Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.”
And, of course, Jesus was right. He’s always right!
How humiliating it must have been for Peter. And is it any wonder in light of this, why he went back to his old life of fishing?
And here he is, just finishing a breakfast prepared by the One he denied. I’m sure guilt was washing over his conscience...
And of course, Jesus knew this and this is why He orchestrated this whole scene! Jesus’ goal was to restore Peter to service! He wanted to take him from a failed fishermen and make him a shepherd of the King! What an interesting change of occupations!
In order to do this He started by asking him an important question. “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?”
Now, this is an intriguing question, what are the “these” He mentions?
Who or what are the “these”?
It could be that Jesus is referring to the fish, the fishing gear and everything that represented Peter’s old life. And this makes sense and is a viable interpretation and I think this is part of it...
But I think that Jesus is doing some verbal surgery on his friend. A surgery that will be painful but necessary to prepare him to be the shepherd Jesus wanted him to become.
Jesus, in front of the other disciples asks the formerly bold but now embarrassed and humbled Peter, “So, Peter! Do you love me more than these guys do?”
“So, Peter! Do you love me more than these guys?” Seems odd to have this kind of conversation in front of the other disciples. Perhaps even divisive! No, I don’t think this is how it went down.
How could the Lord say something so cold and potentially harsh?
Because, there was a time, not too long ago when Peter made some bold proclamations publically, in front of his fellow disciples regarding how He would never turn his back on the Lord. How even if they turned away and failed to show their love and faithfulness, he would NEVER fail to love and be faithful to his Lord! Take a look...
30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left.
32 But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” 33 Peter answered him, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.”
30 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 31 Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ 32 But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” 33 Peter answered him, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.” 34 Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” 35 Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” And all the disciples said the same. 36 Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.”
33 Peter answered him, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.”
Matt
Jesus reminded Peter of his bold, public proclamation by asking him publically if he still had this bold love for him.
Matt
30 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 31 Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ 32 But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” 33 Peter answered him, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.” 34 Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.”
What a bold, brash and arrogant statement! “Even if these guys turn their backs on you in your hour of need, I will NEVER do that to you Lord! I love you WAY more than these guys do!”
But, Peter did in fact deny that he knew the Lord on three occasions...
17 The servant girl at the door said to Peter, “You also are not one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.”
25 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.”
27 Peter again denied it, and at once a rooster crowed.
And now the time has come for Jesus to confront Peter about these boastful words where he threw his fellow disciples under the bus publically.
I believe Jesus is pointing at the fish, the fishing gear and everything that represented Peter’s old life, that he was running toward and says, “Peter, do you love me more than these things? These things that were your old way of life before you promised to follow me?”
“So, Peter, do you really love me more than these guys do?” “After all you told me, in front of them how much more you would stand by me back then and you didn’t.” What about now?” “It was harder than you thought it would be and you failed. How about now? Do you still love me? Do you still love me more than these?”
“So, Peter, do you really love me more than these guys do?” “After all you told me, in front of them how much more you would stand by me back then and you didn’t.” What about now?” “It was harder than you thought it would be and you failed. How about now? Do you still love me? Do you still love me more than these?”
What is Jesus doing? Is He just piling on poor Peter? Rubbing salt in his proverbial wound? I don’t think so. But He is being up front an honest with him about his rejection. You see, Peter’s faithfulness to him was rooted in self-sufficiency and pride. He was exalting himself, even above his fellow disciples.
12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.
1
It is interesting that later Peter writes these words...
5 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,
“Peter, I have a much better plan for you than this. Don’t go back! Continue to follow me!”
5 but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does.
Eventually, Peter understood what Jesus was trying to accomplish. He wanted what was best for Peter and that was to recognize how prideful he had been and how he needed to humble himself so he could be usable by God.
4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. 5 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,
So the question from Jesus is...
15 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.”
Well, Peter affirms his love for Jesus by saying “Yes Lord; you know that I love you. Agape vs. Phileo
5 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,
The Bible Knowledge Commentary 21:15–17
Since it is difficult to see any consistent distinctions that John intended, most scholars see these as stylistic variations.
What is important to see is that as Jesus is in the process of restoring Peter, His main focus is love! Peters love for Jesus!
It is important to see that as Jesus is in the process of restoring Peter, His main focus is love! Peters love for Jesus!
And this understanding is where Jesus is taking His friend 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.”
Is there any significance in Jesus using one word for love and Peter using a different one? Believe me when I say there has been a great deal ink spilt on this question. So by all means, study it out for yourself. But I will give you my interpretation of this question...
“feed my lambs” - This is the work of a Shepherd...
26 but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep. 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.
25 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name bear witness about me,
Peter was now to care for these sheep!
But Jesus didn’t stop there. He asked again...
16 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.”
Verse 16 -
Verse 16 - Here again, Why? isn’t this overkill? Isn’t the Lord just badgering Peter?
I don’t believe so at all! More on this in a minute...
But we see a similar command as the first.
“Tend my sheep”
Again, a command to care for the followers of Christ...
John
17 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.
Verse 17 - And here we go again! “Simon, son of John, do you love me? Peter is very discouraged by Jesus’ question!
Imagine how he is feeling right now? He knows he messed things up bad. He is depressed and discouraged about denying and abandoning the Lord three times before the crucifixion. He feels the weight of his sin. Exasperated, Peter responds to Jesus...
“Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.”
Peter recognizes publically that Jesus is the Lord who knows all things, even the deepest secrets of our hearts.
Peter is at the end. He has appealed to his own words for three times. And now he says, “If you don’t believe my words, look into my heart. My heart will tell you that I love you”
Now of course it isn’t that Jesus doesn’t believe Peter. Of course He believes Peter. This little exchange is more about Jesus making things right with Peter for Peter’s sake as well as for the sake of the other disciples.
Peter denied the Lord three times Jesus questioned Peter’s love and loyalty three times!
And each time, after Peter responded that he loved Jesus, Jesus instructed him to feed or care for His sheep/lambs.
Jesus was doing two important things. First, Jesus was restoring Peter to the exalted position of servant of Jesus.
Second, He was prepping Peter for pastoral work. For shepherding God’s people...
Did you notice something from this whole exchange between Jesus and Peter? In order to serve Jesus, the most important thing you must do? Love Jesus!
Principle: Our service to Jesus isn’t out of dutiful obligation, rather it is from a deep love and appreciation for who Jesus Christ is!
Will you choose to love Jesus?
Illustration - “Do you Love Me” song from Fiddler on the roof...
Tevye: Do you love me?
Golde: Do I what?
Tevye: Do you love me?
Golde: Do I love you? With our daughters getting married and this trouble in the town,
You're upset. You want out. Go inside. Go lie down.
Maybe it's indigestion.
With our daughters getting married and this trouble in the town,
You're upset. You want out. Go inside. Go lie down.
Maybe it's indigestion.
Tevye: Golde, I'm asking you a question. Do you love me?
Golde: You're a fool!
Tevye: I know. But do you love me?
Golde: Do I love you? For twenty-five years, I've washed your clothes,
Cooked your meals, cleaned your house,
Given you children, milked the cow.
After twenty-five years, why talk about love right now?
Tevye: Golde, I'm asking you a question. Do you love me?
Golde: You're a fool!
Tevye: I know. But do you love me?
Golde: Do I love you?
For twenty-five years, I've washed your clothes,
Cooked your meals, cleaned your house,
Given you children, milked the cow.
After twenty-five years, why talk about love right now?
Tevye: The first time I met you was on our wedding day. I was scared.
Golde: I was shy.
Tevye: I was nervous.
Golde: So was I.
Tevye: The first time I met you was on our wedding day. I was scared.
Golde: I was shy.
Tevye: I was nervous.
Golde: So was I.
Tevye: But my father and my father said we'd learn to love each other.
So, now I'm asking, Golde...
Tevye: Do you love me?
Golde: I'm your wife!
Tevye: I know. But do you love me?
Golde: Do I love him? For twenty-five years, I've lived with him,
Fought with him, starved with him.
For twenty-five years, my bed is his.
If that's not love, what is?
Tevye: Then you love me?
Golde: I suppose I do.
Tevye: And I suppose I love you, too.
Together: It doesn't change a thing, but even so,
After twenty-five years, it's nice to know
Argumentation - Dr. Leon Morris...
Holman New Testament Commentary: John B. Jesus Is Lord of Our Service (21:15–17)
There can be little doubt but that the whole scene is meant to show us Peter as completely restored to his position of leadership. He has three times denied his Lord. Now he has three times affirmed his love for Him, and three times he has been commissioned to care for the flock. This must have had the effect on the others of a demonstration that, whatever had been the mistakes of the past, Jesus was restoring Peter to a place of trust. It is further worth noting that the one thing about which Jesus questions Peter prior to commissioning him to tend the flock is love. This is the basic qualification for Christian service (Morris, p. 875).
Jesus asked three times for Peter’s sake more than anything. To restore him to the place of Apostle so He would no long desire to run after the old life because He messed up. Jesus had big plans for Peter - to feed and tend to His sheep - to lead the charge that would change the world.
Application - Where are you at with Jesus?
Review - Your Past Failures or His Future Plans - Which Will You Choose?
Your Past Failures or His Future Plans - Which Will You Choose?
1. Will You Choose to Love Jesus?
2. Will You Choose to Serve Jesus? (vs. 18-19)
Lead in…Peter, after this discussion with Jesus is full restored to his former position and, I would say, better for it. Jesus now tells him of the stark reality he faces.
18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” 19 (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”
15 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.” 16 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.” 17 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.
Text -
John 1
Explanation -
18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.”
Verse 18 -
Verse 18 - If you are new to this study, you need to know something about when Jesus says, “Truly, truly”. Literally it means “Amen and amen” Which means, “this is so”.
The point? Whenever you read “Truly, truly” in the scriptures, pay attention. And you better believe that Peter was listening to everything Jesus had to say.
Jesus gives him a proverb. “When you were young, you could do what you wanted, but all that has changed. And when you are old you will go where you do not want to go.”
Jesus tells Peter that back in the day you were fiercely independent and did what you wanted when you wanted. But all that is changing. He, now that He had a restored relationship with Jesus, he was no longer his own.
This is true for all Christians if you think about it. Prior to salvation, we all were fiercely independent. Serving ourselves, doing what we pleased when we pleased with little regard about God and His ways. Ironically, we were unwittingly slaves to sin...
20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.
But then, Jesus came in and everything changed...
22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.
Christians do not own their lives...
19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
You are no longer your
Jesus informs Peter that when he is old, he will go to a place he will not want to go. In other words, this is a prophecy of the martyr death of the Apostle Peter.
Who wants to be put to death? No one. It is not a place we want to go, yet Peter would willingly, humbly serve His Lord in this way
John interprets this mysterious verse for us in the begining of verse 19...
Verse 19 -
Peter was going to die for Jesus...
19 (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”
“Peter lived 3 decades serving the Lord and anticipating the death that was before him, but he wrote that such suffering and death for the Lord brings praise to God. Church tradition records that Peter suffered martyrdom under Nero (ca. a.d. 67–68), being crucified upside down, because he refused to be crucified like his Lord.” John MacArthur Jr., ed., The MacArthur Study Bible, electronic ed. (Nashville, TN: Word Pub., 1997), 1629.
37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
My friends, this is the counter intuitive way of the Christian life! From the perspective of the world, it makes little sense, but for a Christ-follower, it is the reality of our life. It is what our Savior taught us...
John MacArthur Jr., ed., The MacArthur Study Bible, electronic ed. (Nashville, TN: Word Pub., 1997), 1629.
24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?
Later, in his ministry, Peter understood this well...
14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.
12 Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. 13 I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder, 14 since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. 15 And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.
2 Peter 1
The MacArthur Study Bible Chapter 21
Peter lived 3 decades serving the Lord and anticipating the death that was before him (2 Pet. 1:12–15), but he wrote that such suffering and death for the Lord brings praise to God (1 Pet. 4:14–16). Church tradition records that Peter suffered martyrdom under Nero (ca. A.D. 67–68), being crucified upside down, because he refused to be crucified like his Lord.
14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.
-36
So Jesus makes it clear to Peter and the other disciples that Peter would suffer and die for the cause of Christ.
This was His inevitable reality prophesied by the One who truly knew the future. It was a guarantee. All the cards are on the table. You can go back to your old life or you can or you can come after me and die...
Peter was going to die for Jesus...
“And after saying this he said to him, ‘Follow me’.”
He leaves Peter with this command, “Follow me.”
And, what comes around goes around. This is where we found ourselves in the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. As He was building His team. It was the same call...
18 While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
18 While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him.
And so again, Jesus calls Peter to follow him! And boy does he! Even though he knows that the future holds a crucifixion for him, he follows Jesus. But that didn’t matter to him because, in a sense, he had already died - to himself. He finally let go of the old life with its old failures and sin and truly decided to follow Jesus!
And so again, Jesus calls Peter to follow him! And boy does he!
He was fully restored and commissioned by the Lord to Feed and Tend His Sheep!
And we know from the first chapters of the book of Acts that Jesus when after people to shepherd them!
He boldly preached the good news of the gospel to religious people who desperately lost. They heard the gospel, were cut to the heart, repented and placed their faith in Christ as their only solution to their problem with God. It was an amazing day..
37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” 40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” 41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
Three thousand souls are a lot of people to shepherd. He needed to feed them and tend them.
By the way, Peter wasn’t sitting around and waiting to die, for the next thirty years he faithfully served His Lord and Savior.
Peter chose to serve.
Illustration - Joshua, Moses’ successor had to make a simular decision many years prior...
15 And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” 16 Then the people answered, “Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods,
Argumentation - Joshua chose to serve the Lord. Peter was challenged by Jesus and decided to serve the Lord, regardless of the cost!
Application - Will you choose this day to serve the Lord? If you are a Christian, you have been gifted by God to serve him. What will you do with those gifts? Cultivate them or bury them?
Too Busy?
Too much Baggage?
Too much History?
Review - Your Past Failures or His Future Plans - Which Will You Choose?
Your Past Failures or His Future Plans - Which Will You Choose?
1. Will You Choose to Love Jesus?
2. Will You Choose to Serve Jesus?
Conclusion (Visualization)
Lead in...
Text -
Explanation -
Illustration -
Argumentation -
Application -
Review -
Conclusion (Visualization)
Only one life, twill soon be past. Only what is done for Christ will last.
Peter finally understood this!
Do you?
His life radically changed and proved it.
Will yours?
Reflection/Connection Group Questions
What encourages you from this text and sermon?
Why did Jesus go through this line of redundant questioning of Peter’s love for Him? Why was this important?
In what ways can you demonstrate that you love Jesus?
What was Jesus trying to accomplish by letting Peter know he would die a martyr’s death?
Should we be prepared for such a death? How can we do this? (Hint: see )