Employment Solutions for Dropouts
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Intro
ALS;KJD;
There has always been a struggle in society. We see it all the time. People who dropout from one thing or another. High school. college, a challenging extracurricular activity. Dropping out of martial arts before reaching black belt. Quitting a job, dropping out of a family, even dropping out from living.
There is a challenge, to not drop out. And for those who drop out and have a change of heart, then another challenge sets in, how to get back in the game.
We hear of sports legends retiring, only to regret the decision and return.
The struggle to not dropout, and how to get back in the game.
And how to keep encouraged and not drop out when it gets tough.
The problem
What can be done to get back in, or to find the way back?
We hear of sports legends retiring, only to regret the decision and return.
Me (How do I struggle with this?)
But the church, as Christians, we are not immune to the issue.
I have personally struggled with this.
Dropped out of college, but parallel to this was that I was also no longer connected to Jesus like I used to be. Looking back, I was a dropout from my task as a Christian. I wasn’t praying like I used to. I wasn’t contemplating the Bible like I used to. I was living life for my own pleasure. I was self sufficient.
I share this because there is a deeper spiritual issue we should focus on.
We (How do we all struggle with this?)
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Are we as the church dropping out in some dimension?
Perhaps burnout, working too much in the church, lack of time in prayer and bible application, then another member drops out.
Perhaps others are dropping out of relationship with Christ. Feeling like there is a loss of connection with Christ?
Stats on church dropout...
1 out of 2 young people will drift away from the church.
burnout causes dropouts.
13% drop in church attendance over the last 30 years.
In determining why this is happening, we can observe many things going on in our lives that might correlate. Perhaps burnout, working too much in the church, lack of time in prayer and bible application, then another member drops out.
Perhaps others are dropping out of relationship with Christ directly. Feeling like there is a loss of connection with Christ? As if our prayers are not being heard.
Then, after dropping out, it is tough sometimes to get back in the game. Hindrances and roadblocks for the prodigal Christians.
After dropping out, it is tough sometimes to get back in the game. Hindrances.
Christ calls us by many names. One is workers or laborers. Implying that we are employed. And indeed we are. As Christians we are tasked with a divine calling to make disciples and share the gospel. Our wages are eternal life and grace through Christ.
So if we dropout of a Christian walk or in being involved with the mission of the church, we are unemployed. Christ needs laborers, for the harvest is plentiful. There is much work to do.
God (What does the Bible say about this?)
And of course, the bible has Employment Solutions for Dropouts.
We can find the solution by looking into the life of one of the most famous dropouts in history. Peter.
Peter, the disciple, dropped out. When times got too tough, he bailed. Oh yes, he was bold in word. “Never me Lord. I would never dropout. You can count on me to stay with you.”
He started out with good intentions as he tried to defend Jesus from the soldiers who came to arrest him in the garden. Drawing a sword Peter tried his best to put up a fight, but that fisherman was an awful swordsman. And then a 180 conversion, with as much vigor as a boisterous rooster, three times Peter denied being a disciple of Jesus. Although, he slyly followed from a distance for a while; by the time Jesus is going through the most excruciating suffering, Peter is nowhere to be found. When Jesus was on the Cross and really needed the comfort of his disciples. Peter, the dropout, wasn’t around to help. No wonder he isn’t mentioned in the list of those who stayed by his side at the cross.
Peter turns off his stealth mode and emerges from his hiding spot on Sunday, after the heat was off of him.
He first learns of Jesus’ disappearance from the tomb from Mary M. And this is no surprise, for Mary was not a dropout. She was confident in her job as a disciple and headed back to the tomb early in the morning. She needed to finish preparing Jesus’ body for the tomb, Mary mother of James and Solome were with her. And to their surprise, Jesus was not there. The angels told them not to worry that his body was gone, for Jesus was alive. One angel said to go tell the disciples, especially Peter. And they left to do so. They found Peter and John and shared the good news. Peter and John race back to the tomb. John wins, but Peter is the first to go into the tomb to check for himself that Christ’s body is not there. They didn’t see the angels. With nothing to see but an empty tomb in a graveyard, they leave and return to the place where they were staying.
Mary stayed behind, probably taking it all in. She begins to cry, and two angels comfort her with kind words. Jesus appears and says to her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who are you looking for?”
“Woman, why are you crying? Who are you looking for?”
Thinking he was the gardener, she replied, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him and I will get him.”
Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabbouni” (which means Teacher).
She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabbouni” (which means Teacher).
She was able to recognize him now and Jesus explains not to hold on to him for he had not yet gone up to heaven and then told her to go share that news with the others.
Mary leaves and finds them and shares the good news that she had seen with her own eyes, the risen Lord.
Here is a notable point that is significant for how subtle it is. The gospel writers record that Jesus has appeared to Mary in a dramatic way. Then it records how he walked up on two disciples walking to Emmaus, one named Cleophas, and one unnamed. They were talking about all of the events of the day concerning the resurrection of Jesus.
It even records the story of the two disciples who were walking to Emmaus speaking about the events of the day and looking depressed. And Jesus walks upon them them and joins them and asked them why they looked depressed and what they're talking about. Jesus doesn't allow them to recognize him. After their response, he begins to tell them all about himself from the Old Testament and their hearts were on fire as he interpreted the things written about himself in all the scriptures from Moses through all the prophets.
It even records the story of the two disciples were walking to Emaaus speaking about the events of the day and looking depressed. And Jesus walks upon them them and joins them on their walk and asked them why they looked depressed and what they're talking about. Jesus doesn't allow them to recognize him and then begins to tell them all about himself from the Old Testament and their hearts were on fire as he interpreted them things written about himself all the scriptures from Moses through all the profits.
Arriving at Emmaus they go their separate ways, and then they realize that all the while they were walking with Jesus.
Right then they returned to Jerusalem and testified to the disciples that Jesus was alive because they saw him and then there is a little side note. You will almost miss it.
33 They got up right then and returned to Jerusalem. They found the eleven and their companions gathered together. 34 They were saying to each other, “The Lord really has risen! He appeared to Simon!” 35 Then the two disciples described what had happened along the road and how Jesus was made known to them as he broke the bread.
Just a side note that Peter had already seen Jesus.
Note in verse 34 he appeared to Simon. Just a side note that Peter had already seen Jesus.
Then while they were explaining these things to the disciples Jesus suddenly appears standing among them and begins to speak to them"Peace be with you" they were terrified thinking he was a ghost. Jesus calms them down and proves he is human as he has flesh and blood and can eat fish.
Yet, the Bible explains that Thomas wasn’t present during that encounter. The disciples told him later that Jesus had appeared to them and ate with them. But Doubting Thomas proclaimed he would not believe unless he could see the nail marks and put his finger in the wounds.
And still more attention to Thomas. As we learn that eight days later they were again together in a house, but this time Thomas was with them. And Jesus suddenly Appeared in their midst again. "He stated peace be with you". And then he Told Thomas to touch him so he wouldn't believe.
But so far, Peters personal experience with Jesus after his resurrection is just a side note. Even though he was the first of the disciples to see Jesus, his private personal encounter with Jesus is not recorded in the Bible. And that is significant. Peter’s personal experience with the resurrected Christ is just a side note, with no intimate details. He had a corporate experience in the room on 2 occasions, but Peter was not singled out.
The personal experiences of Mary the mourner, doubting Thomas, and even Cleophas the previously unknown disciple, were highlighted in the gospels.
But Peter’s first encounter is insignificant.
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Just Thomas.
It's Not until sometime after at first week that we get to see something very significant with Peter, but its not in relation to his first encounter with Christ after the resurrection. There is significance in a new experience.
Peter’s faith in Christ had petered out as evidence by his denial of Jesus three times before the rooster crowed. Peter was duly employed prior to his denial of Jesus. He had a job to do. All his needs were paid for through the ministry of Christ and what that afforded. He was an apprentice to a master teacher and wordsmith. But by declaring he was not a follower of Jesus, he had in effect, dropped out. He was a quitter. He also let Jesus down. For Christ was counting on him.
Now for the most significant moment in Peter’s life after the resurrection.
We don’t know precisely how many days had gone by since the last time Jesus appeared in the room. Whatever it was, it seemed to be long enough for Peter to realize that he needed to find something else to do, now that his discipleship had ended. How Jesus felt about Peter, was not shared in any of the previous interactions. Whatever happened between Peter and Jesus during their private encounter, we find Peter moving on with his life in this new chapter in his life after the resurrection of Jesus.
going on in peters life we've seen what happened to Mary the mourner and she was crying resurrection morning I'm Buzzin buddy John and doubting Thomas leaving campus who we haven't heard Heard about before after, one of the 70+ disciples.
Peter had mended his relationship with Jesus during that first private encounter on the day of the resurrection, we don’t know.
Narrative of day of fishing.
Let’s look at what Peter the dropout was doing, several days after Christ’s resurrection.
Sometime after passover week, which was at least 1 week after the resurrection, Peter and some of his friends,
Peter knew Jesus was alive and around town somewhere. Jesus is apparently staying away from them and not hangin out on a daily bases. Perhaps he doesn’t want them to get too dependent. After all, for the past 3.5 years they have been walking with him every day while he trained them. They needed to learn to be more independent while depending on the holy spirit.
Although the first to see the resurrected Jesus were the guards at the tomb, and Mary M was the second, Peter was the first of the 11 disciples to see Jesus on resurrection morning. And Peter was present during both times Jesus visited the disciples in the upper room.
We get a look at Peter sometime between 8 days and 3 weeks after the resurrection. What is clear is that is has been several days since Jesus was resurrected. We don’t know what Jesus did with all of his time in between his several interactions with the disciples prior to when he returned to heaven. However, we know that Peter had started to move on.
Sometime after passover week, which was at least 1 week after the resurrection, Peter and some of his friends,
1 Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way:
2 Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus), 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.
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.
When they finished eating, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” Simon replied, “Yes, Lord, you know I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.”
Jesus asked a second time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Simon replied, “Yes, Lord, you know I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Take care of my sheep.”
He asked a third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was sad that Jesus asked him a third time, “Do you love me?” He replied, “Lord, you know everything; you know I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.
Jesus put Peter right back to the place where their relationship left off prior to the crucifixion.
First there was a campfire. They are hanging out around it. The night of Jesus’ arrest, Peter was around a campfire.
Around this campfire, Jesus asks him the question, “do you love me,” three times. Just like three times, during that evening, Peter denied Jesus three times and became a dropout, a quitter, someone who turned his back on Jesus.
Jesus put Peter’s mind back to that moment when their eyes locked, and Peter felt remorse for letter Jesus down. And while he is in that frame of mind, Jesus gives him a job to do. Rather than getting after him for denying him, or saying you are a good for nothing disciple and I am better off without you, Jesus does what he does best, he clearly showed that Peter was forgiven by giving him a special work to do. As Peter is thinking about his dropping out, Jesus is saying, “Remember that, well don’t let it bother you. What matters is if you love me. What matters is getting past your pride and self-reliance, and letting me, your savior, handle your sin, give you a new life, reinstate you. Take you back on. And if you will get back to work. Here are the keys to the kingdom.
Peter was sad, which is a sign of a repentant heart. Sign of a changed man.
Peter is restored to his former job. He didn’t need to go back to fishing for his livelyhood. Now his livelyhood was like it used to be, provided for by Jesus.
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The solution for Peter was repentance and a conversation with Jesus, followed by faith in action.
Like Peter we have to accept the offer from Jesus to reach out to him in prayer. Like Peter who dove right in to getting connected with Jesus after Peter dropped out
EXAMLE OF PETER’S CHANGED LIFE
3 May the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ be blessed! On account of his vast mercy, he has given us new birth. You have been born anew into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. 4 You have a pure and enduring inheritance that cannot perish—an inheritance that is presently kept safe in heaven for you.
Before his fall, Peter was always speaking unadvisedly, from the impulse of the moment. He was always ready to correct others, and to express his mind, before he had a clear comprehension of himself or of what he had to say. But the converted Peter was very different. He retained his former fervor, but the grace of Christ regulated his zeal. He was no longer impetuous, self-confident, and self-exalted, but calm, self-possessed, and teachable. He could then feed the lambs as well as the sheep of Christ’s flock.
Points to explore
three denials and three questions from Jesus about his love
Denial around a camp fire
Questions around a campfire
Peter was self-confident before the cross
Peter is called by Jesus, Simon son of John, as if he is no longer a disciple.
Jesus is addressing this issue. Finally confronting Peter’s past denial, but getting to the heart of the matter.
So he asks a question. Do you love me more than these?
By the third question from Jesus, Peter is grieved, repentant, signs of a changed man. Because he admits and calls attention to the fact that Jesus knows all things. Which implies that Peter admits he doesn’t know all things, which is a sign of humility from Peter, something we aren’t used to seeing from him.
After each response from Peter, Jesus offers his job back. through
He is restored to his former job, he was offered it back. The responsibility of taking care of young and old.
You (What should you do about this?)
For job security, a solution for our nature, to always be inline with God’s divine plan for our lives...
The key qualification for this task, as this chapter indicates, is a love for Jesus that is characterized by humility,
Employment Solution: Love for Jesus with a character of humility and repentance.
Pride must be conquered. And thanks be to God, we are saved by grace. As we put aside self, and acknowledge our need for Jesus, for forgiveness, we become empowered to for the job at hand, We find the solution for being unemployed by God.
We (How can we all live this out together?)
We extend grace to on another helping each other along. We forgive one another, restore one another, pray for one anther.
This is a test
what does this look likehow about this
I want to know.
what does this look like