The God of Second Chances

John 13:36–38 NLT

Simon Peter asked, “Lord, where are you going?” And Jesus replied, “You can’t go with me now, but you will follow me later.” “But why can’t I come now, Lord?” he asked. “I’m ready to die for you.” Jesus answered, “Die for me? I tell you the truth, Peter—before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.

John 18:15–18 NLT

Simon Peter followed Jesus, as did another of the disciples. That other disciple was acquainted with the high priest, so he was allowed to enter the high priest’s courtyard with Jesus. Peter had to stay outside the gate. Then the disciple who knew the high priest spoke to the woman watching at the gate, and she let Peter in. The woman asked Peter, “You’re not one of that man’s disciples, are you?” “No,” he said, “I am not.” Because it was cold, the household servants and the guards had made a charcoal fire. They stood around it, warming themselves, and Peter stood with them, warming himself.

John 18:25–27 NLT

Meanwhile, as Simon Peter was standing by the fire warming himself, they asked him again, “You’re not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it, saying, “No, I am not.” But one of the household slaves of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Didn’t I see you out there in the olive grove with Jesus?” Again Peter denied it. And immediately a rooster crowed.

John 21:15–19 NLT

After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.” “Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him. Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love me?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love you.” “Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said. A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep. “I tell you the truth, when you were young, you were able to do as you liked; you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will dress you and take you where you don’t want to go.” Jesus said this to let him know by what kind of death he would glorify God. Then Jesus told him, “Follow me.”

22 - https://skitguys.com/videos/grace-skit-guys

Introduction: Is the Church a place of perfect people for perfect people, or is it a place of second chances? What if you feel like a Failure as a Mom, as a Kid?

23 - Jesus is Fail Safe.

1. “I say I’m fine, but I’m not / I’m broken.” This is from the song “Truth Be Told,” written by Andrew Jacob Pruis and Matthew West. The song describes the lies we can tell ourselves as believers, never being honest about our struggles and our failures—sometimes because the church doesn’t seem like a safe enough place to do so. Even though it’s difficult, it is impossible to fail forward if we never acknowledge failure in the first place.

What is a Fail Safe Environment?

We usually think of Fail safe as being safe from failure. - Like Setting up a system that can not fail. It is safe from failure.

But Jesus gives us an environment that is safe to fail.

Jesus Knows we are going to fail, but he loves us anyway. - He knows that Peter is going to deny him

Judas - His heart is with Satan and against Jesus’ Mission.

Peter - His heart is for Jesus. His Heart is willing, but his flesh is weak.

What did he know.

Peter would deny him, that Jesus would restore Him, and that Peter would get a second chance to fulfill his purpose later.

Why does Jesus let him fail?

To not mess up the plan somehow.

Because Jesus is going to need him to share the good news. To be the leader of the Church he has called him to be.

Jesus needs him to witness the resurrection - Becomes the power in Peter’s life and death.

Contrast the Before and After

- Maybe you thought that after you accepted Christ you would never sin again, or that you would never struggle with failure. But reality hits us, and we realize that we aren’t as sinless as we thought, that the new life in Jesus is a journey that takes time, and that other believers are not always perfect, either.

Church Plant that “Failed.”

24 - No, I don't "got this". That's why I need our gracious, merciful, loving God. Prayers, please.

25 - Jesus Restores Our Failures.

Stories of Restoration as Parents/Child

Conversation with my Mom about my Grades in Elementary School/Middle School

Figured out a system because I believed if I was going to play sports in College, I needed good grades.

Almost Cracking up my car when

The Importance of Confession Here.

Peter needed to deal with his failure. Jesus just died once and for all, but Peter needed to hear it...

Otherwise we believe in our failures more than we do Jesus and the power of His Grace.

- Really think about the seriousness of Peter’s Denial. It really is a big deal if Christianity is about allegience to Jesus.

Jesus - He showed him love and reconciliation. Suppose Jesus and Peter met at the campfire after Jesus rose again, and Peter acted like everything was fine. Sure, he’d made a little mistake, but he was good, right? What if Peter never acknowledged his failure? The story of Peter’s redemption would not have happened.

26 - 1. It’s important for Christians to realize and express with humility both their failures and their perseverance to grow as believers. It is easy to present ourselves as always strong or that we always have it together, but we are painting an unrealistic picture of ourselves to the world. Fred Rogers emphasizes the importance of being honest with children about the letdowns of life in this scene from the 2019 movie A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (directed by Marielle Heller [TriStar Pictures, 2019]): https://www.wingclips.com/movie-clips/a-beautiful-day-in-the-neighborhood/fred-and-the-tent.

27 - We Can Pursue Jesus for Restoration.

Peter is about Falling Forward... In 1 Peter he describes the importance of holiness in Christian living, saying, “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’ And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot” (1 Peter 1:14–18).

28 - Kairos Circle.

Conclusion:

Don’t pretend that you don’t make mistakes. - Humble

Confess your mistakes to Jesus.

So you can hear the Words of Jesus’ Grace again