Senior Sunday - 2022

Lead Off Question

Have you ever been distracted before? How many of you have ever had your car towed?

Illustration

WHere’s is another unfortunate story from Matt’s childhood. There is something in this world that we all saw this morning, or at least if we are wise drivers, we saw this morning. They line the road and are in place for our safety - roadsigns. Well when I was a sophomore in high school I got my driver’s license and was quickly made aware of a few things, these road signs. During your drivers license studies, you actually have to memorize each sign and what it means, otherwise you are unable to understand what it is that these signs are trying to communicate to you. Right if you didn’t study the signs, then you might misinterpret what they mean? Let’s see some examples. (Dodge the bullet, Rudolphs landing pad, burnout here, double dodge the bullet) Well when I was a sophomore in high school, I took the test, got my license (first try for those wondering), and began driving. I never had a single traffic infraction until my senior year, with two months left in school. Sophomore year I would park in a parking lot farthest from school because my friends parked there. Junior year I would park in a parking lot much closer to school because I got tired of walking in the blazing Texas heat. But both years, I kept seeing these students park on the side of the road, and I had always wanted to park there, I just hadn’t been getting there early enough for that spot to be available. Well Senior year, I got that spot, EVERY SINGLE DAY, best spot, my McDonalds lunch spot, my preschool jam spot, my relax spot. IT WAS MY SPOT, annnd I had successfully parked there for 7 months in a row. Everything was great until one day I walked out after school had ended, went to my spot, and my car wasn’t there. At first I thought some buddies had pranked me and moved it to a different lot, so I went and checked the other 4 lots, not there. Then I thought maybe my mom picked it up for some reason because she needed it. So I called her…and let me tell you, she was not happy with what I had to tell her. “Hey mom, did you come pick my car up from school” and her response made it worse, “What, no, what’re you talking about Matthew, where is your car, are you joking with me?” All questions that I really wish I had answers to myself. After a bit of time we found campus police and told them about my missing car and the officer looks straight at me and says, “Was it a 2003 Black Chevy Tahoe?” “Ummm yea” “Oh yea, we had that thing towed today because it was in a clearly posted ‘NO PARKING | TOW AWAY ZONE.’ To say that my parents were upset would be a mild understatement. Right maybe I could misinterpret other traffic signs for dodging bullets and looking out for Rudolph landing during the winter, but there was no way I could misinterpret this sign. (Show sign) The only way I could misinterpret the sign was to completely disregard the sign. You see somehow every morning during my jam sessions, and everyday during my Mcds lunches I failed to read the sign that sat right in front of car LITERALLY. The only explanation was that I had not paid any attention and had been distracted from reading the signs that were posted directly in front of me.

Transition

This morning some of us, including myself sit here, and we are distracted or just completely choosing to ignore the signs flashing past us as we move forward from day-to-day. We are disregarding the time we have with our kids, or our spouses. We are choosing to prioritize our comfort over his conviction. And we pass the signs thinking, well next time, then I will do it. But here is the hard truth, unlike myself who was back driving the next day (not parking in that spot again), we are unaware of our time here on this Earth and therefore, we must make the most of every sign we pass by and see it for what it is, an opportunity.

Bottom Line

We all have signs in front of us, are we acknowledging them?

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Context

This morning if you want to go ahead and open your Bible to Luke 22 we are going to be studying a bit of the life of Peter, and some of the signs he saw, and some of the signs he missed. In here at the beginning of this morning we are going to be bouncing around a bit, but we will eventually settle in Luke 22 where there is the plot of Jesus’ death, his betrayal, the Lord’s supper, Jesus prediction of the denial, and then Peter’s denial. But before we get to the denial I want to talk through some other portions of Peter’s life.

Bible Verse

Luke 5:4–11 NIV

When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.

Matthew 14:25–31 NIV

Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

Matthew 16:13–17 NIV

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.

Peter was aware that God had greater plans, and was ACTIVELY seeking what those plans were.

Breakdown

In the first two stories we see twice Peter saying Lord, I am uncertain, but if you are certain, that is all that matters. Peter realized that apart from God, and direct disobedience would not help him progress and grow in his faith, so even when it didn’t make the most sense or certainly not feel comfortable at all, he submitted himself to the desires of the Lord. The Lord gave Peters signs, commands if you may, and his obedience was in result what led him to be one of the three highest regarded disciples.

Bottom Line

We all have signs in front of us, are we acknowledging them?

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Now lets look at the time Peter was given a major sign, yet he missed it.

Bible Verse

Luke 22:31–34 NIV

“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.” Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.”

Peter had all the signs he needed.

Breakdown

Jesus prayed for Peter.

Peter speaks of his desire to commit everything to the mission of Christ EVEN TO DEATH.

Jesus, tells Peter, DIRECTLY TO PETER, that he will deny him.

Bottom Line

We all have signs in front of us, are we acknowledging them?

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Bible Verse

Luke 22:54–62 NIV

Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.” But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said. A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” “Man, I am not!” Peter replied. About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.” Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.

Peter was distracted by himself that he missed what was given directly to him.

Breakdown

Peter was following closely.

3 Denials

Peter’s first denial was, not knowing the man of Jesus.

Peter’s second denial was, denial of being a follower of Jesus.

Peter’s third denial was, denial of the faith as a whole.

There was time between each denial

The weight that must have been on Peter’s heart.

Bottom Line

We all have signs in front of us, are we acknowledging them?

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Application

It is not too late for you to turn your life around and pursue Jesus and his kingdom with your whole being. A life of submissive obedience to the will of the Lord.

Submit

Send forth.

Would you go if he called?

We all have signs in front of us, are we acknowledging them?