Embracing Grace: A Call to Restoration and Love
Summary
The sermon begins with the pastor acknowledging the congregation's past mistakes and the harm they may have caused. He emphasizes that God's grace is bigger than any wrongdoings and encourages the congregation to seek forgiveness from Jesus, the true Shepherd of the church. The pastor shares a powerful testimony of a couple who found restoration and purpose through God's grace, challenging the congregation to reflect on their attitudes towards others and their need for a restoration story.
The pastor then reflects on Jesus' phrase to Peter and Andrew, "Follow me, and I will make you Fishers of Men," emphasizing that love for Jesus should be expressed through action, not just belief. He acknowledges the church's struggle to extend grace to those currently struggling or making mistakes, encouraging patience, compassion, and grace for those in the midst of their struggles. The pastor expresses gratitude for the transformation in Peter's life, emphasizing that no one is beyond the reach of God's grace. He calls for repentance from pride and rejoicing in others' failures, encouraging the church to be a place of restoration, renewal, and reconciliation.
The pastor emphasizes the importance of community and warns against pastors believing that the church and its people belong to them. He reminds the congregation that Jesus is the head of the church and that pastors are merely under-shepherds. The pastor also reflects on the conversation between Jesus and Peter, highlighting the courage and steadfastness that Peter will display, even to the point of being martyred for his faith.
The pastor addresses the issue of the church celebrating the downfall of spiritual leaders or individuals who have made mistakes. He emphasizes the lack of restoration within the church and encourages those in need of restoration to find hope and courage in the cross of Jesus. The pastor also reflects on the conversation between Jesus and Peter, emphasizing that love for Jesus is inseparable from loving and serving His people.
The pastor concludes the sermon by emphasizing the importance of recognizing that all denominations and churches belong to Jesus. He reminds the congregation of their responsibility to serve and meet the needs of others, emphasizing that the primary thing Jesus asks of his followers is if they love him.
Key Takeaways:
- God's grace is bigger than any of our past mistakes or wrongdoings. We are encouraged to seek forgiveness from Jesus, the true Shepherd of the church, who can write a restoration story for us. ([12:45])
- Love for Jesus should be expressed through action, not just belief. The church is called to extend grace, patience, and compassion to those currently struggling or making mistakes. ([24:33])
- No one is beyond the reach of God's grace. The church should be a place of restoration, renewal, and reconciliation, rejecting pride and rejoicing in others' failures. ([36:27])
- Pastors are merely under-shepherds, with Jesus as the head of the church. It is dangerous for pastors to believe that the church and its people belong to them. ([48:15])
- All denominations and churches belong to Jesus, regardless of the labels humans have created. The primary thing Jesus asks of his followers is if they love him, rather than focusing solely on obedience, repentance, or behavior. ([59:02])
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
1. John 21:15-19: "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!”
2. Matthew 16:18: "And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it."
3. John 10:11: "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep."
Observation Questions:
1. What is the significance of Jesus asking Peter three times if he loves Him in John 21:15-19?
2. In Matthew 16:18, what does Jesus mean when He says He will build His church on Peter?
3. How does John 10:11 portray Jesus' role as the good shepherd?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Peter's response to Jesus' repeated question about love reflect his commitment and understanding of his role in the church?
2. What does it mean for the church to be built on Peter, and how does this relate to the concept of grace and restoration?
3. How does the image of Jesus as the good shepherd connect to the idea of Him being the head of the church and pastors being under-shepherds?
Application Questions:
1. Reflecting on Peter's conversation with Jesus in John 21:15-19, how can you express your love for Jesus through your actions towards others in your life this week?
2. Considering Matthew 16:18, in what ways can you contribute to the building of the church, showing grace and compassion to those who are struggling or have made mistakes?
3. Based on John 10:11, how can you emulate the good shepherd's sacrificial love in your interactions with others, particularly those who may be difficult to love?
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing God's Grace Amidst Our Failures
God's grace is not limited by our past mistakes or wrongdoings. It is a divine gift that is always available to us, regardless of our past. We are encouraged to seek forgiveness from Jesus, the true Shepherd of the church, who can write a restoration story for us. [12:45]
Lamentations 3:22-23 - "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."
Reflection: Reflect on a past mistake that you're still holding onto. How can you seek God's grace and forgiveness for this today?
Day 2: Love in Action
Our love for Jesus should not be confined to mere belief but should be expressed through our actions. The church is called to extend grace, patience, and compassion to those currently struggling or making mistakes. [24:33]
James 2:17 - "So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead."
Reflection: What is one tangible way you can express your love for Jesus through action towards someone who is struggling today?
Day 3: The Church as a Place of Restoration
The church should be a place of restoration, renewal, and reconciliation, rejecting pride and rejoicing in others' failures. No one is beyond the reach of God's grace. [36:27]
Isaiah 57:15 - "For thus says the high and exalted One Who lives forever, whose name is Holy, 'I dwell on a high and holy place, And also with the contrite and lowly of spirit In order to revive the spirit of the lowly And to revive the heart of the contrite.'"
Reflection: Is there someone in your life who you've been unwilling to extend grace to? How can you begin to change your attitude towards them?
Day 4: Jesus, the Head of the Church
Pastors are merely under-shepherds, with Jesus as the head of the church. It is dangerous for pastors to believe that the church and its people belong to them. [48:15]
Colossians 1:18 - "And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent."
Reflection: How can you remind yourself and others that Jesus, not any human leader, is the true head of the church?
Day 5: Love for Jesus Above All
All denominations and churches belong to Jesus, regardless of the labels humans have created. The primary thing Jesus asks of his followers is if they love him, rather than focusing solely on obedience, repentance, or behavior. [59:02]
John 21:15 - "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.'"
Reflection: How can you demonstrate your love for Jesus in a practical way today, beyond just obedience or good behavior?
Quotes
"For some of us, we've become very comfortable with proclaiming our love for Jesus, singing our love for Jesus, journaling our love for Jesus, but yet we do nothing to love, bless, serve, feed, and tend to the people of Jesus. And I believe in Jesus's mind that makes absolutely no sense. So one of the ways that we express our love to Jesus is by serving the people of Jesus, meeting the needs of the people of Jesus. In Jesus's mind, love is action, not simply a belief." ([30:34])
"We love the thought of Grace for people who don't need it, but we don't know what to do with someone who is actively blowing up their life, and we have very little patience, very little passion, and very little compassion for those kinds of people." ([32:16])
"Grace is bigger than anything that you've done... Jesus and only Jesus the true true Shepherd of his church can write a restoration story for you." [36:46]
"When it comes to my people, I'm the Shepherd. That when it comes to this church, just so there's no mistake, like I'm not your pastor, Jesus is your pastor. Jesus is the head of this church and he will appoint under Shepherds or under pastors." [17:58]
"I just can't fathom a scenario where I would ever see one of Jesus's flock celebrate a Slaughter of another flock... it's like it gives us this demented Joy when a spiritual leader Falls... what I don't see very often is anyone waving the banner of restoration." [33:15]
"If ever there should be a place in the world that is masterful at seeing restoration story after restoration story after restoration story emerge, it's the local church... the Bible is nothing more than a story of deeply broken men and women who were simply restored back to God through his grace." [35:25]
"Jesus says these are my sheep, feed my sheep... it's not about the leadership, we have one ultimate leader... the more Authority and influence you have, the more people you have to serve and the more your reach expands... you don't go higher, you go lower and this is the picture of biblical leadership." [20:04]
"I love this question so much... what's the one thing Jesus asked for? Do you love me... the primary thing that Jesus asks Peter and 2,000 years later asks us, he's asking if you love him." [21:28]
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