Faith: Opening Doors to Redemption and Growth
Summary
### Summary
Good morning, and welcome to this 18th Sunday after Pentecost. Today, we gather as a Christian community to hear the word of God, which fills us with inspiration and transforms us to respond and share with others. We are in a worship series called "Wide Open," focusing on how faith opens doors to the future. Today, we explored the story of Peter's restoration by Jesus after his betrayal. This story is a powerful reminder that even when we fail, faith can open doors to redemption and new possibilities.
We began by acknowledging the various worries that people have today, from climate change to personal anxieties. These fears often make the future seem bleak. However, the story of Peter shows us that even when we have done something wrong, faith can lead us to reconciliation and a brighter future. Peter, who denied Jesus three times, was restored by Jesus through a series of questions that reaffirmed his love and commitment. This act of restoration opened the door for Peter to become a significant leader in the early church.
We also discussed the importance of confession and making amends, as highlighted in the 12-step program for addiction recovery. Confession and amends are crucial because they free us from the guilt that holds us back. When we avoid dealing with our wrongdoings, we often end up obsessing over them, which only compounds our misery. Instead, we should confess and seek reconciliation, trusting in God's promise of compassion.
Failure is not the end; it can be a springboard to success. Peter's failure and subsequent restoration made him a more effective leader. Similarly, many successful people have experienced significant failures before achieving greatness. The key is to see failure as a step towards growth and effectiveness.
As we move forward, let us pay attention to our worries and guilt. Is God calling us to confess and reconcile? Is God using our failures to build a better future? Let us embrace these opportunities for growth and transformation, trusting that faith opens doors to the future.
### Key Takeaways
1. Faith Opens Doors to the Future: Even when the future seems bleak due to our failures or wrongdoings, faith can lead us to reconciliation and new possibilities. Peter's restoration by Jesus after his betrayal is a powerful example of how faith can transform our lives and open doors to a brighter future. [32:36]
2. The Importance of Confession and Amends: Confession and making amends are crucial steps in freeing ourselves from the guilt that holds us back. When we avoid dealing with our wrongdoings, we often end up obsessing over them, which only compounds our misery. Instead, we should confess and seek reconciliation, trusting in God's promise of compassion. [34:31]
3. Failure as a Springboard to Success: Failure is not the end; it can be a springboard to success. Peter's failure and subsequent restoration made him a more effective leader. Similarly, many successful people have experienced significant failures before achieving greatness. The key is to see failure as a step towards growth and effectiveness. [36:39]
4. Self-Compassion in the Face of Guilt: When we avoid and obsess over our wrongdoings, we often engage in harsh self-criticism. This is a control technique to avoid the more vulnerable but effective path of confession and amends. Embracing self-compassion and seeking reconciliation can free us from this cycle of negativity. [33:49]
5. God's Promise of Compassion: Sin and failure can hold us hostage to negativity, anxiety, and rejection. However, God has promised compassion and forgiveness. By confessing and making amends, we can open doors to redemption, integrity, and new possibilities, just as Peter did. [35:20]
### YouTube Chapters
1. [0:00] - Welcome
2. [06:55] - Online Worship Bulletin
3. [08:30] - Upcoming Worship Series on Election
4. [12:52] - Children's Story: Fishing with Jesus
5. [14:32] - Peter's Encounter with Jesus
6. [16:31] - Jesus' Questions to Peter
7. [18:15] - Feed My Sheep
8. [25:05] - Modern Anxieties and Fears
9. [26:10] - Personal Worries and Guilt
10. [27:41] - Confession and Amends in 12-Step Program
11. [29:02] - Peter's Betrayal and Avoidance
12. [31:16] - Peter's Restoration
13. [32:36] - Faith Opens Doors to the Future
14. [34:31] - God's Promise of Compassion
15. [36:39] - Failure as a Springboard to Success
16. [39:01] - Examples of Success After Failure
17. [40:15] - Call to Confession and Reconciliation
18. [41:05] - Closing Prayer
19. [41:41] - Small Group Sign-Ups
20. [46:43] - Covenant Prayer
21. [49:58] - Prayers of the People
22. [52:49] - Offering and Thanksgiving
23. [57:53] - Communion and Lord's Prayer
24. [01:00:37] - Announcements and Sending
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. John 21:15-17 (NIV)
> "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.'"
2. 1 John 1:9 (NIV)
> "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."
3. Proverbs 24:16 (NIV)
> "For though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes."
### Observation Questions
1. What specific questions did Jesus ask Peter during their conversation by the Sea of Galilee? (John 21:15-17)
2. According to 1 John 1:9, what is the promise given to those who confess their sins?
3. How does Proverbs 24:16 describe the difference between the righteous and the wicked when they face failure?
4. In the sermon, what modern anxieties and fears were mentioned that people are facing today? [25:05]
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved Him? What might this repetition signify? (John 21:15-17)
2. How does the act of confession, as described in 1 John 1:9, help in the process of reconciliation and moving forward from guilt? [34:31]
3. What does Proverbs 24:16 suggest about the nature of resilience and faith in the face of failure?
4. How can Peter's restoration by Jesus serve as a model for dealing with personal failures and guilt in our own lives? [32:36]
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt weighed down by guilt. How did you handle it? Did you choose avoidance or confession? How did that choice affect you? [33:14]
2. Jesus restored Peter by asking him to affirm his love three times. Is there someone in your life you need to reconcile with? What steps can you take to begin that process? [31:47]
3. The sermon mentioned that failure can be a springboard to success. Can you think of a personal failure that eventually led to a positive outcome? How did your faith play a role in that transformation? [36:39]
4. The concept of self-compassion was discussed in the sermon. How do you typically talk to yourself when you make a mistake? What changes can you make to be more compassionate towards yourself? [33:49]
5. The sermon highlighted the importance of confession and making amends. Is there something you need to confess to God or someone else? What is holding you back, and how can you overcome that barrier? [34:31]
6. How can you apply the lesson of Peter's restoration to support someone else who is struggling with guilt or failure? What practical steps can you take to offer them encouragement and support? [32:36]
7. The sermon encouraged us to see failure as a step towards growth. What specific action can you take this week to turn a recent failure into an opportunity for growth and effectiveness? [36:39]
Devotional
Day 1: Faith Transforms Failure into Opportunity
Description: Faith has the power to transform our failures into opportunities for growth and new beginnings. The story of Peter's restoration by Jesus after his betrayal is a powerful example of this. Peter, who denied Jesus three times, was given a chance to reaffirm his love and commitment through a series of questions posed by Jesus. This act of restoration not only reconciled Peter with Jesus but also opened the door for him to become a significant leader in the early church. This narrative teaches us that even when we have done something wrong, faith can lead us to reconciliation and a brighter future. [32:36]
1 Peter 5:10 (ESV): "And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you."
Reflection: Think of a recent failure or mistake in your life. How can you invite God to transform this failure into an opportunity for growth and new possibilities?
Day 2: The Power of Confession and Amends
Description: Confession and making amends are crucial steps in freeing ourselves from the guilt that holds us back. When we avoid dealing with our wrongdoings, we often end up obsessing over them, which only compounds our misery. Instead, we should confess and seek reconciliation, trusting in God's promise of compassion. This principle is highlighted in the 12-step program for addiction recovery, where confession and making amends are essential for healing and moving forward. By acknowledging our wrongs and seeking to make things right, we can experience the freedom and peace that come from God's forgiveness. [34:31]
James 5:16 (ESV): "Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working."
Reflection: Is there something you need to confess or someone you need to make amends with? How can you take a step towards reconciliation today?
Day 3: Embracing Failure as a Path to Success
Description: Failure is not the end; it can be a springboard to success. Peter's failure and subsequent restoration made him a more effective leader. Similarly, many successful people have experienced significant failures before achieving greatness. The key is to see failure as a step towards growth and effectiveness. By embracing our failures and learning from them, we can become stronger and more resilient. This perspective allows us to move forward with hope and confidence, knowing that God can use our failures to build a better future. [36:39]
Proverbs 24:16 (ESV): "For the righteous falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble in times of calamity."
Reflection: Reflect on a time when you experienced failure. How did it shape you and contribute to your growth? How can you view current or future failures as opportunities for success?
Day 4: Practicing Self-Compassion in the Face of Guilt
Description: When we avoid and obsess over our wrongdoings, we often engage in harsh self-criticism. This is a control technique to avoid the more vulnerable but effective path of confession and amends. Embracing self-compassion and seeking reconciliation can free us from this cycle of negativity. By being kind to ourselves and acknowledging our mistakes without harsh judgment, we can open the door to healing and transformation. God's promise of compassion and forgiveness invites us to let go of guilt and embrace a more compassionate and loving view of ourselves. [33:49]
Psalm 103:12-14 (ESV): "As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust."
Reflection: How do you typically respond to your own mistakes and failures? What steps can you take to practice self-compassion and seek God's forgiveness today?
Day 5: Trusting in God's Promise of Compassion
Description: Sin and failure can hold us hostage to negativity, anxiety, and rejection. However, God has promised compassion and forgiveness. By confessing and making amends, we can open doors to redemption, integrity, and new possibilities, just as Peter did. Trusting in God's promise of compassion allows us to move forward with hope and confidence, knowing that we are not defined by our past mistakes. Instead, we are invited to embrace a future filled with God's love and grace. [35:20]
Micah 7:18-19 (ESV): "Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love. He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea."
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to trust in God's promise of compassion and forgiveness? How can you take a step towards embracing this promise today?
Quotes
1. "Today, we are in a worship series called Wide Open about faith opening doors and faith opening doors wide open. We are also going to have an opportunity after the sermon, if you are not part of a small group, to sign up and say, find me a small group. It's time. I'd like to be part of that." [06:55] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "These fears of the future are fears of the unknown, which psychologists tell us is a basic human fear. And those are kind of, you know, big picture worries. And then there are personal worries. As the rise of housing keeps going up, will I be able to afford housing? As more and more people move to CUNA, will I be pushed out? Or perhaps you're like me, recovering from major knee surgery, and sometimes I worry, is this as good as it's going to get? And I'm never really going to get better." [25:05] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "When you've done something wrong, the future looks bleak. Avoidance or confession. In the 12-step program, which is for folks recovering from addiction, confession and amends is an integral part of recovery. Addiction always includes wrongdoing, hurting people. Step five is admit to God, ourselves or another human being, the existence, the exact nature of our wrongs. That's confession. The exact nature of our wrongs. And step eight is make amends to the people we've harmed." [27:41] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "When we have done something wrong and our future looks bleak, feels like the doors are closed. But faith opens doors to the future. Perhaps if you have done something that is weighing on you, some guilt, and you carry that guilt, perhaps it was lies or hurtful behavior or addiction or betrayal or sin. When you have done bad things, like Peter, maybe you avoid, maybe you confess. Often, usually, when we choose avoidance, what we're actually doing is we obsess about it in our own minds." [32:36] (49 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Own your past so your past doesn't own you. Peter's past was owning him. It was keeping him silent and unengaged. And Jesus led him through reconciliation. And it was only then, when Peter owned his past, when he reconciled, that Jesus gave him the call again. Follow me. Follow me. Jesus is telling him, you screwed up. My compassion's bigger than all of that. Follow me. And that is what Jesus, or that's what Peter did. Peter went back to that life of kingdom living, to that being a Jesus apprentice." [35:20] (48 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "Failure can be a springboard to success, to effectiveness. Peter, who was avoiding, first betrayed and then avoid and finally reconciled, only 40 days after that breakfast on the beach, 40 days later, Peter is preaching to a huge crowd on what we call Pentecost. And he's telling them about this good news of Jesus Christ. He said, the one you crucified. This huge crowd probably included a lot of people who were there when the crowds were asked, should I crucify him? And they said, yes, crucify him. Very same people." [36:39] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "Faith opens doors to the future. So, don't obsess, confess. But the other is, failure can be a springboard to success, to effectiveness. Peter, who was avoiding, first betrayed and then avoid and finally reconciled, only 40 days after that breakfast on the beach, 40 days later, Peter is preaching to a huge crowd on what we call Pentecost. And he's telling them about this good news of Jesus Christ. He said, the one you crucified. This huge crowd probably included a lot of people who were there when the crowds were asked, should I crucify him? And they said, yes, crucify him. Very same people." [36:39] (53 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "Many successful people have had major failures. It's not just in faith, it's in all these walks of life. People that major failures led to greater success. The Beatles were rejected by record label after record label with comments like, guitar groups are on the way out. And the Beatles have no future in show business. And as we all know, they went on to become arguably the best band in history. Michael Jordan, one of the greatest basketball players of all time, was cut from his high school basketball team." [39:01] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "Failure is not the end. The cross was not the end for Jesus. Failure is a springboard to success. And that is how it is with God. Faith, opening doors to the future. So this week, pay attention to your worry. Pay attention to your guilt. Is God calling you to confess and reconcile? Is God calling you to take your failure into a new success, a new effectiveness? Is God using your failure to actually build a better future? A kingdom of God future?" [40:15] (48 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "When we confess and we receive compassion, it's because we deserve compassion. And God has promised compassion. God has promised compassion. Sin and failure can hold us hostage to negativity or anxiety or rejection. And then we kind of compound it with more criticism to maintain our avoidance. And faith opens doors to the future, doors to redemption and possibility and integrity. And so a takeaway that I have from this is one thing. When something is weighing on us, don't obsess, confess." [34:31] (53 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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