Following Jesus: Embracing Faith and Renewal
Summary
In today's reflection, we journey through the poignant narrative of John 21, where Jesus reaffirms His call to Peter, reminding us of the profound invitation to follow Him. As we stand at the threshold of a new year, we are reminded that Jesus knows our past and holds our future. The story of Peter, from his initial call to follow Jesus to his moments of doubt and denial, mirrors our own spiritual journeys. We all have moments of clarity when we hear Jesus' call, and moments of confusion when we return to the familiar, much like Peter returning to fishing. Yet, Jesus meets us in our familiar places, inviting us to cast our nets on the other side, to trust in His way, which is always the better way.
Peter's story is a testament to the highs and lows of faith. His journey from denial to restoration is a powerful reminder that our faithfulness is not the foundation of our discipleship; rather, it is Jesus' unwavering faithfulness that sustains us. Jesus' questioning of Peter, "Do you love me more than these?" is a call to examine our own hearts and priorities. It is a call to love Jesus above all else and to feed His sheep, to serve and love others as an expression of our love for Him.
As we enter this new year, we are invited to consecrate ourselves anew, recognizing that our strength is insufficient, but His grace is abundant. We are called to repent, to turn away from the paths that lead to dysfunction and to embrace the life that Jesus offers. This is a holy moment, a time to acknowledge that every good gift comes from God and to lay down our lives in service to Him. We are reminded that our journey is not about our ability to remain faithful, but about His ability to hold us through every twist and turn.
Key Takeaways:
- The call to follow Jesus is both an invitation and a command. It requires us to leave behind the familiar and trust in His way, which is always better than our own understanding. This call is a holy moment, a glimpse of God's presence and purpose in our lives. [09:39]
- Peter's journey reflects the highs and lows of our own faith journeys. His story reminds us that Jesus' faithfulness, not our own, is the foundation of our discipleship. Jesus reinstates us not based on our faithfulness but on His. [13:18]
- Returning to the familiar can be a sign of disillusionment with our own faithfulness. Jesus invites us to step into the unfamiliar, trusting that His way leads to life. Our lives, like a cart with a squeaky wheel, need constant realignment with God's purposes. [15:32]
- Jesus' questioning of Peter is a call to examine our own hearts. Do we love Him more than anything else? This love is expressed in our service to others, feeding His sheep, and living out our faith in tangible ways. [16:31]
- Repentance is a gift, a holy moment of turning away from sin and towards the life Jesus offers. It is a recognition that our faith is empty without His grace, and a commitment to consecrate our lives to His service. [22:40]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[09:39] - The Call to Follow
[11:15] - Peter's Journey of Faith
[12:27] - Human Highs and Lows
[13:18] - Returning to the Familiar
[14:09] - Jesus' Better Way
[15:32] - The Squeaky Wheel of Life
[16:31] - Do You Love Me?
[17:15] - Consecration and Discipleship
[20:17] - Forgiven Much, Love Much
[21:45] - Holy Moments of Repentance
[22:40] - Prayer of Repentance
[23:56] - Confession and Forgiveness
[24:35] - Closing Prayer and Worship
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- John 21:1-19
- Matthew 4:18-20
- Luke 7:36-50
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Observation Questions:
1. In John 21, what specific instructions does Jesus give to the disciples when they are fishing, and what is the outcome? [14:09]
2. How does Peter respond when he realizes it is Jesus on the shore in John 21? What does this reveal about his character? [14:09]
3. What are some of the highs and lows in Peter's journey with Jesus as mentioned in the sermon? [12:27]
4. What question does Jesus repeatedly ask Peter after breakfast, and how does Peter respond each time? [16:31]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. What might Jesus' instruction to "cast the net on the right side of the boat" symbolize in terms of trusting His guidance over our own understanding? [14:09]
2. How does Peter's journey from denial to restoration illustrate the concept of Jesus' faithfulness being the foundation of discipleship? [17:15]
3. In what ways does returning to the familiar, as Peter did with fishing, reflect our own tendencies when faced with uncertainty or disillusionment? [13:18]
4. How does the story of the woman who anointed Jesus' feet in Luke 7 relate to the theme of being forgiven much and loving much? [20:17]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt Jesus calling you to follow Him. How did you respond, and what made that moment significant for you? [11:15]
2. Are there areas in your life where you are returning to the familiar instead of stepping into the unfamiliar path Jesus is calling you to? How can you trust His way more? [13:18]
3. Jesus asks Peter, "Do you love me more than these?" What are the "these" in your life that might compete with your love for Jesus? How can you prioritize your love for Him? [16:31]
4. Consider the concept of repentance as a gift. What are some areas in your life where you need to turn away from sin and embrace the life Jesus offers? [22:40]
5. How can you actively participate in "feeding His sheep" in your community? What are some tangible ways you can serve and love others as an expression of your love for Jesus? [16:31]
6. Reflect on the idea that our faithfulness is not the foundation of our discipleship, but rather Jesus' faithfulness. How does this change your perspective on your spiritual journey? [17:15]
7. As you enter this new year, what specific steps can you take to consecrate yourself anew to God's service, recognizing that every good gift comes from Him? [21:45]
Devotional
Day 1: Trusting in the Unfamiliar
The call to follow Jesus is both an invitation and a command, urging us to leave behind the familiar and trust in His way, which is always better than our own understanding. This call is a holy moment, a glimpse of God's presence and purpose in our lives. As we stand at the threshold of a new year, we are reminded that Jesus knows our past and holds our future. Like Peter, who returned to fishing in moments of doubt, we too may find ourselves clinging to the familiar. Yet, Jesus meets us in these places, inviting us to cast our nets on the other side, to trust in His way. This is a call to step into the unfamiliar, trusting that His way leads to life. [09:39]
Isaiah 42:16 (ESV): "And I will lead the blind in a way that they do not know, in paths that they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I do, and I do not forsake them."
Reflection: What familiar habits or routines might you need to leave behind to fully embrace the new path Jesus is calling you to? How can you take a step of faith into the unfamiliar today?
Day 2: The Foundation of Discipleship
Peter's journey reflects the highs and lows of our own faith journeys. His story reminds us that Jesus' faithfulness, not our own, is the foundation of our discipleship. Jesus reinstates us not based on our faithfulness but on His. This is a powerful reminder that our faithfulness is not the foundation of our discipleship; rather, it is Jesus' unwavering faithfulness that sustains us. As we navigate the ups and downs of our spiritual journey, we can find comfort in knowing that Jesus' faithfulness is constant, even when ours falters. [13:18]
2 Timothy 2:13 (ESV): "If we are faithless, he remains faithful—for he cannot deny himself."
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you struggle to remain faithful? How can you rely on Jesus' faithfulness to sustain you in those moments?
Day 3: Embracing the Unfamiliar
Returning to the familiar can be a sign of disillusionment with our own faithfulness. Jesus invites us to step into the unfamiliar, trusting that His way leads to life. Our lives, like a cart with a squeaky wheel, need constant realignment with God's purposes. This is a call to examine our own hearts and priorities, to love Jesus above all else, and to serve and love others as an expression of our love for Him. As we enter this new year, we are invited to consecrate ourselves anew, recognizing that our strength is insufficient, but His grace is abundant. [15:32]
Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV): "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself returning to the familiar instead of trusting in Jesus' way? How can you realign this area with God's purposes today?
Day 4: Love Expressed in Service
Jesus' questioning of Peter, "Do you love me more than these?" is a call to examine our own hearts. Do we love Him more than anything else? This love is expressed in our service to others, feeding His sheep, and living out our faith in tangible ways. As we reflect on this question, we are challenged to consider our own priorities and the ways in which we express our love for Jesus through our actions. This is a call to love Jesus above all else and to serve and love others as an expression of our love for Him. [16:31]
1 John 3:18 (ESV): "Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth."
Reflection: How can you express your love for Jesus through service to others today? What specific action can you take to feed His sheep in your community?
Day 5: The Gift of Repentance
Repentance is a gift, a holy moment of turning away from sin and towards the life Jesus offers. It is a recognition that our faith is empty without His grace, and a commitment to consecrate our lives to His service. As we enter this new year, we are invited to consecrate ourselves anew, recognizing that our strength is insufficient, but His grace is abundant. This is a time to acknowledge that every good gift comes from God and to lay down our lives in service to Him. [22:40]
Acts 3:19 (ESV): "Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to repent and turn back to God? How can you embrace the gift of repentance and experience the refreshing presence of the Lord today?
Quotes
"To, to know what that. To pinpoint that experience. Maybe you grew up in church and you're like, maybe I kind of have always had a feel for following Jesus. I can't really pinpoint a moment. Or maybe it's been a wrestling match with years in between each round where you're just going back and forth with God. And eventually your will submits to his and you decide, you know, this is the right, this is the path that leads to life. I'm going to follow him. Maybe it wasn't a singular moment, but as you think over your life, where were you? When Jesus broke through the cacophony of other voices and the sounds of other songs, and you heard his voice, call you to follow him and you obey. What was that? What was that like for you?" [00:09:54] (46 seconds)
"And there was unusual clarity, a sense of the presence of God, that whatever you have, whatever gifts you have, whatever abilities you have, that the whole purpose of your life was to give them back to the one who gave them to you. And in some manner, you responded. And so that's a holy moment." [00:10:57] (30 seconds)
"So we see we see Jesus call Peter and Andrew for the first time. And it says it says at once they left their nets and they followed him. You know, that kind of sound the words follow me kind of sounds like an invitation to which we could either say, sure, or I have other things to do. But they hear it as a command. And they drop their" [00:11:26] (28 seconds)
"And so he kind of just returns back to fishing. He's like, I don't know, but this is what I do know. I know how to fish. I don't know what this is supposed to look like now because Jesus has already resurrected, but, but I really don't have a game plan for what I'm supposed to do because he's not here anymore. So I'm just going to go back to fishing. And, and so he rallies some buddies and they're out fishing and they're not catching anything. It's not going well. So again, Jesus calls them from the shore. It's dark out." [00:13:38] (26 seconds)
"And, and then, so Peter here recognizes that it's Jesus. So he, very passionate Peter, he, he, he jumps into the water and he swims to the shore and he, cause he's like, oh Jesus, you're, you're here. And, and it turns out Jesus didn't need the fish that he caught. I already had fish cooking on the beach, but he said, I want you to be a part of what I'm doing. So I'm going to let you catch fish anyways. And why don't you contribute some of the fish you caught that I helped you catch into the, into the fire." [00:14:17] (26 seconds)
"Have you ever been at a grocery store or at a store where you kind of get the cart with the squeaky wheel or the stuck wheel? And you're like, there are hundreds of carts. I'm like, am I too stubborn to now put it back in the line? I have to go through the store with the stuck wheel. I think our lives are like that by default. When we don't seek God actively, when we don't actively pursue the Lord, we just keep finding the squeaky wheel. And that's actually the kindness of God." [00:15:21] (35 seconds)
"Jesus' words hurt Peter because they were convicting and they were unearthing something about Peter's tenderness. He knew this because he knew Peter was very always very unruly. He knew Peter was very and about where his, where his, where he was defaulting to because he knew that though his, his words were often very full of faith, his actions fell, fell flat." [00:16:47] (23 seconds)
"And so Jesus was reinstating Peter to a call of discipleship and obedience, but not based on Peter's faith or even his faithfulness or lack thereof, but based on the faithfulness of Jesus to carry him through." [00:17:29] (15 seconds)
"Jesus turns and he sees John there and he says what about him and Jesus says no that's not what I'm asking someone I'm talking about you must follow me so there's this invitation again this morning maybe you're like Peter at the boat initially and you've never actually the voice of God hasn't broken through and you've never dropped your nets to follow him that's today that there's a response there's a repentance there's an opportunity today to receive the salvation of the Lord to respond in following Jesus with your life. Or maybe you've been through some stuff. Maybe you've been disillusioned by your own lack of faithfulness this last year or just the hard knocks of life." [00:18:55] (43 seconds)
"reinstating us to a call of of discipleship, to a call of following him with everything that we have. Everything we have is his. And that's the moment of clarity where we say, God, you brought me into this life. And whether I abase or whether I abound, everything I have is yours. So let me render it all unto you, fully given over to your purposes." [00:20:03] (29 seconds)
"So all, whatever consecration, whatever dedication, whatever we have is a response to the grace of God. It's a response to the beauty of Jesus. It's a response to all that he's done for us. How could I not? Give everything for him. How could I not seek him while he may be found? How could I not say yes? Whatever it looks like, Jesus, you're worth it. Wherever you're calling me, I'm going. Whatever, I don't, whatever answers I don't have, it doesn't matter because if you're in it, I'm in it." [00:20:37] (30 seconds)
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