Jesus: Our Sufficiency in Restoration and Service

 

Summary

In today's gathering, we celebrated the joy of being together as a church family, anticipating the arrival of new chairs and projectors, and looking forward to Palm Sunday and Easter services. We welcomed first-time visitors and our online family, encouraging everyone to stay connected with us. We also prepared for our Good Friday communion service, a time to remember Jesus' sacrifice on the cross.

I shared about the sufficiency of Jesus Christ in our lives. He is more than enough to forgive our sins, erase our shame and guilt, restore our fellowship with God, and guide our future. I emphasized the importance of following Jesus, even when we have failed or feel unworthy. I recounted the story of Peter, who denied Jesus but was restored and commissioned to shepherd new believers. This demonstrates that Jesus is enough to erase our guilt and shame, and He calls us to follow Him regardless of our future.

I also spoke about the necessity of crucifying our self-ambition to faithfully serve Jesus. We must take up our cross, die to our old selves, and be resurrected in newness of life in Christ. I reminded everyone that Jesus is enough to direct and sustain us throughout our lives.

We prayed for those who wanted to commit or recommit their lives to Jesus, and for our missions team traveling to Brazil. We also collected a special offering to support our missionaries in Manaus, Brazil.

Key Takeaways:

- Jesus is more than enough to erase our shame and guilt. Shame acts as an emotional vampire, but when we surrender to Jesus, shame vanishes. We must allow the love of Jesus to master us before we can effectively minister to others. His grace speaks acceptance and love into our lives, even when we feel unworthy. [01:05:13]

- Following Jesus closely is essential. Life can be tumultuous, but staying close to Jesus, our perfect center, ensures stability and joy. When we draw near to Him, He draws near to us, reminding us of His constant presence and care. [01:15:05]

- Jesus calls us to follow Him without comparison to others. He has a unique plan for each of us, and we must focus on our own journey with Him. When we follow Jesus, we find that He alone is sufficient to direct and sustain us. [01:12:09]

- Jesus' call to follow Him is a call to die to our self-ambition. Taking up our cross means nailing our selfish desires to it and living a life of surrender to God's will. This leads to a life transformed by His power and grace. [01:10:38]

- Jesus' restoration of Peter after his denial shows us that failure is not final. Jesus' look of wounded compassion invites us to reconnect with Him and receive His forgiveness. This gives us hope that no matter our past, Jesus is ready to restore and use us for His glory. [56:26]

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
- John 21:15-19 (ESV)
> "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.' He said to him a second time, 'Simon, son of John, do you love me?' He said to him, 'Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.' He said to him, 'Tend my sheep.' He said to him the third time, 'Simon, son of John, do you love me?' Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, 'Do you love me?' and he said to him, 'Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.' Jesus said to him, 'Feed my sheep. Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.' (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, 'Follow me.'"

#### Observation Questions
1. What question does Jesus repeatedly ask Peter in John 21:15-19, and how does Peter respond each time?
2. According to the sermon, what does Jesus' look at Peter after his denial signify? ([55:00])
3. What does the pastor describe as the emotional impact of shame on a person’s faith? ([01:01:23])
4. How does the pastor illustrate the importance of staying close to Jesus using a personal story? ([01:12:39])

#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved Him? What might this repetition signify in the context of Peter's previous denial? ([45:18])
2. How does the pastor explain the concept of crucifying our self-ambition to follow Jesus? What does this mean for a believer's daily life? ([01:10:38])
3. In what ways does the pastor suggest that Jesus' restoration of Peter provides hope for believers who have failed or feel unworthy? ([56:26])
4. How does the pastor describe the effect of Jesus' love and grace on our feelings of shame and guilt? ([01:05:13])

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt distant from Jesus. What steps can you take this week to draw closer to Him and stay near your "perfect center"? ([01:15:05])
2. The pastor mentioned that shame can act as an emotional vampire. Identify a specific area in your life where you feel shame. How can you surrender this to Jesus and allow His grace to speak acceptance and love into your life? ([01:01:23])
3. Peter was restored and given a new mission despite his failures. Is there a past failure that you need to let go of to embrace the new mission Jesus has for you? ([56:26])
4. Jesus calls us to follow Him without comparing ourselves to others. Think of a situation where you have compared your journey with someone else's. How can you focus on your unique path with Jesus this week? ([01:12:09])
5. The pastor emphasized the necessity of crucifying our self-ambition. Identify one selfish desire or ambition you need to nail to the cross. What practical steps can you take to live a life of surrender to God's will? ([01:10:38])
6. The pastor shared a story about his grandchildren and the merry-go-round to illustrate staying close to Jesus. What practical actions can you take to ensure you are moving towards the center, especially when life gets tumultuous? ([01:12:39])
7. How can you support and encourage someone in your life who feels unworthy or distant from Jesus, using the principles discussed in the sermon? ([01:05:13])

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing Jesus' Sufficiency for Our Shame

Shame often acts as a relentless force, draining us emotionally and spiritually. Yet, when one surrenders to Jesus, this burden is lifted, as He is more than enough to erase our shame and guilt. His love and grace are powerful enough to overcome the deepest regrets and the darkest pasts. By allowing Jesus' love to master one's life, an individual can experience true freedom and be equipped to minister to others effectively. His grace is a constant reminder of acceptance and love, providing strength and confidence even when feelings of unworthiness arise. [01:05:13]



"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." - 2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV



Reflection: How can you let go of shame that you've been holding onto and allow Jesus' love to transform that area of your life today?



Day 2: Staying Anchored in Jesus Amidst Life's Storms

Life's journey is fraught with unexpected challenges and tumultuous times. However, staying close to Jesus, the perfect center, ensures stability and joy. As one draws near to Him, He reciprocates, drawing near and providing a sense of His constant presence and care. This closeness to Jesus is a source of peace and assurance, reminding believers that they are never alone, no matter the circumstances. [01:15:05]



"Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded." - James 4:8 ESV



Reflection: What practical steps can you take today to draw closer to Jesus and maintain that closeness during life's uncertainties?



Day 3: Following Jesus on a Personal Path

Jesus calls each person to a unique journey, tailored to their individual purpose and relationship with Him. It is essential to focus on one's own path without falling into the trap of comparison with others. In following Jesus, one discovers that He alone is sufficient to direct and sustain them through life's complexities. This personal walk with Jesus is a testament to His ability to meet every need and guide every step. [01:12:09]



"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." - Ephesians 2:10 ESV



Reflection: What unique aspects of your journey with Jesus can you celebrate today, and how can you resist the temptation to compare your walk with others?



Day 4: Dying to Self to Live for Christ

The call to follow Jesus is a call to lay down one's self-ambition and embrace a life of surrender to God's will. Taking up one's cross involves a willingness to nail selfish desires to it and allow God to transform one's life. This surrender leads to a life marked by His power and grace, a life that is resurrected in the newness of Christ. [01:10:38]



"And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires." - Galatians 5:24 ESV



Reflection: What is one area of self-ambition you need to surrender to Jesus, and how can you actively take steps to do so today?



Day 5: Restoration and Purpose Beyond Failure

Jesus' restoration of Peter after his denial is a powerful example that failure is not final. His look of wounded compassion extends an invitation to reconnect and receive forgiveness. This gives hope that no matter the past, Jesus is ready to restore and use each person for His glory. The story of Peter reassures believers that their failures do not define them, and that Jesus' redemptive power is always at work. [56:26]



"And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, 'Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.' And he went out and wept bitterly." - Luke 22:61-62 ESV



Reflection: Can you identify a recent failure and seek Jesus' compassion and restoration, allowing Him to repurpose your experience for His glory?

Quotes

1) "Now, this simple truth illustrates following Jesus Christ. Things in life are moving so fast. When you're caught up in everything, the circumstances that creates this instability, you find yourself moving away from the center. You know what he does? He reminds us, come unto me. Oh, you, that laborer in heavy laden, get close to me. James said, if we'll draw an eye to him, he's going to draw an eye to us. He said, come to me. No matter how scary life gets, he is our perfect center. He's right there." [01:15:05]( | | )

2) "And a cross is to die on, that we nail our flesh, that we nail our ambitions, that we nail all of our selfishness to that cross. And we say, here I am, I'm giving everything. And the future of all of it results, ladies and gentlemen, in death. We die out even in our baptism. We die out to the old man, and we're resurrected in the newness of life. We're resurrected in God." [01:10:38]( | | )

3) "And when we follow Jesus, we discover that he alone, he alone is more than enough to direct us and to sustain us all the days of our life. Hallelujah." [01:12:09]( | | )

4) "That shame vanishes when we surrender all that we are unto all that Jesus is. I said shame vanishes when we surrender all that we are unto all that Jesus is. And we began to glorify him because that voice of shame will show up. It'll be right there, and it'll speak rejection. It'll tell you that Jesus has no value whatsoever, and he cannot value because of who you are and what you have done and what you have been involved in that he can't value you. And the voice of his grace will show up and speak in the other ear and say, he accepts you and he loves you." [01:05:13]( | | )

5) "God always reserves a position on his team for repentant followers. For those who have messed up, those who have made mistakes, those that have done things, he has a position on his team for every one of us. Anybody glad about that? I am. I am, I am. And Jesus charged Peter with shepherding new believers. He called them lambs, and then he said, my sheep, the young and the old, and new Christians, and his role involved, you know, helping believers by preaching the Word to them and ministering unto them." [01:09:50]( | | )

6) "He knows what he had done. He knows he had denied the Lord. He seen the fire, and immediately he thought, I remember standing by another fire when I said I didn't even know him. When I said I hadn't been with him, he remembered all of that. And Peter knew by his intuition that there was an unresolved problem, unresolved situations, and Jesus would not allow him to dismiss it. He doesn't let you just walk away and say, Well, this is the ending of this. No, he's going to continue to deal with your heart and to speak to you, because he wants that relationship with you today." [01:00:57](Download clip | | )

7) "He forgives our sins. He erases our shame and our guilt. He erases it. He restores our fellowship. He charts our future and guides the steps of all of those who follow him. In essence, I'm trying to tell you what a Savior that we have today that loves us and cares for every one of us." [01:15:42]( | | )

8) "You know, have you known that look from Jesus? Have you ever done something? Have you ever made mistakes? Have you ever messed up? Have you ever denied him and had him look into your spirit, into your soul, and into your heart? That piercing look that he's trying to deal with us where we are, with what is going through in our life. Have you ever received that? I have." [56:26]( | | )

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Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?