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Message Series: It’s Complicated
The D.T.R. (Defining the Relationship): The heart-to-heart conversation a couple has when they need to figure out exactly what they are to each other.
Recap:
1. God sees you as
2. We have broken our wedding
3. God welcomes us back with
Today: How will we
Today’s Main Idea: It’s Time to Be Fully Devoted to God.
God expected an exclusive relationship with us, but we broke our wedding vows by choosing sin over the savior. God has every right to be angry, but instead of breaking off the relationship, God invites us back with open arms. God is calling us to be fully devoted in our relationship with him.
We see this story playing out over several centuries with the nation of Israel in the Old Testament, but we see the same story in the life of Peter.
1. The Invitation (Luke 5:1-11)
Jesus sees Peter as disciple material.
Background:
1. Jesus heals Peter’s mother in law (Luke 4:38-39)
2. Jesus teaches the crowd from Peter’s boat (Luke 5:1-3)
3. Jesus gives Peter a miraculous catch of fish (Luke 5:4-7)
Jesus’ relationship with Peter begins by meeting his
“8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” 9 For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 10 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.” 11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him. –Luke 5:8-11 (NIV)
The Connection to Israel: God frees the nation of Israel from slavery in Egypt through a demonstration of divine power, and chooses them to be his people (bride) in the world.
2. The Question (Luke 9:18-20)
Jesus asks Peter to define the relationship:
“18 Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say I am?” 19 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life.” 20 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
Peter answered, “God’s Messiah.” –Luke 9:20 (NIV)
The Connection to Israel: Israel pledges to follow everything God has commanded them at different points in their history (Exodus 24:7, Joshua 24:24, Nehemiah 9-10).
3. The Betrayal (Luke 22:54-62)
Conflict and danger causes Peter to redefine the relationship.
Background:
1. Jesus predicts that Peter would deny knowing him three times (Luke 22:34)
2. Jesus is then arrested and put on trial.
3. Peter sits down around a fire and listens in on the trial (Luke 22:55)
Peter’s Denials:
- “I don’t know him” (Luke 22:57)
- “I am not one [one of them]” (Luke 22:58)
- “I don’t know what you’re talking about” (Luke 22:60)
“Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 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.’ 62 And he went outside and wept bitterly.” –Luke 22:60-62 (NIV)
The Connection to Israel: Israel is sent away from the Promised Land because of their repeated spiritual infidelity (Jeremiah 3:8).
4. The Return (John 21:15-19)
Jesus welcomes Peter back with open arms
Background:
1. After the crucifixion, Peter has returned to fishing (John 21:1-3)
2. Jesus gives Peter a miraculous catch of fish, the same miracle from Peter’s initial calling (John 21:4-6, see Luke 5:4-7)
3. Jesus feeds Peter and the disciples (John 21:10-13)
4. Jesus and the disciples gather around a fire (John 21:9)—the only other time fire in John is the one Peter was around when he denied Jesus
“When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” –John 21:15 (NIV)
Jesus’ Instructions for Peter:
1. Feed my lambs (John 21:15)
2. Take care of my sheep (John 21:16)
3. Feed my sheep (John 21:17)
The Connection to Israel: God welcomes Israel back with open arms, inviting them to return to him as his bride (Jeremiah 3:11-15).
5. The Decision (Acts 2:14-36)
Peter publicly declares the truth about Jesus*
Background:
1. Jesus returns to Heaven after his resurrection, leaving Peter and the disciples to preach the Gospel (Acts 1:1-10)
2. Peter and the disciples are given the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-13)
Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say.” –Acts 2:14 (NIV)
“Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ” –Acts 2:36 (NIV)
Peter Defines Our Relationship With Jesus:
- Lord—Master, owner, the one we belong to and obey.
- Christ—Messiah, Anointed One, savior. The one who brings us salvation.
We can’t receive Jesus as
Application: God Wants to Make it Official.
God doesn’t want to date you. He is fully devoted. He sees you as marriage material—despite all your faults. And he is inviting you into a deeper commitment than ever before. It’s time to be fully devoted to the God who sent his son as Lord and Christ.
Response: Heart-To-Heart
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Questions? Contact Bryan: (609) 356-3147 or bfojtasek@westsidelife.org.
Life Group / Reflection Questions
- Invite everyone to share about their most recent week—highlights, lowlights, and anything in between.
- One theme throughout our current message series has been “defining the relationship.” If you had to try and define your relationship with God in terms of a romantic relationship, how would you describe it right now? Strangers? Dating? Married? Divorced? Restraining Order? Something else? Why?
- Peter’s journey with Jesus started with an invitation (see Luke 5:1-11), but Jesus had already demonstrated his love and care for Peter before that encounter on the boat. What insights might this give us about our approach to sharing the Gospel with others?
- When did you first hear Jesus inviting you into a relationship with him, and how did you respond? Did you drop everything and follow Jesus like Peter, or was it a longer process for you?
- When Jesus asks Peter to define the relationship in Luke 9:18-20, Peter says that Jesus is the Messiah (or Christ). But he still denied knowing Jesus when it mattered most. Why is it sometimes so hard to stand up for Jesus in public, even when we know the truth about him in private?
- Luke’s Gospel is the only one that mentions Jesus turning and looking directly at Peter at the moment of his third denial (Luke 22:61). What might have been going through the minds of Peter and Jesus when they made eye contact in this moment?
- When Peter preaches on the day of Pentecost, he teaches that Jesus is both Lord and Christ (Acts 2:36). What does it mean to follow Jesus as your master, and what does it mean to accept him as your savior?
- What happens when we view God as our Lord (master), but not our savior? What happens when we want Jesus to be our Savior without submitting to him as our Lord?
- Jesus is inviting us into a marriage relationship with God. He’s looking for disciples whose hearts are fully devoted to him. What is the one action, attitude, or circumstance in your life that is standing in the way of your total commitment to Jesus?
- End your time in prayer for one another.