THE GREATEST OF THESE PT 3: LOVE RESTORES
John 21:15-17
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.
1 Corinthians 13:7
7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
SUPERBOWL 59 AND FAILURE
In the kingdom of God failure is never the end of the story.
The love of Jesus doesn’t discard the broken— it Reaches/Restores/Redeems.
LOVE
1 Corinthians 13:7 – “Love Bears All Things”
True love does not ignore failure or minimize it. It acknowledges it, confronts it with grace, and leads toward transformation.
Love does not leave us where we fell in our brokenness— it lifts us, redeems us, and calls us into something greater.
LOVE
1 Corinthians 13:7 – “Love Believes All Things, Hopes All Things”
Peter’s story is a powerful testimony of restoration.
Peter was no longer defined by his denial—but by the mission Jesus gave him.
God’s love doesn’t just repair—it transforms.
LOVE
1 Corinthians 13:7 –
“Love Endures All Things”
Jesus demonstrated that forgiveness is more than an erasure of wrongdoing; it is an invitation into deeper love and purpose.
Forgiveness is difficult. Restoration takes work. But the love that God calls us to extends grace even when it is undeserved.
“The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and left untried.” - GK Chesterton
True discipleship costs something—it demands that we choose faith over fear, grace over resentment, and restoration over bitterness.
Peter’s restoration, our new creation in Christ, and the call to extend grace point to a love that transforms brokenness into beauty.
Kintsugi is the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold lacquer.
Rather than disguising the cracks or discarding the broken pieces, kintsugi embraces the flaws as part of the object’s story. The fractures are not hidden but illuminated, with shimmering gold filling the once jagged lines. What was once considered damaged becomes more valuable, more unique, and more beautiful because of the very cracks that once marked it as broken.
→ As we engage in conversation, let Paul’s words to the Colossian church be our framework:
Colossians 4:6 – ‘Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.’
TABLE TIME:
Understanding Failure and Its Impact
How does Peter’s story of failure and restoration shape your view of God’s restorative love and forgiveness?
In what ways might Peters story impact how you respond to your own failures or those of others?
Regret vs. True Repentance
What distinguishes true repentance from remorse or regret?
How can we shift from merely feeling sorry for our mistakes to genuinely turning back to God and allowing Him to transform us?
God’s Love and Restoration
In the message, we saw that “God’s love doesn’t ease regret; it redeems, and calls us to repentance, offering not just forgiveness, but a renewed heart and purpose.”
How have you experienced or witnessed this kind of restorative love in your life or the lives of others?
How does God’s restoration go beyond simply forgiving us to transforming us into ‘new creations’?
Can you share an example from your own life or someone you know?
Grace, Restoration, and Purpose
Jesus gave Peter a renewed purpose after his failure.
Why do you think grace involves not just forgiveness, but restoration?
Jesus not only forgave Peter but also reaffirmed his mission.
How does knowing God still has a plan for you change how you see your past mistakes?
How does this example challenge or inspire you when it comes to extending grace and restoration to others?
Turning Failure into a Reflection of God’s Glory
The sermon suggests that our failures, when surrendered to God, can become ‘the very places where His glory shines through.’
How might this perspective change the way you view past failures or current struggles?
The Challenge of Forgiveness and Grace
G.K. Chesterton once said:
“The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and left untried.”
Why do you think forgiveness and grace are so hard to practice?
What happens when we choose to extend grace even when it’s undeserved?
PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER:
5-Day Devotional: Love That Reaches, Restores, and Redeems
This week, let’s journey through Scripture to see how God’s love reaches us in our failures, restores us through repentance, and redeems us for His purpose. Each day includes a practical action/outreach point to live out what we learn.
Monday: Love That Reaches
Reading: John 21:15-17
John 21:15-17 (ESV)
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.”
16 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.”
17 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.”
Devotional
Jesus’ interaction with Peter after His resurrection is a powerful example of love that reaches out even in failure. Despite Peter’s denial, Jesus didn’t abandon him but pursued him for restoration. Jesus meets Peter in his shame and regret and asks him three times if he loves Him—mirroring Peter’s three denials. But this isn’t to shame Peter; it’s an act of grace and renewal. God’s love doesn’t just forgive—it restores. He reaches us even in our lowest moments, reminding us that our failures don’t define us—His love does.
Reflection:
• Have you ever felt unworthy because of your mistakes?
• How does Jesus’ treatment of Peter change your view of failure?
• How can you allow God’s love to reach and restore you today?
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for loving me even in my failures. Help me to receive Your love and step into the restoration You offer. Give me the courage to move forward in faith. Amen.
Action/Outreach:
Reach out to someone who may feel discouraged or unworthy. Encourage them with a kind message, prayer, or a reminder that God’s love is greater than their failures.
Tuesday: The Power of Repentance
Reading: Psalm 51:1-12
Psalm 51:10-12 (ESV)
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.”
Devotional
David’s prayer in Psalm 51 shows the difference between regret and repentance. Regret stays stuck in guilt, but repentance turns to God for transformation. David didn’t just want forgiveness—he wanted a new heart and a renewed spirit. True repentance isn’t about fixing ourselves but surrendering to God’s restorative work. God’s love leads us beyond guilt into transformation.
Reflection:
• Is there an area in your life where you feel stuck in regret?
• How can you move from regret to true repentance?
• What does it mean for God to create a clean heart in you?
Prayer:
Lord, cleanse my heart and renew my spirit. Lead me from regret to true repentance. Help me walk in the joy of Your salvation. Amen.
Action/Outreach:
Spend five extra minutes in prayer today, surrendering any guilt or regret to God. Write down one thing you need to repent of and release to Him.
Wednesday: New Creation in Christ
Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:17-21
2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV)
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
Devotional
Being a new creation in Christ means we are no longer defined by our past. Peter went from denying Jesus to boldly preaching at Pentecost. He was no longer bound by shame but transformed by God’s love. The same is true for us. In Christ, we are not just improved versions of our old selves—we are completely new.
Reflection:
• What old ways of thinking do you need to let go of?
• How does being a new creation impact your identity?
• How can you walk in your new identity today?
Prayer:
Lord, help me to fully embrace my identity as a new creation. Let Your truth shape how I see myself and how I live. Amen.
Action/Outreach:
Speak life over yourself or someone else today. Send a message or have a conversation that
reminds someone of their God-given identity.
Thursday: Extending Grace to Others
Reading: Ephesians 4:29-32
Ephesians 4:32 (ESV)
“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”
Devotional
Having received God’s forgiveness, we are called to extend grace to others. Jesus didn’t just forgive Peter—He gave him a renewed purpose. Likewise, when we forgive, we reflect Christ’s love to the world. Forgiveness isn’t about ignoring pain, but choosing restoration over
resentment.
Reflection:
• Is there someone you need to forgive?
• How can you reflect Christ’s kindness and compassion?
• What would it look like to live out Ephesians 4:32 today?
Prayer:
Father, help me to forgive as You have forgiven me. Soften my heart and let me be an instrument of Your grace. Amen.
Action/Outreach:
If there’s someone you need to reconcile with, take a small step toward forgiveness today—send a message, pray for them, or start a conversation.
Friday: Beauty from Brokenness
Reading: Romans 8:28-39
Romans 8:28 (ESV)
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
Devotional
The Japanese art of kintsugi repairs broken pottery with gold, making the cracks part of the beauty. Similarly, God doesn’t erase our failures—He redeems them. Peter’s greatest failure became his greatest testimony. Your brokenness is not wasted—it is where God’s grace shines brightest.
Reflection:
• How has God used a past failure for good?
• What broken areas of your life do you need to surrender to Him?
• How can your testimony encourage someone else?
Prayer:
Lord, I surrender my brokenness to You. Transform my weaknesses into displays of Your strength. Let Your love redeem my past. Amen.
Action/Outreach:
Share a testimony of how God has redeemed a broken area in your life. Encourage someone who may be struggling with failure.