APP NOTES FOR 2023-4-23
VICTORY CHURCH: A
SERIES: ENCOUNTERS
MESSAGE TITLE: Encountering Jesus, Friend of the
(Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is from the New International Version)
Pastor Keith Cross
Text:
John 21:1-19
1 Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. 3 “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. 4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. 5 He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered. 6 He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. 7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. 8 The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. 9 When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14 This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead. 15 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.” 16 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.” 17 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. 18 Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”
MAIN IDEA: Because Jesus is a friend of the
Encountering Jesus as the Friend of the
1.Peter’s
Peter’s failure is our failure. Before we can see the restoration of Peter, we must first understand what happened to Peter and how he came to fall in the first place.
1). The Place Of Failure: “afar off” (vs.58). 2). The Pain Of Failure: Peter “wept bitterly” (vs. 75). 3). The Price Of Failure: loss of fellowship, peace, joy, contentment.
PROBLEM: Our failure is an incorrect definition of failure.
SOLUTION: If I
2.Peter’s
Our failure is evident in our foolishness.
Peter’s foolishness was…1). Evident in his Choices. 2). Evident in his Companions. 3). Evident in the Consequences.
PROBLEM: Foolishness is the result of basing decisions on selfish motives rather than spiritual ones.
SOLUTION: If I
3.Peter’s
Even though Peter had fallen into sin, he still hadn’t gone so far that the Lord stopped loving him. Jesus demonstrates His love in that…
1). Jesus Found Him. 2). Jesus Fed Him. 3). Jesus Freed Him.
PROBLEM: Allowing our failure to blind us to Jesus, our friend who is with us.
SOLUTION: If I
4.Peter’s
A friend of Jesus is lives to follow Jesus into…
1). A Life of Sacrifice. 2). A Life of Service. 3). A Life of Surrender.
SOLUTION: If I
In conclusion, “Because Jesus is a friend of the fallen, He can lift me up when I fall.” I would like to bring this message to a close by asking, “What does your future hold for you?” Does it hold chastisement, misery and difficulty? Or, does it hold joy, peace, blessing and glory for the Lord? The answer all depends on what you do right now. Some of you, like Peter, may be toiling while Jesus stands calling out to you today. Please know that you do not have to remain at a distance from Him this morning. If this message has found you as a failure, then I invite you to come to Jesus right now. He loves you and wants to be your Savior, Friend, and Leader of your life. Now, the final decision is yours. What will it be?
My NEXT STEP today is to….
Commit my life to Jesus Christ for the first time today.
Receive more info about being water baptized @Victory on Sunday, April 30.
Find out more about attending Victory’s NEXT STEPS EXPERIENCE class.
Sign up to Serve on a TEAM.
Sign up for a CONNECT GROUP.
Commit to giving today by obediently giving the tithe to God.
Invite someone to church and SHARE this and next weeks LIVESTREAM.
For more info about taking any of these NEXT STEPS, please email or call me: pastorkeith@victorywinchester.com 540-667-9400 x117