Sermon Tone Analysis

Key Verse — And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

1. Courage Needed

Peter is told he will need courage

John 13:

Emotions & Faith

Peter’s FAITH allowed him to say that he would lay his life down

Peter’s EMOTIONS sustained him until pressure set in

Peter was willing to lay down his life for Jesus in that moment, but wasn’t able to stand the idea of people laughing at him for Jesus’ sake.

To Peter, the executioners sword wasn’t as bad as the servant-girl’s tongue.

Peter Denies Jesus

Peter denies knowing Jesus three times, and then the rooster crows, reminding him of Jesus’ recent words

Peter denies knowing Jesus three times, and then the rooster crows, reminding him of Jesus’ recent words

Peter denies knowing Jesus three times, and then the rooster crows, reminding him of Jesus’ recent words

It’s not Peter’s FAITH that fails him, it is his COURAGE.

After Peter fails, he weeps because he really does love Jesus.

It’s not that he stopped believing in Him, it’s that he didn’t have the courage to stand up for Him.

2. Courage Given

Jesus has died & resurrected and we find Peter and some disciples back on the lake, fishing...

Jesus pulls Peter aside and begins to talk to him...

John 21:1

Do you love me more than these...

Jesus asks Peter is he loves Him more than “these” - these could be the other disciples or the fish.

Either way, the question stands before us today, do we love Jesus more than “these”

What are some “these” in your life?

Jesus’ response — FEED MY LAMBS

Feeding the lambs means that we must give ourselves to the service of God’s people.

Why did Jesus ask 3 times?

Asking 3 times about Peter’s love was a direct reminder of his 3-time denial of Jesus.

Jesus will RESTORE us by pointing us directly at our failure, then he CHALLENGES us to set our eyes on future work.

Jesus doesn’t ask “are you sorry?” nor “will you promise never to do that again?” “Jesus Christ asks each one of us, not for obedience primarily, not for repentance, not for vows, not for conduct, but for a heart; and that being given, all the rest will follow.”

(Maclaren)

Jesus allowed Peter a 3-time public affirmation of love to replace a 3-time denial, and gave him a 3-time challenge to feed my sheep.

3. Courage Applied

Peter had two options: 1. Go ALL-IN or 2. Go ALL-OUT

When we find Peter in the book of Acts, Jesus has already left Earth and the Holy Spirit has come to help the disciples.

In the disciples find themselves praying for boldness to continue the Gospel Message

At this point, Peter is one of the main leaders of the early church.

He chose to go all in, and now their life was on the line.

The prayed for Courage.

“The word boldness means lucid and daring statement.

In the Greek the word is parresia, ‘telling it all.’

” (Ogilvie)

Boldness Today

We need this boldness today to REPRESENT Jesus to this world.

This boldness is a GIFT from God, received through PRAYER.

It is not something we can work up ourselves.