Gone Fishin'
Seeing Jesus Through the Eyes of a Friend • Sermon • Submitted
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· 8 viewsJesus Encourages some of the disciples to continue to follow Him as he prepares to leave them.
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Introduction
Introduction
Verse 1 - This verse in an introduction to the postlude of John’s Gospel. It speaks of Jesus revealing Himself yet again to the disciples. This time by the sea of Tiberias (aka the Sea of Galilee)
Verse 2 - Seven disciples were together for some reason...
Verse 3 - Peter declares he is “going fishing”. Why? The other six go fishing with him. Peter is a natural leader…These lifetime fishermen caught nothing
Night was the preferred time of day for fishing in ancient times (e.g., ). Fish caught during the night could be sold fresh in the morning.
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Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 2071.
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Verse 4 - Deja vu from ? Yes. That was the call to training. This is the re-commissioning to go for Christ.
Verse 5 - Jesus says to them, “Hey boys, have you caught anything yet?” They respond, “No”! And so Jesus gives these experienced fisherman some fishing advice.
Verse 6 -
Talk about the irony of Jesus telling professional fishermen how to fish.
Talk about the connection between the fishermen of fish and the fishermen of men.
Verse 6 -
Explain the net that is being used.
Talk about the irony of Jesus telling professional fishermen how to fish.
Jesus was right! They caught a tremendous catch of fish. This is the same thing that happened when Jesus first showed up!
Talk about the connection between the fishermen of fish and the fishermen of men.
Verse 7 - John figured out that it was Jesus speaking and so he told Peter what he thought. Peter, in typical impetuous fashion, jumped out of the boat after putting his “outer garment” back on and landed in the sea.
Verse 8 - Peter, left the other guys to deal with the large number of fish. They were not very far off of land (100 yards) and he intended to swim for it.
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Verse 9 - It’s kinda funny that Jesus already had a fish on the fire.
Notice the fuel of the fire? Did you know that the only other place the bible mentions a charcoal fire? When Peter was warming himself during Jesus’ arrest. Where Jesus denied Christ three times. Jesus is making a fish sandwich breakfast and serving His disciples. What a sweet and thoughtful man.
He is preparing to restore all of them to service...
Verse 10 - Jesus was willing to cook more of the fish for them.
Verse 11 - Simon Peter must have been a strong dude! He hauled 153 large fish in a net that did not tear!
Why does John give the specific number?
Verse 12 - Jesus invites them to breakfast. They didn’t want to risk the embarrassment of asking Jesus who He was, but they already knew!
Verse 13 - He took and gave them the bread and fish. He served the ones who didn’t deserve to be served. They went fishing for fish, when they should have been fishing for people.
Verse 14 - Yet Jesus was so gracious and patient with them.
Is there any significance to the three times?
Stage 2 - Outline the Biblical Passage
Stage 2 - Outline the Biblical Passage
Textual Main Idea - Jesus Appears to and Serves His Undeserving Disciples
vs. 1-3 They fished all night with nothing to show for it
vs. 4-8 Jesus Gives Some Fishing Lessons to experienced Fishermen
vs. 9-14 Jesus Cooks up Breakfast for His Friends
Introduction
Have you ever messed something up so bad, you didn’t want to ever show you face again? Embarrassment and humiliation gripped your soul and you didn’t want leave your house for fear of running into someone in the know?
My sermon on Hebrews 6
Attention (Why should they listen to you?)
Sometimes we just need Jesus to come to us and restore us and show and tell us that He still loves us!
If you are hurting this morning, this passage is for you. Jesus shows His disciples that although they failed Him, He will NEVER forsake His own.
You, Christian, need to know that no matter what you have done, your sins are forgiven and they have been removed as far as the east is from the west. You need to know this so you can be restored to His service!
Satan want you to feel defeated and to believe the lies about yourself. God, on the other hand calls you His beloved Daughter or Son!
The disciples were about to get a huge lesson in restoration. And in order to accomplish this, Jesus had to start all over with them again...
Main Textual Idea:
Main Sermon Idea: Sometimes We End Up Where We Started
Interrogative: What does this mean?
Sometimes God needs to bring us back to when we met Him in order to recalibrate our thinking. To get us back to the basics so He can use us again.
This is exactly what we see in . Jesus shows up for a third time to the disciples in his resurrected body and he shows up for a specific reason. To remember their call to serve Him!
John even has a title for this important section of the story and it is verse 1...
1 After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way.
John
Body (Satisfaction)
Sometimes we END up where we STARTED!
Ending Up Giving Up (vs. 1-3)
Lead in…It’s been a hard time for the boys. And even though Jesus has shown up to them two times, spoke to them, cast a vision for them, promised them what He had for them in their future, they are still discouraged and turn away for Jesus’ promises to their old way of life. Verse one is like a title to this beautiful story of grace and lovingkindness. Take a look...
1 After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way. 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
2 Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
1 After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way. 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. 4 Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.
Text
Revealed himself - The fact that Jesus, yet again “reveals” Himself (vs. 1) to the disciples should not be taken lightly. He’s been revealing Himself since His ministry began.
31 I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.”
11 This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.
3 Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.
Jesus has revealed Himself as the incarnate Son of God since He showed up on earth. Why?
8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.
To offer people redemption, to give people hope! If they would just believe the revelation of the ONE! This is why Jesus revealed Himself. And He is about to do it again! For the purpose of increasing the flagging faith of these disciples. Speaking of the disciples...
And this revelation is no different.
Two times so far and now we are seeing the third. And I believe he has the same motive - increasing the flagging faith of these disciples.
2 Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together.
Seven of the Twelve - The gang isn’t quite all there, but many are and from the looks of things from the text, they are not as excited at one would think they should be.
2 Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together.
Two of the disciples there are not named so we can only guess who they are, but the others we know well.
Thomas - Doubted and now fresh off a confession that declared Jesus to be his Lord and his God.
Nathanael - No deceit was found in his mouth (John 1:45-51)
James - a son of Zebedee
John - a son of Zebedee
Simon Peter - The one who denied Jesus. This fact will really come into play in next week’s sermon.
They were together, hanging out and trying to figure out what they were going to do next.
“What do you want to do?” “I don’t know, what do you want to do?”
Giving up
It’s a real shame because, if you remember, the Lord had already told them what they would be doing.
21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”
And instead of focusing and preparing for the new adventure, they were fixated on the here and now. How were they going to take care of themselves now that the Lord is gone?
And instead of focusing and preparing for the new adventure, they were fixated on the here and now.
Principle: When our focus is off the Lord, we turn to the preservation of self.
Giving up - Peter had a thought in verse 3...
3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
Fishing? Well, that is what most of them were used to doing prior to the call the Lord gave them. They were expert fishermen. Maybe they needed some money? Maybe they just wanted to get their minds off of things. His focus wasn’t on Jesus or the vision He had given...
As you can see, Peter was a natural leader. He declares he’s heading out to the Sea of Galilee and going fishing and the remaining six follow his lead...
So they went! They got into the boat! These experienced fishermen went out at night to go fishing. Why at night?
Well, fishing throughout the night would mean they would have fresh fish to sell in the morning instead of fish that had been caught during the day and stored overnight...
The bottom line? I think these guys were giving up on the life they thought the Lord had for them. They still didn’t fully grasp the significance of the Resurrection and so they were heading back to the only thing they knew - fishing!
All the training, all the teaching Jesus had given them was put on the shelf. And they went fishing! They gave up! They failed to see and believe that God had something far greater for them than their old life...
“God is preparing you for the thing He has prepared for you. Don’t Give Up!
Like I said earlier, when we take our focus off of Jesus and His promises, we are forced to look to ourselves for solutions...
What are you tempted to give up on today?
Maybe some of you are ready to give up on your marriage because it is harder than you ever thought possible?
Maybe some of you are ready to give up on your job?
Maybe some of you are ready to give up on Jesus because life hasn’t turned out they way you hoped it would?
Listen, remember you and I have a major deficit in comparison to Jesus. He knows everything!
Secondly, He not only knows everything, He is able to take the bad and turn to something glorious! And sometimes He takes us on a long journey to figure that out!
Review - Sometimes We End Up Where We Started
1. Ending Up Giving Up
2. Ending Up Showing Up (vs. 4-8)
Lead in…What a depressing time out fishing. It is no fun fishing when you ain’t catching anything. I wonder if God had anything to do with this?! It seems to be the case because, guess who shows up and gives them a lesson in how to fish? Take a look at the text...
4 Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” 6 He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. 7 That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea. 8 The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off.
Text -
Explanation -
Showing up on the shore - It was morning and the sun was breaking through the horizon and it began to spill out on the beautiful sea.
The night was a bust. I’m sure these guys were frustrated. After all, fishing was the one thing they were supposed to be good at! And all they got was a big goose egg!
But then, out of the blue, Jesus was standing on the shore. We do not know where he was at or what He was up to since his last appearance, but there He was!
And the disciples did not know it was him. Most likely due to the distance between they and him.
But the important thing is, Jesus showed up.
Principle: Jesus always shows up when we need Him most!
Showing up as the expert - Now, I think this is hilarious. First, you need to understand that the word, “Children” is best understood as an informal greeting.
“Hey Boys, do you have any fish?” I suspect He knows the answer to his own question. “No” they said!
So the Lord gives them some expert advice. Now, you might be thinking, “Wait, Jesus was a carpenter, not a fisherman. How can he be an expert at fishing?”
True He was a carpenter, But HE IS THE LORD OF ALL THINGS INCLUDING FISH!
And so, He gives them some advice, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.”
And, to their credit, they didn’t question the counsel of this man on the shore, they most likely figured, “We’ve done everything else, we’ve got nothing else to lose, let do what the man says!” And so they did...
The result? A boat-load of fish (pun intended)...
And like a lightening bolt from the sky, John, the one whom Jesus loved, the writer of this gospel, gets it!
This was all too familiar of a situation. This could not be a coincidence!
Showing up as the Lord - Do you remember the begining of Jesus ministry?
Do you remember the begining of Jesus ministry?
Do you remember the begining of Jesus ministry?
1 On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, 2 and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. 3 Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. 4 And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” 5 And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” 6 And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. 7 They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. 8 But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” 9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, 10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” 11 And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.
Remember what the main idea of this sermon is? “Sometimes we end up where we started”
This situation, being told where to cast their fishing nets and then hauling in a huge load of fish after being skunked all night? This had to be of the Lord, and John understood it first but quickly shared his thought with Peter...
7 That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea. 8 The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off.
7
Here again we see impetuous Peter put on his robe and jump into the sea! He did all he could do to get to Jesus as fast as He could. The rest stayed in the boat dealing with the fish. This was a chaotic scene to say the least.
Showing up as the Lord -
They recognized Jesus and were beside themselves with excitement! Jesus ended up showing up!
Van breakdown in Downtown Minneapolis, MN in the middle of the night in a mini van with my family…When I needed someone desperately, my brother-in-law showed up! As soon as I saw Him, I was filled with hope and joy!
That one person we need the most to show up is Jesus
When life gets really hard, learn to recognize Jesus. He, for the believer is never very far off.
In fact, someone once told me that if you feel like God is distant from you, guess who moved!
8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
Jesus showed up at the right time! And, I hope you realize, this wasn’t about helping them fish.
No, it was to remind them of his original call to drop everything and follow Him. The disciples were running the risk of running back to their old life. Jesus wanted them to remember He has much bigger plans than fishing for fish. He wants them to fish for people!
Review - Sometimes We End Up Where We Started
1. Ending Up Giving Up
2. Ending Up Showing Up
3. Ending Up Serving Up (vs. 9-14)
Lead in…The disciples were heading back to their old way of life. After all, being a fisherman isn’t all that bad. But then, Jesus shows up and reminds them that have bigger fish to fry than that! (Yes, pun intended). But check out these last few verses. Jesus is setting the stage for a full restoration of Peter and the disciples and it is absolutely beautiful. And this all comes though Jesus serving His dearest friends...
9 When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. 14 This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.
John 21:
Explanation -
Serving up a special camp fire - Well, the boat made it to shore along with the disciples and Jesus had already prepared a fire and had food on it for breakfast. Isn’t it kinda funny that Jesus already had fish cooking? He was a better fisherman they they could ever hope to be! :)
Now, I have a question for you. Why do you suppose that John specifically mentions that Jesus was cooking over a “Charcoal fire”?
15 Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he entered with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, 16 but Peter stood outside at the door. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the servant girl who kept watch at the door, and brought Peter in. 17 The servant girl at the door said to Peter, “You also are not one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” 18 Now the servants and officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves. Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself.
I have told you over and over that Jesus doesn’t miss anything and certainly He didn’t miss this detail.
Did you know that in all four gospels there are only two places where a charcoal fire is mentioned? Here in this verse and back in . Take a look...
15 Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he entered with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, 16 but Peter stood outside at the door. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the servant girl who kept watch at the door, and brought Peter in. 17 The servant girl at the door said to Peter, “You also are not one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” 18 Now the servants and officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves. Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself.
Peter went on to deny the Lord two more times...
At this first scene, Peter denied the Lord three times as he stood by a charcoal fire. In today’s passage (chapter 21, verse 15-19) Jesus will ask Peter three times if he loves Him. Jesus, is preparing all the details to help Peter be fully restored to Him and to his purpose...
Folks, it is no mere coincidence that Jesus is cooking over a charcoal fire. The smell of that kind of fire must have brought the smell of guilt and shame to this husky fishermen.
Jesus is purposefully setting the stage in order to have a very personal and powerful discussion with Peter. One that will forever change him from a fisher of fish to a fisher of men. One that will restore him to the place that Jesus can truly use him! More on this next Sunday...
Who knew Jesus could cook?
Serving up a delicious breakfast - While he is preparing the breakfast, he sees He needs for food, so...
10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord.
Serving up a delicious breakfast -
10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.”
10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.”
10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish.
Well, Peter is so full of excitement and energy because the Lord is there, he wastes no time to go and grab the mother-load of fish they had just caught...
11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn.
If you had any doubt of the physical prowess of Peter, here we have a pretty good indication that he is no weakling. He grabs the net full and bursting with fish, 153 to be exact, and drags them to the Lord. This net was so full, John thinks it miraculous that it did not tear!
Why does John give us the number 153? There has been no shortage of allegorical speculation regarding this specific number. But most of that speculation amounts to foolishness.
I think the best reason why John gives this specific number is to be specific. To show he was writing a historically accurate account. True lies in the details.
The point we shouldn’t miss, however is this. Jesus showed up! After all He had been through, after how the disciples deserted and denied Him, He showed up again to encourage and serve these men who were yet again turning their back on Him. What a patient and gracious Lord we have!
Again, I point you to what Paul tell Timothy...
13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself.
This is our Savior. Constantly pursuing His disciples. Constantly drawing them back to Himself. This scene is so much more than feeding them breakfast. He is telling them through His loving actions that He has accepted them. No matter what!
Think about this folks. The God of the Universe who called all things into existence by the word of His mouth; who created the heavens and the earth out of nothing; is making breakfast for His friends! Friends who deserted Him at the hour He needed them most, Friends who were now heading back to their old life because they lacked the faith to follow the risen Savior.
This is so much more than catching a bunch of fish and having a great breakfast. Jesus is...
Serving up Himself - look at verse 14...
14 This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.
13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. 14 This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.
Is the third time the charm? Well we don’t see a total transformation of their attitudes and actions until the day of Pentecost when the full manifestation of the Holy Spirit comes upon them. That’s when they kick it into high gear and begin to change the world.
But before that can happen, Jesus needs to do some restorative work to let them know He loves them and regardless of their past failures, He earnestly desires to use them, to establish His church and reach generations with the good news that Jesus is the Son of God who came to seek and to save those who are lost.
Principle: Before you can truly change the world around you, you must understand God’s relentless, pursuing, restorative love of you!
The prodigal son ()
The resurrected Jesus, on three separate occasions sought out the disciples to bolster their faith so they could accomplish the task that lay before them. He was gentle, kind and served them not only a delicious roasted tilapia and toast breakfast, but He served up Himself, spending the necessary time with them so they would know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that they were loved and accepted by Christ.
Do you know that He wants you to understand this as well?
There are some of you here that have made some really poor decisions in your Christian walk. I know, because I have as well. And maybe you are thinking, I might as well head back to my old life. What’s the point of all this if things are not going to work out like I thought they would. That’s what Peter and the disciples were thinking before Jesus showed up.
Well, if before you head back, would you take the time to meditate on the Gospel, they ultimate act of service?
The death...
The burial...
The resurrection...
This was done so that YOU, sitting here this morning, could know that you have eternal life!
Whenever I feel like throwing in the towel and giving up and going back to my old life, I remember the words of the Apostle Peter when responding to Jesus’ question, “Will you leave me as well?” Peter said, “Where can we go Lord? You have the words of eternal life!”
Review - Sometimes We End Up Where We Started
1. Ending Up Giving Up
2. Ending Up Showing Up
3. Ending Up Serving Up
Conclusion
This whole scene was a repeat specifically for the disciples to remind them of their initial call to follow Jesus so He could turn them from fishermen to fishers of men.
1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
The similarities from their first encounter with Christ to this encounter with the resurrected Christ are remarkable. Jesus, the consummate teacher, took the time to replicate their initial meeting to remind them that although they failed Him, He was not done with them and His call on their lives was still in tact. And He planned to use them in ways they simply at that time, could not understand!
I’m not sure what you are dealing with today. What failures you’ve experienced in your Christian life. Let me encourage you to have breakfast with Jesus! Allow Him to minister to you. Allow Him to restore you to wash you with His grace and mercy!
Christian, you cannot out sin God’s grace...
Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,
Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!
Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured,
There where the blood of the Lamb was spilled.Refrain:
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that is greater than all our sin!
Sin and despair, like the sea waves cold,
Threaten the soul with infinite loss;
Grace that is greater, yes, grace untold,
Points to the refuge, the mighty cross.Dark is the stain that we cannot hide;
What can we do to wash it away?
Look! There is flowing a crimson tide,
Brighter than snow you may be today.Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,
Freely bestowed on all who believe!
You that are longing to see His face,
Will you this moment His grace receive?
Threaten the soul with infinite loss;
Grace that is greater, yes, grace untold,
Points to the refuge, the mighty cross.Dark is the stain that we cannot hide;
What can we do to wash it away?
Look! There is flowing a crimson tide,
Brighter than snow you may be today.Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,
Freely bestowed on all who believe!
You that are longing to see His face,
Will you this moment His grace receive?
Threaten the soul with infinite loss;
Grace that is greater, yes, grace untold,
Points to the refuge, the mighty cross.
Dark is the stain that we cannot hide;
What can we do to wash it away?
Look! There is flowing a crimson tide,
Brighter than snow you may be today.
Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,
Freely bestowed on all who believe!
You that are longing to see His face,
Will you this moment His grace receive?
Will you, this moment His grace receive?
After sermon is written, ask these three questions to edit
After sermon is written, ask these three questions to edit
What do my hearers NEED to know?What is NICE for them to know?Where CAN they go (if they would like to know more)? Keep it at 45min which is 3000 words (Murder the Darlings) What is the “Elevator Speech”? Make sure you have a compelling hook! Why should they listen to you?
Invitation
Connection Group Questions / Reflection Questions
1. What stands out to you from this Scripture?
2. Why, after two visits from Jesus, do you think the disciples went fishing?
3. Is it significant that they “caught nothing”? Why or why not?
4. Jesus shows up to the disciples again, why do you think He did this?
5. Jesus schools them in fishing (again), what is He trying to teach them?
6. Peter throws himself after Jesus and calls Him Lord. What can we learn from this?
7. Jesus has a nice campfire. What is so special about this particular fire?
1 After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way. 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. 4 Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” 6 He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. 7 That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea. 8 The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off. 9 When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. 14 This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.