Sermon Tone Analysis

This week we move along in our ‘Up Next’ series.

We have been considering what it means identify and move toward whatever the next step in faith may be.

And we have noted in the last few weeks that everyone here is at a different point in our journeys of faith; which means that everyone here may have a different kind of ‘up next’ moment in front of them.

The challenge, then, has been for each one of us to consider for ourselves what the ‘up next’ moment might be.

I cannot give one answer here that applies to everyone; each one of you needs to figure this out for your own step of faith.

But what I can give you in this series of messages are a few guiding principles from the Bible that can help us narrow in on what the next step of faith might be in front of you.

We started this series by talking about the way in which we can sometimes only see the next step.

And sometimes we don’t take that next step forward because we cannot see all the steps, we cannot see the whole plan laid out in front of us.

Sometimes we shy back from taking that next step forward when the only thing we can see is just the next step.

Last week we took a closer look at obstacles and barriers that often get in the way of our next steps forward in faith.

And we noted that so often the barriers in our path of faith are obstacles of our own making.

Often it might be our own excuses and our own fears that put up walls and keep our life of faith stuck in one place.

Each time we leave with the same question.

What’s holding you back?

What is it that is truly keeping you from taking that next step forward in your ‘up next’ moment?

Let’s dig a little deeper into that together here today.

We’re picking up a story in John’s gospel that comes right after the disciples make a miraculous catch of fish.

Jesus has already risen from the grave and has appeared to the disciples more than one already.

But even so, it is Peter who first makes the choice to go back to his former career of fishing—the job he did before Jesus called him to be a disciple.

But at the same time, it is also Peter who is so excited to see Jesus back on the shore that he jumps out of the boat and swims ashore to see Jesus.

Peter is the impulsive one who always seems to open his mouth first without thinking.

Peter always seems to be the one who jumps into action one step ahead of his brain.

Peter is kind of this collision of rash and impulsive activity.

One Question

Jesus asks Peter: Do you love me?

And it is Peter who is the only participant in this conversation with Jesus in these few verses we picked up today from John 21.

It’s a pretty simple and quick chat.

Three times Jesus asks Peter a question, and three times Peter gives the same reply.

There is no mistake about what is going on underneath this connection.

The three questions of Jesus are undoubtably meant to remind us of the three times Peter denied even knowing Jesus when he was on trial in the courtyard of the high priest before his execution.

three times - draws connection to Peter's denial of Jesus

I’m sure the scene has not left Peter’s mind.

After all, the gospel writers do not say he strolled away from the courtyard denial with a shrug.

Peter ran out weeping bitterly.

Jesus told him ahead of time it was going to happen.

Peter emphatically protested and assured Jesus he would never do such a thing.

Jesus replied and said to peter that was going to happen three times that very same night.

And worst of all, Jesus was right there in the same space right across the courtyard within view of Peter.

I can see what is happening in Peter’s mind.

Alright, of all the disciples, Judas is just the worst; but Peter is right behind that.

The scene of Peter’s denial of Jesus is one of those moments you wish could be taken back or deleted from the record.

But it doesn’t work that way.

In fact, not only is the denial story in the record, it is one of the few stories that all four gospel writers include.

Something about this scene of Peter denying his master is central to the gospel story itself.

John makes that abundantly clear to us with his narration of this breakfast scene on the beach after the resurrection.

Peter, the one who blew it and failed as a disciple of the rabbi, is the one who Jesus particularly calls out to reinstate and recommission as the leader of his church.

Peter, who in his own mind has thrown away any chance of ever being a disciple again, is extended an all-inclusive backstage pass ticket right back up to the front.

And it all comes from Jesus with one question.

When it comes to taking that next step forward in faith we tend to ask all kinds of questions along the way.

Is my faith strong enough?

Am I smart enough?

Do I know enough about the Bible?

Am I a good enough person?

Am I pious and moral and ethical in my behavior?

Have I made too many mistakes?

Have the failures of my past disqualified me?

questions Jesus does NOT ask:Are you smart enough?

Do you know the Bible well enough?

Are you a good enough person?

Do you contribute anything worthwhile?

Is your faith strong enough?

I’ll bet you Peter was running these questions through his head.

He had the opportunity to show Jesus his ultimate devotion to the rabbi as a disciple, and in that moment he completely flunked.

As we catch up to Peter and Jesus having this little chat after breakfast, if Jesus would have asked any one of those questions as a basis for Peter taking the next step as a disciple, the answer would have absolutely been NO.

On any one of those questions, Peter would have been stuck without any ‘up next’ moment at all.

Does your ‘up next’ moment look like that?

I’ve hinted at this over the past few weeks.

Maybe your next step is public profession of faith.

Maybe your next step is joining membership at this church.

Maybe your next step is signing up to be a mentor.

Maybe your next step is joining a small group or a Bible study.

Maybe your next step is volunteering to serve in one of our ministries—to teach a class or lead a group.

And what holds you?

Is it a question in the back of your mind of maybe not being ready yet, or not being good enough, or not having anything valuable to contribute?

Is that the kind of question you are putting between you and the next step forward in your faith?

Do you think those are the kinds of questions Jesus would place in front of you as a criteria for measuring your leap ahead in faith?

Well, it’s not.

Jesus does not ask these questions.

He did not come down on Peter with questions like this, and he does not come down on us with questions like this either.

In fact, of all the things Jesus could have placed in front of Peter in that moment, there was only one question that mattered.

Do you love me?

You see, the next step in faith has nothing at all to do with being smart enough or good enough or pious enough.

Moving forward in your faith comes down to only one simple measurement.

Love.

I think Peter needed to be reminded of that.

Maybe that love which first drew him to follow Jesus had been pushed and buried under a pile of other concerns which had crept in the way.

It happens.

It happens that way with us too.

How quickly you and I forget that the only measurement God uses to connect us with himself is love.

How quickly we forget that this is a connection of love that does not even have to begin with us, it is a love that comes from and begins with God.

Love is the basis and the foundation of faith.

It is love that unites us in faith with Jesus.

The question comes to Peter in a personal way.

It comes in a way that shows us God’s love is personal.

It’s not that Jesus loves religion.

It’s not that Jesus loves ministry.

It’s not that Jesus loves churches.

Jesus loves people.

Jesus loves you.

Faith is built on that.