Lindsey Blair and Bobby Gilles recap and discuss Pastor Jonah's sermon from John 21:7-22.
Lindsey Blair and Bobby Gilles recap and discuss Pastor Jonah's sermon from John 21:7-22.
Lindsey: Welcome to the Midweek Checkup. My name is Lindsey Blair, and I’m joined by Bobby Gilles. This past Sunday Pastor Jonah preached John twenty-one: verses seven through twenty-two. He taught the mission of God is restoring our relationship with him and each other. We do this by keeping Jesus as the center of who we are, feeding the ones he loves.
I love how Jesus lovingly pursues the disciples and shows them what forgiveness means in such an intimate and personal way. He pursues us in the same loving and intimate way, inviting each of us into a beautiful restored relationship with Him—one that changes our hearts and transforms us.
Bobby, what stood out to you?
Bobby: Jonah pointed out a pattern in the Gospel of John, where Jesus states a truth, then shows what that truth does, and finally invites us to live out that truth. It’s something to watch for when you’re reading this gospel.
Now, for anyone who missed the sermon or needs help remembering, let’s do a quick recap.
Lindsey: Jonah began by saying that the mission of Jesus was our adoption into God’s family, restoring our relationship with God. Forgiveness of sins is a means to that end. We are created for community and rescued for relationship. We see this clearly in the final scene of John’s Gospel. The disciples are out fishing when Jesus comes to the shore, calling out, “Friends, haven’t you caught any fish?”
Bobby: When they obey his follow-up request to throw their nets on the other side, they catch an enormous haul of fish. Then he calls them to breakfast around the fire he has made, and he follows that by taking Peter on a walk. This is the first conversation between Jesus and Peter recorded in our Bibles after Peter denied knowing Jesus shortly before the execution. Three times he asks, “Do you love me?” And when Peter replies yes, each time Jesus says, “Feed my sheep.”
Lindsey: Maybe you’re like John, wondering what to think about this.
Maybe you’re like Peter, wondering what to do about this. If so, carry this story with you, and consider what it might mean for you to hear Jesus say, “feed my sheep.” Jonah pointed out that the disciples didn’t even get it right then…Peter hears what Jesus has to say about his death, and his immediate concern is how John will die. But that wasn’t the invitation. It wasn’t to know the details of everyone else’s story. It wasn’t to know what someone else is supposed to do, or how someone else should respond.
Bobby: Jesus simply, directly, says to Peter, “Feed my sheep.” The mission of God is to restore our relationship with him and each other.
We do this by keeping Jesus as the center of who we are. And we do this by focusing on feeding the ones Jesus loved…you and me.
Lindsey: This Sunday we’ll look at what happens when our experience of Jesus becomes a transforming relationship, not just an idea. And in Bible Fellowship we’ll talk about Acts Eleven together, where a Roman soldier and his family give their lives to Jesus, and Peter must explain to fellow leaders why he welcomed the Romans into God’s family.
Join us, and bring a friend.