Taking it Home: Share the Passion Dr. Matthew R. St. John Maybe you’ve felt that you’ve sinned so terribly that Jesus Restore the Fallen Bethel Church could never forgive you or restore you. Scripture clarifies to John 21:1-19 June 13, 2010 you that a believer can never fall so far as to not being able to Restore the Fallen be restored by Jesus Christ. Have you been restored? Breakfast with the disciples gives Jesus the opportunity to care for their physical needs as well as their spiritual needs, particularly with Seeking life purpose apart from Jesus Christ is futile; empty. Peter who certainly was still wounded from his action of disloyalty. Even though the disciples knew they would end up dying because of their firm stand for Jesus Christ; did the disciples Notes: ever leave or depart from following Jesus throughout their lives? How about you? Love must be a defining quality of life. Just like Jesus asked Peter 3 times, He’s asking you too: “Do you really love Me?” Read the following Scriptures and interpret what the evidence is of those who REALLY love Jesus: John 14:15 John 14:21 John 14:23-24 John 15:10 John 15:14 1 John 5:3 For more information about Growth Groups, Growth Group homework, and a podcast of sermons with homework, visit www.bethelfc.com Growth Group Homework Growing Deeper The scenario in John 21:1-3 is grim: the disciples return to their For the week of June 13, 2010 old profession, fishing, probably due to the fact their Master, John 21:1-19 Jesus is no longer in their presence. The disciples are attempting to find themselves and discover new purpose for Quick Review: The disciples, on their own now without Jesus, go their lives. What were the reasons Pastor Matthew gave for the on a fishing expedition which ends up being a total failure. Though disciples despair and purposelessness? fishing all night, they catch no fish. Only 100 yards from the shore at sunrise, Jesus, sitting by a charcoal campfire and cooking fish, Has there ever been a time in your Christian life when you were calls out to the disciples and tells them to cast their net on the right in despair; possibly a really bad turn of events has/had occurred side of the boat, thus they catch a large number of fish. John, and you’ve felt purposeless in your life? According to God’s recognizing it is their Master, Jesus, heads toward shore. While the Word where is the only place that a believer can find genuine disciples gather around their Master at the fire, cooking fish, Jesus fulfillment? Where did the disciples gain momentum and purposefulness? starts His dialogue with Peter. Jesus restores Peter as a leader and reassures His disciples of their mission. Love is a major theme in John 21. Three times Jesus asks Peter My Story if He truly loves Him, followed by Peter’s 3 responses, “Yes, Describe a time in your own life where you failed someone. Lord; you know that I love you.” What are the reasons Pastor Describe the way you felt knowing you had deeply hurt Matthew gave during his message that explains why Jesus someone. Describe how it felt when the person you hurt asked Peter 3 times if he really loved Him? restored the relationship and granted you reassurance that everything was okay. Place yourself in Peter’s sandals for a moment: possibly a week or so has passed and you’ve denied your Master, Jesus, 3 times. Even though you’re certain Jesus has forgiven you, you still hurt deeply in your heart because you hurt your best friend by denying Him. How important do you think it was for Peter that Have you ever lost hope in a situation? You were hoping for Jesus restores His relationship with Peter and reassures Peter to something great to occur, but due to circumstances beyond a leadership role in front of the other disciples? How do you your control your aspirations were dashed to the ground. In feel knowing Jesus restores you after you sin deeply, you repent other words you were expecting something good, but it didn’t and then return to Jesus? materialize? How did you feel when after giving up hope, your worst expectations changed dramatically and you experienced One of the major themes throughout the Gospel of John is Dark something great? versus Light. Look up the Scriptures and events in the Gospel of John where John uses the metaphor of darkness and light as contrasts. What does Light & darkness mean in the Scriptures? .