Provision for the Purpose

At the Table • Sermon • Submitted 4 years ago

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Theme: Jesus provides for our purpose. Purpose: To Trust Jesus to provide for our calling. Gospel: Jesus equips the Church for its mission. Mission: All three are needed.

Notes

Transcript

John 21:1–17 LEB

After these things Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias. Now he revealed himself in this way: Simon Peter and Thomas (who was called Didymus) and Nathanael from Cana in Galilee and the sons of Zebedee and two others of his disciples were together. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing!” They said to him, “We also are coming with you.” They went out and got into the boat, and during that night they caught nothing. Now when it was already early morning, Jesus stood on the beach. However, the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. So Jesus said to them, “Children, you do not have any fish to eat, do you? They answered him, “No.” And he said to them, “Throw the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they threw it, and were no longer able to haul it in from the large number of the fish. Then that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” So Simon Peter, when he heard that it was the Lord, tied around himself his outer garment (for he was naked) and threw himself into the sea. But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net of fish, because they were not far from the land, but about two hundred cubits away. So when they got out on the land, they saw a charcoal fire laid there, and a fish lying on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just now caught.” So Simon Peter got into the boat and hauled the net to the land, full of large fish—one hundred fifty-three—and although there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come, eat breakfast!” But none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they knew that it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and the fish likewise. This was now the third time Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he had been raised from the dead. Now when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs!” He said to him again a second time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Shepherd my sheep!” He said to him a third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was distressed because he said to him a third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything! You know that I love you!” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep!

Introduction: Summary of learning:

Food is God’s good provision for life. - So we look to God to provide, and thank him for his generosity. We remember this in Communion, and we recognize that Jesus is food for eternal life. We also see a wedding banquet as a picture of God’s eternal life when Jesus comes again.

Last week we saw how Jesus ate with sinners, and pursue’s sinners like us, and others. So we should be eating with people who are not like us, don’t believe like us, are not believers. In Communion we remember that Jesus came in the flesh as a human to save humans. We are called to participate in that work.

That covers God’s care for us and God’s mission, but what about interracting within the church?

24 - We can forget our Purpose.

This passage is an epilogue - that serves as a comment on or a conclusion to what has happened.

In essance John is saying. “In light of the Life, Death, and Resurrection this is how we are to see the world and live as believers.”

Sometimes I go fishing, and I don’t catch anything - Berv knows - Sometimes people laugh at me - Lake Macatowa

Go back to what we know, Go back to what is comfortable - It can be simply Cathartic.

They were actually fishing for food, maybe income - No direction, but at least we need to do something to eat.

The Resurrected Jesus Shows Up.

Do you not have any fish to eat?

25 - Jesus Provides.

Even the Risen Lord is still eating through the Gospels.

He Provided a Miracle to help them realize He was with them. He is alive (They knew it, third appearance).

Jesus gives us signs that he is still with us. - Grants for Seminary, Working Part Time to Finish CPE.

Life Skills experience - Mentoring someone, they don’t know how the bills will get paid, but over and over again God has provided.

Jesus Provides a meal

There is something about having all kinds of conversations around a meal.

There is the joy of knowing it is Jesus - Peter Jumping out of the boat.

There is the comfort that Jesus provides by caring for their needs.

Here is Jesus again doing his servant leadership thing again.

It is also around this meal he will have some fierce conversations with Peter and the other disciples.

This is a picture of what we are trying to do with Life Groups, Pray and Plays.

Professor Barry Jones writes, “The table is the place where broken sinners find connection and belonging. Despite our best intentions, we all, like Peter, stumble after Jesus. We desperately need people who will journey with us in our stumbling. We need to recover table fellowship as a spiritual discipline in order to strengthen the bonds of spiritual friendship among believers who are walking together on the road” (Barry D. Jones, “The Dinner Table as a Place of Connection, Brokenness, and Blessing,” DTS Magazine, October 26, 2015, https://voice.dts.edu/article/a-place-at-the-table-jones-barry/). Jesus restored Peter, but as brothers and sisters in the faith, we are to confess, encourage, and help bring restoration to one another by God’s grace. This should be a hallmark of building true community with one another around the table.

Jesus Provides Healing - Fierce Conversation #1

Jesus restores Peter

These are great conversations to have around a meal - (not always possible), but in person is best.

4. Renewed Purpose - Fierce Conversation #2

a. Conversation with two friends who told me not to apply for New Hope’s lead position.

- They took me to TGI-Fridays at the then Bank One Ball Park (Now Chase Field). - They knew me well.

Communion Connection:

In Communion Jesus does these things as well - He provides a meal, He reminds us of his presence, He heals us, and He provides for our renewed purpose.

Meaning of Communion:

26 - 1. H. Just as bread and juice give us life, we remember that Jesus was Risen, and therefore gives us Eternal Life

27 - So....in Communion we recognize that Jesus is Present with us.

How did Jesus Renew Purpose

28 - Jesus Provides for our Purpose.

It is around this meal that Jesus renews Peter’s Purpose to lead the church.

Charcoal fire - where Peter denied Jesus.

Three I love you’s - to restore the three denials.

A reminder of Peter’s commitment to die with Jesus - Yes, you will and it will glorify God.

Peter of course tries to take the focus off of his purpose - What about this guy.

Jesus is Lord and he is the one who calls us to unique callings, and provides unique gifts to fulfill that calling. Each of us have a calling a purpose from Jesus to Glorify God, and Build up Others. - We take our direction from Jesus on this calling.

29 - 2. E. Communion Unites us with the Church (the body of Christ.) We are a part of One loaf, and One Cup.

But the thing about that is Jesus gathers us from different fields - there is diversity in the loaf and the cup, because we have we have unique callings, purpose, contributions to the one overarching purpose of the Church which is to Glorify God and Build up Others.

30 - 2. F. It is the Holy Spirit who Jesus sent who unites us, strengthens us, and guides us.

Conclusion:

It is easy to forget our purpose, or sometimes give up on it. The Risen Jesus however invites us to His table to provide his presence, to provide our needs, to provide healing, and to renew us in our purpose.

Reference the Reformed Confessions: The Reformed Confessions are statements of faith written to clarify the Gospel at times when the Church was in crisis. Heidelberg Catechism: Q&A 32, 53, 55, 116-117, 122-12726-28, 75-82, 128 Belgic Confession: Articles 28-29

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