Sermon Tone Analysis

DAWNING OF A NEW DAY

Day is Referred to as the Third Sunday of Easter

May 1, 2022

By Craig Minke

In this world today and throughout history we see people, world leaders using their influence and power to control and harm others

* Look at what is happening in the Ukraine, where innocent women and children are being slaughtered.

* Look at what is happening in North Korea, where Christian are being killed

* Some of you have fled countries in Africa where militia gangs have killed many and taken whatever they want.

(Sp0L)

But Jesus also uses his power but Jesus' power is much different.

* Instead of taking other peoples lives Jesus displayed his power by laying down his life for all humanity.

* Instead of being overcome with evil, Jesus exemplified truth, love, and light.

* His name is above all other names!

Before Jesus laid down his life and was crucified the Bible records what happened to the disciples

* The apostle Peter abandoning Jesus and denied that he even knew Him.

* Three times Peter is recorded as denying Jesus.

He was more concerned about his self preservation than being a fisher of men.

Today's reading from John records the appearance of the resurrected Lord to Peter who is restored and commissioned to feed Jesus' sheep.

Let's read

JN 21:1-19 After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way.

2 Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples.

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 after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.

5 Jesus said to them, "Children, you have no fish, have you?"

They answered him, "No."

6 He said to them, " Cast the net to 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 there were so many fish.

7 That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!"

When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the sea.

8 But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off.

9 When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish 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, a hundred fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn.

12 Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast."

Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, "Who are you?" because they knew it was the Lord.

13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish.

14 This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.

15 When they had finished 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."

Jesus said to him, "Feed my lambs."

16 A second time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?"

He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you."

Jesus said to him, "Tend my sheep."

17 He said to him the third time, "Simon son of John, do you love?" Peter felt hurt because he said to him the 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.

18 Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and go wherever you wished, But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go."

19 (He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.)

After this he said to him, "Follow me." (NRSV)

Easter Sunday (the crucifixion and the resurrection are big events for the Christian Church.

* Celebrations abound with music, drama, decorations, and food that are rarely seen on other Sunday gatherings

* Resurrection Sunday is also the day most churches have their biggest day of attendance.

* But Easter (Resurrection Sunday) is more than just A big special day.

* In the Christian Calendar Easter is a season.

In fact it is celebrated for 7 Sundays before the day of Pentecost.

o Today we find ourselves today on the third Sunday after Easter, barely halfway through the season.

o By now you notice that the remaining Sunday gatherings look like business as usual.

o Back to normal attendance

o Back to the regular attendees.

We may be disappointed and wish every Sunday would look like Easter Sunday.

* But if we are honest for many churches its back to business as usual.

* In fact some days don't reflect the fact that he is risen at all.

* We are just keep going about our lives "business as usual."

* When we first became a believer we has a passion for learning our first love but if we don't watch that passion love for God can wane.

o Sound familiar?

o Is our passion for Bible Study searching the Scriptures still there.

o Is our time spent in prayer still there.

If these things have waned in their important today's message may be for you.

* This story is about Peter and the other disciples who have seen the Risen Lord but now the excitement has dwindled and they are returning to their old lifestyle.

* If this a happened to Peter, the one Jesus chose to build his church on, we SHOULD WE NOT BE SURPRISED THAT IT CAN HAPPEN TO US.

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* Let's take a look at how it played out for Peter and his fellow fishermen.

JN 21:1-3 After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way.

2 Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples.

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.

(NRSV)

The story begins with seven disciples gathering at the Sea of Galilee.

* Jesus had already appeared to them so WHY were they going back to their old profession.

* Peter is recorded as saying, "I'm going out to fish."

* Notice his orientation.

* He is no longer acting like a a man who dedicated himself to following Jesus,

* He is choosing for himself what he is going to do.

* One could say he is returning to a SELF-DETERMINED approach to life.

* Not only that, but he is also INFLUENCING THE OTHER DISCIPLES to follow him.

* Remember Peter was called to be the LEADER who would lead the early church.

* This doesn't appear to be a good start for LEADERSHIP.

* Instead of leading others to be followers of Christ, he has led them to follow himself.

* Like FORGET THIS FISHERS OF MEN - LET'S GET BACK TO FISHING.

WHAT ABOUT YOURSELVES?

HOW DOES THIS RELATE TO US?

* Have we seen ourselves slip back into our own SELF-DETERMINED patterns of our old thinking and behaviors?

* It happens to us all.

* Let's face it, the CULTURE we live in celebrates and continually barrages us with the temptation to "BE YOUR OWN MAN" or "BE THE CAPTAIN OF OUR OWN SHIP."

* Our culture PULLS ON US.

* All of us have heard the rant, "YOU HAVE THE POWER WITHIN YOU.", that may be partially true BUT ONLY IF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS LEADING US.

* It seems the culture around us is focused on SELF, This slide tells it all.

* Today the focus on SELF is evident in our lives and the world around us.