July 26, 2009 - Feed My Sheep! (John 21:1-17)

Key Focus:

• The resurrected Jesus has already shown Himself to Peter several times. This time, however, he confronts Peter about his claim to love Jesus more than the other apostles and his failure in denying Jesus three times. This event is poignant precisely because it takes us back to Peter's original call to follow Jesus (Luke 5:1-11) and Peter's realization that in the presence of Jesus, he is unworthy and sinful. Yet knowing this, Jesus makes him worthy and calls him to ministry. Once again, Peter has to realize that is by grace that Jesus has made him whole and once his sin is confronted and acknowledged, Jesus calls Peter back to pastoral ministry.
• This is Jesus work with us as well: to love us enough to meet us in our sinfulness, but not leave us there! Salvation is not just being saved from sin, but also being saved to be useful. Jesus gently, but purposely, leads us to face our lack, our need, our sinfulness. Then Jesus gives us Himself, makes us worthy, and calls us to service so others can find that grace through tender mercy, careful protection, and firm direction (we are made worthy and called to the work of pastoring).

• Recognizing the hope and healing that the LifeWORDS of Jesus can bring us!
• Preparing our hearts for the move from the summer time of ministry to the Fall when we will begin to purposefully do two things:
  1. Prepare ourselves to answer Jesus' call to minister to others and share God's grace with them
  2. Hear clearly the kind of leaders Jesus is looking for and make ourselves ready both to lead in those ways and find those who will be shepherds for our church family

• Luke 5:1-11 tniv

This original call of Peter becomes the basis of contrast for the primary passage in today's LifeWORD's message.

• John 21:1-17 tniv

This is the passage we will explore and use as the basis of the message

• Isaiah 6:1-4 tniv and vs. 5-8 msg

This is the key passage to use with the video below, lead us in confession, and tie to the Lord's Supper to help us realize our guilt is taken away and our sin is atoned for. The question is, will we answer the call of God in our lives to be a blessing to others.

• Psalm 51 & Psalm 32 tniv

These are confessional Psalms that we may want to weave certain verses into the service to drive home the emphasis on confession

Drama, Media, & Connecting Pieces:

• Pre-video:
• Powerful Video on Forgiveness: Forgive Me
• Video Piece 1: The Cell (for both? beginning of Time in the Word?)
  • This video has to be set up, but bottom line, it does emphasize the way we feel when we have sin in our lives that is unaddressed and unsurrendered to Jesus. Jesus confronts Peter about his sin, carefully and tactfully but forcefully. Peter has to own it, but when he does, he also gets to hear the Lord call him back to useful ministry and leadership. This is the way it is with sin -- will we confess it and own then, then let Jesus liberate us from it?
• Video Piece 2: Wake Up Call (for Refresh? for Daybreak? as opening video right after the pre-vid?)
  • This video is a great way to focus us on our theme early in the service, followed by a couple of songs on the holiness of God and then a time of confession -- maybe using Isaiah 6:1-4 tniv to emphasize the holiness of God and then go to communion and use the remainder of the message, Isaiah 6:5-8 msg to emphasize that just as we take these elements and they touch our lips, the angels of heaven say to us, that because of the sacrifice of Jesus and the shedding of His blood, our sins are gone and we are made ready to do the work of God!
• Vann & Wade have a drama piece set up for Refresh with Rob

 

• Possible Songs

• The old hymn, Love Lifted Me
• Revive Us O Lord
• Have Thine Own Way Lord
• Holy Holy Holy
• Agnus Dei
• Others?

 

Time in the Word Focus:

• Key focus of the Time in the Word
  • Unconfronted sin (hidden sin or living in denial) poisons us, puts us in a cell, and destroys our ability and integrity to serve and minister. Jesus confronts Peter by asking him about his love three times. By the third time, Peter gets the point. His heart is broken. But Jesus helps him understand that when Peter recognizes his need for grace, the Lord gives him grace and also calls him to purposeful ministry.
    • This symphony in three movements -- carefrontation, confession, call -- is what our worship, our walk, and witness are all about!

Daybreak Focus: (See emphasis above! Team Working on Planning Order - Names)

Refresh Focus: (See emphasis above! Team Working on Planning Order - Names)