Second Chances
May 8, 2011 Morning Service
Immanuel Baptist Church, Wagoner, OK
Rick Boyne
Message Point: God makes successes out of our failures.
Focus Passage: John 21:15-19
Supplemental Passage: I decide to do good, but I don’t really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. (Romans 7:19 MSG)
And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. (2 Corinthians 12:9 NASB)
Introduction: Relate personal experiences related to failure.
I. Our False Pride
a. Peter claimed he would follow Jesus, even if it meant death (John 13:36-38)
b. Jesus told him that before the night was over, he would deny him three times
c. We, too, have false bravado that ends up getting us in trouble.
II. Our Failure
a. While Jesus was being held/tried Peter denied him three times (John 18:17, 25-27)
b. And Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said, "Before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." And he went out and wept bitterly. (Matthew 26:75 NASB)
c. We, too, are often remorseful and repentant of our failures.
III. Our Restoration
a. At the resurrection, the angel tells Mary to go tell the “Disciples and Peter” (Mark 16:7)
b. Peter denied Jesus three times and Jesus gave Peter three opportunities to “make it right”
i. The first two times, Jesus asked “Peter do you agape me?” to which Peter responded, “I phileo you.” Peter’s guilt was too great; he wasn’t going to go overboard with promises
ii. The third time, Jesus asked, “Peter, do you phileo me?” to which Peter responded, “Yes, I phileo you.” Jesus met Peter where he was.
iii. After each of these confessions, Jesus re-emphasizes Peter’s task.
Invitation: Jesus frees us from our past and provides new opportunities for us. We are not beyond recovery! Jesus came to call Peter back into the fight. Don’t let Satan use guilt and failure to keep you out of service.
