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Ø Questions marked with this symbol are particularly recommended for group discussion. Group leaders may add other discussion questions, or substitute other questions for the marked ones, at their discretion.
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"153 fish, 7 disciples, one Lord"
Thursday, 21 September 2017
John 21:8 but the other talmidim followed in the boat, dragging the net full of fish; for they weren’t far from shore, only about a hundred yards. 9 When they stepped ashore, they saw a fire of burning coals with a fish on it, and some bread. 10 Yeshua said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” 11 Shim‘on Kefa went up and dragged the net ashore. It was full of fish, 153 of them; but even with so many, the net wasn’t torn. 12 Yeshua said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the talmidim dared to ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Yeshua came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14 This was now the third time Yeshua had appeared to the talmidim after being raised from the dead.
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John, a master of evocative images, must have in part meant this scene of Jesus building a fire to remind readers that Peter’s faith “crashed” around a fire in Caiaphas’ court (cf. John 18:15-18, 25-27). It also showed that Jesus was no ghost—he was truly, physically alive. He built a fire and cooked breakfast! (See also Luke 24:36-43.)
Ø The fish and bread were ready, yet Jesus said, “Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught.” Why doesn’t Jesus just do everything for us, changing us into the people he wants us to be, but instead ask us to join our effort with his spiritual power? In what ways does his call for you to work with him to grow spiritually offer the best path to character development, so that you are still “you,” but a new you?
• John 6:11 said, “Jesus took the bread. When he had given thanks, he distributed it to those who were sitting there. He did the same with the fish.” In John 21 we read, “Jesus came, took the bread, and gave it to them. He did the same with the fish.” Imagine the memories this action must have triggered for Peter and the others. Think back on your own walk with Jesus. What remembered high points strengthen you for today’s journey?
Prayer: Loving Lord, long before you prepared this meal, the psalmist wrote, “You set a table for me” (Psalm 23:5). As I eat my meals today, remind me of the deeper ways you feed my soul as well as my body. Amen.
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Matt Ozment
Matt is the Media Services Production Manager in the Tech Arts ministry at Church of the Resurrection. He joined the staff in December 2014 and supports the technology needs of each special or weekly event outside of weekend worship at Resurrection Leawood. In his free time, he spends time with his 2 kids, supports his wife’s cake business, and aspires to be a novelist.
In today’s world, with social media and devices that make it ever easier to send just a few words and feel that we’ve connected, visiting others in person is slowly becoming a thing of the past. Most of us have been on the receiving end of a friend canceling plans to visit at the last minute. (And, be honest with yourself, most of us have probably also been on the other side of that. I know I have, and have felt embarrassed for doing so.) You spend the day thinking about the activities you have planned for your guest(s) at your house, you buy food and drinks specifically for the occasion, you clean your house, you argue with your kids to clean their rooms, and then you get the text: “Sorry, won’t be able to make it. lol.” Maybe the text doesn’t end in “lol,” but it does feel like a slap in the face because you’ve been looking forward to this time together with friends.
Jesus modeled the importance of time spent together for the disciples and for us. In fact, he went above and beyond just a simple invitation to breakfast. He went to where they were and helped them do their job so they could spend more time with him. They almost didn’t acknowledge his invitation, and didn’t recognize him at first until they were nearly back to shore. Once there, they were embarrassed and didn’t even want to ask and verify if it was truly him.
He also made a point to have all of them together for breakfast. Like the story of Martha and Mary (Luke 10:38-42), Jesus shows them again the importance of being together. He was the one preparing the meal for them, but still made a point to include them in conversation, modeling the relationship with each other that was important in order to have a relationship with him.
I think Jesus often does that for us. He always comes to where we are in life. He lets us go through trials, but all along has gifted us with the ability to get certain jobs done quickly and efficiently so that we’re left with free time. Unfortunately, when that happens, it’s easy to fill in the space Jesus creates with things that keep us from Jesus. It’s easy to miss what exactly happened, to not see that the Lord is there, and then to be embarrassed by mislabeling it. But I think what he truly wants is for us to spend time, for us to be in relationship with him and with each other. He’s always there, fire burning, fish cooking, waiting patiently for us to come and join him.
Matt OzmentMatt is the Media Services Production Manager in the Tech Arts ministry at Church of the Resurrection. He joined the staff in December 2014 and supports the technology needs of each special or weekly event outside of weekend worship at Resurrection Leawood. In his free time, he spends time with his 2 kids, supports his wife’s cake business, and aspires to be a novelist.
In today’s world, with social media and devices that make it ever easier to send just a few words and feel that we’ve connected, visiting others in person is slowly becoming a thing of the past. Most of us have been on the receiving end of a friend canceling plans to visit at the last minute. (And, be honest with yourself, most of us have probably also been on the other side of that. I know I have, and have felt embarrassed for doing so.) You spend the day thinking about the activities you have planned for your guest(s) at your house, you buy food and drinks specifically for the occasion, you clean your house, you argue with your kids to clean their rooms, and then you get the text: “Sorry, won’t be able to make it. lol.” Maybe the text doesn’t end in “lol,” but it does feel like a slap in the face because you’ve been looking forward to this time together with friends.
Jesus modeled the importance of time spent together for the disciples and for us. In fact, he went above and beyond just a simple invitation to breakfast. He went to where they were and helped them do their job so they could spend more time with him. They almost didn’t acknowledge his invitation, and didn’t recognize him at first until they were nearly back to shore. Once there, they were embarrassed and didn’t even want to ask and verify if it was truly him.
He also made a point to have all of them together for breakfast. Like the story of Martha and Mary (Luke 10:38-42), Jesus shows them again the importance of being together. He was the one preparing the meal for them, but still made a point to include them in conversation, modeling the relationship with each other that was important in order to have a relationship with him.
I think Jesus often does that for us. He always comes to where we are in life. He lets us go through trials, but all along has gifted us with the ability to get certain jobs done quickly and efficiently so that we’re left with free time. Unfortunately, when that happens, it’s easy to fill in the space Jesus creates with things that keep us from Jesus. It’s easy to miss what exactly happened, to not see that the Lord is there, and then to be embarrassed by mislabeling it. But I think what he truly wants is for us to spend time, for us to be in relationship with him and with each other. He’s always there, fire burning, fish cooking, waiting patiently for us to come and join him.
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"The triple question: 'Do you love me?'”
Friday, 22 September 2017
John 21:15 After breakfast, Yeshua said to Shim‘on Kefa, “Shim‘on Bar-Yochanan, do you love me more than these?” He replied, “Yes, Lord, you know I’m your friend.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 A second time he said to him, “Shim‘on Bar-Yochanan, do you love me?” He replied, “Yes, Lord, you know I’m your friend.” He said to him, “Shepherd my sheep.” 17 The third time he said to him, “Shim‘on Bar-Yochanan, are you my friend?” Shim‘on was hurt that he questioned him a third time: “Are you my friend?” So he replied, “Lord, you know everything! You know I’m your friend!” Yeshua said to him, “Feed my sheep! 18 Yes, indeed! I tell you, when you were younger, you put on your clothes and went where you wanted. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” 19 He said this to indicate the kind of death by which Kefa would bring glory to God. Then Yeshua said to him, “Follow me!”
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Three times Peter denied knowing Jesus. His heart must have been aching, eager to reconnect. Jesus, a master psychologist, didn’t want that failure to haunt Peter forever. Three times, he allowed Peter to affirm his love, deeper and more solid because Jesus forgave him after he failed. Then Jesus told him that he would yet have the chance to live out his pledge in John 13:37 (“I’ll give up my life for you”). With the cost of following clearly in view, Jesus repeated the same simple, sweeping call: “Follow me.”
• Scholar N. T. Wright said, “The three questions correspond to Peter’s three denials. Three for completeness, yes, but three also for reminder. The smell of the charcoal fire lingers. Peter’s night of agony—and Jesus’ own night of agony—returns. But because of the latter, the former can be dealt with.” * What failures might haunt your relationship with Jesus? Imagine yourself on that beach with him, by that fire. Hear Jesus ask you, “______, do you love me?” Answer, three times, and hear Jesus deal with any barriers that separate you. Ø There have been (and are today) brave martyrs, but most Christ-followers through the ages have not had to die for their faith. Jesus calls us all to “die” to ways of understanding life and faith that do not fit with his life and example. How eager or reluctant are you to follow Jesus into changed thoughts and habits that show God’s glory to those around you? How can you and God make the most of each day of the rest of your life?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, “Put me to doing, put me to suffering. Let me be employed by thee or laid aside for thee, exalted for thee or brought low for thee.” I recite John Wesley’s words at church. Please help me to mean them. Amen.
* N. T. Wright, John for Everyone, part 2. (London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 2004, p. 164.)
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"Peter the denier, restored, preached boldly (and effectively)"
Saturday, 23 September 2017
Acts 2:1
The festival of Shavu‘ot arrived, and the believers all gathered together in one place. 2 Suddenly there came a sound from the sky like the roar of a violent wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then they saw what looked like tongues of fire, which separated and came to rest on each one of them. 4 They were all filled with the Ruach HaKodesh and began to talk in different languages, as the Spirit enabled them to speak.
5 Now there were staying in Yerushalayim religious Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd gathered; they were confused, because each one heard the believers speaking in his own language. 7 Totally amazed, they asked, “How is this possible? Aren’t all these people who are speaking from the Galil? 8 How is it that we hear them speaking in our native languages? 9 We are Parthians, Medes, Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Y’hudah, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, 10 Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome; 11 Jews by birth and proselytes; Jews from Crete and from Arabia. . . ! How is it that we hear them speaking in our own languages about the great things God has done?” 12 Amazed and confused, they all went on asking each other, “What can this mean?” 13 But others made fun of them and said, “They’ve just had too much wine!”
14 Then Kefa stood up with the Eleven and raised his voice to address them: “You Judeans, and all of you staying here in Yerushalayim! Let me tell you what this means! Listen carefully to me!
15 “These people ar en’t drunk, as you suppose — it’s only nine in the morning. 16 No, this is what was spoken about through the prophet Yo’el:
17 ‘Adonai says:
“In the Last Days,
I will pour out from my Spirit upon everyone.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.
18 Even on my slaves, both men and women,
will I pour out from my Spirit in those days;
and they will prophesy.
19 I will perform miracles in the sky above
and signs on the earth below —
blood, fire and thick smoke.
20 The sun will become dark
and the moon blood
before the great and fearful Day of Adonai comes.
21 And then, whoever calls on the name of Adonai will be saved.”’[
Acts 2:21 Joel 3:1–5(2:28–32)]
22 “Men of Isra’el! Listen to this! Yeshua from Natzeret was a man demonstrated to you to have been from God by the powerful works, miracles and signs that God performed through him in your presence. You yourselves know this. 23 This man was arrested in accordance with God’s predetermined plan and foreknowledge; and, through the agency of persons not bound by the Torah, you nailed him up on a stake and killed him!
24 “But God has raised him up and freed him from the suffering of death; it was impossible that death could keep its hold on him., 37 On hearing this, they were stung in their hearts; and they said to Kefa and the other emissaries, “Brothers, what should we do?” 38 Kefa answered them, “Turn from sin, return to God, and each of you be immersed on the authority of Yeshua the Messiah into forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Ruach HaKodesh! 39 For the promise is for you, for your children, and for those far away — as many as Adonai our God may call!”
40 He pressed his case with many other arguments and kept pleading with them, “Save yourselves from this perverse generation!”
41 So those who accepted what he said were immersed, and there were added to the group that day about three thousand people.
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Did Jesus’ restoration of Peter make a difference? Oh, yes! Pentecost was the Hebrew harvest festival, and came 50 days after Passover. On this day of Pentecost, just 50 days after the Passover when Jesus died on the cross, God sent the Holy Spirit in a powerful way. Some skeptics claimed the Spirit-filled Christians must have started drinking early. Peter, who just 50 days earlier had feared to call Jesus his Lord even to a servant girl, now forcefully told them this wasn’t inebriation. It was God pouring out the Spirit, as promised in Joel 2:28. The Spirit used Peter’s bold preaching of Jesus as Savior to touch so many hearts that it changed the disciples from a tiny, almost irrelevant group to a movement of thousands.
• Peter quoted some scary-sounding images from Joel: “wonders in the heavens,” “blood and fire and smoke.” He ended the quotation at the key point: “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How can that message make earth’s problems less scary to you? Peter said, “This Jesus, God raised up. We are all witnesses to that fact” (verse 32). The Jerusalem authorities and Roman rulers hated that message. They might have easily proved Peter and the early Christians wrong by just producing Jesus' dead body. But Peter knew they couldn’t do that, because it wasn’t there. How does “this Jesus, God raised up” provide hope to your outlook on life and death?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, through the Spirit’s power, the same Peter who denied even knowing you at Passover boldly preached your victory 50 days later at Pentecost. Send your power into my life, stirring me to live boldly for you. Amen.
Family Activity: Jesus asked Peter to share God’s love with others. How does your family work together to share God’s love with others? Select a way to serve others together. Ask an older child or youth to research some volunteer opportunities in your area. He or she could explore the church website (cor.org) for mission ministries in which your family can participate. Consider brainstorming about some less-structured ways you can serve others with God’s love such as helping others in your neighbor or at school. At a family gathering, ask the child or youth to present these opportunities to the rest of the family. Pray and ask God’s guidance as you discuss the possibilities. Choose one or two ways your family can share God’s love with others.
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Prayer Requests – cor.org/prayer Prayers for Peace & Comfort for:
• Mary Maughn and family on the death of her sister, Rita Knipstein, 9/12
• Suzanne Capps and family on the death of her husband Norman Capps, 9/10
• Steve and Tom Langhofer and families on the death of their mother Phyllis Langhofer, 9/9
• Wendell Lady and family on the death of his sister Phyllis Langhofer, 9/9
• Dan and Emma Entwistle and family on the death of their son Hunter Entwistle, 9/8
• Denise Mersmann and family on the death of her aunt Darlene Powell, 9/6
• Family and friends of Carol Morel on her death, 9/6
• Angela Green and Family on the death of her uncle Melvin F. Sayers, 9/5
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©2017 Church of the Resurrection. All Rights Reserved.
The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
Leawood, Kansas 66224, United States
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©2017 Church of the Resurrection. All Rights Reserved.
The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
Leawood, Kansas 66224, United States
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