05/05/2019: Abundant Fishing

CALL TO WORSHIP:          PSALM 30:1-5

A Prayer of Thanks

1 I will praise you, Lord!
You saved me from the grave
and kept my enemies
from celebrating my death.
2 I prayed to you, Lord God,
and you healed me,
3   saving me from death
and the grave.

4 Your faithful people, Lord,
will praise you with songs
and honour your holy name.
5 Your anger lasts a little while,
but your kindness lasts
for a lifetime.
At night we may cry,
but when morning comes
we will celebrate.

Contemporary English Version (CEV) Copyright © 1995 by American Bible Society

NT Reading:          John 21:1-19

Jesus Appears to Seven Disciples

1 Jesus later appeared to his disciples along the shore of Lake Tiberias. 2 Simon Peter, Thomas the Twin, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, and the brothers James and John, were there, together with two other disciples. 3 Simon Peter said, “I’m going fishing!”

The others said, “We will go with you.” They went out in their boat. But they didn’t catch a thing that night.

4 Early the next morning Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize who he was. 5 Jesus shouted, “Friends, have you caught anything?”

“No!” they answered.

6 So he told them, “Let your net down on the right side of your boat, and you will catch some fish.”

They did, and the net was so full of fish that they could not drag it up into the boat.

7 Jesus’ favourite disciple told Peter, “It’s the Lord!” When Simon heard that it was the Lord, he put on the clothes that he had taken off while he was working. Then he jumped into the water. 8 The boat was only about a hundred yards from shore. So, the other disciples stayed in the boat and dragged in the net full of fish.

9 When the disciples got out of the boat, they saw some bread and a charcoal fire with fish on it. 10 Jesus told his disciples, “Bring some of the fish you just caught.” 11 Simon Peter got back into the boat and dragged the net to shore. In it were one hundred fifty-three large fish, but still the net did not rip.

12 Jesus said, “Come and eat!” But none of the disciples dared ask who he was. They knew he was the Lord. 13 Jesus took the bread in his hands and gave some of it to his disciples. He did the same with the fish. 14 This was the third time that Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from death.

Jesus and Peter

15 When Jesus and his disciples had finished eating, he asked, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than the others do?”

Simon Peter answered, “Yes, Lord, you know I do!”

“Then feed my lambs,” Jesus said.

16 Jesus asked a second time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Peter answered, “Yes, Lord, you know I love you!”

“Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus told him.

17 Jesus asked a third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was hurt because Jesus had asked him three times if he loved him. So, he told Jesus, “Lord, you know everything. You know I love you.”

Jesus replied, “Feed my sheep. 18 I tell you for certain that when you were a young man, you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will hold out your hands. Then others will wrap your belt around you and lead you where you don’t want to go.”

19 Jesus said this to tell how Peter would die and bring honour to God. Then he said to Peter, “Follow me!”

Contemporary English Version (CEV) Copyright © 1995 by American Bible Society

QUESTIONS:

    1. The word “Grace” in the Bible can be defined as …?
    1. The Gospel of John is about “abundant grace” (John 1: 16 – “Because of all that the Son is, we have been given one blessing after another.”). What do you think “abundant Grace” means?
    1. This moment on the beach is for Peter not so much about forgiveness but rather an opportunity for him to be ______________________ as a _______________; and the opportunity for him to ________________________________________.
    1. Abundant grace is an invitation to “Come and see what God has done!” (Psalm 66:5) and then to experience that love and power of God personally. Do you and/or your family need an outpouring of abundant grace? What about your church? If so, what do you think would change?
    1. What impact could abundant Grace have on the life of our country? How can we offer abundant grace to all South Africans?

PLEASE PRAY FOR PEACEFUL ELECTIONS ON THE 8 MAY; AND THAT PEOPLE WHO VOTE WILL DO SO RESPECTFULLY AND “WISELY”.

God bless,

Rev. Tim.