Main point: Just like Peter evolved from excitement that Jesus is Lord into a passionate servant of the Lord, serving others and feeding and loving the sheep, we must also evolve into becoming a passionate servant of the Lord, loving and serving and feeding others.

Foundation Scripture: John 21:1-25.

The disciple Jesus especially loved is John (the author of the book of John)

The Evolution of Peter:

Peter experience Jesus (God incarnate), and thought he was all in.

But when a trial hit, he denied Christ.

Then Jesus appeared, proving his resurrection and that he is God incarnate

On his 3rd appearance in His glorified body, Peter jumps out of his boat to see Jesus.

Then Jesus, in his resurrected body ask Peter if he loved him 3 times.

The proof that Peter loved Jesus was that he would feed/serve others

Then Jesus instructs the disciples to be filled with the Holy Spirit to be empowered to spread the good news.

Pastor’s thoughts:

There comes a time in our Christian Journey where we recognize that “this time it is different”

Just like Peter evolved from denying Christ to an empowered instrument for God’s Kingdom, we are on this journey as well.

This time I will jump out of the boat (or do whatever it takes) to be with Jesus

This time I will hunger to be continually filled with the Holy Spirit so I can be empowered to serve and love others

This time I will not give up when trials and hard circumstances come my way. I will only grow stronger in my faith in Jesus.

This time I will love Jesus by loving and serving and encouraging others

This time the enemy will know my name as a powerful instrument for God’s Kingdom.

This time it’s different:

Over and over in scripture, the proof that you are great in God’s Kingdom or that you passionately love Jesus is that you find joy and fulfillment in serving and feeding and loving others.