MAY 30, 2021 SUNDAY MESSAGE
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Transcription (please disregard any errors):
I'm Jodi Lukowiak. I'm the children's pastor, and I'm glad that you're joining us online or if you're watching us later, we're glad that you are with us as well. For those of you that don't know me well, I want to give you a little bit of glimpse into my background. My dad had a quote growing up. I think he still says it today.
In fact, it made it into a yearbook because he was an English teacher and they asked him his favorite quote, and it's this anything that is worth doing is worth doing well. And that is something that I took on as a kid. I was part of my philosophy of how I did things, and I still hold it true. Today. A few years ago, I became Where the Enneagram?
I don't know if you all know what Enneagram number you are, but I am a one. Are there any other fellow ones in the audience? Yes. You admit that you're a one. And if you're not familiar with Enneagram, a one tends to be a perfectionist.
We also are self critics. We have this running dialogue in our head after we've said something or after we've done something, whether we did it well, did we say the right thing? Did we do the right thing? And that kind of is a voice that we have in our head. Because of this, I have had doubts about my ability to do things, especially when I'm overtired stressed and just generally in a bad place.
I've had instances in my life where I didn't pursue something because of fear that I wouldn't do it well. The earliest example I can think of was back in kindergarten. I was supposed to be the lead in Peter Robert, and I didn't do it because I was too afraid of messing it up in middle school. I remember wanting to try out for cheerleading. I didn't go through with that in high school.
I really love tennis. My best friend and I would hit around together. And again, I didn't try out because I knew I wouldn't be the best at it, that there would be other girls that were better than me. So despite my best friend's pleading and her parents, I didn't try out for the tennis team. Fast forward to later on in my adult life, I became a follower of Jesus, and I heard, like many of you, that I was to disciple others and to share my story.
And you probably see a pattern here. The neon Graham one in me came out and I was afraid of doing it because I was afraid I wouldn't do it well or do it right. I saw it as something that was serious and serious. Things need to be done well. So I shied away from it.
Ten years ago, I became the Children's Ministry admin at Midtown, and then later, when we launched this Church, became the children's director and then the children's pastor admittedly, even after ten years of experience, there are times when I have doubts. I have the desire to do things right. And there are times when I shy away from taking risks for fear that I will not do things well. I'd like for us to stop here and go into a time of reflection. I want you to think about a situation that you've been in where you wanted things to go well, or you wanted something to go just right.
Think about this. Did you go through with it, or did you bail for fear of failing or not having the outcome you desired? I'll say that again. I want you to think about a situation where you've wanted things to go well, or you wanted something to be just right. Did you go through with it, or did you bail for the fear of failing or not having the outcome you desired?
I'll give you a couple of minutes to talk to the people around you or to Journal or if you're online through it into the comments section, chat section.
Give you 30 more seconds and then we'll come back together based on the conversation. It sounds like maybe some of you can relate. Over the last few weeks we've been talking about sharing the gospel story and sharing our own personal stories. I began to wonder how often I've backed out of trying because of wanting to make sure that I did it right or did it well, I think several of us, especially those with not gifted in evangelism, probably have backed off sharing the gospel or testimonies because we were afraid of saying something silly or being seen as weird in children's Ministry.
We just finished a set of stories called Knowing Jesus in a New Way, and these are stories that take
place between the end of Easter and then Pentecost and the disciples are going through trying to figure out what it means for Jesus to be resurrected and walking among them again.
And as I was going through these stories and preparing them to have here in person and online, there was one person that really struck out at me. And over the last couple of months I've seen God trying to encourage me, and he has used the example of Peter. So we're going to talk about Him today and his interactions that he had with Jesus even before his death. If we look at Peter, there are several stories about Him in the Bible. I was afraid that I'd take up a long time today, so I've narrowed it down to just a few.
If you have kids or grandkids, or if you're a kid, you may remember that Peter makes an appearance in the resurrection eggs that we have at Easter time and why Peter denied Jesus. He denied Jesus not just once, but three times. Not only did he deny Jesus, but he was pretty confident that he wouldn't ever do it if you turn with me to Matthew, chapter 26, verses 33 through 35 I will read it for us, Peter replied, even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.
Truly, I tell you, Jesus answered this very night before the Rooster Crows. You will disown me three times.
But Peter declared, Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you. And all the other disciples said the same. In another incident with Peter, we see him kind of on the opposite side of the spectrum. We see him a little bit too wound up and overzealous, wanting to come to the rescue Jesus. When they came to arrest Jesus before his death on the cross, Jesus followers asked if they should fight back and strike the opposers with their swords.
Well, Peter didn't wait for anyone to answer anyone to say anything. He zealously pulls out his sword and cuts off the ear of the high priest servant. In another memorable incident in Matthew, we see Jesus walking towards the disciples on the boat, and we see Peter jump out and walk towards Jesus. The wind blows and Peter gets afraid. He starts to doubt, and therefore he starts to sink, crying for Jesus to save him.
Jesus says to Peter, Why did you doubt Peter is kind of all over the place. Perhaps he doesn't react in a way that we think of disciples shouldn't. At times. In fact, as I was preparing the sermon today, I looked over to my husband James, and I'm like, this is the same guy, right? I would like to stop here and for us to take some time to think about Peter.
Let's put ourselves in these stories and think about the following. Are you sometimes not 100% in when it comes to following and loving Jesus? Why do you often feel like you know what is best again? Are you sometimes not 100% in when it comes to following and loving Jesus? Why?
And do you often feel like you know what is best? Go ahead and take some time to talk with those around you or to Journal your thoughts.
I'll give you three more seconds sense. And then we'll start back up.
As we continue to look at Peter. I'd like for us to turn to John chapter 21. And so while you're doing that, I'll give a little brief synopsis of what happens up until verse 15. We'll start reading 15 together, but I'll give a little bit of background. This is one of the stories of kids.
You've heard this one recently, so I want you to think about it. So the disciples are fishing and we talk about with the kids that there are many great things that happen by the sea and this is no exception. So the disciples are fishing. They're having a little bit of a rough time because they're not catching any fish. And so someone from the shore tells them to put their nut on the other side.
And so they do. And Lo and behold, they have all these fish that they caught so much that it's heavy for them to drag it's dragging with the boat. And John figures out that the person on the shore was Jesus. And in typical Peter fashion, Peter jumps out of the boat and goes and heads towards Jesus.
He decides, Well, maybe I should help my friends and not ditch them and help them get the fish up to the shore.
So he does, and they have breakfast together. So then we'll pick up now in verse 15, when they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon, Peter, Simon Son of John, do you love me more than these? Yes, Lord, he said, you know that I love you. Jesus said, Feed my lambs again. Jesus said to Simon, Son of John, do you love me?
He answered. Yes, Lord, you know that I love you. Jesus said, Take care of my sheep. The third time he said to him, Simon son and John, do you love me? Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time.
Do you love me? He said, Lord, you know all things. You know that I love you. Jesus said, feeding my sheep very truly. I tell you, when you were younger, you dressed yourself and went where you wanted.
But when you were old, you stretch out your hands and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go. Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, Follow me. In these verses, we see Jesus making sure that Peter loves Jesus. Let's be honest, Peter didn't have a very good track record up to this point of declaring that he even knew Jesus.
In fact, Peter is hurt, maybe even a little bit annoyed with Jesus. This line of questioning Jesus is removing the cloud of denial that Peter had carried with him. The love was reciprocated. Jesus loved Peter, and Jesus always had through the denial through cutting off the servant's ear through all the stories that I mentioned today and through those that are in the Bible that we haven't talked about today, we see Jesus forgiving Peter extending Grace and being patient. Most of all, in the story that we call breakfast with Peter in children's Ministry, we see that Jesus trusts and has faith in Peter.
Despite his flaws, his stumbles and his blunders, he tells Peter to lead his people. God has given us an example of what a disciple looks like to be a disciple. You don't have to be perfect. You don't need to have it all figured out. And altogether you can blunder and make mistakes.
You can have doubts. You can even turn your back on Jesus. Sometimes you just have to have a willingness to keep at it. You can be flawed and still be faithful to Jesus. And what he longs for you to do in my experiences, and perhaps maybe in yours, we can miss out on opportunities to share Jesus with others for fear that we won't do it right.
An opportunity can present itself, and we can just let it pass by. About nine years ago, I visited Japan. I went to see my brother and sisterinlaw and most of all, my baby little niece. And they were missionaries in a University North of Tokyo. And one day I tagged along with them while they met with a College student in a Starbucks local mall.
And I was nervous. I was out of my comfort zone. I was nervous because of the language barrier and because of the cultural differences anyway. And then my sister in law turned to me and said, Why don't you share your story? And I paused and I thought, Well, I kind of have to now.
I don't think I have a choice. She just said that out loud to this College student. So I did. And it would have been awkward for me to not do. I shared my story of how James and I, the trials that we had when we were first married because of him being sick with cancer and Carly being little, and I shared how people had taken care of us and had really helped us get through the times that we had gone through.
And the young lady listened very attentively. And when I got finished, she asked me a couple of questions. She asked me if James was going to be okay, which he was, and he still is. And then the last question she asked me really stuck out to me. She asked me, do you still love God?
And I said, yes, I do. This moment was one of the highlights of my trip behind getting to see my niece
for the first time in person. I was so glad that I didn't let my anxiety and fear get a hold of me. And more so I was so glad that God used me in that moment and to remind me of his faithfulness. And I am thankful that God gave me that opportunity.
And I didn't let it pass by like I had some others in the past. If we go past the Gospels in the Bible, we see Peter go on and help lead the Church. He wrote letters to believers everywhere that we can read in first and second Peter. And let's not forget, in Matthew 1616 to 20, Jesus shares that Peter was going to do great things. I'll read those verses, Simon, Peter answered, you are the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Jesus replied, Blessed are you, Simon, son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter. And on this rock I will build my Church and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of heaven. Wherever you bind on Earth will be bound in heaven.
Whenever you loose on Earth will be loosened in heaven. Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah. Peter means rock, and we are seeing Peter being designated as a leader of the Church. Jesus is confirming Peter's identity as Peter is confirming Jesus. As I mentioned earlier, Peter didn't have a perfect life, yet Jesus specifically calls Peter out to leave the Church in these verses, as well as the ones I read earlier about Peter leading the sheep, Peter faced persecution for what he believed.
In fact, many people believe that Peter was to be crucified similarly to Jesus. But Peter didn't feel like he was worthy, so he ended up being crucified upside down through Jesus interactions with Peter and Peter's work, I remind myself that I need to extend myself the same patience and Grace that is modeled. Jesus most faithful followers weren't perfect. Peter reminds me that I'm not perfect, nor do I need to be. I can strive to do well and do things right, but shouldn't be my main purpose, especially if it gets in the way of what God wants me to really do.
We need to give ourselves Grace and extend it to others. We probably all need to hear at times that we are good enough. Just who we are because God loves us, loves us, and he made us in his image. I know I can be my hardest critic. I can use my desire to do well as an idol and not necessarily as a way to further the Kingdom.
I need to be reminded of that moment nine years ago when I was able to share my story with someone else. Nothing terrible happened. I'm here. The only real perfect person was Jesus. And if you're any Graham one, you probably need to hear this more often than not, especially if you're in an unhealthy place.
God gave us the perfect, imperfect person when he gave us Peter, will you pray with me, father, we thank you for your word. We are thankful for the examples that you give us. We thank you that you've helped us through. Peter and others in the Bible, navigate our humanness so that we can do glory for you. Father.
Father, we thank you for your love and for your forgiveness that you show each and every one of us every day. Amen.
COMMUNION:
(1 COR. 11:23B-26)
“The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
SAVE THE DATE: The 2020 Marriage Retreat is scheduled to be Saturday and Sunday, November 7 and November 8!
PRAYER REQUESTS:
We are hosting prayer team meetings for both the congregation at large and individuals to sign up for individual prayer.
SUGGESTIONS FOR WORSHIP:
“Praise & Worship” Spotify playlist and “Praise & Worship” YouTube playlist (slightly different from each other), both of diverse music that are being constantly updated!
Bethel Music :
Bethel Music’s hours of live music YouTube Playlist, also being constantly updated
Bethel provides chords to most (if not all) of their songs here (just have to register email, but free!)
Live worship moments from the Upper Room YouTube Playlist
Journal writing! (I’m a writer too, so sometimes creative writing and writing my thoughts to God is my form of worship.)
Declare and worship with truth by singing and praying scriptures.
WORSHIP NIGHT! Dedicate a night to worship with friends and family, your house church or neighbors, those who need prayer, love worship, or just enjoy music through a video chat platform like Zoom. You can have one person leading at a time (switching off to whoever else wants to lead) while others sing along, pray, or prophesy, etc.
Serving your community, both online, in person, or both, is a great way to worship God, from spreading encouragement and God’s Word online to physically serving food to others. If you are able to go out and serve, click here for opportunities.
COMMISSIONING:
As Jesus said in John 20:21,
"Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you."
Go, be the Church!
In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Amen.