John 21:1-19 – The Breakfast Club: Disciple Edition

Welcome and Announcements

Howdy, folks! Welcome to another wonderful day here at Saddleback Church. I’m so glad you could join us – it’s always a joy to have you here. Before we dive into the good word, let me share a few important announcements:

Upcoming Events:

• Join us next Sunday for our special Mother’s Day service! We’ll be honoring all the wonderful moms in our community with a special message and a few surprises.
• Our annual church picnic is just around the corner on June 10th. Get ready for some good old-fashioned fun, food, and fellowship.
• Don’t forget to sign up for our summer Bible study series starting next month. This year, we’ll be exploring the book of John, and you won’t want to miss it.

Community Updates:

• Our food pantry is in need of some restocking. If you can, please bring in a few non-perishable items to help support our neighbors in need.
• The youth group is planning a mission trip to the inner city next month. If you have a high school student who’s interested, be sure to get them signed up.

Alright, now that we’ve gotten the announcements out of the way, let’s turn our attention to the reason we’re all here – to learn, grow, and draw closer to our amazing God. Are you ready? Let’s dive in!

Call to Worship

Before we begin, let’s take a moment to quiet our hearts and focus our minds on the Lord. Open your Bibles to the book of John, chapter 21, verses 1 through 19. As we read these words, let them fill us with a renewed sense of purpose and a deeper understanding of God’s unwavering love.

Opening Prayer

Father, we come before you today with grateful hearts, ready to learn and be transformed by your Holy Spirit. Open our eyes to see your truth, open our ears to hear your voice, and open our hearts to receive your perfect love. May the words we hear and the songs we sing bring you glory and draw us closer to you. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Praise and Worship

Alright, friends, let’s lift our voices in praise and worship. Our worship team is ready to lead us in a time of joyful adoration. So let’s sing with all our might, letting the music and lyrics flow from our hearts to the throne of God.

Scripture Reading

Now, let’s turn our attention to the Word of God. In the book of John, chapter 21, verses 1 through 19, we read about a profound encounter between Jesus and his disciples after his resurrection. It’s a beautiful story of restoration, forgiveness, and Jesus’ love for his followers.

Jesus and the Miraculous Catch of Fish

21 Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee.^[a] It happened this way: ² Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus^[b]), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. ³ “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

⁴ Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.

⁵ He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”

“No,” they answered.

⁶ He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.

⁷ Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. ⁸ The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards.^{[c] 9} When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.

¹⁰ Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” ¹¹ So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. ¹² Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. ¹³ Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. ¹⁴ This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.

Jesus Reinstates Peter

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.”

¹⁶ Again Jesus said, “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.”

¹⁷ The third time he said to him, “Simon son of 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, “Feed my sheep. ¹⁸ Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” ¹⁹ Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”

Pastoral Prayer or Intercessory Prayer

Let’s take a moment now to lift up our hearts in prayer. Heavenly Father, we come before you with grateful and humble hearts, awed by the profound encounters you had with your disciples in the pages we just read. Lord, how you lovingly restored Peter, reassuring him of your forgiveness and then entrusting him with the call to “feed my sheep.”

God, we pray that you would do the same for us. Help us to hear your voice, to recognize your presence, and to respond with the same bold faith and obedience that Peter displayed. Where we have fallen short, grant us your mercy and the courage to start anew.

We lift up our church family, Lord, and ask that you would strengthen our bonds of fellowship. May we be a community that reflects your love, encourages one another, and works together to fulfill your mission. Bless the ministries and outreach efforts of our church, that they would bear much fruit for your kingdom.

And Father, we pray for those in our midst who are struggling – those facing illness, grief, financial hardship, or any other trial. Wrap your loving arms around them and provide for their every need. Give them the peace that surpasses all understanding, and use us as your hands and feet to support and encourage them.

Lord, we thank you for your faithfulness, your goodness, and your unwavering love. May we always be people who seek to follow you wholeheartedly, just as the disciples did. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus that we pray. Amen.

Offering

Now, let’s continue our time of worship by bringing our tithes and offerings to the Lord. Friends, the giving of our resources is a sacred act – it’s a way for us to honor God and express our gratitude for all he has done. As we give, let’s do so joyfully, knowing that our gifts are being used to further the work of his kingdom.

Let’s bow our heads as we pray: Heavenly Father, we thank you for the privilege of partnering with you in your mission. Accept these offerings, we pray, and use them to spread the good news of your love and grace to a world that desperately needs it. May our giving be an act of worship that pleases you. In Jesus’ name, amen.