Westside Community Church

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EVERYDAY HEROES

StevenJBarker

THE GOD OF 2ND CHANCES

Everyday Heroes - Part 7 of 7

August 22, 2021 | Steven Barker | @stevenjbarker

Anticipated

“Dear children, I will be with you only a little longer. And as I told the Jewish leaders, you will search for me, but you can’t come where I am going. So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” Simon Peter asked, “Lord, where are you going?” And Jesus replied, “You can’t go with me now, but you will follow me later.” “But why can’t I come now, Lord?” he asked. “I’m ready to die for you.” Jesus answered, “Die for me? I tell you the truth, Peter—before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.” - ‭‭John‬ ‭13:33-38‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Peter’s Denial

'Simon Peter followed Jesus, as did another of the disciples. That other disciple was acquainted with the high priest, so he was allowed to enter the high priest’s courtyard with Jesus. Peter had to stay outside the gate. Then the disciple who knew the high priest spoke to the woman watching at the gate, and she let Peter in. The woman asked Peter, “You’re not one of that man’s disciples, are you?” “No,” he said, “I am not.” Because it was cold, the household servants and the guards had made a charcoal fire. They stood around it, warming themselves, and Peter stood with them, warming himself. Inside, the high priest began asking Jesus about his followers and what he had been teaching them. Meanwhile, as Simon Peter was standing by the fire warming himself, they asked him again, “You’re not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it, saying, “No, I am not.” But one of the household slaves of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Didn’t I see you out there in the olive grove with Jesus?” Again Peter denied it. And immediately a rooster crowed.'  - John 18:15-19,25-27


Peter’s Love

After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these? Or more than these others do?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.” “Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him. Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love me?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love you.” “Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said. A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep.' - John 21:15-17

What do we learn from Peter? 

  1. Jesus knows, so CONFESS.

  2. Our past influences our future, but it doesn’t DEFINE it.

  3. The call is BIGGER. 

We are not defined by what we DID,
we are defined by what we DO NEXT . 

My Next Step Today Is:

  • Today I’m saying YES to Jesus for the first time

  • I want to get baptized

  • I will read through the Gospels

  • I will recommit to my purpose

*Download the App HERE to take your next steps

Join Pastor Gabe in reading through 

all 4 Gospels in 30 days:

https://westsidechur.ch/Gospels

For Resources to Grow in Your Faith:

Text JESUS to 503-905-9067

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