Muskoka Lakes Ministry of Knox, Port Carling & Zion, Torrance
Sunday Oct 17, 2021
Message: A Little Peter in All of Us
Reverend Glynis Faith
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Announcements
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* Monday evening 7pm via Zoom ~ ‘The Story’ study group meets
* Thursday evening 7:30 pm via Zoom ~ the Bible study group meets
* Tuesday 2pm ~ Zion Session meets in Torrance
* Tuesday 7pm ~ Knox Session meets in Port Carling
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Prayer of Adoration & Confession
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Praise be to you, O God, for the wonders of your creation.
You spin the shining stars and stretch out the seas to the furthest horizon.
You lift the curtain of dawn so light can chase away the night.
You give the earth its seasons and each creature its lifespan,
breathing life and love into each precious soul.
And so, we come to praise you, knowing human greatness is a mere shadow of yours.
In this hour of worship, breathe your Spirit into us once more, to inspire us to serve you with creativity and commitment, and with the honesty and humility we meet in Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord.
Lord Jesus Christ, you call us to walk your way in the world, to feed Your sheep, serve our neighbours, care for Your flock, and to love our enemies.
We confess these are not easy choices for us.
We sometimes turn a blind eye to those in need. We can become focussed on our own wants and needs that we ignore the health of the flock.
We like to follow the crowd rather than challenge popular opinions.
Forgive us, Jesus, for seeking an easier way – for seeking our own way – rather than your way.

WORDS OF ASSURANCE
While it is true that we have sinned, it is a greater truth that we are forgiven
through God’s love in Jesus Christ. To all who humbly seek the mercy of God I say,
In Jesus Christ, your sin is forgiven. Be at peace with God, with yourself and with one another AMEN
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Prayer of Mother Theresa
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Dear Jesus,
Help us to spread your fragrance everywhere we go.
Flood our souls with your Spirit and life.
Penetrate and possess our whole being so utterly
that our lives may only be a radiance of yours.
Shine through us and be so in us
that every soul we come in contact with
may feel your presence in our soul.
Let them look up and see no longer us but only Jesus.
Stay with us and then we shall begin to shine as you shine,
so to shine as to be light to others.
The light, O Jesus, will be all from you.
None of it will be ours.
It will be you shining on others through us.
Let us thus praise you in the way you love best
by shining on those around us.
Let us preach you without preaching
not by words, but by our example
By the catching force
the sympathetic influence of what we do
the evident fullness of the love our hearts bear to you. AMEN
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“ A Little Peter in All of Us ”
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John 21:15-17

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, “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 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.
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I believe there is a little Peter in all of us – perhaps a little of the Peter in the Gospels and a little of the Peter in Acts.

In the Gospel we see an impulsive Peter – perhaps some of us know a thing or two about impulsivity.
Peter loves Jesus, claiming he would die for Him – have you ever made a claim bigger than what you might actually be willing or able to fulfill?
Peter is immature in his faith. He thinks he knows Jesus really well; afterall, it is Peter who declares Jesus to be the Son of God. Yet, we learn, Peter did not know Jesus as well as he thought, for he refused to hear anything about Jesus dying to save others. - - We are on a faith journey – each of us at different points along the way in our relationship with Jesus. Like Peter, we know Jesus a little, and we seek to know Him more.
Peter slept when Jesus asked him to stay alert and pray with Him – how many times has the day passed by and you realize you have not prayed - not spoken with the one you long to know better?
After Jesus’ arrest people asked if Peter was one of His disciples and Peter denied even knowing Him – not once – not twice – but three times. Perhaps there have been times you were afraid to share the Gospel of Jesus with others for fear of being ridiculed or worse.
But the Peter of the Gospels became the Peter in Acts who boldly preached the death and resurrection of Jesus and the same Peter who wrote the 2 New Testament letters that bear his name, 1 & 2 Peter. If you want to know a little bit more about the transformed Peter, Read these two letters sometime this week.
There is a significant – life changing transformation between the Peter who denies knowing Jesus and the Peter who is credited with being the first one to preach the Good News of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.
The Gospel Peter reminds us we are not perfect. Remember, Jesus did not die on the Cross to save the perfect, He came to save sinners like us. Impulsive, immature, neglectful, fearful, poor listeners like Peter – like you – like me.
The Peter we read of in the book of Acts; however, is a totally different man – born again, one could say. Peter preaches instead of fighting. Gone is the impulsive disciple, replaced by a calm, prayerful and thoughtful one. Peter has a new understanding of the price paid for his sins, of who Jesus is and how great His love is. He is filled with a passion and commitment to continue Christ’s ministry – to tell the whole world about the love of God made know in the man Jesus.
Many things contributed to Peter’s transformation – Jesus’ teachings and miracles – the Cross – the Resurrection – and one can only imagine the shame Peter felt each time he thought about his denials of Jesus, but I would like to suggest Peter’s transformation is found in the Greek words for love found in our Scripture reading.
In English we use the word love rather loosely. I love potato chips, and I really really love Miss Vicki’s potato chips, especially the spicy dill. I love my children and I love love love my grandchildren. I love my friends and I love spending time with family and friends. I love my dog, Skippy. I love taking long walks with Skippy and I also love curling up on the couch and rubbing his belly while I watch Heartland or read a book.
Of course, I don’t love potato chips the same way I love my grandchildren, nor do I love my family the same way I love my friends – although there are some friends who are more like a brother or sister. For some reason the English language clumps them all into one word – love.
The Greeks realized all love is not the same, thus there are 4 words for distinct types of love.
1) Eros – an erotic or passionate love
2) Philia or Phileo – friendship
3) Storge – family love, especially the love of a parent for a child
4) Agape – an unconditional, self-sacrificing love - - often referred to as the love of God

Love – Eros – Phiieo – Storge – Agape.
Allow me to read today’s Scripture again, only this time I will use the Greek word for love to see if we can uncover a key to Peter’s transformation:

When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you agape me more than these?”

“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I phileo you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

Again, Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you agape me?”

He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I phileo you.”

Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”

The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you phileo me?”

Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you phileo me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I phileo you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. / / / / / /

Did you catch the different words used for love?

Do you love me with a self-sacrificing love (will you really die for me) Jesus asks.
Jesus, I love you like a dear friend, Peter replies.
Do you love me with a self-sacrificing love, Christ asks again?
Lord, I love you with the love of a friend, says Peter.
Jesus accepts Peter’s honest expression of love and says, Peter do you love me like a friend?
Peter exclaims, yes Lord, you know everything about me, and You know that I love you with the love of a friend.

Previously Peter had claimed he would die for Jesus, but when faced with the prospect of doing just that, Peter denied Him instead. Jesus asks him now, do you love me enough to lay down your life. This time, Peter thinks before he speaks and gives an honest answer - - I am not that strong, I love you like a friend. Jesus asks the second time, but Peter has learned not to try and be someone he is not – I love you like a friend.
Then, Jesus does something we need to pay close attention to – Jesus meets Peter where he is at – Peter, do you love me as a friend?
The unconditional self-sacrificing love of Christ steps down to meet Peter where he is – a dear friend – and in that honest moment, Jesus reinstates Peter as an apostle. Jesus reinstates Peter, not because of the depth of his love, but because of the honesty in his love. Peter has learned to give Jesus all he has and to be honest about what his all is. We can’t grow in our faith until we are honest with ourselves and with God.
And that, my friends, is what Jesus does for each of us, He meets us where we are at. Jesus longs to share God’s love with you and He calls out to you, ‘do you love me?’
In this passage we are reminded of God’s great, unending, self-sacrificing love for us, and we are reminded that it is God who stepped down for us. We are called to worship and serve God where we are and with what we have, and it is in our honest and sincere worship and service that Jesus meets us where we are and transforms our lives that we might better know and love God.
There is a little Peter in all of us, so let us remember from Peter that Jesus meets you where you are, and if you will answer His call, He will show you His love and help you, like Peter to mature in your faith and grow in your love.
Friends, Jesus is calling: do you love me?

Please pray with me: Jesus, indeed we love you. You are patient with us, meeting us where we are. You are filled with mercy for those who will heed Your Call. You bring grace to the sinner and new life to the repentant. Jesus we love you and we long to love You more. Hear our thanks and our praise, precious Lord and Saviour. AMEN
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Softly and Tenderly, Jesus is Calling
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Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling, calling for you and for me:
patiently Jesus is waiting and watching, watching for you and for me.

"Come home, come home, ye who are weary, come home";
earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling, calling, O sinner, "Come home!"

Why should we tarry when Jesus is pleading, pleading for you and for me?
Why should we linger and heed not his mercies, mercies for you and for me?

"Come home, come home, ye who are weary, come home";
earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling, calling, O sinner, "Come home!"

Oh for the wonderful love he has promised, promised for you and for me;
though we have sinned, he has mercy and pardon, pardon for you and for me.

"Come home, come home, ye who are weary, come home";
earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling, calling, O sinner, "Come home!"
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Offering
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DONATIONS TO ZION, TORRANCE
Mail cheques to Zion Presbyterian Church 1046 Torrance Rd, Torrance, ON, P0C 1M0
E-Transfers to zionchurchpc@gmail.com No security question required
Pick up ~ Please call the office (705) 765 3797 to arrange pick up

DONATIONS TO KNOX, PORT CARLING
Mail cheques to Knox Presbyterian Church Box 283, Port Carling, ON,
P0B 1J0
E-Transfers to KnoxChurchPC@gmail.com No security question required