May 4th, Sermon & Ministry Resources

"RESURRECTION REALITIES" (John 21:1-19)

Lectionary Readings — Third Sunday of Easter — May 4, 2025

Acts 9:1-6,(7-20) Psalm 30; Revelation 5:11-14; John 21:1-19

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Call to Worship (based on John 21:1-19)

Leader: After his resurrection, Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias.

People: In the ordinary moments of our lives, Christ comes to us.

Leader: When the disciples had fished all night and caught nothing, Jesus stood on the shore and said, "Cast the net to the right side of the boat."

People: When we feel empty-handed, Christ directs our paths toward abundance.

Leader: When they came ashore, they saw a charcoal fire with fish and bread, and Jesus said, "Come and have breakfast."

People: Christ feeds us and welcomes us to his table.

Leader: After they had eaten, Jesus asked Peter, "Do you love me?"

People: And we respond with Peter, "Yes, Lord, you know that we love you."

Leader: Then Jesus said, "Feed my lambs. Tend my sheep. Follow me."

All: We gather to worship the risen Christ, who calls us to love and serve one another.

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Opening Prayer (based on Acts 9:1-20)

Let us pray:

Gracious and merciful God,

We come before You today in awe of Your life-changing power. Like Saul on the Damascus road, we acknowledge that You meet us where we are, even when we are moving in directions contrary to Your will. You are the God who breaks through our blindness with blinding light, who calls us by name, and who redirects our paths toward Your purposes.

Lord, we confess the times we have persecuted others with our words and actions, when we have been certain of our rightness but wrong in our hearts. Thank You for Your patience with us, for loving us enough to intervene in our misguided journeys.

We pray for those who feel beyond Your reach today. May they, like Saul, encounter Your presence in unexpected ways. For those who walk in spiritual blindness, send Your servants like Ananias, who despite his fear, obeyed Your call to minister healing and welcome.

Fill us with Your Holy Spirit, that scales might fall from our eyes. Give us courage to embrace new identities and purposes in You, just as Saul became Paul, a vessel to carry Your name before the nations.

May our worship today be an offering of thanksgiving for Your persistent love that transforms enemies into family, persecutors into preachers, and the lost into those who lead others to Your light.

In the name of Jesus Christ, who makes all things new, Amen.

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Sermon Outline: [NOTE to Paid subscribers — scroll down for the full manuscript sermon].

[Note: All Scripture is taken from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible.]

Sermon Outline: "RESURRECTION REALITIES" (John 21:1-19)

Introduction:

• Jesus' third appearance after resurrection occurs at the Sea of Tiberias (Galilee)

• This passage combines reunion, restoration, and recommissioning

• Today we'll explore four "Rs" that show us how Jesus meets us in our everyday lives

I. Recognition: Seeing Christ in Ordinary Moments (vv. 1-7)

A. The Disciples Return to Fishing

B. The Risen Lord Appears Unrecognized

C. Revelation Through Results

II. Refreshment: Christ Provides for Our Needs (vv. 8-14)

A. The Provision Already Present

B. The Prepared Table

C. The Renewed Community

III. Restoration: Healing Our Past Failures (vv. 15-17)

A. The Painful Parallels

B. The Progressive Questioning

C. The Perfect Reinstatement

IV. Recommissioning: Following Despite the Cost (vv. 18-19)

A. The Prophetic Warning

B. The Persistent Call

C. The Purposeful Death

Conclusion

• Jesus meets us in our ordinary work (Recognition)

• Jesus provides for our physical and spiritual needs (Refreshment)

• Jesus heals our past failures and restores us (Restoration)

• Jesus recommissions us to follow him regardless of cost (Recommissioning)

• The resurrected Christ continues to transform our lives today if we will recognize him, receive his refreshment, accept his restoration, and respond to his recommissioning

Full Manuscript Sermon Below for Paid Subscribers