April 23, 2021

Dear Road Church Friends,

The Holy Bible is a remarkable book. Someone has described it as a pool of water in which a child may wade, and an elephant can swim. This comparison tells us there is much more to Scripture than meets the eye. As a student of the Bible for many years I have found this to be absolutely true. Bible stories that engaged me as a child in Sunday school simply because they are good stories, continue to engage me as an adult on a much deeper level. We never outgrow the Bible. Scripture grows along with us because it is living and interactive. It continues to speak to our innermost thoughts and heartfelt questions as we become aware of them. Our engagement with Scripture is a lifelong conversation with God, mediated by the Spirit of Christ.

 The message for the fourth Sunday of Easter is a story that has become more meaningful to me with every reading. It’s about Peter’s threefold affirmation of love for Jesus as a repudiation of his threefold denial. But, curiously, it all began when he said, “I’m Going Fishing.” Just as he was on the verge of returning to his old occupation, Jesus showed up on the shore.

SERMON TITLE: “I’m Going Fishing.”

SCRIPTURE READING:   John 21:1-19

After his resurrection Jesus showed himself to the disciples by the Sea of Galilee in this way. Peter said to, Thomas, Nathanael, James, John, and two others “I am going fishing.” They replied, “We will go with you.” So they took the boat out and fished all night, but they caught nothing. Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but they did not recognize him. He shouted, “Did you catch any fish?” “No,” they said. “Try casting your net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it to the right and they caught so many fish they were barely able to haul it in. One of them said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” Peter was naked, but when he heard that, he put on his tunic, jumped into the water and swam to shore. But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish. When they had come ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, “Come and have something to eat.” Then he took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. (None of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they knew it was the Lord).  When they had finished the meal, Jesus said, “Peter, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.”  A second time he said to him, “Peter, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Peter, do you love me?” Peter felt hurt, and he said, “Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. After this he said to him, “Follow me.”

IN THINE OWN HEART

Though Christ a thousand times in Bethlehem be born,

If he’s not born in thee thy soul is still forlorn.

The cross on Golgotha will never save thy soul.

The cross in thine own heart alone can make Thee whole.

Angelus Silesius

Blessings to All,

Pastor Norm

Road Church service for April 25, 2021 FACEBOOK only: https://fb.watch/55koZHsGdx/