LOVEST THOU ME MORE

THAN
LIFE SKETCH OF PETER STUMBLING THROUGH FAILURE TO A DEEPER
FAITH

SCRIPTURE READING
John 21:15-17
15So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter,
Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these? He said to
Him, Yes, Lord; You know that I love You. He said to him, Feed My
lambs. 16He said to him again a second time, Simon, son of
Jonah, do you love Me? He said to Him, Yes, Lord; You know that I
love You. He said to him, Tend My sheep. 17He said to him the
third time, Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me? Peter was grieved
because He said to him the third time, Do you love Me? And he
said to Him, Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.
Jesus said to him, Feed My sheep.

HYMNS
456 My LORD and I
457 I love to tell the story
458 More love to Thee

INTRODUCTION
Love misunderstood
What has love got to do with being a follower of Christ?
Is love just an emotion?
How do we know what true love is and how do we know we posses
it?
What difference does love make in the life of a follower of Jesus?
What does it take to truly love?
A few scenarios in the life of Peter that provide answers.

LIFE SKETCH OF PETER,

ENCOUNTERS WITH JESUS
Called by his brother Andrew to meet Jesus (John 1:4042) and recognised
Him as the Messiah and had associated himself intermittently with the Lord
in His ministry
Nearly two years later we find Christ calling him to permanent discipleship
in a truly miraculous way. Read Luke 5:1-11
Jesus preaches from his boat, tells him to launch out to sea to
catch fish after they had been fishing all night and caught nothing,
is obedient nonetheless, Jesus performs a miracle beyond Peters
wildest expectation, Peter encounters Jesus as LORD and exclaims:

Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!

An encounter with God brings us face to face with our own sinfulness and
unworthiness.

LIFE SKETCH OF PETER, FISHERMAN

TO FISHER OF MEN
Jesus reels in the catch. Jesus the Master fisherman was catching
fishermen to make them fishers of men.
The miracle he performed was the net that had caught their attention and
their complete acknowledgement that Jesus is LORD and that they were in
the presence of God.
Immediately Christ puts them into action. They had worked hard all night
and through their own efforts had caught nothing but through cooperation
with Jesus out of love for Him, in simple obedience Master
nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net said Peter, they
caught more fish than they had ever seen.
At the most successful time of their careers as fishermen they forsook all
and followed Him.
Without Love for God we cannot be followers of Christ, Christians.

LIFE SKETCH OF PETER, CONFIDENCE

TO HUMILIATION
Jesus washes His disciples feet (John 13:1-17), showing them true humility and
what it means to be a servant of Christ. Peter denying Christ the opportunity to
wash his feet.
Interlude between identifying Judas as betrayer and predicting the
denial by Peter: Gives the new commandment John 13:34 & 35, previously love
you neighbour as yourself, Jesus now says love one another as I have loved you,
as I have demonstrated in the flesh, love each other and the rest of mankind.
Jesus predicts Peters denial John 13:36-38, what does Peter do? He denies it, not
off to a great start.
When put to the test Peters proclaimed love in being willing to lay down his life for
Jesus. Peter failed John 18:15-18, 25-27 remembering the words of the Saviour
he left weeping bitterly.
Love for Jesus means we have confidence in Him not ourselves and are not
ashamed of Him.

LIFE SKETCH OF PETER, LOVEST

THOU ME MORE THAN THESE
John 21:15 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon
Peter, Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?
What or who was Jesus referring to as these? Commonly interpreted as Peters
fellow disciples. What was Jesus really asking Peter?
Odd for Jesus to ask does Peter if he loves Him more than his fellow disciples
because the answer is quite simple yes.
These fish, your livelihood, your ability to provide for yourself, your independence,
your skills do you love Me more than these.

Your plans for the future, your aspirations.

Pride, selfishness and personal ambition were Peters weaknesses and Jesus
asked him if he love God more than these?
What is Jesus asking us today? Do you love me more than the opinion of
others, status, world fame or possesions?

LIFE SKETCH OF PETER, LOVEST

THOU ME MORE THAN THESEPETER
RESTORED
John 21:17 19
Peter is restored, three times he confesses his love for Jesus.
(three times denied)
Feed my lambs lambs new in faith
Tend my sheep sheep all believers
Feed my sheep entire fellowship of believers
A follower of Christ means a love relationship with God and
with all of Gods children.

 The Message and the Man were the same. Christs character, His
manner of relating to others preached His message.