First Baptist Church Delray

Sermon Application Questions

April 20, 2025

Pastor Steve’s Message: “Resurrection and Restoration”

Scripture: John 21 (ESV)

Review the Exegesis of the Scripture

1. How had Satan asked permission from Jesus to break down his lead disciple, Simon Peter, according to Luke 22:31–34?

“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.”

2. What would Simon Peter learn about the ways of Jesus in addition to the powerful miracles He’d already witnessed?

3. How did Peter indeed deny Jesus in John 18:17–18?

The servant girl at the door said to Peter, “You also are not one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” Now the servants and officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves. Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself.

4. After Peter denied Jesus two more times, how did he feel when the rooster crowed according to Luke 22:61–62?

And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.

5. After Jesus was abandoned, crucified, and buried, what happened next in John 20:1–10?

Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples went back to their homes.

6. How can we tell that Simon Peter didn’t wallow in his guilt and disillusionment and just give up?

Read John 21:1–14

After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way. Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea. The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off. When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.

7. How did the disciples’ dear relationships with each other, including Peter, continue?

8. How did Peter react to seeing Jesus?

9. Why would Jesus have traveled all the way to Galilee to have this conversation in a setting Peter was comfortable with?

Read John 21:15-18

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, 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.” He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, 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 everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.

10. Why would Jesus ask Peter if he loved Him?

11. Why would Jesus ask Peter three times?

12. What had Jesus explained about the importance of love among all the other commandments according to Matthew 22:37–38?

And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment.

Make Personal Applications of the Lessons

13. What has it been like to struggle to live like you know Jesus in your behavior and conversations?

14. Have you had times when you are disillusioned with Jesuswith doubts and fears?

15. How does it feel when you struggle in your heart to want to live a life that pleases Him?

16. Do you repent, but nothing seems to change? What would you say if you were having breakfast with Jesus in your favorite breakfast spot in your town, remembering the things you have been doing that make it look like you don’t know Him, and He looks right at you and says, “Do you love me?” over and over again to correspond to the number of your failures?

17. When you talk about knowing Jesus, is your hope of heaven based on love for Him or on your good works?

18. How has the Holy Spirit living in you changed you from being lonely, self-centered, and irksome?

19. How has Jesus changed your purpose in life to help others receive what you have as a kind shepherd among lost and needy sheep instead of ignoring or judging them?

20. In your place of service at church, what are some ways you place your focus on people instead of just tasks?

21. In your home, how do you develop the hearts of family members instead of just managing tasks and agendas?

22. At work, how do you engage people instead of using them?