MINISTRY: MOTIVE, MISSION, MINDSET, 2

Sermon Notes, June 1, 2014

Rev. Jan Sinozich

Pastor Jan’s sermon Sunday was the second in the series titled “Ministry: Motive, Mission, Mindset,” and was based on John 21: 15-25.  Jesus asked Peter “Do you love me?”  He asks us the same question.  He calls us to serve Him because we love Him.  That’s the motive.

The mission is clear: “Feed my sheep.”  We’re called to be separate from the world.  We are to live a holy lifestyle.  He didn’t tell Peter to rest on the beach; he told him to go home and get to work.  He didn’t tell him to hide so he wouldn’t be corrupted; He called him to serve.  We are to live in the world, but not live as corrupted by it.  The call is to serve. 

How will we express our love for the Lord?  By loving those He loves. (1 John 4:20-21)  We are to love our brothers, our neighbors, strangers—and our enemies; we should see them through Jesus’ eyes, as sheep without a shepherd, harassed by the enemy.  The way we express our love to God and for God is found in the way we treat His people.  There on the beach, Jesus committed His blood-bought children to Peter to feed and lead, “Feed my sheep.”  He had forgiven him; now He’s trusting him.  He forgave Judas, but He couldn’t trust him. 

Ministry begins with our love for God, but it doesn’t end there.  A genuine love for God will extend itself to loving and serving people.  Peter takes this instruction from Jesus and passes it on to others. (1 Peter 5:1-4)  Being called is not a profession, but a lifestyle.  We’re not on our own, the Holy Spirit leads us in the direction God has for us.  When Peter cut off the ear of Malchus at Jesus’ arrest, he was defending Jesus in his own strength.  Now Jesus is telling him to feed and lead His sheep by the strength of the Holy Spirit.

On the beach, Jesus met the physical needs of the disciples: He fed them.  Now He’s meeting their spiritual needs.  In those days, a servant fully surrendered to his master offered his ear to be pierced by his master—it was a symbol of servanthood that said “I belong to another.”  He’s asking us to offer our ears, to be His slaves.  “Do you love me?  Feed my sheep.”  Love God, and Let Him love others through you.  That is our mission.