Recent Sermons from Pastor Hayes

“What Is It To You?”
John 21:20-25

Introduction:
A. It seems that in most human organizations, many people would rather talk about doing something, than actually doing something
(1) Jesus clearly gave Peter marching orders, but before one could hardly turn around, Peter had his mind on other things
(2) When dealing with children, you quickly learn they all want to get an equal or better deal or they cry “This isn’t fair!”
(3) We see this in the political world when one politician is caught in bad behavior, the justification is almost always a call to look at the behavior of someone else
B. In our text today, Jesus makes clear His call upon us is not by issuing equal shares, but a call to total obedience
(1) The breakfast is over
(2) Jesus now moves to slip away

I. Jesus walks away
A. Jesus was walking away, perhaps to just vanish as He had done often in the past
(1) Peter was with Him, most likely taking seriously Christ’s call to “follow me”
(2) He turns and sees John following them
B. Peter asks Jesus “What about this man?”
(1) He could have been asking about what kind of death he would experience
(2) Or he could have been asking “Do you want him to follow you also?”
(3) This is not an odd question as we commonly see “Peter, James, and John” with Jesus
(4) Most likely it was a question about his death and would John follow the same path as Peter

II. “My will”
A. The penetrating eyes of Christ see past the human exterior right into the heart
(1) Peter had already let “follow me” slip from his thinking
(2) It had not sufficiently registered in Peter’s mind
B. “If it is my will...”
(1) “What is that to you?”
(2) Why are you concerning about him
(3) Curiosity about others must give way to obedience for self
C. “You follow me”
(1) I have already given you marching orders
(2) “Feed my lambs...tend my sheep...feed my sheep.”
(3) “Follow me”

III. What’s the point?
A. The “brothers” jump to conclusions
(1) Word spread that John was not going to die until Jesus returned
(2) Trouble is, Jesus did not say this
B. He simply said “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?” v.23c
(1) “That’s not fair....!”
(2) We’ve all heard that, we’ve all said that
C. It is all about Jesus
(1) John’s testimony is true
(2) Jesus did many other things, so many things that the world could not contain the books
D. It really is all about Jesus
(1) How, when, where, and even if He uses us is totally up to Him and who are you to question Him?
(2) Our role is obedience – For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21

Sunday, April 27, 2008

"A Failure Restored"
John 21:15-19

Introduction:
A. A good meal is not just something we need for our physical well-being, but a wonderful opportunity to fellowship with others
(1) It allows people to relax and enjoy one another
(2) In our text today, Jesus uses a breakfast of fish and bread to draw the disciples together to set the stage for a specific purpose
B. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. John 12:24

I. The circumstances
A. Peter had set himself up with unjustifiable self-esteem
(1) Peter answered him, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.” Matthew 26:33
(2) He had placed himself above the others
(3) This trust in self had been his downfall
B. There is now the call from Christ which allows Peter to clearly establish it is in Christ and Christ alone that he has confidence

II. A changed man
A. Peter responds to Christ as a changed man, one who no longer seeks to show himself a cut above the others
(1) To the question “Do you love me more than these?” he makes no mention of them, he simply affirms his own love
(2) He also uses a less lofty term for love with more of a meaning of affection
(3) He also does not seek to rate his own heart condition but says “you know that I love you”
(4) Attachment to Christ is absolutely necessary for true kingdom work and Peter wishes to make clear he has that attachment
B. A second question – leaving off the “more than these”
(1) It is as if he passed the first test, showing he no longer set himself above the others, Jesus now probes deeper within the individual
(2) Peter’s answer is the same, still avoiding the higher affirmation of love
C. A third question – this time using the same term for love that Peter has responded with the two previous times
(1) It was as if Christ was even questioning that level of love in Peter
(2) Peter was grieved that Christ would ask him a third time and even challenge his previous responses
(3) But Peter still does not look within himself for an answer – “Lord you know everything...”

III. An empowered man
A. After each exchange, Christ offered a charge to Peter
(1) 15 - “feed my lambs” – young and tender in the faith
(2) 16 - “tend my sheep” – prone to wander away
(3) 17 - “feed my sheep” – power in the word for maturity
B. Here Christ offers a solemn charge and empowers Peter
(1) He who was strong and self-assured
(2) He who was totally broken
(3) It is he who is now fully restored
C. Peter’s footsteps
(1) He was weak like a lamb
(2) He wandered like a sheep
(3) Yet Christ’s tender mercies brought him home

IV. Some concluding comments
A. Christ concludes with some searching comments
(1) When you were young you did as you pleased – even though it was not always the right thing
(2) By implication Christ affirms that behavior was past and he was marching to a different cadence
(3) He then made clear that this new cadence would not be without cost
B. “Stretch out your hands”
(1) A reference to how Peter would die
(2) And verse 19 makes clear this death glorifies God
C. “Follow me”

Sunday, April 20, 2008

“Who Are You?”
John 21:1-14

Introduction:
A. In one of Clint Eastwood’s movies, he single handedly defeats a whole group of bad guys and at the end, one cries out “Who are you?”
(1) There was something in him that was seen to be extraordinary
(2) In our text there was no doubt who Christ was and no need to ask who he was
B. In the old TV series Cheers, the theme was being where everyone “knows your name”
(1) In reality, what matters is Christ knowing your name
(2) We see painted here a picture of a gentle and loving Savior who is about the business of bringing His disciples up to full speed
(3) He does this not harshly, or abruptly, but with constant love and affection

I. Jesus manifested Himself again
A. Once again, Jesus displays His glory
(1) So His disciples could see Him
(2) This is a physical manifestation it was not phantom appearance or hallucination
(3) Christ’s dwelling is no longer on this earth so His appearance is sudden and extraordinary
B. But He also showed
(1) His power
(2) His love
(3) His majesty
(4) His sympathy (tenderness both divine and human)
C. It was to His disciples gathered together
(1) Believers have always found comfort in each other
(2) Rarely do you see a predator attack the herd, but normally, the isolated, the sick, the wounded
(3) These men still did not fully understand what was coming, but rather than fragment, they gathered together

II. Gone Fishing
A. Peter is a man of action says he is going fishing
(1) He acts before John, but John usually understands before Peter
(2) Some have asked is this a sign of rejection of Christ’s call, others say just a temporary diversion
(3) The others follow as they went fishing but caught nothing
B. They caught nothing
(1) Was this a sign of God’s displeasure with their failing to be about Kingdom business?
(2) Or was it to teach them a lesson that it is indeed God who meets our needs?
C. Early in the morning
(1) No doubt they were tired and disgruntled
(2) The did not recognize Christ
(3) He addressed them as children, pointing out they had no fish, a human inadequacy
(4) He told them to cast the net on the other side, John understood it was Christ, Peter jumped into the sea

III. The Lord’s lessons
A. By contrast to their failure
(1) Christ had fire, fish, and bread
(2) Their net now had 153 fish
(3) No one sought in inquire of Him – they got it
(4) Some today suggest “make Christ your savior”
(5) Christ is self-sufficient in all He does, even the gospel
B. He miraculously provided their daily bread
(1) All of them ate from “the fish” and “the bread” v 13
(2) Only in Christ will all our needs be met
C. Christ’s call is followed by His harvest – obedience is our response

Easter Sunday, March 23, 2008

"On The First Day of The Week"
John 20:1-18

Introduction:
A. How do you think you would have reacted had you been one of those who first visited the empty tomb?
(1) It is easy for us all to give ourselves high marks as we have read the whole book
(2) Yet it is clear that many today have more difficulty with the resurrected Christ than those at the scene
B. May we again visit this very familiar story as we ask God to give us some fresh insight into its impact in our lives

I. Keeping a custom
A. In chapter 19 are the details of Joseph of Arimathea, who along with Nicodemus took care of the body of Christ
(1) It includes the use of seventy-five pounds of spices
(2) Also linen clothes in which the body was wrapped
B. But even this was done hastily so as to complete the burial before Sundown on Friday and the beginning of the Sabbath day
(1) Now with the Sabbath over, and while it was still early in the morning (before sunrise) Mary Magdalene and others (see Matthew 28, Mark 24, & Luke 16) came to the tomb with additional spices
(2) The hurry up job now needed to be completed

II. The stone was taken away
A. As the ladies approached, they saw the stone had been moved
B. Why was it moved?
(1) Was it necessary for Jesus to exit?
(2) Eight days later He appeared inside a locked room with the disciples
(3) The stone was moved so others could see in

III. “They have taken the Lord...”
A. Mary ran to Peter and the disciple whom Jesus loved
(1) John did not want to draw attention to himself
(2) Both ran to the tomb but John got there first and saw only the linen clothes but did not go in
(3) It was neat and orderly – not the scene of some crazed event
B. Imagine what must have been in Peter’s mind
(1) What a turn of events from the garden to this point
(2) His impetuous nature take over and he enters the tomb, followed by John
(3) They see face cloth folded separately – and John believed and the Scriptures took on new meaning
(4) They did not know what to do next – so they went home, with joy in their hearts as later testimony shows

IV. But Mary...
A. Bitter sorrow had overtaken her
(1) Jesus was now not only dead
(2) But His body was stolen
B. She stooped and looked into the tomb
(1) Two angels in white
(2) Symbols of holiness, of light over darkness, of life over death, of grace over sin
(3) Angels at His birth, so it is fitting they are at His resurrection
(4) Her sorrow is so great they their presence did not alarm her as is almost always the case otherwise

V. She is confronted by Jesus
A. Turning around she saw Jesus
(1) But did not recognize Him
(2) She was looking for a body, not a living person so she assumed Him to be the gardener and inquires as to if he knows where the body has been taken
B. Christ speaks
(1) “Why are your weeping? Whom are you seeking?
(2) The He calls her name – to this she responds, “My sheep here my voice”
C. She cries out “teacher,” she finally got the message