15/8/2021 [Book of John: Lesson 81] www.lifechurchmissions.com

The Lord Jesus said: Feed my sheep. <Jn 21:15-19>

* Today, the Church has no lack of preachers and ministers, but shepherds.

* How is a true shepherd like?

1) One who loves to be shepherded by the Great Shepherd)

2) One who solely seeks the benefit of the sheep)

3) One who is not easily wounded by the sheep)

4) One who sees the good work done upon the sheep as being done upon the Lord.

Read <Jn 21:15-19>

<Jn 21:15>

* Jesus called him Simon, instead of Peter.

* There are definitely relative comparisons in our love for the Lord.

<Jn 21:16>

*The first two references of “love“ by the Lord was Agape - selfless and unconditional love.

* Yet, the “love” which Peter responded was Phileo - the love of great friendship.

<Jn 21:17>

* The significance of confirming Peter’s love 3 times by the Lord.

* It’s not that the Lord is ignorant about how much we love Him, but HE would want us to confirm that love.

* Yet the Lord doesn’t want us to dwell upon our lack, but to put our love for the Lord into practice - Feed His sheep.

<Jn 21:18-19> The outlook on Christian life as portrayed by Peter’s life.

1) The two stages in our life - Live as we wanted vs Being restrained.

2) When our life becomes more mature, all the more we can submit to situation that are not our ideal.

3) After we’ve become a shepherd, all the more we can live a self-sacrificing life for the sheep.

4) No matter what we will encounter eventually, the answer lies in "following the Lord" now.