SUNDAY: Bible Study - 9:00 AM | Worship - 10:00 AM | PM Worship - 6:00 PM WEDNESDAY: Bible Class - 7:00 PM ~ 8110 Signal Hill Road Manassas, Virginia | Office Phone: 703.368.2622

If you were at worship yesterday you might be wondering why we began by reading Luke 5.9-10, but never referred to it again. Well, let me explain.

When I write a sermon, I write a line, not an outline. An outline explores facets, seeks to thoroughly manage information. A line presents the shortest distance between points A and B. I do the latter. This strategy offers great advantages in delivery - since the preacher is supposed to take the congregation on his journey with him, it is easier to keep everyone together if you are walking in a straight line, instead of meandering around. If you get the beginning right, and then move logically forward, you never have to ask if the congregation is still with you.  There are disadvantages, however - if you forget something, you can’t really backtrack.

Yesterday I skipped a point on the line and had no way to get back to it without disrupting the narrative arc and momentum of the sermon, which is something I can’t bring myself to do. So I am appropriating this space to try to make up for my failure yesterday to put Luke 5.9-10 squarely on the line.

Yesterday we concluded the series of lessons on the “one another” passages in the New Testament. We were discussing the command in Hebrews 10.24 which instructs us to “consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds.” I pointed out that the word “stimulate” in the original Greek is never used in a positive way outside this verse. It is a word that means “to incite,” “to provoke.” In the New Testament it is used in Acts 15.39 to describe the conflict between Barnabas and Paul. It survives in English is the word “paroxysm” which means a seizure, or a sudden outburst. We are commanded to incite, to provoke one another to love and good deeds. I used the phrase “pushing each other’s buttons”  to describe the meaning of the word in context – motivating one another  to do what our heads know to be right, but our hearts resist.

What I left out is this: We can observe Jesus doing this very thing – pushing the disciples’ buttons. Like a great coach who knows just the right thing to say to inspire his players, Jesus doesn’t just teach – he motivates. In the sermon I was going to use Peter as a case study.

When Peter is feeling sinful Jesus says “Don’t be afraid, from now on you’ll catch men” (Luke 5.9-10 There it is!). When Peter makes the good confession Jesus says “Blessed are you Simon, son of John” (Matthew 16.17); but in the same chapter he says “Get behind me, Satan” (Matthew 16.23) when Peter has the hubris to object to God’s plan.  After Peter’s thrice denial, Jesus insists that Peter confess his love three times (John 21.15-17). 

This is best illustrated by what Jesus says to Peter before his denial.  “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has asked to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” 

Wow. Notice how he uses Peter’s given name.  Note the bluntness of the warning. Notice that initial failure is assumed. Listen to those marvelous words “I have prayed for you.” Take in the assurance of victory “when you have turned again”, and the challenge of purpose “strengthen your brothers”.  Could these words be the very reason Peter didn’t follow Judas into the Potters Field, but was there to stand up at Pentecost?

As always, when the New Testament asks us to do something, Jesus personally demonstrates how we are to do it.

So that is why I read Luke 5.9-10 at the beginning of worship yesterday, and why I am motivated to explain myself today.

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