"Lovest Thou Me?"

TEXT:  John 21:15-17

INTRODUCTION:

A.      PETER 3 TIMES ASKED TO EXPRESS HIS LOVE FOR JESUS.

          1.       He had denied him 3 times.

          2.       "Lovest thou me more than these?"

B.      IF WE REALLY LOVE JESUS, HOW WILL IT EFFECT US?

I.      WE WILL WANT TO OBEY HIM( John 14:15;  1 John 5:3).

A.      WE WANT TO PLEASE THOSE WE LOVE.

B.      WE WILL AVOID THOSE THINGS THAT OFFEND.

II.     WE WILL WANT TO BE IN HIS PRESENCE.

A.      THIS WILL BRING US TO WORSHIP( Matt. 18:20 ).

B.      IT WILL BRING US TO CONSECRATION AND TRUST.

C.      IT WILL CREATE A LONGING( Phil. 1:21-24;  Col. 3:1-2 ).

III.    WE WILL WANT TO TALK TO HIM.

A.      MUCH GOOD COMES FROM TALKING TO THE LORD( Heb. 4:14-16 ).

B.      THE CHRISTIAN WILL LISTEN TO GOD( Psa. 1:1-2;  19:7-11 ).

IV.   WE WILL WANT TO SACRIFICE FOR HIS CAUSE.

A.      GOD'S LOVE IS DEMONSTRATED( John 3:16 ).

B.      GOD'S SACRIFICE DEMANDS ONE OF US( Rom. 12:1 ).

C.      WHAT'S EXPECTED OF US( Gal. 2:20 ).

V.    WE WILL WANT TO GIVE UP ANYTHING THAT WOULD

SLIGHT CHRIST OR HIS FOLLOWERS.

A.      WE'RE CONCERNED WITH WHAT OTHERS THINK OF OUR LOVED ONES.

B.      WE DON'T WANT TO GIVE OCCASION OF REVILING TO THE

          ADVERSARY( Titus 2:7-8;  1 Pet. 2:11-12 ).

C.      WE'LL AVOID ANYTHING THAT WILL CAUSE A BROTHER TO STUMBLE

          ( Rom. 14:21;  15:1;  1 Cor. 8:13 ).

VI.   WE WILL LOVE ALL HIS CHILDREN

        ( 1 John 5:1;  Rom. 12:9-10 ).

VII.  THE OCCASION OF THE TEXT.

A.      PETER'S PROMISE NOT TO DENY JESUS FAILED( Matt. 26:31-36, 69f. ).

B.      AFTER THE RESURRECTION, JESUS CALLS ON PETER TO EXPRESS HIS      LOVE 3 TIMES.  WHY?

          1.       "Love" from 2 Greek words:

                   a.       agape, "The highest, most perfect kind of love, cherish" ( A&G ).

                   b.       phileo, "love, have affection for, like" ( A&G ).

          2.       Jesus know that Peter would need agape if he was going to survive the next

                   trial( John 21:18-19 ).  Phileo didn't help in the last one.

CONCLUSION:  DO WE LOVE JESUS?

A.      ARE WE WILLING TO DIE?

B.      ARE WE WILLING TO OBEY?( John 14:15 ).