Video EBlast for Sunday, August 12, 2018

The Real Truth Found Around the Sea of Galilee

Breakfast with Jesus

This week, while you meet with your Faith Formation Group you may want to reflect on our Scripture passage by reading John 21:1-14 (printed below) and discuss the questions as a way to begin a conversation. 

    

John 21:1    Later, Jesus appeared again to the disciples beside the Sea of Galilee. This is how it happened. ² Several of the disciples were there—Simon Peter, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples.

John 21:3    Simon Peter said, “I’m going fishing.” 

“We’ll come, too,” they all said. So they went out in the boat, but they caught nothing all night.

John 21:4    At dawn Jesus was standing on the beach, but the disciples couldn’t see who he was. ⁵  He called out, “Fellows, have you caught any fish?” 

  “No,” they replied.

John 21:6    Then he said, “Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you’ll get some!” So they did, and they couldn’t haul in the net because there were so many fish in it.

John 21:7    Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his tunic (for he had stripped for work), jumped into the water, and headed to shore. ⁸ The others stayed with the boat and pulled the loaded net to the shore, for they were only about a hundred yards from shore. ⁹ When they got there, they found breakfast waiting for them—fish cooking over a charcoal fire, and some bread.

John 21:10    “Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught,” Jesus said. ¹¹ So Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net to the shore. There were 153 large fish, and yet the net hadn’t torn.

John 21:12    “Now come and have some breakfast!” Jesus said. None of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. ¹³ Then Jesus served them the bread and the fish. ¹⁴ This was the third time Jesus had appeared to his disciples since he had been raised from the dead. (New Living Translation)

Questions for Consideration:

1. Is this story similar to an earlier fishing story involving Jesus and Peter? Go back and read Luke 5:1-11 and share how that story is similar to this one.
2. Why do you think Peter chose to go back to fishing after he had already experienced the risen Jesus? Do you every have times where you have to get away to clear your head and get back to basics?
3. What was Peter’s reaction when he realized Jesus was the one on the shore talking with them? How do you approach Jesus when he presents himself to you?
4. Do you think there is any significance in the fact that Jesus invites the disciples to breakfast? Is there significance that Jesus feeds them bread and a fish? Is this just normal breakfast food and/or does it have any relationship with the feeding of the thousands?
5. Do you have anything in your life that you need Jesus to come around and cover you in his love and strength? 

As you meet this week, we encourage you to also take time to open yourselves up as a group and dialog on the following Wesley Challenge question:  Did the Bible live in me today? (Pages 35-39) in The Wesley Challenge)