Text Messages

Text Messages focus on the backstory of the upcoming text for this Sunday’s sermon. Provided by our pastors, these messages will give some background on that section of scripture text and give a few hints about where the sermon might be going. We hope you find these Text Messages helpful!

Sunday, May 4, 2025

SERMON SERIES:
“The End Is the Beginning”

MESSAGE THEME:
“At the Center of All Things”

TEXT(S):
Revelation 5:11–14

Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels surrounding the throne and the living creatures and the elders; they numbered myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, singing with full voice, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”

Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea and all that is in them, singing, “To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the elders fell down and worshiped.

John 21:1–19

After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he showed himself in this way.Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach, but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, you have no fish, have you?” They answered him, “No.” He said to them, “Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he had taken it off, and jumped into the sea. But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off.

When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred fifty-three of them, and though there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” A second time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.” (He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, “Follow me.”

REFLECTION:
From Pastor Meta Herrick Carlson

Before they were disciples, Peter and his friends spent most of their time in fishing boats. After the resurrection, after a few encounters with the risen Jesus, they are still longing for something familiar and a sense of normalcy. The decision to go fishing might be a practical and economic one. Or maybe they’re feeling nostalgic and miss doing something “known” in the midst of so much uncertainty. But catching fish is never guaranteed and these veterans come up empty until Jesus tells them to try something else.

This story is paired with verses from Revelation, a scene in which no one in the Throne Room is found worthy to open the seals on the scroll. Only Jesus, the Lamb of God, is worthy. And, when the elders and creatures of heaven recognize this, they fall down in worship singing songs that inspire the lyrics to some of our service music and hymns today.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:

Even those close to Jesus can fall for the myth of scarcity and fear that there is nothing and no one. How have you fallen for this myth lately?
John describes every creature in heaven, on earth, and in the sea singing praises to the Lamb of God. Remember a large concert venue or worship service that had everyone singing together. How did it look, sound, and feel to be caught up in that music together?

PRAYER:
O God, may we recognize your power and glory at work in our ordinary lives so that we turn from scarcity to abundance, and worship the Lamb of God; to you be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever! Amen.