There is a lot that can be
said about the appearance of Jesus to Peter on the sea shore after his
resurrection. As leaders I believe we can take three key thoughts for helping
the people in our groups draw closer to Jesus and each other. You remember
Jesus asking Peter if he loved Him and you remember Peter saying yes three
times, the third with vehemence.
Jesus was calling Peter to
love him and the people he was going to be leading. As leaders we have to be
drinking from the well spring of Jesus love on a daily basis. Just as Peter
repeatedly affirmed his love for Jesus so must we each day. We cannot be like
the man who responded to his wife's request that he tell her he loved her,
"I told you 30 years ago on our wedding day. If anything changes I'll let
you know." Love to be lived must be expressed. What is true of our
relationship with Christ is also true of our relationship with our group
members. It is imperative they know we are leading them because we love them
not because we hold a leadership position.
True we are leaders and
leaders - well - lead. Because we are living everyday loving Jesus we have a
direction for our group. We want them to love Jesus as much as we. Our example
speaks volumes. They cannot know how much we love Jesus until they see how much
we love them. As the young boy told his Mom when she reminded him he was not
alone because Jesus was always with him, "I know, but, I want somebody
with skin on." We are the love of Jesus to our group members.
Jesus makes it clear to Peter
that he is in charge of the follower’s nutrition. As we select our series and
as we prepare our lessons we must not forget that the follower of Jesus feeds
on the Word of God. There are a lot of great lessons to be learned that do not
come from studying the Word - and they have benefit for your group. However,
non is better for them in the long term than the scriptures. As milk is one of
natures total nutrition foods for the Word is "God-breathed and is useful
for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness" (2
Timothy 3:16).
Love them
Lead them
Feed them
(I am grateful to Pastor
Clinton Browning for the core concept in this Lifter)
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