1.  Disciples influence other disciples! Verses 1-5

• You influence those you know and more than you know. 
• Fruitless fishing is folly! 
• Jesus’ friends fail to recognize him or fellowship with him.
• Frustration due to fruitlessness is real.
• DISTRACTIONS!!! Avoid them

2.  Disciples follow the commands of their teacher. Verses 6-8

• Throw your nets on the other side of the boat!
• Fruitfulness followed their faithfulness! An unbelievable bounty of fish! 153 Large, net stretching, belly filling fish.
• Fruitfulness following failure is a sign of the presence of the Lord! NOW John knows!!!
• When John knows! Peter goes! 
• INSTRUCTIONS: Use them

3.  Disciples fellowship with their teacher. Verses 9-16

• Jesus has already prepared for their fellowship with him.
• Jesus invites them to offer him what he gave them!
• Jesus wastes nothing when we give it to him!
• Jesus served them! 
• Jesus showed them who he was! This was the third time!
• INVITATIONS: Accept them

4.  Disciples are forgiven and restored when the fail, if they will return to their love and obedience! Verses 15-17

• Three questions: agape, agape, phileo
• Three answers: phileo, phileo, phileo
• Three commands: feed my lambs, shepherd my sheep, feed my sheep
• The question is not, “Will God use me if I have failed Him?”
• The question is, “Will you return to the love of Jesus and serve Him?”
• RESPONSIBILITIES: Take them

5.  Disciples are led! Verses 18-23

• Give up your illusion of control.
• Follow Jesus!
• You cannot follow Jesus and gaze at others at the same time!
• DIRECTIONS: Follow them

Summary

• Jesus reveals himself to disciples who are full of fruitless folly in order to bring them home!
• Jesus fellowships with his disciples through the provisions he provides!
• Jesus questions our love as disciples in order to draw us closer in fellowship and to make us more fruitful.
• Jesus asks us as disciples to follows him down the unique path he has made for each of us to travel.  

So What?

• Draw near to Jesus desiring to see what he is showing you!
• Return to your service!
• Repent of your sin!
• Rethink your influence!

 I. The Word of Life is Jesus! Verses 1-4

• Was from the beginning with the Father: verse 1, 2
• Has Appeared: Verse 2

          a)  Was heard by the Apostle: verse 1
          b)  Was seen by the Apostle: verse 1, 2
          c)  Was examined through sight and touch: verse 1

• Is now being proclaimed: verse 1-3

          a)  Testify to it, verse 2
          b)  The content of the proclamation stems from the content of the revelation!
          c)  They convey only what they experienced. 
          d)  Purposeful: 
                 i.  You may have fellowship with us
                 ii.  Fellowship is with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
          e)  Proclamation is the highest joy of the Christian life! Verse 4

II. The Message of Jesus allows fellowship with God! verses 1:5-2:2

• God is light and in Him is no darkness! Verse 5
• We cannot walk in darkness and fellowship with God! Verse 6

          a)  We lie when we claim to have both at once!

• We walk in fellowship with God as we walk in the light! Verse 7

          a)  We are simply walking in the light of who God is. We are walking in Jesus!
          b)  Fellowship flows from followship! Follow Jesus as the light of God!
          c)  What about my sins? Jesus’ blood purifies us from all/every sin that separates from God!

• Sin is a perniciously persistent presence! Verses 8, 10

          a) The self-deceived and liars claim to be without sin!
          b) Those who claim to not have sinned make God into a liar and His word isn’t in them!

• Forgiveness and Purity can be your reality! Verse 9

          a) If we confess out sins
          b) God is faithful and just
          c) He forgives and purifies: For you and for the whole world! 2:2
          d) Jesus is our atoning sacrifice for sin: verse 2:2

• God treats us like His children! Verses 2:1-2

          a) Gives us words to instruct and warn us away from sin!
          b) Provides us with an advocate to plead our case on our behalf when we do sin!
          c) Pays the penalty for our sins!

SO WHAT?

• Get back in Fellowship by confessing sin!
• Avoid sin as much as it is possible!
• Experience the ongoing message of Jesus!
• Share the message in joy!

1.  Examine the vital Importance of believing the Good News! Verses 1-2

• Belief begins with hearing!
• Belief requires an open receiving of the message!
• Belief results in salvation when you “take your stand”!
• Belief blooms in boldness as you “hold fast”!
• Belief that is half-hearted is vain! It does not save! Belief with no cause or purpose.

​2.  Emphasize the vital Information within the Good News! Verses 3-8

• We pass on what was given to us in Scripture by God, not what we think, feel, or believe about it.
• Jesus died for our sins according to Scripture.
• Jesus was buried and rose from the grave on the third day according to Scripture.
• Jesus appeared among men alive!

​​3.  Explain the vital Impact of the Good News! Verses 1-2, 8-11

• You are saved in spite of your past!
• You are sent out no matter what your status!
• You are sure of the work of God’s grace in you while acknowledging your own weakness!
• You are sharing in the work of God around you  while relying on the power of grace!

SO WHAT?

• How important is the gospel message to you?
• How will you share the gospel with others?
• What difference is God’s grace making in you?
• Where will you take your stand?