It was confirmation Sunday when the confirmands publicly profess their faith and join the church. Technically, they had met with the Session and done both, but this was the public aspect of it in the midst of the gathered congregation. As I usually do, I tell the confirmands this sermon is written for them, which it was. All four confirmands were sitting on the second row, so I had plenty of eye contact with them throughout the sermon.
The sermon title had nothing to do with the sermon. The initial thought never materialized.
“When You Think You Know”, Confirmation Sunday, May 4, 2025; St. Andrew Presbyterian Church;
John 21: 1-14 After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he showed himself in this way. 2 Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin,[a] Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. 3 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.
4 Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach, but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Jesus said to them, “Children, you have no fish, have you?” They answered him, “No.” 6 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. 7 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. 8 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.
9 When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” 11 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.
12 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. 13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them and did the same with the fish. 14 This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.
Introduction: Elizabeth, Rhys, Emily, and CiCi
this sermon is written just for you on the day you publicly profess your faith and say taht you believe God is calling you to live out your discipleship as members of St. Andrew.
The sermon is for you, although everyone is invited to listen in!
Move 1: we are told that On the beach that morning with the Risen Christ, “none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” because they knew it was the Lord.
Saul knew it that day he was struck blind on the road to Damascus and heard the voice of the Risen Christ, knew the truth of who Jesus was.
a. They knew in that moment what you know today?
that Jesus Christ was their Lord and Savior
that Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior.
1. The disciples did not seem to know it a few days earlier when Jesus was being tried before the religious and Roman authorities?
2. the disciples did not seem to know it when they first heard the tomb was empty.
3. Saul did not know it when he was persecuting Christians.
3. But then they suddenly recognize the risen Christ and his claim in their lives.
b. That I think is the life of discipleship.
1. Moments of clarity like today when you stand and publicly profess your faith,
and lots of days when you wander,
when you wander,
when you search for that which you have previously known and professed.
2. For most of us,
life is a mix of moments
moments when we know with certainty God’s claim on our lives,
and moments we face struggles that challenge are faith
and moments when we feel the holy Spirit sweeping us away
moments we are searching for answers to the deep questions we can barely articulate
moments we see the risen Christ in our midst
moments we look at our world and wonder where God is.
3. Do not be afraid to ask questions,
or have doubts,
or wonder about how your faith works.
4. Because God is not afraid of your doubts, or questions, or wonder.
in fact, God is like the shepherd Jesus describes who goes to find the one lost sheep.
5. as you live your life, God relentlessly pursues you,
calling and inviting you into discipleship And new life.
6. So celebrate today what you know to be true - Jesus Christ is your lord and savior
and trust that as you live your life you will again and again discover anew the risen Christ in your midst, just as the disciples discovered the risen Christ that day on the beach and Saul discovered him in the road to Damascus.
Move 2: I would also point out that different disciples react differently that day.
a. Notice the disciples in the boat.
1. The unnamed disciple whom Jesus loved quickly recognizes who Christ,
he tells Peter,
and then does not seem to do anything in the moment - he just stays right there in the boat.
quick to recognize, but slow to act.
2. Peter, on the other hand, did not seem to recognize the risen Christ immediately, but when hears the unnamed disciple identify Jesus, he immediately springs into action,
he jumps into the water and swims to the beach.
slow to recognize, but quick to act.
3. The other disciples stay in the boat.
maybe frozen by uncertainty,
maybe recognizing that someone has to take care of the fish they have suddenly caught after Jesus’ command to lower their empty nets again.
4. Saul on the road to Damascus, seems more like peter - once he knows it is Christ, he is ready for action.
b. I hope you have learned a lot in confirmation and grown in your faith.
1 But, but I hope you have noticed that no one has told you there is only one way to be a disciple.
2. Like your varied mentors, each of you has different skills and gifts,
different ways of thinking and responding.
3. The God who comes for all of us,
meets is where we are,
engages with us in the joys and challenges that are unique to our own lives,
and calls us to different ways of responding.
4. There is no one path of discipleship,
but there is one God who will always love and call you to follow.
Move 3: finally, Listen to Jesus.
a. Super Wednesday the kids’ choirs sang their favorite songs.
One of the songs the Noel choir sang was “Peter, James, and John in a Sailboat” about this story in the gospel of John.
You should have seen the big fish jumping around on that verse!
Listen to the final Final verse -
The lesson of the story is listen to Jesus
the lesson of the story is listen to Jesus
the lesson of the story is listen to Jesus
wherever you may.
The disciples listen to the risen Christ and catch 153 fish where they had previously caught none.
Saul listens to the risen Christ and has his life transformed and becomes one of the great leaders of the early church.
who knows what God has in mind for you,
but listen to Jesus and find out!
Conclusion: today you know and profess Jesus Christ as your lord and savior.
just as the disciples knew the risen Christ that morning on the beach
just as Saul knew the risen Christ that moment on the road to Damascus
So you know this day.
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