Have you ever felt like your failure was louder than your faith?
In this message, we look at one of the most personal and redemptive moments in the New Testament – the restoration of Peter. After denying Jesus three times, Peter is met not with condemnation, but with breakfast on the beach and a call to love again. This is not just a story about forgiveness – it’s about the kind of grace that reclaims what shame tried to bury. If you’ve ever felt disqualified, sidelined, or unsure whether your calling still stands, this message will speak directly to that place.
This message closes out our Eyewitness: Meeting the Risen Jesus series and reminds us that the resurrection doesn’t just redeem – it restores and re-commissions.
If you missed the live service or want to reflect further, you can watch the full message above anytime after. We’ve also included discussion questions to dig deeper into the message and a handout with fill-ins to guide your reflection. You can find the handout by clicking the “Download” button above. Whether you watch this on your own or share it with your small group, we hope this message encourages you.
Discussion Questions
- When have you experienced a moment where you felt like you had failed someone who mattered to you? How did that affect your relationship with that person?
- Peter went back to fishing after his failure. What’s your equivalent of “going back to fishing” when life gets uncertain or you feel like you’ve messed up?
- Jesus recreated the scene of Peter’s failure with the charcoal fire. Why do you think Jesus chose to address Peter’s shame directly rather than just moving past it?
- Peter answered Jesus with a different kind of love word than Jesus used in his question. What do you think about Peter’s more humble, honest response rather than making big promises again?
- Jesus didn’t just forgive Peter – he gave him a mission to feed and care for his sheep. How does it change your understanding of grace to know it doesn’t stop at forgiveness but moves toward purpose?
- What’s one area of your life where you’ve quietly decided that your “moment has passed” or that God probably has someone else in mind for that role now?
- How would you explain the difference between being forgiven and being restored to someone who feels stuck in their shame?
- What do you think it means practically for mature believers to “get out of the boat” and stop settling for less than what God has for them?
- If Jesus asked you the same question he asked Peter – “Do you love me?” – what would prevent you from answering with complete confidence?
