Sermon Title: The Power of Goodbye
Text: John 21:15–19
Theme: Jesus not only restores Peter but empowers him to say goodbye to shame, cycles of trauma, and disqualification—so he can step into his divine assignment.
I. Revisiting the Failure (Verse 15)
“Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?”- Jesus addresses Peter by his pre-disciple name—a reminder of identity before calling.- God does not ignore our failures, He gently brings us to them—so He can heal them.Key Point: God doesn’t erase the failure from memory, He transforms it into ministry.
II. Redemptive Repetition (Verses 15–17)- Three denials. Three questions. Three restorations.- Jesus meets Peter in the same emotional spot he broke down.- This is divine therapy: trauma confronted is trauma healed.Key Point: Repetition brings release. Jesus dismantles shame by rewriting the narrative.
III. The Healing of the Limbic Wound- Connect trauma research: trauma not properly processed stays in the limbic system as present pain.- Jesus turns trauma into testimony by moving it from re-living to remembering.Key Point: The enemy wants you trapped in a loop—Jesus breaks the loop.
IV. The Power of Goodbye- Goodbye to shame.- Goodbye to disqualification.- Goodbye to cycles of self-punishment.- Goodbye to false identity.Key Point: Restoration isn’t complete until you say goodbye to what broke you.
V. The Call Forward (Verses 18–19)- Jesus prophesies Peter’s future—even his death—because Peter is now trusted again.- “Follow Me” becomes a re-commissioning.Key Point: You can't say yes to your next if you won't say goodbye to your last.
Closing Illustration:- Peter went from “denier” to pillar of the early church.- He didn’t get there by pretending nothing happened—he got there by letting Jesus heal what did happen.
Takeaway Questions:
1. What do you need to say goodbye to today?
2. Have you confused your trauma with your identity?
3. Are you ready to follow Jesus into your future, fully restored?