#1: People need you to love God first Matthew 22:35-38 John 21:1-17 Luke 22:33-34 Summary: Jesus tells us that loving God is the greatest and most important command. When Jesus restored Peter, one question was asked three times: “Do you love me?” And each time after Peter answered, Jesus told Peter to feed and shepherd God’s sheep. In other words, loving God first is the key to loving others well. More than anything else, people need us to love God first because that is the key to loving others with truth and grace. #2: People need you to protect your joy Matthew 13:44 John 15:11 Summary: We all have a treasure that captures our heart. Jesus tells that where our treasure is, there our heart will be. Our treasure tells a story. It tells others how to find life, joy, and wholeness. If our heart’s deepest treasure is in anything but knowing God through Jesus, then our treasure tells a lie. Wholeness and eternal life and lasting joy cannot come through family, or money, or success, or comfort, or anything – except Jesus. So we must protect our joy in Jesus because it’s the only treasure that doesn’t lie. #3: People need you to stay in your shoes John 21:18-22 Hebrews 12:1-3 Summary: When Jesus revealed Peter’s future and told him how he would eventually die to glorify God, Peter asked Jesus about John’s future. Jesus said in reply, “What is that to you? As for you, follow me.” When we face challenges and hardships, it’s common for us to ask why and to wonder how God is treating others. But we can’t help people by spinning our wheels like that. We must faithfully follow Jesus in our own story to encourage others to follow Jesus in theirs. We need to stay in our own shoes because when we follow Jesus in our lives, we help others have the strength and encouragement to do the same. Sample questions for GCs: Love God first – Who or what are you tempted to love more than God? Jesus says we can’t love people the right way unless we love God first: How does loving God first help us love people the right way? Protect your joy – We take joy in what we treasure, and our treasure tells a story: What are some things our culture treasures? What stories do those treasures tell about how to find lasting joy and wholeness? Why is joy in Jesus the only treasure that never lies? Stay in your shoes – Why are we tempted to compare ourselves to others and to even wish that we had someone else’s problems or opportunities? When Peter asked about John’s future, what did Jesus say? How do His words speak to you?