This service opens with worship music, including songs like "We Praise You" and "Raise a Hallelujah," drawing on Psalm 150, which encourages everything that has breath to praise the Lord. The worship leader emphasizes praising God whether on a mountaintop or in a valley.
The sermon, delivered by Dave, focuses on failure, using Peter's denial of Jesus in John chapter 18 as a central example. Dave shares personal anecdotes about his own failures, including falling asleep during a college final and blowing opportunities to share the gospel. He highlights that the Bible includes stories of people who fail, not just those who always get it right. The message emphasizes that Jesus is at work in our failed moments, seeing past them to a greater vision for our lives, just as he saw beyond Peter's denial to his recommissioning in John chapter 21.
Dave contrasts Jesus's seven "I am" statements in the Book of John with Peter's repeated "I am not" in John chapter 18. He explains that when we fail, we often adopt an "I am not" mentality, feeling unworthy. However, Jesus, "The Great I Am," steps in to replace our "I am not" with His righteousness and vision. The sermon concludes with next steps: asking the Holy Spirit to reveal a moment of failure to move beyond, and asking who needs grace and forgiveness, encouraging scripture reading in John 18 and 19 to reflect on the cost of Jesus's forgiveness.
