HOLD THIS L 4: Peter, God's Love Restores Us

The fourth installment of the "Hold This L" series examines the public failure and restoration of the Apostle Peter, demonstrating that even the most crushing mistakes can be redeemed for God’s glory. The message opens with a personal story of a high school fight that landed the speaker in a courtroom and on the front page of the newspaper, illustrating the "soul-crushing regret" that often follows a massive failure. Similarly, Peter pridefully boasted he was "built different" and ready to die for Jesus, yet he shrunk back in fear and denied knowing Him three times in a high priest’s courtyard. However, the story highlights that Jesus’ love goes before us; He had already prayed for Peter’s faith and later met him post-resurrection to provide a public restoration. By asking Peter three times, "Do you love me?", Jesus moved Peter from a place of self-hatred to his true identity as a leader, teaching that failures are intended to become part of our ministry to strengthen others. (Preached by George Shankool, Elder at Crossroads Church, to the youth on 5-6-26)