COOKED!
Pastor Steven Furtick
Sermon Summary
Using Simon Peter’s struggle after Jesus’ resurrection, Pastor Steven teaches us that Jesus doesn't turn away from us when we fall short. He invites us to come back, receive His grace, and keep moving forward.
Glossary
Cooked, v. – To have done something well with flair or skill (e.g., “You cooked,” “He cooked”)
Cooked, adj. – Describes someone who has failed and is likely in trouble (e.g., “You’re cooked,” “I’m cooked”)
Sermon Highlights
How do I move forward in faith right now?
When you don’t know what to do, do what you can do.
Three points from John 21:
Sometimes, when you feel cooked, you need to come back — I’m going back to the place where He called me.
In order to have resilience you need remembrance.
God calls ALL of you. Not just the parts that you think are presentable.
Sometimes the miracle that you need is one modification away.
We want the catch without the correction. You’re not cooked, you just need a correction.
Do you know how many times you are just a little shift away from God doing something amazing in your life?
What they were trying all night to catch, Jesus already cooked…It’s never been about what you can bring to Him.
Let Him cook!
Even when there’s nothing you can do, there’s something He’s already done.
You are not cooked. You are called. You are chosen.
Scriptures
Read this week’s Scriptures. Ask your group what stands out to them.
Sermon Discussion
Conversation Starter
Choose the one that works best for your group!
Pastor Steven used the Gen-Z slang term “cooked” as the foundation of his sermon. What's a slang word or phrase from your generation that you wish would make a comeback?
Pastor Steven’s friend told him to go for a walk outside when he was frustrated, and it turned out to be surprisingly good advice. What's something simple that can instantly turn a bad day around for you?
Discussion Questions
“When you don't know what to do, do what you can do.” Where have you been unsure what to do next, and what's one small step you can take with what you already have?
“Sometimes, when you feel cooked, you need to come back — I'm going back to the place where He called me.” What's something that helped you grow closer to God in the past that you want to revisit?
“In order to have resilience you need remembrance.” As an eGroup, take turns “remembering” and sharing something God brought you through that helped you build resilience.
“Sometimes the miracle that you need is one modification away.” Where in your life might God be asking you to try a different approach instead of continuing to do what's familiar?
“We want the catch without the correction. You're not cooked, you just need a correction.” How do you typically respond to correction or feedback, and how have you seen this at work in your relationship with God?
“You are not cooked. You are called. You are chosen.” What's one area of your life where you need to stop defining yourself by what went wrong and remember what God says about you?
Prayer Prompt
Ask your eGroup if they have any prayer requests or praise reports they’d like to share, and include them in your closing prayer.
Pray this prayer over your eGroup to close, and/or send it to them throughout the week to let them know you’re praying for them!
Lord, thank You for always working on our behalf, especially when it feels like we’ve messed up too badly or there’s nothing we can do. Thank You for calling us and choosing us instead of letting our worst moments define us. As we go throughout our week, please help us remember all the ways You’ve come through for us, accept Your correction, and be open to modifications so that we can see the miracles You have for us. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Additional Content
Here’s some additional content you can use to encourage your group this week.
Go Deeper: Original Biblical Language
The Greek word “anthrakia” (ἀνθρακιά) appears only twice in the New Testament, both times referring to a charcoal fire. Both fires occur in front of Simon Peter, and like Pastor Steven said, “One is his failure, one is his future.” What does this specific repetition teach you about God’s character, and what's something from your past that God has helped you see differently over time?
John 18:18 (first mention)
John 21:9 (second mention)