Toggle Side Panel
Close search
67

Winning the souls of guilty and backsliding disciples

John 21:1-14

  • Session: 67
  • Week: 10
  • Day: 6
Help

Introduction

In this session, Chapter 21: 1-14, we focus on the third post-Resurrection meeting Jesus had with his disciples 21: 13. Jesus appeared to the 7 of the 11 disciples by the sea shore and encouraged them to return to himself. The catching of the 153, fish by his word to the discouraged disciples, and giving them the breakfast served as experiences of winning their souls to himself and his Lordship… ‘They knew it was the lord 21:12.

Objectives

By the end of this session, the learner will have:

  • Understood about the principles of reinstating the fallen disciples back to His lordship and his delight
  • Challenged that when a leader goes back fishing, he pulls others with himself, even those who were not initially fishermen
  • Appreciated the Lord’s love and tack to the backslidden disciples

Outline

  • Jesus’ third post- Resurrection visit
  • Peter leads other non fishermen back to fishing
  • Reinstating others through love.

Group Study Time

John 21:1-14

Connecting

  • Gather with two or more people for a community discovery bible study session.
  • Start with a heartfelt prayer, inviting God to guide and bless your understanding.
  • Explore the passage by reading it at least twice, using different Bible versions if available, then retell the story together as a group.
  • Reflect and share the challenges and blessings you experienced from the previous study.

Comprehending

  • Read John 21: 1-3, identify the disciples listed here. Where were they found by Jesus? Why were they here at that this time? Describe what they were going through emotionally. Why did they not catch anything all night?
  • Read John 21: 4-14. Write down at least 4 ways Jesus connected with them?
  • When was the last time Peter met Jesus? Remind yourself what was going on during Peter’s last encounter with Jesus.

Committing

  • Engage with the Bible—read, study, memorize, meditate, pray, listen, and live it out.
  • List three lessons you have learnt as an agent of change that you would like to put into practice and teach others about.
  • Take time and worship Jesus with the attributes revealed about Christ.
  • Use the SPACEPETS model, to assist you in putting God’s word into practice. Look for:
    • Sin to confess
    • Promise to claim
    • Attitude to change
    • Command to keep
    • Error to change
    • Prayer to make
    • Example to copy
    • Truth to obey and
    • Something praiseworthy

Communicating

  • Identify one person you can connect with and share the valuable insights and lessons you gained from this session.
  • Reach out to a new believer—either in person or by phone—and pray with them to support them through their challenges, including any concerns about attending church.
  • Create a new group and guide others through this study to help them grow in their understanding.

Post Lesson Teaching Summary

Great job completing the study! Take a moment to listen to this summary to reinforce your group’s understanding of the text and ensure you’re all on the same page. We’re here to support your learning journey!

Winning the souls of guilty and backsliding disciples

John 21:1-14

John 21:1-14

  • Context:
    • John teaches belief dynamics; this 67th session (March 13, 2025) is the second-to-last in John, focusing on Jesus winning guilty, backslidden disciples post-resurrection.
    • Third public meeting with disciples (after Mary Magdalene, Emmaus disciples, and a private meeting with Peter), set in Galilee over a week after resurrection (John 20).
  • Peter’s Backsliding:
    • Jesus instructed via Mary, “Meet me in Galilee” (John 20:17); disciples obeyed, leaving Jerusalem’s fear behind, but Jesus delayed, not appearing quickly.
    • Peter, waiting in Galilee, returned to fishing—leading six of eleven disciples (seven total)—indicating discouragement or guilt unresolved despite prior encounters.
  • Jesus’ Appearance (John 21:1-14):
    • After a fruitless night of fishing, Jesus appeared at dawn by the Sea of Tiberias, calling, “Children, have you caught anything?”—they answered, “No.”
    • Directed them to cast nets on the right, yielding 153 fish without breaking nets; John recognized Jesus, Peter swam to shore, finding Jesus with a fire and breakfast.
  • Peter’s Guilt:
    • Peter’s guilt stemmed from denying Jesus thrice at a fire (John 18:15-27), persisting despite Jesus’ resurrection appearances and the Holy Spirit’s gift (John 20:22).
    • Guilt—feeling short of God’s standards—drove Peter’s uncertainty and return to fishing, even after personal restoration.
  • Jesus’ Restoration:
    • Jesus reinstated Peter with love, not rebuke:
      1. Visited: Met them at their point of failure (fishing).
      2. Provided: Gave fish and prepared breakfast, echoing provision.
      3. Fire Symbolism: Recreated the denial scene (fire) as a friend, not foe, to heal guilt and restore joy.
    • Eating together signified renewed friendship, countering Peter’s fear and shame.
  • Application:
    • Jesus seeks guilty, backslidden disciples with love, using familiar settings (fire) to redeem past failures, restoring them to serve with joy, not defeat.
Close

How to use these studies

These lessons are designed as short, 25-minute studies based on Bible truths, and meant for self-learning or small group study. The study sets systematically cover different books of the Bible. 

Each lesson follows a simple structure:

  • Introduction (Including the outline and objectives)
  • Step 1: Connecting
  • Step 2: Comprehending
  • Step 3: Committing
  • Step 4: Communicating

These sections include questions to help you reflect on the bible passage and how it applies to your life. 

Use these lessons to disciple others by journeying together over time and allowing God’s word to penetrate your heart and bring transforming change to your life. As a leader, pray for wisdom in leading and for modelling the truths in your own life.

Sharing offline

  • Mobile Friendly PDF
  • Print Friendly PDF
  • Full Study PDF

Each lesson has three buttons allowing you to download a easily saveable and shareable PDF version of the study. You can choose either a Mobile-friendly PDF version, and Print-friendly PDF version, or a print version of the Full Study PDF (for example all the lessons in the current book of the Bible).

These are free and can be easily copied and shared from one person to another!

Gathering a Small Group

Start small to build a safe space for sharing and growth.

  • Pray first: Ask God to show you 3-6 people who need encouragement in faith, like family, neighbors, or fellow believers facing hardship.
  • Invite personally: Meet one-on-one, explain how the lessons are designed to help people grow in their faith and knowledge of God and his Word.
  • Keep it simple: Meet in a home or quiet spot; no need for fancy setup – just willing hearts.
  • Aim for consistency: Suggest weekly meetings, but be flexible for busy lives or safety concerns in persecuted areas.

Trust helps everyone open up, reflect, and apply truths without fear.

  • Start with sharing: In the first meeting, share simple stories of your own faith struggles to show vulnerability.
  • Set ground rules: Agree to listen without judging, keep stories private, and focus on encouraging each other.
  • Build bonds: Begin each session with a short prayer or song inviting God to be present with you.
  • Be patient: Trust grows over time – encourage quiet members gently, and celebrate small steps of honesty.

Good preparation makes the lesson flow and helps discipleship.

  • Read ahead: Study the lesson before; pray over the Bible passage and think how it fits your group’s challenges.
  • Adapt for the group: Use simple words; if literacy is low, read aloud slowly and explain questions or stories.
  • Gather basics: Have a Bible (in your language) and paper for notes.
  • Reflect personally: Ask yourself the study questions first – lead from your own growth and experience.
  • Pray: Pray for your group members.

Guide the group through the lesson structure to encourage discovery and commitment.

  • Step 1 – Connecting: Start the group meeting by praying together. Thank God for his Word and ask for open hearts to receive it. Read the Bible passage together (Read it aloud twice; ask someone to repeat in their words.)
  • Step 2: Comprehending: Use the provided questions to help you grapple with the truth of the Bible passage.
  • Step 3 – Committing: Consider how the passage might apply to your lives and what simple steps of obedience you can commit to. The goal of these studies if life-change! Not just knowledge!
  • Step 4 – Communicating:  Think of who you can share the truths you have learned with.
  • Close with Prayer: Let group members pray short prayers of thanks or commitment. Pray for one another.

For many of the lessons, there is a short summary teaching voice-note at the end of the lesson (together with a text summary). This is designed to be a recap and reminder of the key lessons you should have learned through the lesson. 

As a leader, you might like to use these summary teaching resources to help you in preparation for leading your group, though ideally not before you have spent time prayerfully reflecting on the passage.

This is an ongoing discipleship journey aiming to transform lives and help people to live victorious Christian lives. Focus on growth, not just finishing lessons.

  • Meet regularly: Join together at least once a week. Review past actions at each start to build accountability.
  • Encourage reflection: Between meetings, urge personal time with the lesson – read, pray, and try complete commitments made.
  • Support one another: If your group members are facing challenges, use lessons to pray together and share burdens; become “agents of change” by helping others in your community.
  • Multiply groups: As trust grows, encourage members to start their own small groups with family or friends.
  • Keep it short: Stick to 15 – 25 minutes per lesson to fit busy, challenging lives.
  • Handle challenges: If fear or hardship arise, encourage members by always pointing back to God’s love. 
  • Stay safe: In persecuted areas, meet discreetly; focus on heart change over big displays.
  • Celebrate progress: Note how people have grown in faith; allow time for sharing testimonies of what God has done. Take note of what you pray for, and give thanks when God answers prayer.

Final encouragement

Leading these lessons is serving like Jesus – humble, loving, and truthful. As you journey together, God will build growing faith into each person’s life. Pray often, and watch lives transform!

If you would like to share stories of faith from your own communities, please get in touch with us!