In our blog series last week, we learned the first important phrase Jesus demonstrates in the process of helping men become his disciples. That first phrase was “Come and see.” You can read about it in this post. Today we learn the second important phrase Jesus uses. In verse 43, we read that Jesus decidesContinue reading “The second words of discipleship – John 1:43-51, Part 2”
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Did Jesus really tell you to do that? – John 1:43-51, Part 1
This past week a Pew Research released research data suggesting that if trends which began in the 1990s continue, by the year 2070 Christians will only be about 40% of the American population. Obviously, it is very hard to make good predictions about what will happen in 50 years. Things can change. Our nation couldContinue reading “Did Jesus really tell you to do that? – John 1:43-51, Part 1”
The important words Jesus says to his disciples on Day 2 – John 1:43-51, Preview
This past Sunday, I had a situation occur that has been quite rare in all my years of preaching. I only made it halfway through my sermon. As I did some final tweaking to the sermon early Sunday morning, I knew it was on the longer side, but I still thought there was going toContinue reading “The important words Jesus says to his disciples on Day 2 – John 1:43-51, Preview”
How to learn Jesus’ nickname for you – John 1:35-42, Part 5
Do you have a nickname? Did you have one growing up? Often nicknames are just variations of our actual name. Sometimes they are very…well…odd. “Bear.” “Peanut.” I used to call my daughter, “Girl Head Bean,” which was the weirdest of about ten other nicknames I’ve called her over the years. Like most nicknames, hers areContinue reading “How to learn Jesus’ nickname for you – John 1:35-42, Part 5”
What it means that the disciples found the Messiah – John 1:35-42, Part 4
Jumping back into the story of Jesus’ first interaction with his disciples, in John 1:35-42, we met two men who were already disciples of John the Baptist. John the Baptist points out Jesus, and the two men start following Jesus. Jesus, it seems, catches them in the act, saying to them, “What do you want?”Continue reading “What it means that the disciples found the Messiah – John 1:35-42, Part 4”
The first words of discipleship – John 1:35-42, Part 3
Two men, who up to this point have been disciples of John the Baptist, get caught in the act of following Jesus, and they don’t really know what to say. I wonder if they mumbled for awhile while they figured out what to say? “Uh…uh…umm” Clearly they had not thought this through. They just figuredContinue reading “The first words of discipleship – John 1:35-42, Part 3”
Discipleship begins with the spiritual practice of questioning – John 1:35-42, Part 2
After hearing John the Baptist declare two days in a row that Jesus is the Lamb of God, in John 1, verse 37 we read that John’s disciples stop following John, and they start following Jesus. Jesus hasn’t uttered a word. And because of that, the scene strikes me as humorous. The two disciples justContinue reading “Discipleship begins with the spiritual practice of questioning – John 1:35-42, Part 2”
What is discipleship? – John 1:35-42, Part 1
Discipleship. What is it, really? Over the years we’ve talked a lot about discipleship, and there has been some confusion. Some have equated evangelism with discipleship. Evangelism is when we proclaim the story of Jesus in both word and deed. Though related, discipleship is different. When we are attempting to define discipleship, we are attemptingContinue reading “What is discipleship? – John 1:35-42, Part 1”
Who do you follow? – John 1:35-42, Preview
Who do you follow? If you have social media accounts, you might follow people or organizations on those accounts. When you follow people or groups on social media, you receive their updates in your news feed. Your following is informational. But perhaps your following of close family and friends, and of some organizations, is moreContinue reading “Who do you follow? – John 1:35-42, Preview”
John the Baptist’s mystery friend, and why we need prophets in our lives – John 1:19-34, Part 5
In John 1:19-34, John the Baptist makes a surprising statement that there was someone alive right there, nearby, perhaps even in the crowd that day as John was baptizing people by the Jordan River, someone of whom John is not worthy even to untie his sandals. Untie sandals…what’s that matter? In John’s culture, that wasContinue reading “John the Baptist’s mystery friend, and why we need prophets in our lives – John 1:19-34, Part 5”
Engaging Scripture 