When Peter denied Jesus, has Peter lost his position as leader? Is Peter qualified to be one of the 12 disciples anymore? When you deny your Lord, haven’t you committed the unforgivable sin? What Peter did was extremely significant, and not in a good way. Now Jesus addresses the elephant in the room, the factContinue reading “How Jesus responds to the fact that one of his best friends disowned him at the moment of his greatest need – John 21, Part 4”
Tag Archives: ministry
The elephant in Jesus’ room… revealed – John 21, Part 3
I purposefully skipped a detail in my telling of the story of Jesus’ ministry years in the previous post. It’s an important part of the story. It’s the elephant in the room we’ve been talking about this week (see first post here). The elephant is about Peter. Back in chapter 13 we listened as JesusContinue reading “The elephant in Jesus’ room… revealed – John 21, Part 3”
The elephant in Jesus’ room – John 21, Part 1
You know that phrase, “the elephant in the room”? It refers to the idea that there is something that everyone knows about, but no one is talking about it. Imagine you’re walking through the mall, and there is a literal elephant walking down the large mall hallways. But as you’re walking what if no oneContinue reading “The elephant in Jesus’ room – John 21, Part 1”
When we behave badly and don’t want to admit it – John 21, Preview
We were in the mouth of the goal, and the guy next to me was yelling at me. He had a good reason. I had just thrown him to the ground. It was during a college soccer game with our rivals. We were vying for position on a corner kick, and the guy on theContinue reading “When we behave badly and don’t want to admit it – John 21, Preview”
How Jesus’ resurrection can give us new life – John 20, Part 5
After assuring doubting Thomas that he, Jesus, truly has a body that is alive, Jesus makes a powerful remark that I love. Jesus talks about you and me. Look at John 20, verse 29. “Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yetContinue reading “How Jesus’ resurrection can give us new life – John 20, Part 5”
The mission of forgiveness and the faithfulness of doubt – John 20, Part 4
After first appearing to Mary, Jesus next appears to the disciples. Look at John 20, verse 19, “On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” AfterContinue reading “The mission of forgiveness and the faithfulness of doubt – John 20, Part 4”
Why Paul was out of his mind – John 20, Preview
Imagine you are sitting in a church worship services, and the preacher is preaching. Suddenly someone stands up, interrupts the preacher, and says out loud, “You are out of your mind!” That would be dramatic, wouldn’t it? That’s never happened to me, but it did once to the Apostle Paul. Paul preached a lot. WeContinue reading “Why Paul was out of his mind – John 20, Preview”
“Born to die” is an inadequate way to describe Jesus – John 19, Part 3
For Jesus the end has come. His death is now minutes away. Is this what he was born to do? Look at the description of his final minutes in John 19, verses 28-30, “Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, ‘I am thirsty.’ A jarContinue reading ““Born to die” is an inadequate way to describe Jesus – John 19, Part 3″
How you can care for others when you are the one in pain – John 19, Part 2
This morning the news reported a story about two boys hugging each other as they looked around their homes destroyed by the fire in Hawaii. When we’re in pain, like the boys, it can be very difficult to think about anyone but ourselves and our pain. Jesus, like the boys, shows us that it isContinue reading “How you can care for others when you are the one in pain – John 19, Part 2”
What it looks like to focus on God in the middle of our pain – John 19, Part 1
A few years ago one of the pastors in my local ministerium of churches told us that he had been in the mall looking for a gift for his wife. He walked up to a jewelry counter at one of the department stores. As he was waiting in line, he couldn’t help but overhear aContinue reading “What it looks like to focus on God in the middle of our pain – John 19, Part 1”
Engaging Scripture 