Matthew 16: 13-20 Little Brandon Smith had just been put to bed for the 22nd time, and his mother’s patience was wearing thin. “If I hear you call ‘Mom’ one more time, you’ll be punished,” she warned him sternly. For a while it was quiet, and then a small voice called from the top of…
Tag: Peter
But Peter Wasn’t Afraid
Peter’s doubt became more dominant in the moment than Peter’s faith in Jesus. The strong wind and battering waves became more real than Jesus. The physical realities of gravity and weight, wind and water, became more real than their Lord defying all physical realities and telling Peter to “Come out to me.”
Two Accounts
John 20: 1-18 Bloopers, even typos, appear in church bulletins or websites occasionally – bloopers like these: Our Easter service is always very popular. We suggest you get here early so you can get a good seat in the BACK; The choirs and actors will meet Wednesday evening before the cantata for a STRESS rehearsal;…
We Come Alive Inside
John 6: 63-69 Through this journey in John 6 we’ve come to Jesus’ question to the twelve that remain, “Do you also wish to go away?” The term disciple means learner. For many who followed Jesus, their learning had ended. Whatever encouraged them to follow in the first place was replaced with discouragement, and they…
As Jesus Did
Acts 2: 1-24, 32-36 For years, Tony Campolo, renowned preacher, college professor and author, would speak at a Christian festival in central Pennsylvania. Thousands of young people would attend the festival which had a definite Pentecostal flavor to it. The festival always reached a crescendo on Saturday night. Tony was often the featured speaker on…
Crosses and Costs
Mark 8: 31-38 A husband says to his wife, “I don’t want to brag, but here it is February, and I’ve kept every one of my New Year’s resolutions. I’ve kept them in a manila folder in the back of my desk.” Some of us make resolutions like one man said to his friend, “There’s…
Trust What He Says
Mark 9: 2-9 Transfiguration Sunday There was a voice from heaven at his baptism in the Jordan River valley that spoke, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased. (Mark 1: 11)” On the mountain at his transfiguration in the presence of Elijah and Moses, a cloud overshadowed them and a…
Believe It! Its God’s Business
Matthew 16: 21-23 Peter could very well have thought Jesus’ words were not a revelation from God but simply wrong. Peter believed Jesus to be the Son of the living God, one who was close to the source of all truth and love. He was right. He received revelation from the Father about this. He…
Who Am I? Who Are You?
Peter could have affirmed that he knew himself in a different way because something was revealed to him. When you encounter God, something is revealed to you about God and yourself.
Prepare Your Minds for Action
I awoke Friday after dreaming. I was in a house of happy, playful people in the dream. The environment itself was sloppy and chaotic. I had some form of authority there, but I can’t recall the degree. As the dream progressed, I knew I had plans on leaving and going oversees, but I didn’t want…
Psalm 102 in The Message 