Podcast appearances and mentions of simon peter

My Dad worked to make the money for our family, so my Dad decided where we went on vacation—fishing. Now some people would consider that a dream vacation, but the high-energy, ten-year-old me? No, I didn't think so. After just a little while, I was complaining. I was bored, but of course we kept fishing. Did I mention that my Dad made the money? Well, actually, we did have a good catch there and they were good eating. Catching them was fun. Eating them was fun. In between, there was this one step that was less fun - cleaning them. But for that fish to realize its culinary destiny, it had to be cleaned. I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about “Fishing for Fish, Fishing for People.” If you're a fisherman, you're probably Jesus' kind of person. Four of the 12 disciples He called were fishermen by trade. When He summoned them to His service, He said, “Come, follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Mark 1:17). He told Simon Peter, “From now on you will catch men” (Luke 5:10). So the business of bringing people into a relationship with Jesus Christ apparently has some things in common with fishing. For example, you don't try to attract the fish with what you're interested in, but what they're interested in. Right? Look, I like pizza. I don't like worms. But if I put pizza on my hook, I'm going home with an empty bucket buddy. I've got to offer what will be interesting to the fish I'm trying to attract. And so, that's how it is with reaching people for Jesus Christ. If all we offer is religious bait, come to our religious meeting to hear a religious speaker talk on a religious subject in a religious place, we probably won't attract many of the lost people who need Christ so desperately. But if we're talking about needs they care about in a place where they feel comfortable, in words they can understand, we have a far better chance of getting them within hearing distance of the gospel. But there's another very important fishing principle we need to keep in mind as we present Jesus to the people around us. It's a principle it seems many believers have never thought about. You ready? You don't clean fish until you catch them! See, too many times, lost people are judged by us rather than loved by us, because we're attacking the things they do. And they do those because they're lost, and instead we should be leading them to the One who will take them from lost to found! You catch them, then you clean them! Actually, God catches them and cleans them, through you. You can see Jesus working that way in Luke 19, beginning with verse 5, our word for today from the Word of God. The whole town is shocked, scandalized, when Jesus says to Zacchaeus, of all people—the town crook, “I must stay at your house today.” As stunned as anyone, the Bible says Zacchaeus “welcomed him gladly. The people started muttering, ‘He has gone to be the guest of a ‘sinner.'” But after meeting Jesus and experiencing His unconditional love, Zacchaeus can't stand his sin anymore. He announces he's going to make right the dishonest wrongs he has done, “If I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” Jesus announced, “Today salvation has come to this house.” Zacchaeus got clean, but he got caught first! The problem with the lost people you know is not their profanity, not their dishonesty, or not their immorality. They're lost and they're living like it! Their real problem is they need a Savior! Yes, they must repent, but that's part of being rescued by Jesus from their sin! Don't make their lifestyle the issue. Make Jesus the issue, and say with the great spiritual fisherman, Paul, “When I came to you…I resolved to know nothing…except Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:1-2). If you want to help people be in heaven with you, stick to Jesus. And stick to His cross!

In this powerful message from the “Netflix & Chill” series, we dive into Luke 5 and the moment Simon Peter's nets began to break under the weight of the blessing God released. Through this story, we're challenged to confront the habits, mindsets, memories, and methods that can no longer carry where God is taking us.

Today’s Topics: Joshua Charles joins Terry for Friday with the Fathers 1) Gospel – John 21:15-19 – After Jesus had revealed Himself to His disciples and eaten breakfast with them,  He said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?” Simon Peter answered Him, “Yes, Lord, You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My lambs.” He then said to Simon Peter a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” Simon Peter answered Him, “Yes, Lord, You know that I love You.”  He said to him, “Tend My sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was distressed that He had said to him a third time, “Do you love Me?” and he said to Him, “Lord, You know everything; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep. Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted;  but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” He said this signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when He had said this, He said to him, “Follow Me.” Memorial of Saint Rita of Cascia, Religious Saint Rita, pray for us! Bishop Sheen quote of the day 2, 3, 4) In Part 2, Terry and Joshua discuss miracle stories of Early Father of the Church, Saint Augustine

Original Post Date: May 17, 2024 === Gospel John 21:15-19 After Jesus had revealed himself to his disciples and eaten breakfast with them, he said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" Simon Peter answered him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my lambs." He then said to Simon Peter a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Simon Peter answered him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." He said to him, "Tend my sheep." He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time, "Do you love me?" and he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep. Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go." He said this signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when he had said this, he said to him, "Follow me.” Reflection This is one of the first appearances of Jesus to his disciples after he is risen. And what we see in it is a way that Jesus is preparing Peter for his role as the leader of the community, that he is founding. And when he says, I want you to do something, I want you to take care of people. But he uses two images that I think are really interesting. I want you to feed them and tend them. What's the difference? One is making sure of everything that they need that they have. Give them the truth. Give them what they need. But tending is like a bending over and a caring for how they're doing on their journey. It's a thing that we often don't find enough in the religious world that I live in. It's more about feeding them, sending them out. But the tending is at the heart of what I think Jesus is asking all of us to do. Closing Prayer Father, to tell someone what they should believe, or what they should do is one thing, but to give them what they need to be able to do it, is another. And then to stay with them as they struggle is even another very important part. Keep us in that mode of feeding and tending and being there for each other. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Friday of the Seventh Week of EasterJohn 21:15-19After Jesus had revealed himself to his disciples and eaten breakfast with them, he said to Simon Peter,"Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?"Simon Peter answered him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."Jesus said to him, "Feed my lambs."

Read OnlineMeeting Us Where We Are AtAfter Jesus had revealed himself to his disciples and eaten breakfast with them, he said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He then said to Simon Peter a second time…” John 21:15–16Today's resurrection appearance is the third time Jesus appeared to His disciples, as recorded in John's Gospel. It took place while seven of the Apostles were fishing. Following a miraculous catch of fish, they recognized Jesus on the shore. After they went to Him, Jesus cooked breakfast and asked Peter three times if he loved Him.The first time Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him, Jesus used the verb agapáō (from the noun agápē), but Peter responded with the verb philéō: “‘Simon, son of John, do you agapáō Me more than these?'” Simon Peter answered Him, “‘Yes, Lord, You know that I philéō You.'” The word agapáō refers to a deeper form of love—a self-sacrificial, total commitment that reflects the love of God for humanity. It involves a love that is not just affection but is marked by a willingness to sacrifice for the good of the other, the kind of love exemplified by Jesus Himself. Peter's use of the word philéō, on the other hand, refers to a more affectionate, friendly love, often associated with a deeper, more humanly focused bond of friendship. While sincere, it is less intense and self-sacrificial than agápē love.The second time Jesus asks the question, He again uses agapáō, and Peter again responds with philéō. The third time, Jesus shifts His question to match Peter's response, using philéō: “Simon, son of John, do you philéō Me?” Peter responds again with philéō: “Lord, You know everything; You know that I philéō You.”This shift to philéō in the third question shows that Jesus meets Peter where he is, acknowledging Peter's limitations and his current ability to love with a more affectionate, rather than sacrificial, love. This exchange also highlights Peter's awareness of his weakness and his humility in acknowledging that he cannot yet love with the full depth of agápē to which Jesus is calling him.At the end of the conversation, Jesus states: “Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go” (John 21:18). Jesus was not only prophesying that Peter would die as a martyr, but also that through his martyrdom, Peter's death would glorify God, as it would be the ultimate expression of the sacrificial agápē love to which Jesus had called him. This promise to Peter would have given him hope for the future, even as he faced the challenge of his calling.Despite Peter's weakness and inability to express agápē, Jesus not only meets Peter where he is but also gives him a threefold mission of divine importance. He says, “Feed My lambs…tend My sheep…feed My sheep.” While these commands might seem similar, they differ in their emphasis. To “feed My lambs” implies Peter's mission to care for those who are weak in faith and in need of the initial nourishment of the Word of God. To “tend My sheep” means to shepherd and guide the mature Christians. To “feed My sheep” emphasizes the need for those mature in their faith to receive nourishment through a deeper understanding of the Word of God and the gift of the Eucharist, the Bread of Life. Though Peter was imperfect, struggling with guilt and discouragement over his inability to express the depth of love Jesus was asking of him, Jesus still entrusted him with a divinely inspired mission.Reflect today on God's invitation to you to love Him and fulfill His mission. Though we are each imperfect and fail in many ways, Jesus continuously asks us for agápē love. Though we struggle to live that depth of love, God, in His mercy, does not wait until we are perfect to send us forth to be His instruments. He wants us to nourish those with little to no faith, strengthen and encourage our brothers and sisters who are stronger in faith, and nourish them by becoming instruments of His pure love. The extent to which we embrace agápē is the extent to which we will be able to fulfill that mission well. But we start today by responding the best we can because Jesus meets us and uses us where we are, while calling us higher.Most loving Lord, Your love for me is perfect, yet mine is imperfect. Please give me hope and draw me ever closer each day to the pure agápē love to which I am called. As I grow in this love, please use me as I am to fulfill the mission You have entrusted to me. Jesus, I trust in You.Image: Christ's Charge to Peter by RaphaelSource: Free RSS feed from catholic-daily-reflections.com — Copyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without written permission.

Today with Pastor Jeff, we learn about Peter's powerful answer when he declared that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God. We'll discover that the most important decision we can ever make is deciding who we believe Jesus is. Matthew 16:16  Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." 

In this episode of Wild Grace, Amber Lea reflects on John 21, the post-resurrection story of the disciples returning to the water, a long night of empty nets, breakfast on the shore, and Jesus asking Simon Peter the same question three times: Do you love me? This is a contemplative reflection on what repeated questions do inside us. The first time, we answer quickly. The second time, something in us slows down. The third time, something more honest begins to rise. This episode explores John 21, Jesus and Peter, repeated questions, spiritual discernment, honest faith, and the answers beneath our first response. www.amberleagray.com www.amberleagray.social www.insagram.com/amber.lea.gray  

Alan's Soap https://AlansSoaps.com/Todd Honor John's memory and the legacy he created for Ian and Alan with Alan's Artisan Soaps “John's Favorites” bundle.  Get one bar of each of his favorites for only $28.99. Bulwark Capital https://KnowYourRiskPodcast.comRegister now for the FREE “Impact of Energy" live webinar May 21st at 3:30pm Pacific.Renue Healthcare https://Renue.Healthcare/ToddYour journey to a better life starts at Renue Healthcare. Visit https://Renue.Healthcare/Todd Bonefrog https://BonefrogCoffee.com/ToddGet the new limited release, The Sisterhood, created to honor the extraordinary women behind the heroes. Use code TODD at checkout to receive 10% off your first purchase and 15% on subscriptions.LISTEN and SUBSCRIBE at:The Todd Herman Show - Podcast - Apple PodcastsThe Todd Herman Show | Podcast on SpotifyWATCH and SUBSCRIBE at: Todd Herman - The Todd Herman Show - YouTubeFinally, Some Wins Against The Trans Cult // A 63 Year Old Black Woman In Chicago Isn't Buying The Lies About Voter Suppression // The "Alpha Male" Illusion Destructive to Christian HomesEpisode Links:Finally, Some Wins Against The Trans Cult BREAKING: The Fresno County Board of Supervisors voted to BLOCK Pride month activities at public libraries. This comes after a drag queen teacher showed up to the meeting demanding that libraries be kept as LGBTQ "safe spaces" - MASSIVE WIN. Taxpayer-funded libraries should not be a space for grooming kids! BREAKING: Texas AG Ken Paxton secured a MAJOR settlement victory against Texas Children's Hospital, which requires them to open a detransition clinic and pay $10 million for illegally performing gender-based surgical and chemical castrations. BIG WIN Chloe Coles says her TPUSA speaking event scheduled for has been cancelled due to violent threats from Antifa, “Speaking on a university campus in 2026 can come with deadly consequences.” Chloe Cole - “Wow! The Southern Poverty Law Center said the quiet part out loud. They believe that making the public aware of detransitioners will erode support of what they call ‘gender affirming care'  They don't see me as a victim of MedMal, they see me as an apostate to their woke cult.” What's most disturbing about this video isn't the old mentally ill man in a dress pretending to be a "Woman" Its the actual Women standing beside him pretending he's one of them.A 63 Year Old Black Woman In Chicago Isn't Buying The Lies About Voter Suppression Chicago woman mocks Democrats by speaking in a squeaky, high-pitched voice, who say black people's voting rights are in danger.  The wocman also called out the commissioners one by one to their faces.  "I'm 63 years old. I've been voting since I was 18. I have never had a problem voting..."The "Alpha Male" Illusion Destructive to Christian HomesJohn 13:6-17The most well known example of Jesus as servant leader6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”10 Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher' and ‘Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.But, Jesus came under and lifted up Mary MagdaleneLuke 8:1-38After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, 2 and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; 3 Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod's household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.The Lord confessed His deity for the first time to a woman no so-called pious Rabbi would be seen anywhere nearJohn 4:19-2619 “Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. 20 Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.”21 “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”25 The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”26 Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.”Don't let any of this fool you, Jesus Christ is coming back as Judge - a strong, masculine JudgeMatthew 24:36–44“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

This week on Chasing the Rabbit, the pastors cover a little bit of everything—from thrift store treasure hunting in Hilton Head Island to wedding day disasters, anniversary memories, and why Jesus kept eating fish with the disciples after the resurrection.Adam shares his unbelievable thrift store find—a nearly brand-new Italian wool suit with an original price tag of $1,875… for just $30. The guys swap stories about weddings gone wrong (and right), from flower disasters and missing rides to the airport to clown-sized thrift store dress shoes and ripped tuxedo pants.Then they shift into Sunday's message from John 21 as Pastor Brooks reflects on Jesus restoring Simon Peter after his three denials. Why did Jesus ask Peter three times, “Do you love Me?” Why did He keep sharing meals with the disciples after the resurrection? And what does that reveal about grace, restoration, and calling?Also in this episode:Savannah thrift store strategy and hidden treasuresFunny and unforgettable wedding day storiesVacation Bible School promo for Rainforest Falls VBSThe beauty of Jesus restoring PeterFish, fellowship, and ministry around the tableWhy church potlucks still matterSome episodes are deeply theological. Some are deeply about milk bottles and mini cheesecakes. This one somehow manages both.As always, thanks for listening, and keep chasing the rabbit.

JOHN 21:15-25 - FEED & TEND MY SHEEP - BRIAN SUMNER - 2025JOHN 21:15-25 "15 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of ]Jonah, do you love Me more than these?”He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”He said to him, “Feed My lambs.”16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of ]Jonah, do you love Me?”He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”He said to him, “Tend My sheep.”17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you [g]love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?”And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.”Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep. 18 Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.” 19 This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.”The Beloved Disciple and His Book20 Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?” 21 Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?”22 Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.”23 Then this saying went out among the brethren that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you?”24 This is the disciple who testifies of these things, and wrote these things; and we know that his testimony is true.25 And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen."To support this channel and partner with Brian in Ministryhttps://www.briansumner.net/support/For more on Brianhttp://www.briansumner.nethttps://www.instagram.com/BRIANSUMNER/https://www.facebook.com/BRIANSUMNEROFFICIALTo listen to Brians Podcast, click below.https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...Purchase Brians Marriage book at https://www.amazon.com/Never-Fails-Da...Brian is a full time "Urban Missionary" both locally and internationally with a focus on MISSIONS - MARRIAGES - MINISTRY. Since coming to faith in 2004 doors continued opening locally and internationally to do more and more ministry with a focus on Evangelism, Outreach Missions, Marriage, Counsel, Schools, Festivals, Conferences and the like.  Everything about this ministry is made possible because of people personally partnering through the non profit. God Bless and thank you. †Support the showSUPPORT THE SHOW

The Fall of Peter — and Every Disciple David Mathis Download John 18:12-27,So the band of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound him. 13 First they led him to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. 14 It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it would be expedient that one man should die for the people.15 Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he entered with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, 16 but Peter stood outside at the door. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the servant girl who kept watch at the door, and brought Peter in. 17 The servant girl at the door said to Peter, “You also are not one of this man's disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” 18 Now the servants and officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves. Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself.19 The high priest then questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. 20 Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. 21 Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them; they know what I said.” 22 When he had said these things, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, “Is that how you answer the high priest?” 23 Jesus answered him, “If what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if what I said is right, why do you strike me?” 24 Annas then sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.25 Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “You also are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” 26 One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Did I not see you in the garden with him?” 27 Peter again denied it, and at once a rooster crowed.Our world loves a rise-and-fall story. History has its Julius Caesars, its Napoleon Bonapartes, its Richard Nixons. In recent years, we've watched the great rises and falls of athletes like Lance Armstrong and Tiger Woods, of film producers Harvey Weinstein, of comedians Bill Cosby.In fact, our world loves these fall stories so much that we like to have a hand in making them. In our sin, we have a twisted appetite for accelerating the rise, and then piling on to exacerbate the fall.The Bible also has its great fall stories. The big one is the Fall of humanity in Genesis 3. But Abraham has his fall. And the people of Israel, fresh off deliverance from Egypt and receiving the law, make a golden calf, led by their first high priest. And we find the rise and various falls of Saul, David, Solomon, and with them the fall of the kingship in Israel and the nation itself.This morning we come to the fall of Peter.Four Lessons from Peter's FallTwo parallel tracks unfold in this passage as Jesus is arrested and separated from his disciples: Jesus moves toward the cross, to Annas, to Caiaphas, to Pilate.In the meantime, the disciples scatter, as Peter, chief among them, denies three times that he knows Jesus.For the first time, we have the breaking of fellowship between Jesus and his disciples. The shepherd is struck; the sheep scatter. Jesus must go to the cross alone. No sinner can assist him in this work, to rescue sinners.The heart of this passage is the back-and-forth contrast between Jesus and Peter. John's point isn't that we point fingers at Peter but that every disciple is like Peter. The contrasts are stark: Jesus says, I am; Peter says, twice, I am not. Peter stands with bad company warming himself, while Jesus shivers in the cold alone. Peter tries to protect himself; Jesus exposes himself to harm. Peter's nerve fails, while Jesus is steady and composed under great pressure. Jesus stands; Peter falls.The point is the contrast. The shame of Peter is a foil to the stunning glory of Jesus. But here's the angle of approach I'd like for us to take this morning. I want to learn from Peter's fall.Humility learns from the failures of others. I think what God has for us this morning, at least in part, is to learn from the fall of Peter as it sits side by side with the shining faithfulness of Jesus.So, let's follow the arc of Peter's fall with four lessons.1. Stay Awake.By that, I mean stay awake spiritually. Just this week, with Peter's fall on my mind, I came across Mark 13:33–37 and was surprised how much this was exactly what Peter needed:Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. 34 It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. 35 Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or [get this:] when the rooster crows, or in the morning— 36 lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. 37 And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.Jesus gave Peter many warnings. We saw in John 13:36, Peter says: “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” Jesus says, “Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times.”Here's how Jesus warns Peter in the Gospel of Luke, 22:31–34:“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” 33 Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” 34 Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.”This is vintage Peter with these strange ups and downs.One moment: You are the Christ! Then: Never, Lord!One moment: Don't wash my feet! Then: Wash my whole body!One moment: I will lay down my life for you! Then Jesus says: No, Peter, I'm laying down my life for you — and all the while you'll be denying me three times.After so many warnings, what happens in the garden? Peter falls asleep. He's not alone: James and John do too. Jesus warns them: “the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.” Then, sleeping again, Peter is startled awake as soldiers approach. He's caught off guard. He draws his sword and cuts off the ear; Jesus rebukes him; the disciples scatter.So, the first lesson from Peter is to heed Jesus's warnings to stay awake. That is, no spiritual sleeping. No spiritual vacations. No coasting or autopilot. Satan targets his attacks on us at the times he thinks we'll be least ready.So, are you awake this morning? Have you been awake this week? Spiritually awake. Are your eyes open to spiritual reality? Are your ears attuned daily to Jesus's word? Are your lips whispering prayers? Are you walking arm in arm with Christ's people? Or are you falling asleep?2. Beware your perceptions of social pressure.To be clear, Peter's denials are sin. Great sin. And his sin comes out in a particular circumstance: the questions of strangers. Peter's fall is not one of isolation; it's a failure of nerve in the face of what he's assuming other people are thinking. (And not just others but strangers.)Peter wants to protect himself. His master is in grave danger, and Peter assumes the disciples must be in danger too. But the reason I emphasize Peter's skewed perception is the presence of John.The best explanation of this enigmatic “other disciple” is that this is the author's humble way of telling a story he's in but it's not about him. Verse 15 mentions “another disciple.” Verse 16: “Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he entered with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest.”The key word is “also”: Verse 17: “You also are not one of this man's disciples, are you?”Verse 25: “You also are not one of his disciples, are you?”What's the “also”? It assumes this other disciple. The high priest and his people know John, and they know he's a disciple. Which is why they ask Peter, “Hey, you're not also a disciple, are you?” And the form of their question helps Peter deny it: “Surely, you're not with this Jesus too, are you?” The way they ask the question cues Peter up to deny it. But the denials are Peter's. People will do that, you know: “You're not one of those Christians, are you?” They're setting you up to say, Of course not.The reason we know Peter's perception was mistaken is it turns out nobody crucified John. The high priest and the people know that John is a disciple. But it's Jesus they want. So, John's presence, as a known disciple, shows how Peter's perception of what the strangers think was off. His fear was misplaced; Peter was off balance and misreading the situation. And even if he had read it right, that's no excuse for disowning his Master — not once or twice, but three times, and that after being warned so clearly. Then comes verse 27: the rooster crows. And Peter comes awake to his sin.What happened next to Peter? John doesn't tell us; he knows we have the other three Gospels. But before we go there, let's glean this: beware what thoughts you let dance in your head about what people think, especially strangers you do not know. Sometimes people, even strangers, catch us off guard at the strangest times with significant questions about our faith, the Bible, Christianity, our church, and they cue you up for the groupthink answer, whatever the context. Be ready for that. Don't give in. Pushback. Ask a question back. Or just give them the honest, straightforward, wisely worded truth that they need to hear to fry their categories.One more thing to add here, from one of your pastors: Be so careful with online and social-media impressions of what the masses are thinking. The two-dimensional, algorithmic online environment is highly distortive. It is a hall of mirrors and radicalizing extremes. People who grow more and more highly online do not grow more balanced in their assessment of other people's perceptions; they begin to lose touch with reality.So, stay awake, and beware your perceptions of social pressure.3. When you've failed, look Jesus in the eye.Now we pick up, from the Gospel of Luke, what happens once the rooster crows. This is an awesome moment. Luke 22:60–62:“Immediately, while [Peter] was still speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” 62 And he went out and wept bitterly.”So, the rooster crows. Both Jesus and Peter hear it. Peter reflexively looks at Jesus. And Jesus turns and looks at Peter. They lock eyes. What must this have been like for Peter?Was it utterly devastating? I don't think it was. I expect there was a lot in that look. I'm sure it was not an easy moment for Peter. He is startled wide awake. He is humbled. He goes out and weeps bitterly. But Peter doesn't hang himself. Somehow this is a healing devastation. It's an empowering humiliation. Yes, his soul is flooded with shame and conviction, but it leads to repentance and life.Peter's fall is so different than Judas's. It was so good for Peter that he looked Jesus in the eye. Imagine how much Jesus communicated in that look, without any words — Jesus's foreknowledge of Peter's fall, his clear warnings, his righteous anger, his genuine grief, his profound compassion, and his transforming power.Jesus not only had said Peter would deny him. He also said,“I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”Not “if you turn,” but “when you have turned.” Peter, you will turn. I have prayed for you. I will see to it, that you will turn; you will rise from this fall, so much so that you will strengthen your brothers.Yes, Peter had failed Jesus, and that was worth mourning. But now, freshly humbled, he also has a commission from the sovereign Christ. Peter locks eyes with Jesus and finds renewed strength to persevere and even strengthen the brothers.And oh what courage we'll come to see in Peter. His story will not be a rise and fall; it is a fall and rise. Which comes not because of his faithfulness but Jesus's.Jesus's Rise to the CrossSo, now we need to put our lessons on hold for a few minutes, and pick up Jesus's part of the story in verses 19–24. Remember: as Peter falls, Jesus stands.For me, the big question in verses 19–24 is, Wait, hold on, who is the high priest?It's confusing on the surface. Verse 13 says Jesus comes first to Annas, “the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year.” Then we have John's reminder in verse 14 about Caiaphas's prophecy (which we saw last fall back in 11:50: “it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish”).Then the focus shifts to Peter in verses 15–18, then back to Jesus in verse 19: “The high priest (is that Caiaphas?) then questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching.” Jesus answers,“I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret.”This high priest is trying to get Jesus to incriminate himself, without any witnesses. So, Jesus asks in verse 21:“Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them; they know what I said.”In other words, ask my disciples; there are plenty of witnesses. And the irony is that just as Jesus is saying his disciples can witness for him, Peter is failing so miserably by denying him.At this, Jesus is struck, unjustly, by “one of the officers standing by,” who says, “Is that how you answer the high priest?” Jesus responds with a question, “If what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if what I said is right, why do you strike me?”Then comes the surprise in verse 24: “Annas then sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.” Wait a minute: Jesus hasn't gone to Caiaphas yet. He's been standing before Annas till now? If that's the case, verses 19 and 22 have called Annas the high priest. But John said in verse 13 that Caiaphas “was high priest that year.” So, who is the high priest? Is it Annas, the father-in-law, who's been high priest before? Five of his sons have served yearlong terms, including now his son-in-law Caiaphas. Annas is the patriarch. He's the boss high priest; his sons and son-in-law take turns filling the role, but Annas is the one who holds the power. So, is he really the high priest?Or is it Caiaphas who formally holds the office? The Old Testament had said the high priesthood was to be for life. But the Romans have limited that seat of Jewish power by enforcing these one-year terms. So, technically, Caiaphas is high priest that year. Is he really the high priest?I don't think this confusion is by accident. I suspect John wants us to see that yes, Annas is in some sense high priest, and yes, Caiaphas also is in some sense high priest. But when you ask who's really high priest in John 18, what's the answer? It's not Annas. It's not Caiaphas. It's the man who stands before them, bound like a sacrifice. This man has chosen to be here, and he goes willingly to the cross as the true high priest who offers the true and final sacrifice.And the reason Jesus goes to the cross is not for sins of his own, but for disciples like Peter. Jesus's work as high priest and his sacrifice makes it so that disciples who have failed can lock eyes with him, and not only feel conviction, and not only grieve their failures, but so that they can see in his eyes, “I'm for you. Yes, you have failed me, but I love you, and I have made provision for your sin by the sacrifice of myself. You need not stay devasted. You too can turn.”When Jesus locks eyes with you in your sin, it's appropriate to weep. But not tears of despairs. Tears of repentance. When Jesus looks at you, be like Peter, repent; turn; don't reject Jesus and make your sin worse with self-sabotage; honor the achievement of his cross; acknowledge that he came to rescue sinners; get over yourself and receive his rescue. Which leads to our final lesson.So, stay awake; beware your perceptions of social pressure; lock eyes with Jesus when you've failed. And finally…4. Receive his sacrifice and his Spirit.Peter's faith didn't fail. He wept, and he turned. Which meant he received Jesus's sacrifice — for him, for John, for you, for every disciple.The work of Jesus as both high priest and sacrifice means he covers and deals with the just payment of our sin. And it is the finishing of his life-work of perfect righteousness which becomes ours in union with him by faith. And Jesus's sacrifice doesn't only forgive sins, and give us righteous standing before God, but the risen Christ also pours out his Holy Spirit (as we'll celebrate next week on Pentecost) to dwell in Peter, and dwell in us.Which gives us another piece of the complex picture of how Peter fell: he didn't yet have the Holy Spirit. Not like he would after Pentecost.When the Spirit comes, Peter will be awesome. He will rise indeed as the chief spokesman to proclaim what God has done in Jesus. And this Peter, and this John with him, will stand before this same Annas and Caiaphas and the whole Jewish council, and full of the Holy Spirit, say,“there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. . . . Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, 20 for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard. (Acts 4:12, 20)Brothers and sisters, when you fall, know that in Jesus you can rise. Remember Peter. Do not presume on grace when tempted to sin. But when you have sinned, keep company with Peter in the aftermath. Lock eyes with Jesus. Go to him in his word, and in prayer, and through a Christian brother or sister. Own your sin; grieve it; and receive the purifying, empowering grace of his gaze, in his sacrifice and in his Spirit.Grace for You AlsoI don't know how this sermon is landing on you this morning, whether God is bringing to mind some failure, some fall, in private. Maybe in the past. Maybe it's a live, unresolved fall right now, and this message is for you, to lock eyes with Jesus, own your sin, and see the purifying grace in his eyes.Or perhaps you're thinking of this time in our city, and in our church, and how you've responded when someone caught you off guard with, “You're not also at Cities Church, are you?”Jonathan has more to say about our moment next Sunday. But Peter's full story says to those who have been like him, and failed Jesus in some way: there is grace for you in the same place Peter found grace.Which brings us to the Table.Did you catch that quick detail in verse 18, that “the servants and officers had made a charcoal fire”? That's an odd detail: charcoal fire.The only other charcoal fire in all the Bible is just three chapters later in John 21. Jesus has risen. He appears to his disciples while fishing, gives them a miraculous catch of fish, and when they come ashore, verse 9, “they saw a charcoal fire in place.”This is the public restoration of Peter. Jesus means to use this flawed man, oh does he. He failed three times by a charcoal fire, and now Jesus gives him three matching opportunities to declare his love, and receive the commission to feed Jesus's sheep.However you've fallen short of what Jesus is worth, let this Table be your charcoal fire this morning. This is a table of restoration, of fresh grace and fresh resolve and fresh dedication.

This sermon challenges believers to examine whether they are living from false identities rooted in accomplishments, roles, possessions, and external affirmation, or from their true identity in Christ. Jen emphasizes that while culture celebrates temporal achievements and attributes, God calls us to be "new creations" whose primary identity is rooted in being chosen, beloved children of God. The message explores the difference between passively holding our identity versus actively receiving it—comparing it to a child learning to catch versus a professional receiver who grasps, protects, and runs with the ball. Through the character study of Simon Peter, the sermon illustrates how Jesus speaks identity over us and invites us into transformation, even when we struggle to live into that identity fully. The key theological insight is that our identity in Christ is not something we earn or construct, but something we receive as a gift, and we must actively open, believe, and live from that truth daily.Read Ephesians 2:8-10Salvation is a gift, not a reward. Yet how often do we carry God's gift around unopened, never truly receiving what He offers? Like a beautifully wrapped present left in the bag with tissue intact, we acknowledge God's grace but fail to unwrap and live from it. Receiving requires action—opening your hands, drawing the gift close, protecting it, and running with it. Today, consider what gifts God has given you that remain unopened: freedom from shame, righteousness, belonging. Don't just hold these truths at arm's length. Draw them into your heart. Let them transform how you see yourself. God's gift isn't meant to be admired from a distance but lived from daily.Discussion Questions:-In what ways do you find yourself seeking affirmation from social media, accomplishments, or relationships rather than from your identity in Christ?-What does it mean to actively receive your identity in Christ rather than passively holding it, and how can you practice this in your daily life?-When you think about God delighting in you, what internal barriers or beliefs make it difficult to accept this truth?-Which of the seven false identities (regrets, career, accomplishments, connections, roles, attractions, possessions, appearance) do you most struggle with elevating above your God-given identity?

Blank Outline Completed Outline 2 Peter 1:1-4 2 Peter 1:1-4 Just a few verses from 2nd Peter chapter 1, and the first four verses you can follow along as I read. This is from Simon Peter. He describes himself as a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ. To those who through the righteousness of our… The post Great and Precious Promises appeared first on Community Bible Church.

Jesus Chooses the 12 Apostles (Luke 6): Peter, Andrew, James & John | Church History & Discipleship This episode of Theology and Apologetics with Thomas Fretwell continues Luke 6 as Jesus, amid escalating conflict with the Pharisees, spends a night in prayer and chooses twelve disciples as apostles. The teaching explains what it means to be a disciple and highlights that the apostles were ordinary men whom God used to change the world. It compares the four apostle lists (Luke 6, Matthew 10, Mark 3, Acts 1) and notes a likely structure of three groups of four led by Peter, Philip, and James son of Alphaeus. The episode then profiles Simon Peter and Andrew, and James and John, drawing from the Gospels and church history: Peter's leadership, failures and restoration, ministry in Rome, and martyrdom; Andrew's evangelistic role and crucifixion; James's death by Herod Agrippa; and John's transformation, writings, exile to Patmos, and long ministry in Ephesus. Become a supporter and get unlimited questions turned into podcasts at: www.patreon.com/theologyandapologetics YouTube Channel: Theology & Apologetics www.youtube.com/channel/UChoiZ46uyDZZY7W1K9UGAnw TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@dr.fretwell?_t=ZN-8w8NXIFTHkc&_r=1 Instagram: www.instagram.com/theology.apologetics Websites: www.ezrafoundation.org www.theologyandapologetics.com

This devotional challenges Christians to move beyond treating faith as just one part of life and instead recognize Christ as life itself. Rooted in Colossians 3 and Psalm 73, it encourages readers to anchor their identity, direction, and contentment in Jesus alone. When disappointment, loneliness, or confusion arise, believers are reminded that God is the one constant who never fails and whose presence brings lasting joy and strength. Highlights Peter’s response to Jesus reveals complete dependence on Christ alone. Disappointment often exposes misplaced priorities and false sources of security. Faith is meant to shape every part of life, not remain compartmentalized. Colossians 3 calls believers to focus on eternal priorities and values. Jesus is not simply part of life—He is our life. God is the only one who will never ultimately disappoint us. Lasting peace, purpose, and joy are found in Christ’s presence. Do you want to listen ad-free? When you join Crosswalk Plus, you gain access to exclusive, in-depth Bible study guides, devotionals, sound biblical advice, and daily encouragement from trusted pastors and authors—resources designed to strengthen your faith and equip you to live it out boldly. PLUS ad free podcasts! Sign Up Today! Full Transcript Below: When You Have Nowhere Else to Go By Cindi McMenamin Bible Reading:“So Jesus said to the twelve, ‘You do not want to leave also, do you?’ Simon Peter answered Him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life’” (John 6:67-68 NASB). After Jesus had said some difficult words for His followers to understand, many of them got up and left. Some probably realized He wasn’t the conquering Messiah-king they had hoped for. Others perhaps got frustrated with not being able to understand Jesus’ words. After many of them left, Jesus asked His remaining twelve disciples if they, too, wanted to leave. That’s when Peter spoke up and boldly proclaimed, “To whom shall we go?” In other words, “We have nowhere else to go.” Have you ever felt like that? I remember the day I felt I had nowhere else to go but to Him. My parents had just split up, and there was no security in my home, in my plans, or in my heart. Today, I look back on that day as the moment in which I took ownership of my faith. The moment in which my bond with Him was sealed, and I realized I had nowhere else to go but to Him. When we grow up learning about Jesus from the time we’re young, or if we’ve walked with Him a while, we can get complacent and put our lives in cruise control and fail to acknowledge His presence, direction, wisdom, guidance, and love every moment of our day. Faith becomes a compartment that is added to the many elements of our life, instead of becoming our whole life. That’s when disappointment can rock us. The apostle Paul opened his letter to the Colossians with instructions for followers if they are truly His: Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory (verses 1-4). If you have been raised with Christ. It appears to be an if/then situation. If we are His and have been transformed by His death and resurrection, we are to keep seeking the things that are above, where Christ is. That means we are to keep our minds on our eternal home, have eternal priorities and values, live as if we are here temporarily, and we will soon be in our real home with the Lover of our souls. The verse goes on to say we have died and our lives are hidden with Christ in God. (Our rights, our sense of entitlement, our preferences have died with Christ, and we are hidden, and He (and His character) is evident and on display for the world. Then the next line simply assumes that Christ is not just a part of our life, but is our whole life. Intersecting Faith & Life: When we consider Christ—not a partner or spouse, child, or even a job—as our whole life, we safeguard ourselves from misplaced priorities and frequent disappointment. God is the Only One who will never disappoint us. And I realize that you may believe that in your heart of hearts, but life still hurts. Being vulnerable enough to tell a loved one what you need from them and then coming up empty because they have no idea how to respond can leave us feeling sore to the core. So where do you and I go with that? Our answer must be the same as Peter’s: “Lord, there is no one else that we can go to!” (CEV). I have learned to echo Peter’s words by making Psalm 73:25-26 my life’s motto, as well as the cry of my heart. In the Contemporary English Version, that passage reads: “In heaven I have only you, and on this earth you are all I want. My body and mind may fail, but you are my strength and my choice forever.” In other words, Christ, who is my life. Where do you go when others disappoint? Be already depending on Him, and the disappointments will come less often. What do you do when you begin to lack contentment? Remember who is your life and that in His presence is fullness of joy (Psalm 16:11). Where do you turn when you feel directionless or lacking in purpose? To the One who is your life, your compass, your purpose. Lord, may You be the object of my heart, my focus, my direction, my life. You gave up Your life on this earth so I could belong to You forever. I give You my life and desires and realize I have nowhere else to go—but to You. Further Reading:Psalm 84 For help prioritizing your day with Jesus, see Cindi McMenamin’s book, The New Loneliness Devotional: 50 Days to a Closer Connection with God. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Join us as we dig deeper into last Sunday's sermon from Pastor Marcus Lane "Peter" and hear from Amy Duncan and Nate Zuellig on "Made For More". Digging Deeper Questions:  Have you experienced instances where living a self-directed life feels like spinning your wheels in futility? If so, what made self-direction so frustrating?   What freedom is found in living a divine-directed life?   Can you see a clear connection between the restoration Jesus brings and the purpose Jesus gives you in your own life and work? Where do you see opportunities to live as a minister of reconciliation like Paul talks about in 2 Corinthians 5?     Scripture Reading: John 21:1-19 1 After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way. 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We will go with you." They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.   4 Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Jesus said to them, "Children, do you have any fish?" They answered him, "No." 6 He said to them, "Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. 7 That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea. 8 The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off.   9 When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish that you have just caught." 11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." Now none of the disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. 14 This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.   15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs." 16 He said to him a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Tend my sheep." 17 He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, "Do you love me?" and he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep. 18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go." 19 (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, "Follow me." Intro/Outro Song: "Only One" Nate Zuellig ULC Artist In Residence    "Made For More" Bethel Music CCLI Song # 7207758   CCLI License # 11254293

JOHN 21:1-14 - CAST YOUR NET - BRIAN SUMNER - 2025JOHN 21:1-14 "After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and in this way He showed Himself: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.”They said to him, “We are going with you also.” They went out and [a]immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing. 4 But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Then Jesus said to them, “Children, have you any food?”They answered Him, “No.”6 And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish.7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea. 8 But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from land, but about two hundred cubits), dragging the net with fish. 9 Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have just caught.”11 Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and eat breakfast.” Yet none of the disciples dared ask Him, “Who are You?”—knowing that it was the Lord. 13 Jesus then came and took the bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish.14 This is now the third time Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the dead."To support this channel and partner with Brian in Ministryhttps://www.briansumner.net/support/For more on Brianhttp://www.briansumner.nethttps://www.instagram.com/BRIANSUMNER/https://www.facebook.com/BRIANSUMNEROFFICIALTo listen to Brians Podcast, click below.https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...Purchase Brians Marriage book at https://www.amazon.com/Never-Fails-Da...Brian is a full time "Urban Missionary" both locally and internationally with a focus on MISSIONS - MARRIAGES - MINISTRY. Since coming to faith in 2004 doors continued opening locally and internationally to do more and more ministry with a focus on Evangelism, Outreach Missions, Marriage, Counsel, Schools, Festivals, Conferences and the like.  Everything about this ministry is made possible because of people personally partnering through the non profit. God Bless and thank you. †Support the showSUPPORT THE SHOW

Join Zoe, Zach, and Michelle as they kick off a brand new four-part bible study series exploring the encounters Jesus had with people throughout the New Testament, beginning with the Call of Peter in Luke 5:1-11, unpacking what it means to move from reluctant obedience to radical surrender, why Jesus invites us out into the deep water to meet with him, and how God wants to use what you already do for his kingdom while calling you to leave behind what holds you back. This episode dives deep into the powerful story of Simon Peter, a fisherman who had just worked all night and caught nothing, only to have Jesus tell him to put out into deep water and let down his nets for a catch that was so miraculous their nets began to break and their boats began to sink. 00:00 Introduction and Episode Setup 01:38 Reading Luke 5:1-11: The Call of Peter 03:43 Setting the Scene: Jesus Teaches From the Boat 08:32 The Ridiculous Request: A Carpenter Tells a Fisherman How to Fish 11:18 Jesus' Approach to Evangelism: Invitation Not Imposition 15:00 The Miraculous Catch: Nets Breaking and Boats Sinking 17:45 Peter's Response: From 'Chief' to 'Lord' 24:57 From Fishers of Fish to Fishers of Men 30:51 They Left Everything and Followed Him 36:41 Closing Reflections: What Will You Use and What Will You Leave? What other bible studies would you like to see on The Way UK Podcast? FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/thewayuk/ FOLLOW US ON TIK TOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@thewayuk/ Want to know more? Find a church that has things happening for young people. Visit https://achurchnearyou.com/youth/ [In partnership with CofE Digital Projects]

Jesus Is in Control Jonathan Parnell Download John 18:1-11,When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. 2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples. 3So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons. 4 Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” 5 They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. 6 When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. 7 So he asked them again, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” 8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go.” 9 This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: “Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one.” 10 Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant and cut off his right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus.) 11 So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?”Back in John Chapter 10, Jesus said something really important we should keep in mind. He said, Chapter 10, verse 18:No one takes [my life] from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.In other words, Jesus has told us in advance that he's in complete control of his suffering that will come, and in Chapter 18 that suffering is no longer future tense. The suffering that Jesus has talked about begins to unfold rapidly, in real time. Notice here how verse 1 sets the scene for us: Jesus has finished the Farewell Discourse, and his prayer for the disciples in Chapter 17, and now he leaves the Upper Room, and they go outside to a garden.So this is a new setting — and all the Gospel writers report this to us, but John includes some details here that the others don't. And the reason is because John has a direct theological agenda: He wants readers to know that what Jesus said back in Chapter 10, verse 18 is true — the arrest of Jesus is not a haphazard collapse into chaos, but it is the controlled descent into chaos for our sake. John's point is that Jesus is in control — that's his main idea here, and he makes it clear in at least three ways. That's what I wanna show you this morning: three ways Jesus is in control during chaos …1. Jesus knew all that would happen to him. John tells us this directly in verse 4. He says Jesus knew “all that would happen to him” — and the keyword there is the word “all.” This implies that Jesus didn't just know the outcome — he didn't just know where he'd end up — but he knew all the details that would take him there, including the details of Judas's betrayal. That's the focus in this passage.It's fascinating that John gives us more details about Judas than any other Gospel. First, it's just in the mention of Judas … Five different times in this Gospel when John names Judas, he says, “Judas, who would betray him.” He said that way back in Chapter 6, and again in Chapters 12 and 13, and he says it twice in this passage, in verses 2 and 5 — which means John says this about Judas even as the betrayal is taking place (see John 6:71; 12:4; 13:2; 18:2, 5). Why does John do this? Well, I think most basically it's because John wants us to never forget who Judas is, but it's also because he wants us to see Judas through a certain lens: John wants us to see that everything Judas does is fulfillment, not surprise. The case in point is that John gives us these premeditation details of Judas — that's what I'm calling them, “premeditation details.” Look at this in verse 2. After Jesus and his disciples went to the garden in verse 1, verse 2 says:“Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples.”Don't miss how dark and sinister this is … Judas knew where to find Jesus. Judas had left the Upper Room in Chapter 13, and maybe by this point he had come back to the Upper Room and found it empty, or maybe he didn't. Either way, at some point, Judas thought, “I know where he is.”And he knew where Jesus was because of their friendship.He knew Jesus was in the garden because he had been there with him many times before. The garden was a favorite spot for Jesus to pray and teach his disciples, and Judas had prayed with Jesus there. He had been taught by Jesus there. Jesus had brought him there, and now Judas used that against Jesus.I hate Judas. I hate him. I hate him like I hate the devil. Can you believe what he did?More details in verse 3 are important.Judas had procured two groups of men to come with him. One was a band of soldiers (which would have been Roman soldiers), and the other was a group of officials from the chief priests and Pharisees. Now the the English Standard Version translates the first group “band of soldiers” but another word for it is “detachment of soldiers” (that's how the New International Version translates it). And what's interesting is that the Greek word behind “detachment” or “band” was an actual category of soldiers in the Roman army. Historical documents from the First Century tell us about it. A detachment was 200 soldiers. That's what the word means.Now, there's a chance that the full 200 soldiers didn't come along here, but my guess is that more soldiers came with Judas than we typically picture in our minds.Because in addition to this relatively large group of Roman soldiers, there were also Jewish officials. (This group would have been like the temple police who worked for the high priests and Pharisees.)And together, these soldiers and police, had lanterns and torches and weapons. So we gotta picture this correctly: this is not a small group of ragtag cavemen with clubs, but this is a sizable fraction of the Roman army together with Jewish police, and they're well-supplied, and they're led by Judas to this place only Judas knows about. This was calculated evil.John tells us in verse 5:“Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them.”Do you see how despicable this is? There's deeper meaning here:The Roman soldiers represented the Gentile world; the Jewish officials or police represented Jesus's own people; and Judas represented Satan himself — because John told us in 13:27 that Satan had entered into Judas. So, understand what's going on here: In this group that came to arrest Jesus, it represents all of creation conspiring against him. All of humanity, Jew and Gentile, and the demonic realm — they have plotted together and set themselves against the Lord and his anointed.And Judas, standing with him, would have thought he was so smart. He would have had the smuggest look on his face.And the only thing that does not make this an absolute knockout win for Judas — like the only reason Judas has not just pulled one over on his Rabbi — is that Jesus knew about it the whole time.Every single time Jesus had been in this garden with his disciples … every single time over the last three years he prayed there with them and taught there with them … every time they “took sweet counsel together” as friends — every single time Jesus had ever seen the face of Judas in this garden, he knew that Judas would do this. Every moment in the garden before this moment, he knew this moment would come. Because he knew all that would happen to him. See, Jesus is in control.Here's another way we see Jesus in control during the chaos …2. Jesus was straightforward about his identity. I want you to notice both what Jesus says and the way he says it. First, what he says. When they tell Jesus they're looking for Jesus of Nazareth, Jesus says in verse 5, “I am he” — John tells us again that Jesus said this in verse 6, and Jesus repeats himself in verse 8. So three times in this passage, we read the words: “I am.” And in the Gospel of John, we know this is intentional. When Jesus says this, he is declaring himself to be God. He's revealing his true identity — He was before Abraham! He is one with the Father! He has been sent into the world by the Father!Jesus is, again, claiming the divine name: Jesus is the “I am.” Amen!But now notice the way he says it. Years ago, I got a book on public speaking titled, “The Way You Say It.” (I got it to help me with an accent I used to have. That's what the book is for.) But the underlying premise of the book is that the way you say something matters. The words matter the most, but the tone and context make a difference. Speech is dynamic like that.Well, we can't actually hear how Jesus says what he says here, but we can pay attention to the context. John gives us some key details here, so let's follow closely with what he says: In verse 4, there's this long group of soldiers, with their torches and weapons, and show up in this garden where Jesus and his disciples are. John says Jesus “came forward and said to them, ‘Whom do you seek?'”They say “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus says “I am he.”Notice how straightforward this is. Rows of uniformed soldiers and police came looking for Jesus, and when they got to Jesus, he asked them what they're doing. Can you picture that? All these soldiers and police and Judas are standing together, and Jesus is the one who does the talking. And literally, they must answer to him. It gets better.When Jesus declares his identity, when he says “I am he,” verse 6 says “they drew back and fell to the ground.” Which I think means exactly what it says. All of these soldiers fell down before Jesus. Verse 7, “So he asked them again…” which implies that he asked them right away — Jesus keeps talking to them while they are still on the ground. Let's back up for a minute. I need you to use your imagination here. Picture this scene: It's night. Jesus and his disciples are in the garden. Suddenly, a swarm of Romans soldiers and Jewish police, and Judas show up with torches and weapons, and Jesus steps forward to say “Who you looking for?” They say, “Jesus of Nazareth.”Jesus says, “I am he.” And swoosh!They all fall to ground like dominos, and while they're laying on the ground, Jesus says, “Who you looking for again?”This is almost comedy. It's incredible!If we could just freeze this scene — if we could snap a photo of this scene and show people, everybody who sees the photo is gonna know who's in charge.And it ain't Judas. It ain't the Roman soldiers. It ain't the Jewish officials.Jesus Christ is in control. John is showing us this in how Jesus was so straightforward about his identity. He's doing the talking. He's asking the questions. Because he's in control.One more. A third way we see Jesus's control during the chaos …3. Jesus was resolved to be the better Adam. Remember the setting here. All this is taking place in a garden. And this absolutely is meant to be an allusion to the Garden of Eden. I mentioned before, John has a theological agenda. (The other Gospel writers use the name Gethsemane, but John uses just the word “garden.”) He actually tells the whole story of Jesus's passion in view of a garden: John mentions a garden being close to where Jesus was crucified — in Chapter 19, verse 41. He mentions a garden again in Chapter 20 after Jesus is resurrected — spoiler alert here: but when Mary sees the resurrected Jesus, she thinks he's the garden keeper (see 20:15).And guess what? He is.And it starts in this passage. What's happening here is a redo of the Garden of Eden when Satan tempted Adam. Now's there's a few differences in this redo, and one is that Peter's here. And Peter, so far, is just watching all this happen. He hasn't said anything. But then we get to verse 10. And this is one we all need to see. So y'all help me out. Find Chapter 18, verses 10:Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant and cut off his right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus.) So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?”Two questions:What is Peter doing?What is Jesus doing?First, PeterWhen Peter draws his sword, he was ready to go out fighting. Peter has already said, Chapter 13, verse 37, that he would lay down his life for Jesus, and he thinks this is it. Look: he's no match for these soldiers. He knows that. They have weapons too, and a lot more of them.So either Peter is ready to die, or maybe he expects Jesus to keep speaking — because he just saw all these soldiers fall to the ground. He remembered what that voice did to the storm that night on the sea. All Jesus has to do is say the word, Peter knows. So maybe Peter swings his sword, and then looks at Jesus like, “Well? Go ahead…”But Peter was mistaken. D. A. Carson says Peter was “as clumsy as his courage was great, and his tactic as pointless as his misunderstanding was total.”He was confused, but we know all he was trying to do was help out. Peter was willing to die for Jesus to advance the cause; he didn't understand that first Jesus must died for him to accomplish the cause. This is what Jesus is doing. Jesus tells Peter, verse 11:“Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?”Jesus corrects Peter not on the goal, but on the method. Jesus will indeed triumph over all his enemies, but the way matters. And the way of Jesus's triumph is to drink the cup.It's not a violent overthrow of earthly powers, it's a blood sacrifice for helpless sinners. It's not military conquest, it's substitutionary atonement. Victory soon, but suffering first.Something different in the Gospel of John compared to the other Gospels is that John leaves out the temptation narrative of Jesus when he was tempted by Satan in the wilderness. And I think it's because, with Genesis 3 on his mind, John reframes Jesus's big temptation to be here in the garden.Because Satan was crafty again in this garden. Defiance and betrayal appear again in this garden. Obedience or disobedience are the options again in this garden. Life and death are on the line again in this garden. What is Jesus doing? He is resolved to be the better Adam … and rather than fall, he descends, not in a vain attempt to augment his life, but in a willingness to lose it, not to subject a world of life to death, but to bring a world of death to life. Where the first Adam fell, the better Adam is faithful. Jesus has never been in more control. The cup he is about to drink is the cup the Father has given him. And those simple words at the end of verse 11 make it the most clear: this is not a haphazard collapse into chaos — our heavenly Father is writing the story. Is evil at work in this story? Absolutely. The Roman authorities had a hand in this. The Jewish leaders had a hand in this. Judas, led by Satan, had a hand in this. But who gave Jesus the cup? Who gave him the cup?The Father gave him the cup. The Father is accomplishing his plan, the plan of the Trinity. Jesus is in control. And For UsAnd look, that was true for Jesus's passion, and it's true for our situation right now — for whatever situation you might be going through. Everything in our lives — listen: every single thing in our lives — occurs beneath the will of God, and he has promised, whatever we got, he will work it together for our salvation. It doesn't make bad things less bad, but it gives us that bigger picture, which can be so easy to forget. Jesus loves you, and Jesus is in control. And this morning, very simply, I want to call you to rest in him. Rest in the truth of his love and power. And for some of you, that means conversion. Put your faith in Jesus today. I know some of you might be right on the fence — I get it. I've been there. Believe in Christ today, and be born again. We're having baptisms on May 31 — believe and come be baptized. For others of us, Christians in the room, you believe in Jesus but your vision of him has been a little clouded. We just need to see him again with the eyes of our hearts, and I pray that you would.Even as we come to this Table.The TableAt this Table we remember the passion event of Jesus — that he died for us and was raised, which is the most vivid display of his love and power. Glory in the gospel this morning!

Pastor Kristi shares a message on this special Mother's Day service about the life of Simon Peter and what we can learn about following Jesus, our great shepherd.

Fr. Eric Nicolai preached this meditation on the anniversary of Pope Leo XIV's election, on May 8, 2026 at Ernescliff College, Toronto.Today's antiphon on the anniversary of the election of the Pope, takes on special resonance for us.Matt 16, 16- 19: 6 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Christ, the one were expecting, the one we had hoped for, the Son of the living God.”  Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.They are words that resonate with us, as we fortify our love for the Pope.Music: Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, with license.

Today’s Topics: Joshua Charles joins Terry for Friday with the Fathers 1) Gospel – John 6:1-15 – Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee. A large crowd followed Him, because they saw the signs He was performing on the sick. Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat down with His disciples.  The Jewish feast of Passover was near. When Jesus raised His Eyes and saw that a large crowd was coming to Him, He said to Philip, “Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?” He said this to test him, because He Himself knew what He was going to do. Philip answered Him, “Two hundred days’ wages worth of food would not be enough for each of them to have a little.” One of His disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to Him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what good are these for so many?” Jesus said, “Have the people recline.”  Now there was a great deal of grass in that place.  So the men reclined, about five thousand in number. Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to those who were reclining, and also as much of the fish as they wanted. When they had had their fill, He said to His disciples, “Gather the fragments left over, so that nothing will be wasted.” So they collected them, and filled twelve wicker baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves that had been more than they could eat. When the people saw the sign He had done, they said, “This is truly the Prophet, the One Who is to come into the world.”  Since Jesus knew that they were going to come and carry Him off to make Him king, He withdrew again to the mountain alone. Bishop Sheen quote of the day 2, 3, 4) In Part Six, Terry and Joshua discuss Early Father of the Church: Saint Pope Leo the Great

Share a commentA synagogue service turns into a collision between light and darkness when Jesus teaches with a kind of authority nobody can ignore. We slow down in Luke 4:31–43 and trace three clear demonstrations of who Jesus is: authority in His speaking, authority over the demonic realm, and authority over sickness. No borrowed credentials, no religious theater, no rituals to amplify the moment, just a voice that carries the final word and hearts that know they are hearing something different. We also tackle the questions people quietly carry into church: Is Satan real or just a symbol? What does demon possession mean, and can a Christian be possessed? We draw an important line between possession from the inside and demonic persuasion from the outside, then watch how quickly an unclean spirit is forced to submit when Jesus commands it to be silent. The episode keeps the focus where Luke keeps it: on the power of Christ's word and the clarity of His authority. From the synagogue we move into Simon Peter's home, where a “mega” fever disappears at a rebuke and strength returns instantly. Then the night opens up into a steady stream of suffering people as Jesus heals disease after disease and refuses to let demons turn into His publicity team. The most moving detail is how personal the power is: He lays His hands on each one, a glimpse of the kingdom of God and the promise of reversing the curse of a broken world. If this encouraged you, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review, and tell us what part of Luke 4 you want to dig into next.Get instant, biblically faithful answers to your Bible questions. https://www.wisdomonline.org/ask Learn more: https://www.wisdomonline.org/Support the show

Share a commentA synagogue service turns into a collision between light and darkness when Jesus teaches with a kind of authority nobody can ignore. We slow down in Luke 4:31–43 and trace three clear demonstrations of who Jesus is: authority in His speaking, authority over the demonic realm, and authority over sickness. No borrowed credentials, no religious theater, no rituals to amplify the moment, just a voice that carries the final word and hearts that know they are hearing something different. We also tackle the questions people quietly carry into church: Is Satan real or just a symbol? What does demon possession mean, and can a Christian be possessed? We draw an important line between possession from the inside and demonic persuasion from the outside, then watch how quickly an unclean spirit is forced to submit when Jesus commands it to be silent. The episode keeps the focus where Luke keeps it: on the power of Christ's word and the clarity of His authority. From the synagogue we move into Simon Peter's home, where a “mega” fever disappears at a rebuke and strength returns instantly. Then the night opens up into a steady stream of suffering people as Jesus heals disease after disease and refuses to let demons turn into His publicity team. The most moving detail is how personal the power is: He lays His hands on each one, a glimpse of the kingdom of God and the promise of reversing the curse of a broken world. If this encouraged you, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review, and tell us what part of Luke 4 you want to dig into next.Explore all of our Biblically Faithful Resources at https://www.wisdomonline.org Learn more: https://www.wisdomonline.org/Support the show

JOHN 20:1-18 - THE EMPTY TOMB - BRIAN SUMNER - 2025JOHN 20:1-18 "Now the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. 2 Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.”3 Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb. 4 So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first. 5 And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed. 9 For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. 10 Then the disciples went away again to their own homes.Mary Magdalene Sees the Risen Lord11 But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. 13 Then they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?”She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.”14 Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?”She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, “Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.”16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!”She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher).17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.' ”18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her."To support this channel and partner with Brian in Ministryhttps://www.briansumner.net/support/For more on Brianhttp://www.briansumner.nethttps://www.instagram.com/BRIANSUMNER/https://www.facebook.com/BRIANSUMNEROFFICIALTo listen to Brians Podcast, click below.https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...Purchase Brians Marriage book at https://www.amazon.com/Never-Fails-Da...Brian is a full time "Urban Missionary" both locally and internationally with a focus on MISSIONS - MARRIAGES - MINISTRY. Since coming to faith in 2004 doors continued opening locally and internationally to do more and more ministry with a focus on Evangelism, Outreach Missions, Marriage, Counsel, Schools, Festivals, Conferences and the like.  Everything about this ministry is made possible because of people personally partnering through the non profit. God Bless and thank you. †Support the showSUPPORT THE SHOW

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260505dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion “Know this: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. Jesus is ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:10-12 One Name That Saves Some people say that all spiritual paths lead to the same place. The idea sounds appealing, kind, and welcoming. It sounds peaceful. But is it true? When Simon Peter spoke to the religious council in Jerusalem, he refused to soften his message. He did not hold back. He declared that salvation—rescue from sin, death, and judgment—comes through one name: Jesus Christ. Peter did not offer Jesus as one option among many teachers. He did not portray Jesus as a guide who points the way toward truth or salvation. He proclaimed that no other name saves. Jesus is not an option. He is the only Savior. People sometimes resist hearing that only one name saves. It challenges our pride. We want to be able to prove ourselves, to showcase our effort, and proclaim, “See! I did it myself.” But if rescue rested on us, one question would always haunt us: Have I done enough? As our substitute, Jesus did enough. He lived the life we fail to live. He suffered our curse. He died our death. And he rose from the grave to prove that he has finished the work to save us. In Jesus, your doubt, fear, and worry—are silenced! And not just for you. Jesus solves the problem of sin for the whole world. Which means salvation does not depend on our performance. It rests in Christ. So, forgiveness is not something we earn. Life is not something we must win. Salvation is not something we secure for ourselves. It is a gift God gives to all who trust in Jesus Christ. Guaranteed. Certain. Secure. Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for being the Savior the world needs. Strengthen my faith in you and help me share your saving name with others. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260505dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion “Know this: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. Jesus is ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:10-12 One Name That Saves Some people say that all spiritual paths lead to the same place. The idea sounds appealing, kind, and welcoming. It sounds peaceful. But is it true? When Simon Peter spoke to the religious council in Jerusalem, he refused to soften his message. He did not hold back. He declared that salvation—rescue from sin, death, and judgment—comes through one name: Jesus Christ. Peter did not offer Jesus as one option among many teachers. He did not portray Jesus as a guide who points the way toward truth or salvation. He proclaimed that no other name saves. Jesus is not an option. He is the only Savior. People sometimes resist hearing that only one name saves. It challenges our pride. We want to be able to prove ourselves, to showcase our effort, and proclaim, “See! I did it myself.” But if rescue rested on us, one question would always haunt us: Have I done enough? As our substitute, Jesus did enough. He lived the life we fail to live. He suffered our curse. He died our death. And he rose from the grave to prove that he has finished the work to save us. In Jesus, your doubt, fear, and worry—are silenced! And not just for you. Jesus solves the problem of sin for the whole world. Which means salvation does not depend on our performance. It rests in Christ. So, forgiveness is not something we earn. Life is not something we must win. Salvation is not something we secure for ourselves. It is a gift God gives to all who trust in Jesus Christ. Guaranteed. Certain. Secure. Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for being the Savior the world needs. Strengthen my faith in you and help me share your saving name with others. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

13 And Jesus came into the quarters of Caesarea Philippi: and he asked his disciples, saying: Whom do men say that the Son of man is?Venit autem Jesus in partes Caesareae Philippi : et interrogabat discipulos suos, dicens : Quem dicunt homines esse Filium hominis? 14 But they said: Some John the Baptist, and other some Elias, and others Jeremias, or one of the prophets.At illi dixerunt : Alii Joannem Baptistam, alii autem Eliam, alii vero Jeremiam, aut unum ex prophetis. 15 Jesus saith to them: But whom do you say that I am?Dicit illis Jesus : Vos autem, quem me esse dicitis? 16 Simon Peter answered and said: Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God.Respondens Simon Petrus dixit : Tu es Christus, Filius Dei vivi. 17 And Jesus answering, said to him: Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jona: because flesh and blood hath not revealed it to thee, but my Father who is in heaven.Respondens autem Jesus, dixit ei : Beatus es Simon Bar Jona : quia caro et sanguis non revelavit tibi, sed Pater meus, qui in caelis est. 18 And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.Et ego dico tibi, quia tu es Petrus, et super hanc petram aedificabo Ecclesiam meam, et portae inferi non praevalebunt adversus eam. 19 And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose upon earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven.Et tibi dabo claves regni caelorum. Et quodcumque ligaveris super terram, erit ligatum et in caelis : et quodcumque solveris super terram, erit solutum et in caelis.[18] "Thou art Peter": As St. Peter, by divine revelation, here made a solemn profession of his faith of the divinity of Christ; so in recompense of this faith and profession, our Lord here declares to him the dignity to which he is pleased to raise him: viz., that he to whom he had already given the name of Peter, signifying a rock, St. John 1. 42, should be a rock indeed, of invincible strength, for the support of the building of the church; in which building he should be, next to Christ himself, the chief foundation stone, in quality of chief pastor, ruler, and governor; and should have accordingly all fulness of ecclesiastical power, signified by the keys of the kingdom of heaven.[18] "Upon this rock": The words of Christ to Peter, spoken in the vulgar language of the Jews which our Lord made use of, were the same as if he had said in English, Thou art a Rock, and upon this rock I will build my church. So that, by the plain course of the words, Peter is here declared to be the rock, upon which the church was to be built: Christ himself being both the principal foundation and founder of the same. Where also note, that Christ, by building his house, that is, his church, upon a rock, has thereby secured it against all storms and floods, like the wise builder, [Matt 7:24-25].[18] "The gates of hell": That is, the powers of darkness, and whatever Satan can do, either by himself, or his agents. For as the church is here likened to a house, or fortress, built on a rock; so the adverse powers are likened to a contrary house or fortress, the gates of which, that is, the whole strength, and all the efforts it can make, will never be able to prevail over the city or church of Christ. By this promise we are fully assured, that neither idolatry, heresy, nor any pernicious error whatsoever shall at any time prevail over the church of Christ.[19] "Loose upon earth": The loosing the bands of temporal punishments due to sins, is called an indulgence; the power of which is here granted.Pope Pius V, of the Order of Preachers, was a Pope of great sanctity. His pontificate was one of the most glorious. He enforced obedience to the decress to the Council of Trent and revised the Missal and the Breviary. He died A.D. 1572.

We're so glad you are here! Thanks for checking out Sunday's message!-- SUNDAY'S NOTES --John 21:1-12 NLTGod will use repeat challenges as a reminder of His faithfulness to always find us and feed us. One day as Jesus was preaching on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, great crowds pressed in on him to listen to the word of God. He noticed two empty boats at the water's edge, for the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. Stepping into one of the boats, Jesus asked Simon, its owner, to push it out into the water. So he sat in the boat and taught the crowds from there. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish. “Master,” Simon replied, “we worked hard all last night and didn't catch a thing. But if you say so, I'll let the nets down again.” And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear! A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat, and soon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking. When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he fell to his knees before Jesus and said, “Oh, Lord, please leave me, I'm such a sinful man.” For he was awestruck by the number of fish they had caught, as were the others with him. His partners, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were also amazed. Jesus replied to Simon, “Don't be afraid! From now on you'll be fishing for people!” And as soon as they landed, they left everything and followed Jesus. Luke 5:1-11 NLTThe only thing that qualifies anyone for the call of God is His grace, received by faith.God's grace saves us and God's grace sends us! Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves. About three o'clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. Matthew 14:24-25 CSBWhen you doubt the feasibility of the directions your doubting the faithfulness of the director. But after I have been raised from the dead, I will go ahead of you to Galilee and meet you there.” Peter told him, “Even if everyone falls away because of you, I will never fall away. “Truly I tell you,” Jesus said to him, “tonight, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” “Even if I have to die with you,” Peter told him, “I will never deny you,” and all the disciples said the same thing. Matthew 26:32-35 CSBPeter said, “Man, I don't know what you're talking about! ” Immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. Then the Lord turned and looked at Peter. So Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly. Luke 22:60-62 CSBBut go, tell his disciples and Peter, He is going ahead of you to Galilee; you will see him there just as he told you. Mark 16:7 CSB When they had eaten breakfast, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these? ” “Yes, Lord,” he said to him, “you know that I love you.” “Feed my lambs,” he told him. A second time he asked him, “Simon, son of John, do you love me? ” “Yes, Lord,” he said to him, “you know that I love you.” “Shepherd my sheep,” he told him. He asked him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me? ”Peter was grieved that he asked him the third time, “Do you love me? ” He said, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” “Feed my sheep,” Jesus said. “Truly I tell you, when you were younger, you would tie your belt and walk wherever you wanted. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will tie you and carry you where you don't want to go.” He said this to indicate by what kind of death Peter would glorify God. After saying this, he told him, “Follow me.” John 21:15-22 CSBChrist is still calling His followers to the simplicity of a life centered on Him and His Kingdom! -------------------------------------------------Download the 828 Church app!To view our latest e-newsletter, the Midweek Momentum, and subscribe to our weekly updates, go here! https://linktr.ee/828church

UNEXPECTED JESUS: Follow Me...Again(5/3/2026)[John 21:3] Simon Peter said, "I'm going fishing." "We'll come, too," they all said. So they went out in the boat, but they caught nothing all night.When we lose sight of Jesus we tend to ______________ to our old ______________.[Matthew 26:31-35] On the way, Jesus told them, "Tonight all of you will desert me. For the Scriptures say, 'God will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.' [32] But after I have been raised from the dead, I will go ahead of you to Galilee and meet you there." [33] Peter declared, "Even if everyone else deserts you, I will never desert you." [34] Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, Peter--this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me." [35] "No!" Peter insisted. "Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you!" And all the other disciples vowed the same. Our ______________ often ______________ how we see ourselves.[John 21:4-6] At dawn Jesus was standing on the beach, but the disciples couldn't see who he was. [5] He called out, "Fellows, have you caught any fish?" "No," they replied. [6] Then he said, "Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you'll get some!" So they did, and they couldn't haul in the net because there were so many fish in it.Many people stop ______________ _________ after failure, but God calls you to __________ __________ again.[John 21:9] When they got there, they found breakfast waiting for them--fish cooking over a charcoal fire, and some bread.Jesus doesn't ______________ your worst memory, He ______________ it.[John 21:15] After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?" "Yes, Lord," Peter replied, "you know I love you." "Then feed my lambs," Jesus told him.Our ______________ comes before our Assignment.[John 21:19b] Then Jesus told him, "Follow me."Your worst ______________ does not cancel your ______________.[John 21:22] Jesus replied, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? As for you, follow me."

But when the day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 So Jesus *said to them, "Children, you do not have any fish to eat, do you?" They answered Him, "No." 6 And He said to them, "Cast the net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you will find the fish." So they cast it, and then they were not able to haul it in because of the great quantity of fish. 7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved *said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he was stripped for work), and threw himself into the sea. 8 But the other disciples came in the little boat, for they were not far from the land, but about two hundred cubits away, dragging the net full of fish.

Do you ever find yourself scrolling through social media and feeling bad about yourself or your life? Or how about, looking over at your coworker and wondering why they got the promotion you feel you should have had? Sound familiar? Comparison is an ugly emotion… one that Mark Twain calls "the death of joy." When Simon Peter, one of Jesus's closest disciples, was told that he would be martyred for his faith, he looked over at his friend John and asked how he would die. Jesus responded, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me." Jesus's answer to Peter holds true for us as well! Next time you find yourself comparing your life, achievements, or appearance to that of a coworker or friend - stop looking at them, and instead, follow Jesus. 

Dig Deeper - Week 12 - What did they see? Today we take a look at what John and Peter saw when the got to Jesus' grave.   John 20:3-7 ESV tells us, "So Peter went out with the other disciples, and they were going toward the tomb. Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus' head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself."   Note: the linen cloths were "lying there" undisturbed.   We continue with John 20:8-9 "Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that He must rise from the dead."    When Peter saw the cloths lying as they were, his reaction was something dramatic has happened!  John on the other hand, he believed. What did John believe? He accepted what the women had told them that the angel had said that the Lord was risen!   Later they saw Jesus.  The disciples' stories of Christ's resurrection are based on them SEEING Him! (Not the abandoned linen clothes.) They saw Him alive. At the very risk of their lives they believed and told that Jesus was alive. And many died for this truth and the world has never been the same.     Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer  FREE.   View live or on demand: https://www.awakeusnow.com/tuesday-bible-class   For more check out the series, "What's the Answer"  https://www.awakeusnow.com/whats-the-answer   Join us Sundays  https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service   Watch via our app. Text HELLO to 888-364-4483 to download our app.

During Hour 3 of the Patrick Madrid Show, a variety of topics were discussed by callers and listener emails. Becky emailed in asking for a book recommendation on the history of the Catholic Church, Margaret emailed in expressing her agreement with lowering the age of Confirmation, sparking further discussion on the topic. One emailer pushed back, arguing that Patrick had actually proven that lowering the age of Confirmation is a mistake. Matt added a thoughtful perspective, noting that while someone may intellectually know the faith, if the heart does not connect with it, the knowledge does not truly take root. On a Scripture-related note, Terry emailed in to point out that the question of whether the two people on the Road to Emmaus were a man and a woman completely misses the point of the story. Email – Becky – Can you recommend a book that gives the history of the Catholic Church? Patrick recommends James Hitchcock’s book and the website Eternal Christendom Email - Margaret - I agree with lowering the age of Confirmation. Break 1 Email – Terry – Who cares whether the 2 people on the Road To Emmaus were a man and a woman? That is not the point of the story. Pinia - Recommendations for dealing with anxiety about end times or abductions? Marie - could the other apostle on the road to Emmaus be Simon Peter? Break 2 Email – Patrick, you just proved that having an early age for Confirmation is a mistake. Matt - The head knows the faith but if the heart doesn't connect then it doesn't stick.

Sermon TextJohn 21:1–25 (ESV)After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way. Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. Simon Peter said to them, I am going fishing. They said to him, We will go with you. They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, Children, do you have any fish? They answered him, No. He said to them, Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some. So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, It is the Lord! When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea. The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off.When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, Bring some of the fish that you have just caught. So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, Come and have breakfast. Now none of the disciples dared ask him, Who are you? They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these? He said to him, Yes, Lord; you know that I love you. He said to him, Feed my lambs. He said to him a second time, Simon, son of John, do you love me? He said to him, Yes, Lord; you know that I love you. He said to him, Tend my sheep. He said to him the third time, Simon, son of John, do you love me? Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, Do you love me? and he said to him, Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you. Jesus said to him, Feed my sheep. Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go. (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, Follow me.Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who also had leaned back against him during the supper and had said, Lord, who is it that is going to betray you? When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, Lord, what about this man? Jesus said to him, If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!So the saying spread abroad among the brothers that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?This is the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true.Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.Cross-referencesLuke 5:4–8And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch. And Simon answered, Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets. And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.1 Peter 5:10And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

Click here to WATCH LIVE STREAM Worship Service on our Youtube Channel. That You May Believe, Part 14 John 6:22-71 · Many follow Jesus for the wrong reasons. John 6:22-25 On the next day the crowd that remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. 23 Other boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24 So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum, seeking Jesus. 25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” John 6:26-27 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” John 6:28-29 Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” · Jesus is the only bread of life. John 6:30-31 So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? 31 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'” John 6:32-34 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.” John 6:35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. John 6:36-40 But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. 40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” · Stop longing for what doesn't satisfy. John 6:41-42 So the Jews grumbled about him, because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” 42 They said, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven'?” John 6:43 Jesus answered them, “Do not grumble among yourselves. 44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. John 6:45-46 It is written in the Prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.' Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me— 46 not that anyone has seen the Father except he who is from God; he has seen the Father. John 6:47-49 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. John 6:50-51 This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” · The necessity of faith. John 6:52 The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” John 6:53-54 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. John 6:55-58 For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. 56 Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like the bread the fathers ate, and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.” · The responses we can give. John 6:59-60 Jesus said these things in the synagogue, as he taught at Capernaum. 60 When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” John 6:61-63 But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Do you take offense at this? 62 Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? 63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. John 6:64-66 But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) 65 And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.” 66 After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. John 6:67 So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” John 6:68-69 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, 69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” John 6:70-71 Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve? And yet one of you is a devil.” 71 He spoke of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the twelve, was going to betray him. James 1:16-18 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. Jeremiah 2:12-13 Be appalled, O heavens, at this; be shocked, be utterly desolate, declares the Lord, 13 for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water. Isaiah 55:1-3 “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. 2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. 3 Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David.” Respond | Connect | Next Steps The post John: That You May Believe appeared first on Charleston Baptist Church.

This passage reflects on Gospel of Matthew chapter 26, focusing on Jesus' arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane and shifting attention from personal failure to the pain caused by others' failures. While the scene includes betrayal by Judas and abandonment by the disciples, the message centers on the moment when Simon Peter impulsively attacks a servant named Malchus, cutting off his ear. Malchus represents how people are often unexpectedly and unjustly hurt by others—sometimes even by well-meaning individuals who believe they are doing right. The text emphasizes that such wounds are real, undeserved, and deeply painful, especially when no apology follows. However, it highlights Jesus' compassionate response in healing Malchus, illustrating that true healing—without lasting scars—comes only from Him. Ultimately, the message calls for spiritual maturity: just as individuals seek forgiveness for their own failures, they must also choose to forgive others, release bitterness, and allow Jesus to restore their wounds rather than holding onto them as defining grievances.

If your goal is to really understand the gospels, you’re going to have to do some fishing. Why? Simon Peter, Andrew, James and John were fishermen by trade. And other disciples may have been involved in the fishing occupation. But what was it like—at the time of Christ—fishing on the Sea of Galilee? Grab your rod and reel—tackle box, too. This week on The Land and the Book, we’re heading for the Sea of Galilee. Plus, we’ll update you on the ceasefire with Iran—and what lies ahead. So join us for The Land and the Book.Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/landandthebookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today’s Topics: 1) Gospel – John 6:1-15 – Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee. A large crowd followed Him, because they saw the signs He was performing on the sick. Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat down with His disciples.  The Jewish feast of Passover was near. When Jesus raised His Eyes and saw that a large crowd was coming to Him, He said to Philip, “Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?” He said this to test him, because He Himself knew what He was going to do. Philip answered Him, “Two hundred days’ wages worth of food would not be enough for each of them to have a little.” One of His disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to Him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what good are these for so many?” Jesus said, “Have the people recline.”  Now there was a great deal of grass in that place.  So the men reclined, about five thousand in number. Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to those who were reclining, and also as much of the fish as they wanted. When they had had their fill, He said to His disciples, “Gather the fragments left over, so that nothing will be wasted.” So they collected them, and filled twelve wicker baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves that had been more than they could eat. When the people saw the sign He had done, they said, “This is truly the Prophet, the One Who is to come into the world.”  Since Jesus knew that they were going to come and carry Him off to make Him king, He withdrew again to the mountain alone. Bishop Sheen quote of the day 2, 3, 4) Bill Donoghue, President of the Catholic League joins Terry to discuss his book: Christianity in the Crosshairs: Ruling Class and Radicals Find a Common Enemy https://tanbooks.com/products/books/christianity-in-the-crosshairs-ruling-class-and-radicals-find-a-common-enemy/?srsltid=AfmBOooJqkZlldE3Ghason-vxlmpnBayYWuv21Z4EexG-ZGMNS19wHqK

Gospel John 6:1-15 Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee. A large crowd followed him, because they saw the signs he was performing on the sick. Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. The Jewish feast of Passover was near. When Jesus raised his eyes and saw that a large crowd was coming to him, he said to Philip, "Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?" He said this to test him, because he himself knew what he was going to do. Philip answered him, "Two hundred days' wages worth of food would not be enough for each of them to have a little." One of his disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to him, "There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what good are these for so many?" Jesus said, "Have the people recline." Now there was a great deal of grass in that place. So the men reclined, about five thousand in number. Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to those who were reclining, and also as much of the fish as they wanted. When they had had their fill, he said to his disciples, "Gather the fragments left over, so that nothing will be wasted." So they collected them, and filled twelve wicker baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves that had been more than they could eat. When the people saw the sign he had done, they said, "This is truly the Prophet, the one who is to come into the world." Since Jesus knew that they were going to come and carry him off to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain alone. Reflection The God of the Old Testament demanded obedience. The God of the New Testament is not a demanding God, but a giving God, abundantly offering to us everything that we need, all the nourishment and encouragement we need by loving us without measure. And when the people saw the gifts that God was abundantly giving to the world, they wanted to make him king, as if He would then be worshiped as the one who gives this to them. And Jesus is saying, No it's the father that gives all of this to you. I'm the model. I am a human being filled with divinity, being able to take care and nourish those around me. That's who you will be. Not subjects to me, but receivers of the father that I offer you.  Closing Prayer Father, awaken our hearts to this gift that you have promised to us. That we will be the source of life for the people around us that we love, that we will have within us, whatever they need. Because you are the source of what is given. Keep us free of any egocentricity about the gifts that we have. Keep us in that model that you have so beautifully witnessed. We are servants. Servants filled with the power of God to heal, to save, to free. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

JOHN 18:1-27 - JESUS ARRESTED - BRIAN SUMNER - 2025JOHN 18:1-27 "When Jesus had spoken these words, He went out with His disciples over the Brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which He and His disciples entered. 2 And Judas, who betrayed Him, also knew the place; for Jesus often met there with His disciples. 3 Then Judas, having received a detachment of troops, and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons. 4 Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward and said to them, “Whom are you seeking?”5 They answered Him, “Jesus of Nazareth.”Jesus said to them, “I am He.” And Judas, who betrayed Him, also stood with them. 6 Now when He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground.7 Then He asked them again, “Whom are you seeking?”And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.”8 Jesus answered, “I have told you that I am He. Therefore, if you seek Me, let these go their way,” 9 that the saying might be fulfilled which He spoke, “Of those whom You gave Me I have lost none.”10 Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus.11 So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?”Before the High Priest12 Then the detachment of troops and the captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound Him. 13 And they led Him away to Annas first, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas who was high priest that year. 14 Now it was Caiaphas who advised the Jews that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.Peter Denies Jesus15 And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest. 16 But Peter stood at the door outside. Then the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to her who kept the door, and brought Peter in. 17 Then the servant girl who kept the door said to Peter, “You are not also one of this Man's disciples, are you?”He said, “I am not.”18 Now the servants and officers who had made a fire of coals stood there, for it was cold, and they warmed themselves. And Peter stood with them and warmed himself.Jesus Questioned by the High Priest19 The high priest then asked Jesus about His disciples and His doctrine.20 Jesus answered him, “I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where the Jews always meet, and in secret I have said nothing. 21 Why do you ask Me? Ask those who have heard Me what I said to them. Indeed they know what I said.”22 And when He had said these things, one of the officers who stood by struck[e] Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, “Do You answer the high priest like that?”23 Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why do you strike Me?”24 Then Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.Peter Denies Twice More25 Now Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. Therefore they said to him, “You are not also one of His disciples, are you?”He denied it and said, “I am not!”26 One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of him whose ear Peter cut off, said, “Did I not see you in the garden with Him?” 27 Peter then denied again; and immediately a rooster crowed."To support this channel and partner with Brian in Ministryhttps://www.briansumner.net/support/For more on Brianhttp://www.briansumner.nethttps://www.instagram.com/BRIANSUMNER/https://www.facebook.com/BRIANSupport the showSUPPORT THE SHOW

In our final reading from the Gospel of John, we hear about the crucifixion, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Fr. Mike points out the connection between the Paschal lamb and Jesus, and also the connection between the Last Supper and the Crucifixion. Today's readings are John 19-21 and Proverbs 6:16-22. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

Six children were bludgeoned and stabbed to death in their beds in a Churchill's Grove home while their mother slept in a Milwaukee motel room — unaware that her husband had already decided that if he couldn't have her, no one would have anything. The night of January 7th, 1978 would leave a wound in Rockford, Illinois that never fully closed. Neighbors still whisper about it. The house is still there. And according to at least one person who lived inside it — so is something else.FEATURED STORIES IN THIS EPISODE: The ax murders in Villisca, Iowa. The Defeo murders made famous by the Amityville Horror. Two crime scenes where no one heard a thing. The same thing happened in the charming little areaof Churchill's Grove… a story not so famous, but just as disturbing. (No One Heard a Thing – The Simon Peter Nelson Murders) *** Lily Dale… where Spiritualism is celebrated and practiced more than just the spooky months. Populated by hundreds of psychics and mediums, it has become a kind of tourist attraction for those seeking a psychic reading. (Welcome to Lily Dale) *** Bowden Road in Huntsville, Texas seems to have no end of paranormal activity and strange experiences – particularly the section of road that leads straight into Martha Chapel Cemetery. Bowden RCHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…00:00:00.000 = Show Open00:01:42.870 = Demons Road of Huntsville00:07:01.936 = No One Heard a Thing: The Simon Peter Nelson Murders ***00:28:44.395 = Welcome to Lily Dale ***00:37:34.853 = Show Close*** = Begins immediately after inserted ad breakLISTEN ON PODCAST APPS: Look for this podcast on YouTube Music, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music, Pandora, TuneIn Radio, and other apps. Get the full list of options here: https://pod.link/1078714736*No AI Voices Are Used In The Narration Of This Podcast*SOURCES and RESOURCES:“Demons Road of Huntsville” by Dana Goolsby for Texas Escapes: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/bdpt36m4“No One Heard a Thing – The Simon Peter Nelson Murders” by Stuart R. Wahlin, posted to Medium.com:https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/4key7czw“Welcome to Lily Dale” from the Hidden Haunts Paranormal Facebook page: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p8h3ca2(Over time links may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2026, Weird Darkness.Originally aired: January 17, 2023EPISODE BLOG PAGE (includes sources and full transcript): https://weirddarkness.com/SimonPeterNelson

JOHN 18:1-27 - JESUS ARRESTED - BRIAN SUMNER - 2025JOHN 18:1-27 "When Jesus had spoken these words, He went out with His disciples over the Brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which He and His disciples entered. 2 And Judas, who betrayed Him, also knew the place; for Jesus often met there with His disciples. 3 Then Judas, having received a detachment of troops, and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons. 4 Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward and said to them, “Whom are you seeking?”5 They answered Him, “Jesus of Nazareth.”Jesus said to them, “I am He.” And Judas, who betrayed Him, also stood with them. 6 Now when He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground.7 Then He asked them again, “Whom are you seeking?”And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.”8 Jesus answered, “I have told you that I am He. Therefore, if you seek Me, let these go their way,” 9 that the saying might be fulfilled which He spoke, “Of those whom You gave Me I have lost none.”10 Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus.11 So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?”Before the High Priest12 Then the detachment of troops and the captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound Him. 13 And they led Him away to Annas first, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas who was high priest that year. 14 Now it was Caiaphas who advised the Jews that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.Peter Denies Jesus15 And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest. 16 But Peter stood at the door outside. Then the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to her who kept the door, and brought Peter in. 17 Then the servant girl who kept the door said to Peter, “You are not also one of this Man's disciples, are you?”He said, “I am not.”18 Now the servants and officers who had made a fire of coals stood there, for it was cold, and they warmed themselves. And Peter stood with them and warmed himself.Jesus Questioned by the High Priest19 The high priest then asked Jesus about His disciples and His doctrine.20 Jesus answered him, “I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where the Jews always meet, and in secret I have said nothing. 21 Why do you ask Me? Ask those who have heard Me what I said to them. Indeed they know what I said.”22 And when He had said these things, one of the officers who stood by struck[e] Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, “Do You answer the high priest like that?”23 Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why do you strike Me?”24 Then Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.Peter Denies Twice More25 Now Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. Therefore they said to him, “You are not also one of His disciples, are you?”He denied it and said, “I am not!”26 One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of him whose ear Peter cut off, said, “Did I not see you in the garden with Him?” 27 Peter then denied again; and immediately a rooster crowed."To support this channel and partner with Brian in Ministryhttps://www.briansumner.net/support/For more on Brianhttp://www.briansumner.nethttps://www.instagram.com/BRIANSUMNER/https://www.facebook.com/BRIANSupport the showSUPPORT THE SHOW

In this final meditation of our Lenten series, I AM: A Lenten Journey with Jesus, we turn to a question Jesus asks His disciples in Matthew 16:13–17: “Who do you say that I am?” Throughout this series, we have listened to Jesus declare who He is. He is the Bread of Life.He is the Light of the World.He is the Gate.He is the Good Shepherd.He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.He is the True Vine.He is the Resurrection and the Life.And before Abraham was, He declares, “I AM.” But in this passage, Jesus turns the question toward His disciples—and toward us. “Who do you say that I am?” People around Jesus had many answers. Some believed He was a prophet. Others thought He was Elijah or John the Baptist. But Peter answers with clarity: “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” In this guided Scripture meditation, you are invited to reflect on this same question in your own life. Through several slow readings of Matthew 16:13–17, you will have space to consider who others say Jesus is—and who you believe Him to be. As we conclude this Lenten journey, we are reminded that knowing who Jesus truly is changes everything. He is the Messiah, the Son of the living God, the One who reveals the Father and invites us into life with Him. Here are some additional helpful links: Download your FREE Lent Companion Journal Here I AM: A Lenten Journey with Jesus This journal includes:• Each week’s Scripture passage• Reflection prompts from the meditations• Space to journal, pray, and notice what God is revealing Here are some additional helpful links: Learn more about Jodie:http://www.jodieniznik.com Follow on Instagram:@jodieniznik Follow on Facebook:@JodieGNiznik Join the Monday email newsletter for new meditations, HERE Explore other faith-centered podcasts from LifeAudio: https://www.lifeaudio.com Today’s Scripture Matthew 16:13-17 13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” 14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Today’s Topics: 1, 2, 3, 4) Gospel – John 21:1-14 – Jesus revealed Himself again to His disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. He revealed Himself in this way. Together were Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, Zebedee’s sons, and two others of His disciples. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We also will come with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. When it was already dawn, Jesus was standing on the shore; but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, have you caught anything to eat?” They answered Him, “No.” So He said to them, “Cast the net over the right side of the boat and you will find something.” So they cast it, and were not able to pull it in because of the number of fish. So the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord.” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he tucked in his garment, for he was lightly clad, and jumped into the sea. The other disciples came in the boat, for they were not far from shore, only about a hundred yards, dragging the net with the fish. When they climbed out on shore, they saw a charcoal fire with fish on it and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you just caught.” So Simon Peter went over and dragged the net ashore full of one hundred fifty-three large fish. Even though there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come, have breakfast.” And none of the disciples dared to ask Him, “Who are You?” because they realized it was the Lord. Jesus came over and took the bread and gave it to them, and in like manner the fish. This was now the third time Jesus was revealed to His disciples after being raised from the dead. Bishop Sheen quote of the day

Read OnlineSimon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We also will come with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. When it was already dawn, Jesus was standing on the shore; but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, have you caught anything to eat?” They answered him, “No.” So he said to them, “Cast the net over the right side of the boat and you will find something.” So they cast it, and were not able to pull it in because of the number of fish. John 21:3–6In three of His resurrection appearances, Jesus did not immediately reveal His true presence to His disciples. He wanted to teach them—and us—important lessons on how we are to encounter Him. In each of these appearances, the same thing happened: Those to whom Jesus appeared did not recognize Him at first. Only after some interaction with Him were their eyes opened to discern that it was the Lord.The first of these encounters is recorded in John 20:11–18, when Mary Magdalene sat outside Jesus' empty tomb, weeping at the thought that His body had been stolen. She remained there with profound devotion and love, revealing a model for our prayer. Only when Jesus called Mary by name did she recognize Him. This personal call opens her eyes, reminding us of the importance of a personal relationship with Christ. In imitation of Mary's deep love and steadfast devotion, we are invited to remain vigilant in prayer, ready to hear Him call us by name.The second instance is in Luke 24:13-35, when two disciples journeying to Emmaus are joined by Jesus, though “their eyes were kept from recognizing Him.” As they walked, Jesus explained everything in the Scriptures that pointed to His messianic mission. This teaches us that we, too, encounter the Lord in the Word of God. By reading, pondering, and praying over Scripture, we open ourselves to meeting Jesus. Once the disciples understood the Scriptures, Jesus broke bread with them, and they recognized Him, but He vanished from their sight. Jesus' disappearance at that moment reveals a profound truth: He remains truly present in the Eucharist, even though we do not physically see Him.Finally, in today's Gospel passage from John 21:1–14, the disciples recognize Jesus only after the miraculous catch of fish. Having fished all night without success, they obey when Jesus tells them from the shore to “Cast the net over the right side of the boat,” resulting in an overwhelming catch. This reminds us of the moment when Jesus first called Simon Peter and Andrew, saying, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19). Here, Jesus reveals to the Apostles—and to us—that we will encounter Him in our apostolic works when done at His command. When we align our actions with His will, He blesses them, yielding an abundance of spiritual fruit. Thus, our apostolic efforts are another way in which the Risen Lord is present with us, working through us to draw souls to Himself. Reflect today on the longing of Jesus' disciples to encounter His resurrected presence. Ponder the lessons He imparted by initially concealing His presence, then revealing Himself. Resolve to seek the living and resurrected Lord in your life. Through love and devotion, meet Him in prayer, where He calls you by name. In the Word of God and the Eucharist, recognize Him in your midst. And in fidelity to His guiding hand in your apostolic work, see His superabundant fruitfulness as a sign of His presence, drawing many souls to Himself through you. Jesus is not dead; He is alive and desires to continue appearing to us in hidden and mysterious ways. Anticipate His ongoing resurrection appearances in your life, knowing that He is always with you when you remain faithful, in imitation of these holy disciples. My ever-present Lord, You are always attentive to us, Your children, and never abandon us. You call each of us by name, come to us through Your Word and Sacraments, and direct our apostolic works. Help me to discern Your presence in my life, discovering You every day in the ways You desire to be present to me. Jesus, I trust in You.Source: Free RSS feed from catholic-daily-reflections.com — Copyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without written permission.

Easter is not only a time to reflect on what happened to Jesus, but what can happen to you. This Easter 2026, Pastor Greg Laurie shares a message for anyone who has failed, fallen, or feels like they've gone too far. From John 21, we look at Simon Peter, who denied Jesus, yet was personally restored by Him. — Become a Harvest Partner today and join us in knowing God and making Him known through media and large-scale evangelism, our mission of over 30 years. Explore more resources from Pastor Greg Laurie, including daily devotionals and blogs, designed to answer your spiritual questions and equip you to walk closely with Christ.Support the show: https://bit.ly/anbsupportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fr. Mike unpacks the signs of the kingdom of God that Christ performed while on Earth. These signs of the kingdom are a way for us to see that Jesus is not just “another prophet” but is, in fact, the Son of God. Fr. Mike reminds us that these miracles and signs can strengthen the faith, but they can also be opportunities for “offense.” We also examine the authority that Christ entrusts to St. Peter, and his unique role within the college of apostles, just like the unique role the Holy Father has within the Church today. Today's readings are Catechism paragraphs 547-553. This episode has been found to be in conformity with the Catechism by the Institute on the Catechism, under the Subcommittee on the Catechism, USCCB. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/ciy Please note: The Catechism of the Catholic Church contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.