Apostles

Heart Condition – Peter v Judas

Apr 26 2018

Heart Condition – Peter v Judas

(audio sermon by Gary Sampson)

Peter denied Jesus, Judas kissed him. Who did better? Actions don’t always reveal heart. But heart determines destiny. So guard your heart

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Speakers notes follow – More

Feed My Sheep

Nov 29 2014

Feed My Sheep

Peter had a business; he owned a fishing boat, some nets, and was obviously good at what he did. So we can only wonder what he thought when Jesus said to he and Andrew, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men” (Mt 4:19). I’m sure he knew Jesus was a rabbi, but others were saying he could be the Messiah and he probably decided he would follow to see if he was as special as others thought.
Later Peter became totally convinced that Jesus was the Messiah. When Jesus asked his disciples who they thought he was Peter said “You are the Christ (Messiah), the Son of the Living God” (Mt 16:16). And Jesus said “This was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.”
This revelation was the first step in Peter becoming a ‘fisher of men.’ More

The Disciple Jesus Loved

Aug 21 2014

The Disciple Jesus Loved

Throughout his gospel John calls himself ‘The disciple Jesus loved.’ Did John think Jesus favoured him above the others? I think not. Did John think he was closer to Jesus than the others? Yes, I think it’s likely that he considered himself to be the closest of the disciples. I will give some evidence for that below. But I don’t think that was the main reason for the description. I think the description was primarily John’s way of telling the world that he experienced the raw love of Jesus and it transformed him.
Evidence suggests that when John first began to follow Jesus he was not the most loving individual. In fact Jesus referred to John and his brother James as the ‘Sons of Thunder’ (Mark 3:17). And we don’t have to look far to know why. More

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