It is good to share with you again this month. I hope you are encouraged as you read the article on Peter. Too often Satan wants us to think we are worthless as a laborer for God’s Kingdom as we struggle in this life. Also I will have a complete leadership study on the life of Peter basically ready to put on HCY’s website (www.myhcy.com) so that you can copy and paste it to use for your teachings. The previous TITUS EMAILS are also on Mike’s Blog for you to utilize. Blessing, Mike.
GOD’S AMAZING GRACE FOR PETER
Have you ever gotten to the point where you wanted to quit doing ministry or where you felt what you did, that God could never use you again? There are situations that definitely dictate you step out of ministry at least for a time. We are not talking about those times.
After denying Jesus, Peter must have figured that his ministry days were over. He had adamantly denied that he was going to deny Jesus, even willing to die for Jesus. Yet Jesus let Peter know that three times Peter would deny Jesus (Matthew 26:31-35). Later in the same chapter (verses 69-75), Peter did just as predicted. All four gospels share this story. In Luke 22:55-62, we read that Jesus looked straight at Peter after the third denial.
Ever get “the look” from someone when they are angry at or disappointed in you? Yet the eyes of Jesus had to be a look of compassion and love. It pierced Peter’s heart though, as he wept bitterly. He probably thought that serving Jesus was over. What he did could never be erased. I wonder if as he thought about denying Jesus, the conversations about the Heavenly Father’s forgiveness raced through his mind. Yet, if he was thinking like the way most of us would after grieving God, those thoughts were, “This was the end”.
Jesus was aware of Peter’s mental state even after the resurrection. It is interesting that when the women went to the tomb and were told to tell the disciples (Mark 16:7) to go into
Peter’s name is not mentioned again until Jesus’ encounter at the
Jesus rebuilt Peter after a devastating blow to Peter’s emotional and spiritual state. Peter screwed up, made one of the worse decisions in his life by denying Jesus, but it was not the end for Peter. There was hope and forgiven for Peter and he responded well.
How have we or how do we respond after a devastating blow in our lives (most of the time we brought it upon ourselves)? There is hope and forgiveness. Retribution and reconciliation may need to take place, but there is hope.
How do we keep ourselves from getting into situations where we grieve God or do something we regret? There is no easy formula. We need to keep ourselves spiritually alert as spiritual leaders to potential danger signs or situations. We need to have people to whom we are aggressively accountable. We cannot let up on obedience to the Word of God nor the leading of the Holy Spirit. Stay out of compromising situations and keep schedules and priorities in our lives that will not cause spiritual and physical fatigue or dullness. We need to be men and women of prayer and have others praying for us. The spiritual battle is raging and Satan is looking for opportunities to devour you and me. Yet our God has given us the power and spiritual tools to stay on the cutting edge spiritually.
ILLUSTRATION
PUZZLE ILLUSTRATION
TAKE A PUZZLE AND GIVE EACH PARTICIPANT A PUZZLE PIECE. YOU MAY HAVE TO BEGIN THE PUZZLE BY PUTTING SOME OF THE PIECES TOGETHER BECAUSE THERE ARE MORE PIECES THAN PARTICIPANTS. LET THE PARTICIPANTS GATHER AROUND THE PARTICIALLY STARTED PUZZLE AND WATCH THE INTERACTIONS. EVENTUALLY OFFER THEM THE COVER OF THE BOX TO SEE WHAT PICTURE THEY ARE PUTTING TOGETHER. YOU MAY NEED TO PUT A TIME LIMIT ON THIS EXERCISE. WHEN YOU ARE FINISHED, TALK ABOUT HOW PUTTING THE PUZZLE TOGETHER IS LIKE THE BODY OF CHRIST WORKING TOGETHER.
SOME LESSONS FROM THE PUZZLE
ON THE BODY OF CHRIST
1. Each part is important, no matter the piece size
2. Each part has a specific place
3. You need to work together to accomplish the goal (unity),has to be shown
4. Puzzle is not complete if one piece is missing
5. Working towards a common goal
6. Group needs the box cover (Bible/Holy Spirit) to see where pieces fit.
7. Finished what they started – Commitment – 1 Cor. 9:24-27, Phil. 4
8. Each one had parts and need to share their piece(s) in order for others
to know who worked with who (all must be part of the process) –
communication
9. Help one another to find our place – Wisdom
10. Joy resulted when a piece fit, everyone rejoices
11. Certain people help us within the group. Some naturally take lead roles.
Someone who knows the Word of God to help direct and I instruct/empower people
12. Include the Whole body – people from different churches. There is
one body
13. Encourage one another (love) to find where their piece fits (as you
discover your gifts. Some discomfort results when you are not
finding where you fit).
14. One part of the picture does not give you the right prospective
15. We can be so busy doing our work that we forget or keep out
those who have a piece but can’t be included in offering their piece
because we are doing too much
16. Some are quick, some slow and there are some people who get
angry at others because of their speed. Those who are slower
may be envious of the quicker ones.
17. Some need to back off to let others get involved
18. Some use the gift only to be recognized
19. Some know where to fit after having tried
20. Feel discouraged and criticism and individualism when puzzle doesn’t
fit together
21. Some not saved so picture is not complete. Go after them.
22. Body made up of different nations
23. Groups can work separately but need to come together
24. Shapes are different as the gifts differ.
25. Need to ask questions of those who have not found their place yet.
For example, what are you good at and what do you like to do or is exciting to you? (What is the shape and color(s) of your piece?)
YOUTH MINISTRY INSIGHT
Have you noticed the number of put downs people give out to others? Some are not too offensive, while others are very demeaning (“You, Stupid…”, “What a jerk!”, “How dumb can you be?!”). We hear them from basically every one, no matter if the person is a Christian or not. There are some who will even tear down themselves on a regular basis. It has certainly become a real part of our culture. Often the tear downs focus around teachers, parents and people we do not get along with.
I wonder what someone who is not a Christian thinks when he or she hears a Christian tears or puts down someone. If they heard anything about Christianity, that Christians are to love others, that is totally the opposite of love. Jesus talked about what was in the heart of a person would come out (Matthew
Did your mom ever say to you that if you do not have anything good to say about someone, do not say it? Ephesians
I had a friend growing up who had a nickname of one of Mickey Mouse’s friends. For some reason a bunch of older guys gave this nickname to my friend and it stuck. Every time he heard that nickname it bothered him. Over time his hearing of it dulled him, in that, it did not phase him as much as it first did. Yet one time I used that nickname, calling to him and you could see his face drop right before my eyes. It still hurt after several years of being called that demeaning nickname.
Maybe you have been the recipient of a demeaning nickname or the brunt of put downs by friends, parents or classmates. It certainly can hurt every time a put down is fired your way. It tears at your deepest, inner self, destroying your image of yourself. Words hurt and they can hurt terribly.
If you have a personal faith in Jesus, knowing that He has forgiven you of your sins, part of the difference between Christians and people who are not Christians has to be our speech. It needs to be uplifting, truthful and loving (Colossians 4:6). It is way too easy to be part of the crowd and be demeaning of others. It takes guts to use language that encourages and shows love the way Jesus would talk to others. Find another Christian or two and make an agreement to be accountable to each other to keep each other being positive in your speech. It can be done. As a Christian we have the Holy Spirit in us who is willing to guide us in everything if we let Him.
SCRIPTURE-BASED PRAYERS
To Have Your People Pray For You and Other Pastors
- Lord, I stand against the enemies of my pastor’s prayer life: “busy-ness” (Acts 6:2-4), compulsions, compromise (Acts 5), unnecessary phone calls, chronic counselees, fatigue, sleepiness (Mt. 26:41), appetites, television, late meetings, over-commitments, and doubt. Let nothing hinder pastor’s time with You. Let my pastor rise up to seek You (Mk.1:35), pray with other pastors (Acts
- Bless my pastor with rich study time (Acts6:4, 2 Tim.
QUOTES ON GRACE
“To trust self effort to obtain divine favor is to undermine the entire meaning of grace. In hell there will be no grace. Hell will be sin’s consequences poured out without a tinge of grace to cushion the blows.” Dan DeHaan, The God You Can Know
“The deeper we grow in the Spirit of Jesus Christ, the poorer we become – the more we realize that everything in life is a gift. The tenor of our lives becomes one of humble and joyful thanksgiving. Awareness of our poverty and ineptitude causes us to rejoice in the gift of being called out of darkness into wondrous light and translated into the
“A saint is not someone who is good, but who experiences the goodness of God.” Thomas Merton
“This is the mystery of the riches of divine grace for sinners; for by a wonderful exchange our sins are now not ours but Christ’s, and Christ’s righteousness is not Christ’s but ours.” Martin Luther
“I can do nothing without the help of God, and that from moment to moment; for when, so long as we are on the earth, is there a single instant in which we can say we are safe from temptation or secure from sin?” Athanasius, early church father
