Sermons, Articles, and Other Things

No doubt, this proverb has wide applications. Within the stories of the Bible, we have the account of the friendship of David and Jonathan, of Peter and John, of Paul and Timothy. In our own church tradition, there is the well-known friendship between McCheyne and Andrew Bonar. No doubt we have our own friends. What are the things that define friendship? We could suggest length, intensity, loyalty, comfortableness, interest in, willingness to protect, emotional connection. No doubt there are many more features. The Bible mentions one surprising friendship, and it is God who speaks about it several hundred years after the friendship occurred. He mentions it through the prophet Isaiah in one of his messages to the people of Judah: ‘But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, the offspring of Abraham, my friend’ (Isa. 41:8). Of course, it is possible to read the statement as suggesting that Abraham was still God’s friend in heaven. It could be that the aspects of friendship se...

  The effects of Peter’s sermon about Jesus were immediate, identical, and intense as far as his listeners were concerned, which is a reminder about true evangelism. Here were unlikely converts because a few weeks ago they had shown their hostility to Jesus by urging Pilate to crucify him. It is all down to the power of the Spirit in their hearts.   The immediate impact is wonderful. We long to see this response when the gospel is preached. Unlikely people, unexpected people, pleading to know more about salvation, desperate to find a remedy for who they are and what they have done as sinners.   Cut to the heart This is a graphic phrase, it means something like a stabbing experience. The phrase shows depth of penetration, that the weapon pierces through different layers within each personal. The weapon Peter uses is the gospel, and the layers are the person’s mind, affections and will. What is described here is conviction of sin. Conviction of sin is an aspect of t...

In one of his letters, Peter says to his readers that they should ‘always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you’ (1 Pet. 3:15). It is likely that Peter has a court case in mind as we can see from the word ‘defense’. But they had to have an answer ready.   Of course, Peter knew it was not only in a courtroom that such a request could come. After all, Jesus on one occasion asked his disciples to give their understanding of who he was, and Peter replied by saying that he believed that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God.   It was not only his friendly Master who could ask such questions to Peter. As we know, he was asked about Jesus round the fire in the high priest’s house by some servants, and there announced that he knew nothing about Jesus. That was a sad day for Peter, but he was restored by the Master he denied.   Peter also had to answer a question on the Day of Pentecost: ‘And all were amaz...

The occasion of this incident is well-known. It occurred during the last evening of Jesus’ life. The surprising aspect of John’s account is his lack of reference to the commencement of the Lord’s Supper by Jesus, the detail that is stressed in the other Gospels. And the incident of the foot-washing is not mentioned in the other Gospels.   The event for them Jesus had looked forward to this occasion because he knew that it would be the last Passover he would share with his disciples. He loved being with them on all occasions, but he had felt this occasion very strongly. This time together in the Upper Room would involve instruction for them as Jesus spoke to them about the coming of the Holy Spirit. It would also be a time of stark warnings about their lack of loyalty, especially concerning Peter. But it would also be an occasion of much symbolic action, especially with the institution of the Lord’s Supper, but also with the washing of the disciples’ feet.   It is likely ...