The Daily Discipleship Podcast

The exchange between Jesus and Peter in John 21 provides several insights into how we are called to follow Jesus and shepherd people. 

Post-resurrection, Jesus makes the reality of his resurrection clear as He appears to his disciples numerous times and does things that cause them to remember the greatness of His miraculous abilities.

We have the resurrection power that raised Jesus from the dead available to us, at work within us, to enable us to live the Christ-life.  Let's live in His power!

The Resurrection of Jesus authenticated everything he did and everything he said.  The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is alive and at work in the believer's life today.  Let's choose to live in His resurrected power!

In Christ, we are given new life, but a part of that new life involves living a crucified life, crucifying sin and hindrances, and pressing on to live in Christ-likeness. 

While Jesus paid the price of our sins and has forever brought redemption to those who trust in Him, we are also called to follow His example and become crucified to ourselves.  Living the crucified life leads to a joyful, abundant Christian life. 

Being a leader might often appear to a luxurious position, but being a leader also comes with plenty of suffering that rarely gets talked about.  For Jesus to accomplish His mission, suffering was a necessary part. 

Great leadership not only knows when to take charge, it also knows when to submit to the direction of others or another.  Check Jesus' model in submitting to the will of the Father.

Jesus both modeled and instructed a new way of leadership called Servant-Leadership.

In this episode, we will preview Passion Week with the help of my friend and mentor, Steve Hudson, via the video produced in conjunction with ShiftM2M, Global Youth Initiative (now called Concentric Global), and the Jesus Film. 

Before we press into the events of Holy Week, we are pausing to review Jesus' purpose and plan, reminding us that we are Jesus' strategy, Jesus' Sequel.

As Jesus makes His final entrance in Jerusalem, we see both His focus on His Mission and His Passion for the Father's glory on full display.  What can we learn from Jesus?

We are accountable for how we use what we have been given.  The rewards for good stewardship are remarkable, and the results of poor stewardship are very consequential. 

Jesus' call was clear: leadership needs to be authentic and unhypocritical. 

Today, we see several lessons in the instructions to and experiences of the sent disciples. We also saw that a person may be led to be a person of peace and host evangelistic Bible studies in their home.

As the movement expands, more leaders are needed, and more leaders are required to continue to expand.  What does Jesus do to meet this need?

Not only did Jesus make an incredible declaration that He is the light of the world, He also proved by bringing light into the life of a man who had never seen anything.  This solitary act created quite a stir.  Sometimes, God uses suffering to work phenomenal purposes in our lives. 

Jesus demonstrated extraordinary compassion to a woman caught in adultery, and He also caused her accusers to go away in shame (they were also guilty of sin).  Jesus forgave her, but also challenged her with accountability to go and leave her life of sin.  How do we react to others who are blatantly sinful?  What about our own sin?

Leaders are comfortable in their own skin.  They know their own gifts, their abilities, and their calling.  They hold steady in living-out who they are called to be. This was perfectly modeled by Jesus.

Sometimes, people complain about the inner circles of leaders in a church's life, but even that was modeled by Jesus. Those tasked with the most responsibility for leadership will also give a greater account. 

The disciples had witnessed Jesus in many scenarios. Still, on this outing, Jesus takes His disciples right into Satan's domain in Caesarea Philippi and proclaims that, even there, He will build His Church. 

Jesus is reinforcing the faith of His disciples by performing incredible miracles right in front of them, from feeding thousands with 2 fish and 5 loaves to walking on water and calming the sea.  He is trying to bolster our faith as well.  Will we trust Him daily?

Jesus, fresh off the news of John's beheading, needs some time to grieve, but the crowds are relentless in their pursuit of Him.  What does He do?  How does He respond? The outcome is one of His biggest miracles, and there are key lessons for us!

After months of modeling and explaining, Jesus now sends His upcoming leaders out ON THEIR OWN.  It was the beginning of unfolding His operative plan for the next few millennia. It is a plan that includes you and me.

Jesus was exhausted from ministry. So exhausted that He slept through a storm.  The situation will produce another incredible lesson on faith.