OFFeR FoRGiVNeSS - - - John 21 : 1-14

Jesus and the Miraculous Catch of Fish

1Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Tiberias. It happened this way: 2Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. 3"I'm going out to fish," Simon Peter told them, and they said, "We'll go with you." So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

4Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.

5He called out to them, "Friends, haven't you any fish?"
"No," they answered.

6He said, "Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some." When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.

7Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, "It is the Lord," he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. 8The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. 9When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.

10Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish you have just caught."

11Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. 12Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." None of the disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord. 13Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.

I used this week's bible study for my quiet time today. This passage, like Joe said, a scene right out of a movie. This scene depicted in this passage is so beautiful it just makes me so warm on the inside <3.

After Jesus has risen from the dead and disappeared from the earth, his disciples go back to their daily lives as fishermen. They are unlucky and come back with no fish. But the next day, a man was with them when they were fishing. The man told them to cast down their nets on the other side and with that, they caught a bountiful amount of fish. Then they ate breakfast with the man.

What does this have to do with forgiveness? Forgiving someone is probably one of the hardest things to accomplish in a lifetime. Depending on how badly the person wronged you probably determines the amount of time you would give them until you at most considered reconciling with them. I believe that this is one of the single most terrible downfalls of man. If you think about Jesus not forgiving mankind for mercilessly murdering Him on the cross, things wouldn't be too cool right now.

But in this passage, Jesus steps down from His throne again to see the men that has denied Him. This is like the prodigal son but even better!

I see two pictures in this passage. When the disciples were without Jesus, they were unable to do anything. But when Jesus was with them, they were able to catch fish like before. Basically, we need to be in Jesus and what he stands for. Even if we wrong Him, do not believe that He will not love us again. I for one has done stuff that I'm not proud of, but I pray and ask for forgiveness. Praise the Lord for being so merciful!

Forgive like Jesus forgave us and let this church grow and the fish be plentiful.

Amen.

OuR LiViNG StoNE - - - 1 Peter 2 : 1-8

1Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. 2Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

The Living Stone and a Chosen People

4As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him— 5you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6For in Scripture it says:

"See, I lay a stone in Zion,
a chosen and precious cornerstone,
and the one who trusts in him
will never be put to shame."
7Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,
"The stone the builders rejected
has become the capstone," 8and,
"A stone that causes men to stumble
and a rock that makes them fall."

They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for.

Our Living Stone, our Living Rock, our Solid Ground, our Cornerstone. Our Jesus.

This passage really got me thinking about each other. Jesus is indeed our Cornerstone (no pun intended). He is the center of all operations and His 13 leaders: Joe, Christie, Mark, Sharon, Justin, Gloria, Jane, Rob, Angeline, Paul, David, Robin, and I, are sitting at His long table with Him sitting gloriously in plain view of everyone. At the head of the table, Jesus explains to us God's will and what He has in store for Cornerstone, our fellowship here at Purdue...

Peter explains that, as followers of Christ, we are also considered living stones. Although we are not comparable to a cornerstone such as Jesus, we do know the Truth and have the heart of a follower of Christ. We as these living stones, must build the foundation that is Cornerstone. And that is when we can really bring everyone together to build this 'spiritual house' even bigger.

The world sucks and temptation is everywhere. It is so easy to be lazy and forget all responsibilities, but if we remain true to each other and to Him, we might just be able to build this church up. "[We] also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ..."

If we, as living rocks, continue to build Cornerstone up with Jesus as our main Cornerstone...

...we can do it.

It started with 1 then 13 then ... = Cornerstone.

Keep up the good works guys.

Amen.

Be HoLY - - - 1 Peter 1 : 13-25

13Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. 14As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."

17Since you call on a Father who judges each man's work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear. 18For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, 19but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 21Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.

22Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. 23For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. 24For,

"All men are like grass,
and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;
the grass withers and the flowers fall,
25but the word of the Lord stands forever."And this is the word that was preached to you.

Sorry Father, but the Purdue Duke game was on. I know, no buts.

This passage reminds Jesus' followers to be holy. This section basically defines what holy is. To be holy is: to be self controlled, fully obedient like children, and fully dependent on Jesus. Holy is also is the definition of Jesus Himself whom we attempt to be more and more like Him everyday, which is pretty much impossible. But why try when we know that we will never be like Jesus? Because verse 7 states that "[God] judges each man's work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear." God sees each man's work as its own and does not favor one man or woman over another. He sees that you study hard every Saturday night when he sees me play Starcraft. He sees that you pray a few times a day, he sees me pray only before meals and before I sleep. God knows and sees all. The things that we do will reflect on judgment day so we... I better watch myself.

The thing that sticks out the most in this passage is the repetition of our One and only, Jesus. Through His 'precious blood', this 'lamb withouth blemish or defect' has saved us (for our sake in verse 20). Salvation that we do not deserve, was gifted to us.

Amen.

LiViNG HoPE - - - 1 Peter 1 : 1-12

1Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To God's elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, 2who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood:
Grace and peace be yours in abundance.

Praise to God for a Living Hope

3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, 5who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

10Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, 11trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. 12It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.

Feeling down? Grab 1 Peter 1:1-12.

This passage speaks hope into even the bleakest of bleak: me. I am skating on thin ice as it comes down to these last 3 weeks of the semester. I have 5 culmulative finals that affect my grade either way. Scary huh?

But this passage, mere words spoken about our Lord Jesus Christ helped brighten up my night. "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!" indeed.

Verse 3 starts off by promising us a new hope through Jesus Christ. Verse 4 promises an inheritance in Heaven that can never disappear. Verse 5 promises us God's protection until the end of our days.

Sometimes life feels so hopeless. I am not the smartest of people and tend to have a hard time expressing myself. School is getting repetitive and it is really difficult at times to see through the benefits of all of this so called suffering. The list of complains go on, but as i ponder more and more about this, I can't help but to remember the Living Hope that I have trusted my life to.

Because Jesus has died on the cross for us, we are already promised salvation if we believe. Yet by acting this way, am I at fault for not believing that Jesus has died for me?

Verse 7 - "These have come so that your faith - of greater worth than gold... may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed." We have to remain faithful and remember all we have is His and all He has has been given to us; for we are truly recieving salvation, the gift of God.

Amen

Thanksgiving

THaNkSGiViNG - - - 1 Corinthians 1 : 4-9

4I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. 5For in him you have been enriched in every way—in all your speaking and in all your knowledge— 6because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you. 7Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. 8He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.

This was the passage that I used during the first time I had to share for Wednesday night prayer meeting at Purdue.

I've noticed in my own prayers that I've grown to be more and more selfish. Instead of praying for others or even thanking God, I have reared to only praying for myself and what I need for the next day. Every so often we forget that prayer is just like talking to a fellow friend. If all I did was complain to you whenever we met face to face, I am pretty sure there would be no growth in the relationship.

But take time to acknowledge our Lord, in thanksgiving.

Verse 4 thanks Jesus Christ for saving our souls from Hell. Verse 5 tells of the wisdom entrusted in us through the change that has been brought forth through Christ and Christ alone. Our life's story, testimony and weapon is a gift from God. He promises us spiritual gifts and strength til the end.

Most of all, God, who called us into fellowship through His Son, will remain faithful.

God doesn't need us. But how refreshing is it to know that He wants us!

Thanksgiving has just ended. Friends and family saying their good byes. Everyone putting on their jackets and coats and walking out the door. As the breeze blows in you ponder...

...Did Thanksgiving really end? We should not eat turkey and stuff ourselves like pigs everyday, but could we not be thankful everyday? God has done so much in our lives and will continue to do so as our days go on. Whats wrong with Thanksgiving everyday? So lets be thankful for all God's been doing in our lives, in MY life!

Amen