Second Stage Ministries Podcast

Over the last several weeks, we have looked at majority of the Gospel of John (chapters 13-20). So in this episode we are going to look at what happens in John 21. As John 21 begins, the disciples have already seen the resurrected Jesus twice. They saw Him once without Thomas and then Jesus came back when Thomas was there. Now they are out fishing and Jesus is going to visit them for a third time and something amazing happens.

Scars tell stories. In the episode we see how the scars of Jesus tell an amazing story.

Over the last 9 weeks, we have entered into the Last Night With Jesus. We have spent time looking at John 13-17 which accounts the last night Jesus had with His disciples. We have entered into the teaching and encouragement of Jesus that He presented to His disciples that night. We entered confusing space and experienced the passionate teaching of Jesus along with them. Now, the events of Good Friday are on the horizon. The disciples had no clue what was to come for their friend Jesus. They had no clue what was to come for them as the events of the day unfolded. Once again, let’s enter into the moment with the disciples. Let’s enter into the events of Good Friday.

Jesus often prayed. He prayed in the morning. He prayed in the evening. He prayed in the afternoon. He prayed in the late hours of the night. It is the late-night prayer that we are going to be looking at in this post. As I have said throughout this series, Jesus is in His final hours here. These final teachings are arguably the best Jesus did. Not that all the others were bad, but these are His final ones and Jesus knows it. He has taught about prayer and He has been seen praying. But there are good things we can see from this late-night prayer of Jesus. With this prayer of Jesus, we get to see the heart of Jesus [1] You can check that series out here - in either the blog form or the podcast form. https://www.thepointoffocus.com [2] “Talking to Jesus” - Elevation Worship [3] “Genuine prayer often reveals a person’s innermost being. John 17 is an unique opportunity to see the nature and heart of Jesus.” - Enduring Word - https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/john-17/amp/ [4] Where some of the verses are p

The night is coming to close. Jesus knows the events to come and they are close. Jesus has one final thing to say to His disciples as the conversation and the night is coming to an end. Jesus does say a few more things to His disciples after this moment, but this is the final words of His last teaching to them. This final part of the conversation starts like this:

we continue on in this series, we once again see Jesus talk about the Holy Spirit. This is the third time we see Jesus talk about the Holy Spirit in this last conversation with His disciples. The other times Jesus mentioned the Holy Spirit coming to them were when He talks about going away. He tells them that while His going away is sad, He has to go so the Spirit will come to them. I think that this is a good opportunity to talk a little bit about the Holy Spirit. [1] John 14:15-26, 15:26-27, 16:5-15 [2] John 16:7 [3] For further reading on the Holy Spirit - https://www.gotquestions.org/is-the-Holy-Spirit-God.html [4] “The Spirit does not merely accuse men of sin, he brings to them an inescapable sense of guilt so that they realize their shame and helplessness before God.” (Tenney) - Enduring Word - https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/john-16/amp/ [5] It is unbelief, the rejection of Jesus, which ultimately proves one to be guilty. The Holy Spirit will tell the world of the importance of trusting i

Over the last week I have been looking at this next part of the conversation between Jesus and His disciples. I have been looking and praying as to what Jesus might be saying to us through His words.

In this next part of the conversation, we see Jesus speak of two sources for us to remain. We also see the seventh “I Am” statement. This is a passage about connection. Jesus says that He is the vine and we (the disciples and you and me) are the branches that are connected to vine. Let’s dive in.  [1] At this point, Jesus and His disciples left the table and slowly made their way toward the Garden of Gethsemane. It is clear they did not immediately leave (John 18:1), but here began to. i. “Anyone who has tried to get a group of a dozen or so to leave a particular place at a particular time will appreciate that it usually takes more than one brief exhortation to accomplish this.” (Morris) ii. “Probably the rest of the discourse, and the prayer, chapter 17, were delivered when now all were standing ready to depart.” (Alford) iii. “Whether chapters 15-17 were spoken en route to Gethsemane or whether he and the disciples lingered while he finished the discussion is not plain.” (Tenney) - Enduring Word - https://e

What I love about all of the words that Jesus said to His disciples is that they are for us as well. I know that I have said that a lot and by now it should be understood. But when we are looking at a conversation in the Bible that is for a group of people we can sometimes forget that the words we are reading are not just for them they are for us too! I know it happens to me. I can read some of the words of Jesus and think “well, that’s nice of Jesus to say that to His disciples”. Jesus isn’t just talking to them. He’s talking to us too! Jesus wants us to accept His gift of real peace.  [1] a. Jesus explained why He was the only way to God; because He was and is the perfect representation of God. To know Jesus is to know God. b. The disciples certainly had learned and known much about God in their three years of apprenticeship under Jesus. Yet Jesus understood that since they had not yet seen the full revelation of God’s love at the cross and His power at the resurrection, there was a sense in which they

EPISODE DETAILS: Jesus didn’t want to upset the disciples with what He had said, but He could tell they were upset. When Jesus told them not to let their hearts be troubled, He was telling them that they could ease their hearts and that things were ok. Jesus didn’t want them to be upset either. So He went to words of comfort for His disciples. SERIES DETAILS: In this series, we are going to be looking at the last night Jesus spent with His disciples. Jesus spent the last few hours He had with His disciples to teach them and give them some words of encouragement. In less than 24 hours Jesus would be arrested and crucified. The last night with Jesus is found in John 13-17. These are some of the most passionate teachings and words of Jesus from His entire Earthly ministry. Let’s look at them together. [1] https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/john-14/amp/ [2] Love prepares a welcome. With love, expectant parents prepare a room for the baby. With love, the hostess prepares for her guests. Jesus prepares a pl

EPISODE DETAILS: In this episode, we are going to be looking at three surprises that the disciples experienced at dinner with Jesus. But with these surprises also came some lessons that Jesus wanted His disciples and us to learn.  SERIES DETAILS: In this series, we are going to be looking at the last night Jesus spent with His disciples. Jesus spent the last few hours He had with His disciples to teach them and give them some words of encouragement. In less than 24 hours Jesus would be arrested and crucified. The last night with Jesus is found in John 13-17. These are some of the most passionate teachings and words of Jesus from His entire Earthly ministry. Let’s look at them together. [1] “None of the disciples were interested in washing each other’s feet. Any of them would have gladly washed Jesus’ feet. But they could not wash His without having to be available to wash the others’ feet, and that would have been an intolerable admission of inferiority among their fellow competitors for the top positions in

In this episode, we are looking at just one verse that sets the table for the events to come over the next 24 hours.  SERIES DETAILS: In this series, we are going to be looking at the last night Jesus spent with His disciples. Jesus spent the last few hours He had with His disciples to teach them and give them some words of encouragement. In less than 24 hours Jesus would be arrested and crucified. The last night with Jesus is found in John 13-17. These are some of the most passionate teachings and words of Jesus from His entire Earthly ministry. Let’s look at them together. [1] 1. Turning water into wine in Cana (John 2:1-11) 2. Healing an official’s son in Capernaum (John 4:46-54) 3. Healing an invalid at the Pool of Bethesda in Jerusalem (John 5:1-18) 4. Feeding the 5,000 near the Sea of Galilee (John 6:5-14) 5. Walking on the water of the Sea of Galilee (John 6:16-21) 6. Healing a blind man in Jerusalem (John 9:1-7) 7. Raising dead Lazarus in Bethany (John 11:1-45) Read more here…. https://ificouldte

I am sure that you have battled this idea or thought along with me. Why pray? Why do I need to pray? God doesn’t hear me or answer me when I do. So what is the point? God is supposed to hear me when I call to Him. The Bible says that God will answer when I call to Him. So why doesn’t He answer me? What’s the point in even talking to Him? “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why are you so far away when I groan for help? Every day I call to you, my God, but you do not answer. Every night I lift my voice, but I find no relief. Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.” - Psalms 22:1-3 NLT “‘Go out and stand before me on the mountain,’ the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And a

Prayer can be complicated. But it doesn’t have to be. So join me over the next few weeks as we look how we can get a better understanding of prayer so it doesn’t have to be complicated. [1] “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” - Mark 1:35 NIV “Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people home. After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone.” - Matthew 14:22-23 NLT “Then Jesus went with them to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and he said, ‘Sit here while I go over there to pray.’” Matthew 26:36 NLT “One day soon afterward Jesus went up on a mountain to pray, and he prayed to God all night.” - Luke 6:12 NLT [2] “‘Call to me and I will answer you. I’ll tell you marvelous and wondrous things that you could never figure out on your own.’” - Jeremiah 33:2-3

Prayer can be complicated. But it doesn’t have to be. So join me over the next few weeks as we look how we can get a better understanding of prayer so it doesn’t have to be complicated. [1] Artists: Elevation Worship and Maverick City Music Song: “Talking To Jesus” Album: Old Church Basement Writer(s): Brandon Lake, Steven Furtick, Christopher Brown [2] verses from the book of Psalms “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why are you so far away when I groan for help? Every day I call to you, my God, but you do not answer. Every night I lift my voice, but I find no relief.” - Psalms 22:1-2 NLT “How long, O Lord, will you look on and do nothing? Rescue me from their fierce attacks. Protect my life from these lions! Then I will thank you in front of the great assembly. I will praise you before all the people.” - Psalms 35:17-18 NLT ““O God my rock,” I cry, “why have you forgotten me? Why must I wander around in grief, oppressed by my enemies?” Their taunts break my bones. They scoff, “Where is this God of

Prayer can be complicated. But it doesn’t have to be. So join me over the next few weeks as we look how we can get a better understanding of prayer so it doesn’t have to be complicated. [1] Understanding (WOTY 2022) Blog – https://www.thepointoffocus.com/post/understanding-woty Podcast - https://anchor.fm/focuspointpodcast/episodes/Understanding-WOTY-2022---S3-E43-e1c2du1 [2] Psalm 18:6 [3] 1 Timothy 2:2, NLT [4] 2 Chronicles 7:14, NLT - also check out the series “7:14” at thepointoffocus.com to find out more on this verse.

In this episode, I talk about my word for 2022.

Christmas is when we celebrate the wonderful gift from God - Jesus. Christmas is also a time where we celebrate that God gave everything He had to save us from our sins. God gave His only Son. God gave everything so that we could be free from our sins. - JESUS STEPPED IN! [1] Genesis 1:3-25 [2] Genesis 1:26-27 and Genesis 2:7 [3] Ephesians 2:10, NLT [4] Genesis 3 [5] Genesis 6-9 [6] Leviticus 16 [7] Matthew 1:21 [8] John 3:16 [9] Isaiah 53:6 [10] Luke 2:52 [11] Romans 6:23

“Some time later, God tested Abraham’s faith….” Genesis‬ ‭22:1‬ ‭NLT‬ As I have been looking at this story over the course of this year, this verse just jumped out at me along with the rest of the story. There is also another verse that we will be focusing in on a little later in the post. This was a year that tested my faith.

Bible translations can be an interesting thing to navigate. But what if I told you they are there to help us understand the Word of God even more. There are so many different Bible translations and it seems that many people have their favorite translation that they like to use. They also have their opinions on what they think is the “correct” translation. But is there a right or wrong translation? If we understand the idea behind the different translations then we might not get so up in arms about the matter.