The Holy Sprit Story | A Pentecost Sermon on Acts 2:1-8

Introduction
Today is Pentecost Sunday. Last Sunday was Ascension Sunday. Today is Pentecost Sunday. Pentecost literally means “fiftieth” in Greek. That’s where the name comes from. It is the 50th day after Passover. If you're Jewish, you would reckon it from the Passover. For Christians, it is the 50th day after Easter. So we reckon it from Easter. Easter and Passover fall in the same time, but it is the 50th day.

Timeline:
Easter Sunday—you know Jesus rose from the grave—and He appeared to His disciples. Then, over the course of 40 days, Jesus appeared many different times in many different ways to many different people. We have looked at several of the stories of the resurrection over the last several weeks since Easter. For 40 days, Jesus appeared in resurrected form to people. Then He ascended into Heaven, and 10 days after He ascended into Heaven was Pentecost Sunday—the Pentecost Sunday that we are remembering today.

What is Pentecost?
What is Pentecost? It was originally the Jewish holiday that celebrated the giving of the Law of Moses to the people of Israel at Mount Sinai. Remember that? Way back in Exodus, as the Israelites—slaves—left from Egypt, they were wandering through the desert and went up to the mountain, Mount Sinai. Moses went up on top of the mountain, and like it shows in the movie with Charlton Heston, God gave them the two tablets of the Ten Commandments, right? He brought the Law down—it was the Ten Commandments, but it was also all the Law that is in the book of Moses, or the books of Moses—so that the people of Israel would know how to live as God’s people.

Every year, the Israelites wanted to remember that special moment, and they celebrated Pentecost with a feast 50 days after the Passover. Now it’s important to keep that purpose of Pentecost in your mind. What was the purpose? To remember that God gave the Israelites—what? The Law. Okay, good.

It is also known as the Feast of Weeks, because they saw it as a week of weeks. A week of weeks—how many days are in a week? Seven. So they thought, well, let’s say seven weeks of seven days. Here’s a little math—you didn’t know you were going to do math when you came to church today! Seven times seven is what? Forty-nine. Very good. You know your times tables still, even after all these years. Seven times seven is 49. Then, after the 49 days—the week of weeks has been observed—on the 50th day you have the Pentecost feast. And what does Pentecost mean? Fiftieth, right! So on the 50th day, they celebrate it.

So we’re going to read the story of what happened to the disciples on the celebration of Pentecost—50 days after the Passover, 50 days after Jesus rose from the grave. It comes from

Acts 2:1-8
¹ On the day of Pentecost^[a] all the believers were meeting together in one place. ² Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. ³ Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. ⁴ And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages,^[b] as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.

⁵ At that time there were devout Jews from every nation living in Jerusalem. ⁶ When they heard the loud noise, everyone came running, and they were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers.

⁷ They were completely amazed. “How can this be?” they exclaimed. “These people are all from Galilee, ⁸ and yet we hear them speaking in our own native languages!

A Moment Rich with Symbolism – God Wrote His Law on Christian’s Hearts
Pentecost, also known as the Feast of Weeks or the Jewish holiday of Shavuot, celebrated the day that God gave Moses the Law in order for them to live as God's people. To represent God to the whole world, they had to know how to live. So God gave them all of these different rules and regulations and ceremonial laws so that they would stand out among the nations as holy and different from everyone else, so that they could show the world who God was. They celebrated that every year.

But of course, if we’ve ever read much of the Bible or known many Bible stories, we know the problem was that the Israelites were constantly not following God’s Law, right? And it could be because they forgot the Law. There were many times that they forgot the Law. There are a couple different times I read in the Scriptures where it says they discovered the book of the Law—it was hidden. It was kind of like the Bibles that we sometimes stick on a shelf and don’t ever read and forget about.

They forgot about it, and then they found it, and they would read it and say, “Oh my goodness, we’ve not been doing these things.” Sometimes it was because they forgot. Sometimes it was because they were rebellious people and they didn’t want to do what God told them to do. They wanted to do things their own way. Anybody ever felt like that? We all do from time to time.

So, in the Scriptures it was often looked forward to—it was a vision and prophesied—that one day there was going to be a change. For instance, in Jeremiah 31:33, the prophet Jeremiah prophesied:

“This is the covenant that I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the Lord. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts.”

This is talking about a future time that’s coming when the Law is not going to be written on stone tablets like we see in the movie The Ten Commandments, and it's not even necessarily going to be written in a book like we have in our Bibles. It’s going to be written on our hearts and put in our minds.

Jeremiah says this is the way it’s going to be in the new covenant: “I’m going to put my law in their hearts and in their minds.” So, on the day of Pentecost, as they are celebrating the giving of the Law, something amazing happens. God sends the Holy Spirit—His own Holy Spirit—to come and dwell in believers’ hearts. So the Law of God is now inside those who believe in Jesus Christ and seek to follow Him.

That can mean a lot of different things, but one thing it means is this: now it’s not just that we have to go to a book to see what God has said. God Himself is living inside us. We have Him right there with us all the time—everywhere you go, everything you do, no matter what time of day it is—God is inside you.

And the Holy Spirit is telling you, “Look, you know you ought not be doing that.” You feel it. There’s a conscience inside you that’s saying, “Oh, I shouldn’t do that.” If you’re listening, it will guide you.

Another thing that it’s saying is that the Law of God is not just something written externally that you follow because you’re supposed to be obedient. Now, it’s something that’s in your heart. It’s something that you actually want to do. As you recognize how much God has loved you and what Jesus Christ has done for you on the cross, when you begin to really feel that in your heart—know that in your heart—it’s not just that you are obeying the rules because you’re supposed to. Now you are obeying the rules because you want to honor God. You want to show Him that you love Him. You want to do what makes Him happy. So you actually now begin to have your heart transformed into something that’s not rebellious but wants to be obedient. As the Holy Spirit writes the Word on your heart, it begins to change.

This all happened at Pentecost in the second chapter of Acts, as they were remembering the first time God gave them the Law. It’s a moment that is rich with symbolism.

A Moment Rich with Symbolism – Christian’s Became God’s Temple
First of all, we see how Christians became the new temple—the new tabernacle. Think about this. In the story, it tells us that there was the sound of what? A mighty rushing wind. The word that it uses—the Greek word—is pneuma. The Hebrew word is ruach. It means—it’s hard to translate it into English directly—but it basically means the Spirit/Breath of God.

We see this throughout the Scriptures. Go all the way back to the beginning of your Bible, Genesis 1:2. In Greek, it says pneuma. In Hebrew, it says ruach. It is the Spirit/Breath of God that is hovering over the waters at creation. And then what happens? God speaks. And when you speak, what happens? Your breath comes through your vocal cords and makes sound. The Spirit/Breath of God speaks and says, “Let there be light. Let there be stars in the sky and a moon and a sun. Let there be land and let there be water.” So the Spirit speaks, and these things come into existence.

Then, in the second chapter of Genesis, God forms Adam from the dust of the ground, and then it says that He breathed into his nostrils and brought him to life. The Spirit/Breath of God comes into Adam and brings him to life.

Another example is the story in Ezekiel 37—a wonderful story. Ezekiel the prophet is walking along—maybe he's on a hike—and he comes across a valley that is filled with dry bones. Imagine that. Have you ever been walking in the woods and seen some old bones on the ground? Like an old deer that died or a squirrel or something, and the bones have been there and rotted away. But he sees a whole valley full of bones, and these are not animal bones. These are the bones of an army that was slaughtered and left in the field, and now it’s just dried, bleached bones.

And God says to Ezekiel, “Son of man, can these bones live again?” Ezekiel’s smart—he’s not going to say. He just simply says, “Well, You’re God. You’re the one that knows.” And God tells Ezekiel, “Speak the Spirit/Breath into the bones and they will come alive.” And he speaks, and the bones stand up, and flesh comes back on the bones, and they become living people once again.

And God says to Ezekiel, “This is what I’m telling you. This is a vision. You spoke the message as He commanded you, and breath came into the bodies, and they all came to life as a great army.” Then God said to me, “Son of man, these bones represent the people of Israel.”

So as the Spirit of God comes along to these dead, dry bones, He says, “This is what My people are like. They’re like dead, dry bones with no life in them.” At that time, the tribes of Israel had been scattered and dispersed. There was no hope to bring them back together. And God says, “But I am going to bring My people Israel back together with the Spirit/Breath of God.”

Now, at Pentecost, the Spirit/Breath of God dwells inside every follower of Jesus Christ. And this is represented in the Scripture we read today by tongues of fire that come to rest upon the heads of every Christian that’s gathered there in the room with the disciples.

This also is rich with meaning, looking back through the Old Testament. You go back to the time when the Israelites were going through the desert and they had a tabernacle tent where they would worship God. It says that by day, a pillar of cloud would rest on the tabernacle. And at night, the pillar of cloud would glow red with fire, representing the presence of God that was dwelling in the tabernacle.

It says whenever the cloud or the pillar of fire would move off of the tabernacle, that was the sign to the Israelites: it’s time to move. God is moving. So they would pack up the tabernacle tent and they would hit the road, and they would follow God wherever He was leading them.

That was what happened in the Old Testament. But here, in Pentecost in the New Testament, the pillar of fire is now resting over—what? Is it resting over a tent? No. It’s resting over the people who believe in Jesus Christ and are following Him.

The tabernacle was a portable temple where God dwelt among His people. But in the New Testament, we are the tent. We’re the tabernacle. Those of us who believe in Jesus Christ—because of Pentecost, Christians have become the new temple of God. We are the people of God. We are those dry bones that were out in the field, dead and lifeless, but we have been brought back to life to fulfill the purposes that God gave His people.

The Believers Spoke
Acts 2:4 says, “Everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.”

Now, a lot has been said about speaking in tongues. Of course, we often look to our Pentecostal brothers and sisters because they like to speak in tongues in their services. And if you’ve ever heard it, it can be either an amazing, awesome thing—or a really freaky thing if you’re not used to it.

But I want to point out that in this instance in Acts 2, they are not speaking gibberish. They’re not speaking some unknown language or even an angelic language. These were real languages that people spoke on earth—the languages of all the different ethnic groups that were gathered in Jerusalem at that time from around the world.

If you read farther down in the chapter, it tells you about the different nations represented—Parthians, Medes, Greeks, Egyptians, Romans, and more. These Galileans, who didn’t know how to speak those languages, were suddenly, supernaturally enabled to talk in them—languages they had never learned before.

Why? It was to fulfill God’s original intent for Israel. The original purpose for God’s people was to be a light to the Gentiles—to represent God to the whole world—to help the whole world come to know God and follow Him.

We can see that purpose spelled out throughout the Old Testament. God always intended for Israel to be a witness to the nations—a beacon of light pointing the world to the one true God. This calling is fulfilled and expanded in Jesus and in the Church’s mission to make disciples of all nations.

They Spoke First
And I want you to notice something else important, too. The believers started speaking in tongues before there was anybody there to hear them. They were all Galileans in the room, and all of a sudden, they started talking in other languages—each one speaking a different language.

They started speaking in tongues in verse 4, but the outsiders didn’t come to hear them until verse 6. There was nobody else there—it was all believers, all disciples. Everyone else was outside doing their own thing.

Why did they come running? It says, “When they heard the loud noise, everyone came running, and they were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers.”

So imagine all the people milling around. It’s like if we’re here gathered in the church building, and there are people out there going to Ace Hardware, trying to beat the Baptists to lunch. All of a sudden, they hear something happening inside our church—a mighty rushing wind—and a bunch of people start talking. They can't quite make it out, but they know something amazing is happening. And they come running to see, “What are those disciples doing? What’s going on in there?”

When they get there, that’s when they hear the believers speaking in their own languages.

The Spirit gave them the gift to speak in other languages. The believers responded to the Spirit. They obeyed. And the noise drew the crowd.

There’s a quote I love, attributed to John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement. He said something like this: “If you will light the church on fire with the Holy Spirit, the whole world will come to watch it burn.”

Have you ever seen a house catch on fire? If you see something like that—a car on fire, a house on fire—everybody comes to see it. It’s usually a bad thing, a destructive thing. But fire can be a good thing too.

When the church is filled with Holy Spirit fire—when we catch fire with the Spirit and we start doing the amazing things God calls us to do—people want to see it. They start coming to see why.

Why is that important for us today?

We don’t need to wait for the crowds to show up. We don’t need to wait for more children to come. We don’t need to wait for something else to happen.

The Holy Spirit of God—who created the stars in heaven, the mountains around us, and filled the oceans with water—lives inside us and enables us to worship and witness boldly.

So let the Spirit speak through you. Don’t wait for something else. Go ahead and be obedient. Be filled with the Spirit’s power. Use the gifts that He gives you. Worship boldly. Witness boldly. Live for Jesus boldly.

Live out loud. Speak the truth. And it will draw the crowd that needs to come and hear it.

We often want to wait for the “right time,” but Pentecost calls us to be the spark—the spark that gets things started. The Holy Spirit works through bold obedience before the results are visible.

Conclusion: Be the Spark
The coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost changed everything. God no longer dwells in a temple made by human hands. He dwells in His people.

His people—the Church—now includes all nations, not just Israel. And His law is no longer just carved in stone but is written on our hearts.

But don’t miss what happened first: the believers didn’t wait for the crowds to gather before they spoke. They simply obeyed. They opened their mouths. They spoke as the Spirit gave them the ability.

And then the crowds came running.

So I ask you: what would happen if you did the same?

What if we worshiped boldly—even if we looked around and noticed some people were missing?

What if we served generously—even before we knew exactly what was needed or how it would all work out?

What if we shared the gospel—even if we weren’t sure anyone was listening?

But we decided we would live the way Christ called us to live. And we would speak out and be bold.

The fire falls before people respond.

So don’t wait.

Don’t hold back.

Be the spark that ignites those around you.

Live out loud.

Speak the truth.

And watch how the Spirit draws people—people who need to hear the good news, who need to be part of the love that God has for us, who need to find the reconciliation with God and with one another that comes through Jesus Christ.

The Ascension Story | A Sermon on Acts 1:6-11

Introduction
For six Sundays since Easter, we’ve been exploring powerful stories of the risen Jesus—appearing to His followers, proving He was alive, and changing lives forever.

We serve a risen Savior. Death could not defeat Him!  Today, we turn to the final moment Jesus appeared to His disciples before ascending into heaven.  It’s a pivotal scene—a farewell, a promise, and a mission—all in one.  Our Scripture comes from Acts 1:6–11.

Acts 1:6-11
⁶ So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, “Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?”

⁷ He replied, “The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know. ⁸ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

⁹ After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him. ¹⁰ As they strained to see him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them. ¹¹ “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!”

The Disciples Question
The question the disciples asked amounts to this: “Lord, when are You going to fix everything?”

It’s such a revealing question. After all they’d seen—Jesus’ teachings, His death, and His resurrection—the disciples were still holding onto their old expectations.  They were still hoping Jesus would throw off Roman rule and restore Israel’s independence.  In other words, “Is now the time You’re going to fix everything for us?”

We can relate to that, can’t we? We often want God to step in and take care of everything—
to fix our problems, change our circumstances, and do it now.

The disciples weren’t wrong to hope, but their vision was far too small.
They wanted national restoration. Jesus was about to launch a global mission.
They were focused on their country. Jesus was thinking of every tribe, tongue, and nation.
They wanted comfort and control. Jesus offered power and purpose.

How often do our prayers sound like their question?  “Lord, when will You finally fix this situation?”
“When will You restore my idea of how things should be?”

Jesus doesn’t rebuke our questions, but He gently lifts our eyes to something far greater than we can imagine.

Jesus’ Response
Jesus doesn’t answer the disciples the way they expect.  He doesn’t give them a timeline.  He doesn’t lay out a political plan. He tells them two key things:

First, “It’s not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set.” In other words—“You don’t need to know the schedule. That’s the Father’s business.”  How often do we want God to give us the when and how?  But Jesus shifts their focus from timing to trusting.

Second, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you…”  This is the true gift—not power to take control, but power to share the Good News.

And here comes the surprising part.  Jesus said:  
“You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”  This is bigger than national renewal. It’s a worldwide revolution of grace and truth.

And let me ask you—have you ever thought about this?
If the disciples had clung to their small vision—if they had kept the Gospel only for Israel—you wouldn’t be sitting here today.  There would be no Pleasant Grove Methodist Church.  No Christian faith in America.  No Bible on your nightstand.  And more importantly—no forgiveness of your sins, no hope beyond the grave, no peace that passes understanding.  Every blessing you know in Christ is possible because those first followers let go of their narrow view and embraced God’s global mission.

In His response, Jesus is also saying:  “Don’t wait around for Me to do the work you’ve been called to do.  I’m sending you.  But I’m also equipping you—with Holy Spirit power—to fulfill your purpose.”

It’s not a small story about Israel anymore.  It’s God’s mission for the world.  And the Disciples—and everyone who calls Jesus Lord—is part of the mission. 
And that means you.

The Ascension
On the Christian calendar, today is known as Ascension Sunday—the day we remember that Jesus ascended back into heaven.  But that raises a question: Why did He leave? Why not just stay on earth?

First, because He belongs on Heaven’s throne.  After conquering sin and death, Jesus takes His rightful place as King—not just of Israel, but of all creation.

Second, Jesus left for our good. In John 16:7, Jesus said, “It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go, the Advocate [the Holy Spirit] will not come to you.”  You see, Jesus’ resurrected body is still a physical body.  Glorious and perfect, yes—but still bound by time and space like ours like all physical bodies.  That means Jesus, in bodily form, could only be in one place at one time.

But the Holy Spirit is not limited that way. The Spirit can be with me in the hospital room, with you in the middle of a stressful workday, with a mother protecting her children in Gaza, with a world leader making a critical decision, and with a high school student taking their final exams—all at the same time.

The Holy Spirit makes the presence of Jesus available everywhere, to everyone who trusts Him.
So yes—it was good that Jesus ascended to Heaven to sit on His throne so we could receive the Holy Spirit.

Finally, by ascending, Jesus passed the baton to us.  If He had stayed on earth, we might still be sitting around waiting for Him to do the work.  But instead, He gave that work to us.  We are now His hands and feet in the world.

The Promised Return
I wonder how long the disciples stood there, mouths open, eyes on the sky.  After seeing such an incredible thing, I probably would have stood there a long time.  I think that’s why two angels appeared—to snap the disciples out of their wonder.  They asked, “Why are you staring into heaven?”

In other words—don’t just stand there!  Jesus has gone, but now you’ve got a mission.  There’s work to be done, lives to be changed, Good News to share. Get going!

But the angels also offered reassurance:  “This same Jesus who saw going up to heaven will come back in the same way you saw Him go.”  So don’t lose heart.  Jesus reigns.  The Spirit empowers.  And one day, our King will return.  But until then—let’s get to work.

Holy Communion
But before we go out to serve, let us pause to remember and be empowered.  At the table of Holy Communion, we remember His sacrifice, we receive His grace, and we are nourished by His presence.  The Risen, Ascended Christ is still with us through the Holy Spirit. Come to the table, not because you have it all together, but because Jesus invites you—to be forgiven, to be filled, and to be sent.

The "Feed My Sheep" Story | A Sermon on John 21:1-17

Introduction
Jesus is alive—and that’s something worth celebrating! On Easter Sunday, we rejoiced with full hearts and lifted voices. But the resurrection isn't just a one-day event. In the Church calendar, there are seven Sundays in the Easter season, giving us time to truly soak in the joy and meaning of the risen Christ.

So far, we've heard four powerful resurrection stories—stories filled with hope, amazement, confusion, and even doubt. They remind us that encountering the Risen Jesus looks different for everyone.

Today, we hear a story of failure and of restoration. A story that might hit close to home. Because if we’re honest, we all stumble from time to time. Most of us have regrets.  And yet, today’s story shows us what Jesus does with people who’ve failed… and the kind of future He still has in mind for us.

John 21:1-17
¹ Later, Jesus appeared again to the disciples beside the Sea of Galilee.^[a] This is how it happened. ² Several of the disciples were there—Simon Peter, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin),^[b] Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples.

³ Simon Peter said, “I’m going fishing.”

“We’ll come, too,” they all said. So they went out in the boat, but they caught nothing all night.

⁴ At dawn Jesus was standing on the beach, but the disciples couldn’t see who he was. ⁵ He called out, “Fellows,^[c] have you caught any fish?”

“No,” they replied.

⁶ Then he said, “Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you’ll get some!” So they did, and they couldn’t haul in the net because there were so many fish in it.

⁷ Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his tunic (for he had stripped for work), jumped into the water, and headed to shore. ⁸ The others stayed with the boat and pulled the loaded net to the shore, for they were only about a hundred yards^[d] from shore. ⁹ When they got there, they found breakfast waiting for them—fish cooking over a charcoal fire, and some bread.

¹⁰ “Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught,” Jesus said. ¹¹ So Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net to the shore. There were 153 large fish, and yet the net hadn’t torn.

¹² “Now come and have some breakfast!” Jesus said. None of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. ¹³ Then Jesus served them the bread and the fish. ¹⁴ This was the third time Jesus had appeared to his disciples since he had been raised from the dead.

¹⁵ After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?^[e]”

“Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.”

“Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him.

¹⁶ Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

“Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love you.”

“Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said.

¹⁷ A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep.

Failure Is Not The End
The fact that Jesus rose from the grave is a startling and glorious realization. Mourning becomes dancing, loss gives way to victory, and despair is replaced by living, lasting hope. 

However, this story is important because it speaks to something real in the lives of the disciples—and in our lives too: failure. Peter failed Jesus. Before Jesus was arrested and crucified, Peter boldly bragged:  “I am ready to die for you!”  But when it came down to it, Peter ran away with all the other disciples.  And Peter even denied knowing Jesus when questioned.  It was a failure that must have weighed heavy on Peter’s heart, even as seeing Jesus alive again filled his heart with relief and joy.

All 12 disciples failed Jesus in one way or another. And if we’re honest, so do we. We all have regrets we wish we could undo.  Is there hope for people like us? Can failures be forgiven? Can broken people be restored?  This story gives us a resounding “yes.”

Jesus Gently Restores
Jesus knew Peter denied Him.  He also knew how much the failure weighed on Peter’s heart.  And so Jesus went through a simple ceremony to restore Peter’s heart.  He asked:  “Peter, do you love me.” 
And Jesus asked the question three times—one for each time Peter denied Jesus.  Each time Peter affirmed:  “Yes, Lord, you know I love you.”
The third time Jesus asked the question, it stung Peter’s heart.  By the third question, the parallel with Peter’s failure would’ve been unmistakable.

Peter felt deep sorrow and shame as the memory of his failure was brought into the light.  Yet this wasn’t Jesus rubbing salt in Peter’s wounded heart.  This gentle confrontation led Peter through a process of restoration by bringing his failure into the light and reaffirming Jesus’ call for Peter to lead the church by feeding Jesus’ sheep.

Feed My Lambs…
Some may notice that each time Peter affirms he loves Jesus, Jesus responds in a slightly different way.  He says, “Feed my lambs.”  Then, “Take care of my sheep.”  And finally “Feed my sheep.”
This may just be three different ways of saying the same thing.  Others have speculated a deeper meaning:  to show that caring for Jesus' people means nurturing the young, guiding the growing, and feeding the faithful.  That’s an interesting idea to ponder, but not the focus God is leading me to today.

Run to Jesus, Not Away
Instead, the Spirit is leading me to ask: When you fail, do you run to Jesus or run from Jesus?  Peter failed Jesus.  There was no doubt.  He denied knowing Jesus three times.  And Peter carried that guilt in his heart every time he saw the resurrected Christ. Yet, Peter didn’t abandon his faith.  He didn’t run away from Jesus. In this story, we see very dramatically how Peter ran to Jesus despite his past failures.

Verse 7: “When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his tunic (for he had stripped for work), jumped into the water, and headed to shore.”  Peter didn’t just run to Jesus, he splashed into the water and swam toward Him!  It reminds me of the time Jesus was walking on the water and Peter got out of the boat and started walking on the water toward Jesus.  That first time Peter's faith floundered and he started to sink.  But in our story today, Peter's faith was firm and he ran toward Jesus.

What about you?  When you're burdened by your failures, do you run to Jesus or run away?  I want to encourage you to be like Peter—run to Jesus. Jump in the water and swim if you must.  In Jesus, we find forgiveness and restoration.  Our burdens are lifted and our purpose renewed.  Jesus isn’t holding a grudge.  He isn’t angrily wanting to make you pay.  He loves you and wants to heal you and restore you to the safety of the flock because Jesus feeds His lambs, takes care of His sheep, and feeds His sheep.

So don’t run from Him.  There’s no need to hide.  Run to Jesus and be restored.  Jesus invites you to be forgiven, healed, and restored.  Lay down your failures and let them go.  So let us join together in a a ritual of restoration as Jesus helps us let go of our burdens.

Our Ritual of Restoration
Pastor:  Followers of Christ, Jesus asks you today:  “Do you love me?”
People:  Lord, You know that we love You.
Pastor:  Jesus says, “Feed my lambs.”
People:  We will care for the young, the new, the searching, and the struggling.
Pastor:  Again, Jesus asked, “Do you love me?”
People:  Lord, You know that we love You.
Pastor:  Jesus says, “Tend my sheep.”
People:  We will walk with one another, offering compassion, correction, and care.
Pastor:  A third time, Jesus asks, “Do you love me?”
People:  Lord, You know all things. You know that we love You.
Pastor:  Jesus says, “Feed my sheep.”
People:  We accept Your calling, Lord. In grace and humility, we will love and serve in Your name.
All:  Though we have failed, You restore us. Though we are broken, You use us. We love You, Lord—send us to love others as You have loved us.

Pastor Chris Interviews Bible Publisher, Philip Nation

Introduction
I had the privilege to interview Philip Nation, the Vice President/Publisher of Thomas Nelson Bibles.  The following is a transcript of our interview.

Interview Transcript
Hey YouTube friends! Today we're doing something a little bit different. I am going to conduct an interview with Phillip Nation, who is the Vice President Publisher of Thomas Nelson Bibles. He has served as a pastor, church planter, and education minister in local churches. He frequently travels to speak in churches and at conferences. Phillip earned a Doctor of Ministry from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and has authored and edited numerous books and Bible studies. He is also a university fellow for Arizona Christian University and has been a professor at Union University and Houston Christian University.

So, let's welcome Phillip onto the podcast today!

Phillip: Thanks, Chris. It's fun to be on the podcast with you. I'm looking forward to this conversation.

Chris: Yeah! Would you like to share a little bit about yourself?

Phillip: I’d be happy to. God has been so very gracious. Many of us can say that in terms of life and vocation. The most important things in my life currently: my wife Angie and I have been married for 31 years, and we have two grown sons who are both married. One of our sons and his wife have two little ones, so we’ve entered the grandparent stage of life—and that is the most fun ever.

Vocationally, I’ve served for many years as a pastor and preacher, planted a church, and been a professor at a few different universities in part-time capacities. In this season of life, as you mentioned, I work for Harper Collins Christian Publishing, and I lead Thomas Nelson Bibles. I’ve been doing that for about five and a half years. It’s fascinating and complex work to be the publisher of the Bible, but it’s been a joy.

All the things God has done in my life—from academic work, to books I’ve written, to pastoring—have rolled together into this role of shepherding forward the work of Thomas Nelson Bibles.

Chris: That’s awesome. Did you always want to be in this kind of ministry work?

Phillip: I wouldn't say I never wanted to be in this kind of work. It would have never been on my radar to think, “One day I’ll be a Bible publisher.”

My journey in ministry started as a teenager when I felt a call, though it was vague. I didn’t know what ministry would look like for me. I’ve always had this sense of calling that felt a little odd—atypical. I felt drawn to preach, to work with the Word, rather than stay solely in local church ministry. As a young man, I couldn’t really define it.

I went through seminary, came out, began pastoring. I served as a senior pastor and associate pastor. In my mid-30s, I started writing and editing—partly because I was church planting and needed to support my family. A curriculum publishing company eventually offered me a position as a chief editor for adult curriculum. That opportunity was clearly providential.

I continued to be a bi-vocational pastor, even doing full-time pastoral work again later. But about six years ago, one of the largest publishing companies in the world reached out and said, “We want to interview you to lead a Bible publishing entity.” It's one of those jobs where you just have to say yes and explore it.

Now, I feel honored to shepherd forward Bible translations our company owns, like the New King James Version—our largest and most used translation. We also oversee other editions that have been around for decades, and new study Bibles we’re dreaming up to help people engage more deeply with the Word. It wasn’t something I planned, but I’m so glad God brought me here.

Chris: That’s really interesting. As a pastor, I use study Bibles and scholarly resources, and sometimes I quote scholars when I preach. But honestly, I often find it challenging to bridge the gap between what scholars say and what everyday people in the pew can understand. Sometimes it seems like Bible editors and scholars are disconnected from ordinary folks. Is that true? And how can we bridge that gap?

Phillip: I love that question. I’ve always held the belief that all pastors are theologians. But I also believe that all theologians should strive to be pastoral.

Those scholars writing commentaries and systematic theologies, the Greek and Hebrew experts—they’re doing amazing work. But pastors like you are the ones translating those complex ideas into something your people can use. Your people are going to work on Monday—to factories, offices, the ballfield. While we pastors might find Hebrew word studies fascinating, folks in the pew are thinking, “Okay, but what do I do with this on Tuesday?”

So I love the idea of taking the intricacies of Scripture and making them applicable. That was God’s intent—He didn’t write the Bible just for ministers. He wrote it for all believers.

But I will say this too: pastors sometimes underestimate their congregations. My joke is, “If you can figure out how to order coffee at Starbucks, you can learn biblical and theological language.”

We have people in our churches—accountants, HVAC techs, factory workers, nurses, doctors—who master complex information every day. They’re absolutely capable of understanding theology. They just need someone to invite them into those deeper waters and show them how to swim there.

Chris: I agree. And you know, there’s been this big problem with younger people leaving the church. Talking with my own children, sometimes they say, “What we’re hearing in church just isn’t deep enough.” They want substance. They want to go deeper.

Sometimes in church, we act like we’re not supposed to go too deep. But I think we sell ourselves—and our people—short. They’re capable of so much more than we give them credit for.

Phillip: Absolutely. And they’re not satisfied with shallow theology. They might not yet understand all the theological language, but they can get there. They just need someone to explain it in a way that connects. Once they’re equipped, they grow, and they often become self-feeders of Scripture. And that’s one of the great joys in ministry.

Chris: Wonderful. I think those are some great ideas as well. I wish I had been more prepared when they asked me, but now I’ll have some things to take back and talk to them more about.

What about pastors? You know, I study the Bible every week—every day. I live in it, I walk in it. Are there any things that you could say to me or to other pastors that might help us along the way?

Phillip: I'm glad you asked. You're the first one who has asked me that in a long time. From my years of being a pastor, I remember those long stretches where you're in the Word day in and day out. One encouragement I would start with is this: do a little self-survey. Have you allowed sermon preparation to totally replace your own personal devotional life?

There’s no way to completely separate sermon prep from personal formation, but sometimes we let outline building or manuscript writing replace time alone with God. So, I’d say make sure that the study you're doing is being applied to your heart long before you try to apply it to your congregation.

Also, we pastors tend to have favorite parts of Scripture. Maybe you're always in Paul's epistles or the Pentateuch. But the full counsel of God includes the minor prophets, the poetic books, the general epistles—all of it. So visit the "clean white pages" of your Bible—the parts you don't usually turn to. Let the Holy Spirit work through the whole field of Scripture to sanctify you.

Chris: I like that. It really is a challenge to separate our personal walk from our ministry role. But we can't really be pastors unless we’re first children of God. That has to come first. And I’ve found that whenever I get personally excited about a Scripture, it often finds its way into my preaching naturally.

Phillip: Yes! In this season of life, something that’s been powerful for me is the book of Psalms. I always loved Ecclesiastes for its postmodern tone, and Proverbs had that daily, chapter-a-day rhythm. But Psalms—it's been a new well for me. I wish I had dug deeper into it in my 20s and 30s.

Psalms was the everyday singing and worship of Jesus and the early church. It shows the human condition and God's faithful interaction with it—His grace, mercy, sovereignty. It's been an emboldening and comforting part of my devotional life.

Chris: I love that. Psalms has definitely had seasons of significance for me too. It can be a tough book to preach from, but personally, it's powerful. For years, I avoided Proverbs because it felt like the sayings contradicted each other. But once I understood the genre better, I fell in love with it.

You're working on the Open Bible with Thomas Nelson. I’m really interested in that because I’ve never used it. I was telling friends about this interview and one pastor corrected me. I called it a study Bible, and he said, "No, it’s not a study Bible!" So—what is the Open Bible?

Phillip: Great question. The Open Bible is like a reference Bible on steroids. I first received a copy from my aunt and uncle when I was 17, back in 1987. This year is the 50th anniversary of Thomas Nelson publishing it.

Every decade, a new iteration comes out. It includes rich front and back matter: articles, concordances, indexes. But the star feature is its robust cross-reference system. In the newest edition, the cross-references are placed at the end of each verse. That helps people trace themes and phrases across Scripture easily.

It also has a 300-page topical index. Want to understand the doctrine of the Holy Spirit or what the Bible says about forgiveness? Go to the index, find the big ideas and subcategories, and then follow all the Scripture references. It’s great for anyone—even those brand new to Bible study.

There are also study notes with practical life applications, visual charts, and one of my favorite features: a 15,000-word article on archaeological discoveries that support the people, places, and events in Scripture. It's essentially one-third of a book, included right in the Bible. The more we dig, the more we find evidence confirming the Bible’s accuracy.

Chris: That’s exciting. I’m looking forward to getting a copy and trying it out personally—and possibly using it to help others too. What formats is it available in?

Phillip: Right now, it's available in the New King James Version. Historically, it’s been published in multiple English translations. We're going to continue that. We’ll reintroduce a KJV edition, and we’re reviving the NIV version. We’re also considering other translations.

The font is readable and comfortable. And yes, I’ve heard interest in a NASB edition too. That’s a great suggestion. We work with the nonprofit that holds the NASB copyright. I’ll take that feedback to the team.

Chris: As I prepared for this interview, I asked my friends what questions they’d want to ask you. One of them asked whether new Bible translations are made from the original Hebrew and Greek texts or from existing English translations. I knew the answer, but I thought I’d let you respond.

Phillip: Great question! The vast majority of English Bible translations are made directly from the original Hebrew and Greek texts. There are a few exceptions—revisions or paraphrases—but the NKJV, for instance, is translated from the original languages, in the translation tradition of the KJV.

If you open your Bible to the preface section at the front, most people have never read it—but you should. It explains why and how the translation was made, what manuscripts were used, and whether it's a formal or dynamic translation.

Chris: So, when you say “in the tradition of the King James Version,” you mean you’re using their philosophy but going back to the original languages?

Phillip: Exactly. The original KJV translators wanted to be formal—word for word as much as possible—while using common language. The 1611 edition is tough for us to read today, but in 1611, it was the language of the people. The edition most of us read now is actually from the 1769 revision, which updated the vocabulary.

The NKJV continues that tradition: formal translation from the original manuscripts, using modern, accessible language for today’s reader.

Chris: That makes sense. One friend made a funny comment about phrases like “butt dialed.” He said, “In 500 years, no one will know what that means.” How do translators deal with ancient idioms and tricky phrases like that?

Phillip: Another great question. It depends on the translation philosophy. More formal translations will keep the phrase literal—like “your neck is like a tower” or “your teeth are like sheep.” Dynamic translations interpret the meaning instead—saying her neck is graceful, her teeth are white, for instance.

Some translations land in the middle and use footnotes. Others explain in study notes at the bottom of the page. That’s the beauty of serious Bible study—it invites us to explore historical context, idioms, and layers of meaning.

Chris: That’s fascinating. I love how archaeology and textual studies bring clarity to those things. Even phrases like “apple of his eye” mean something deep, though the words alone don’t make modern sense.

Phillip: Exactly. That phrase wouldn’t translate clearly into Mandarin or French. But that’s part of what makes Bible study so rich—it’s a journey.

Chris: I’ve got one last question, from another viewer. How is the new version of the Open Bible different from the older ones?

Phillip: Great wrap-up question. This edition has a new typesetting—larger font, updated accent colors—and we returned to verse-by-verse formatting to include the inline cross-references. We also expanded articles that hadn’t been updated in decades. One example is the archaeology article, which is now current and enhanced.

We brought back valuable content from previous editions that had been trimmed for space. Overall, this edition represents the best of all previous Open Bible resources, updated and refreshed for today’s reader.

Chris: That’s wonderful. I’m excited for you—and to dig into the Open Bible myself. Thank you so much for taking the time to share today.

Phillip: Thank you, Chris. And for your listeners, check out what Thomas Nelson Bibles has to offer. We’re passionate about making beautiful Bibles that help people at every stage of life. We’re grateful to steward the Word of God.

Chris: Amen. And to everyone watching—thank you. If you’ve made it this far, maybe God is nudging you to dig into the Bible more deeply. Explore the resources out there. The Word of God can make a real, lasting difference in your life.

So thanks again, and as always: let’s grow and be fruitful.

The Doubting Thomas Story | A Sermon from John 20:24-29

Introduction
We’ve been studying stories from Scripture about the resurrected Christ.  And I think it is fitting today for graduate Sunday that we look at the famous story of “doubting Thomas”.  Although graduation is a time of great celebration and joy, it can also be a time of doubts, fear, and anxiety because graduation marks a significant time of life change.  Graduates, and their families, are walking into an unknown future.  We believe, by faith, it is a bright future.  We are excited for the new challenges ahead, but the unknown is a foggy mist that clouds what lies ahead and can make the road an anxious one to travel.

The Disciple Thomas wrestled with what he could not see.  He was absent the first time the resurrected Jesus appeared to the other disciples.  Though they testified he cold not believe something he had not yet seen.  Perhaps his story will encourage our graduates, their families, and all of us today.

John 20;24-29
²⁴ One of the twelve disciples, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin),^[a] was not with the others when Jesus came. ²⁵ They told him, “We have seen the Lord!”

But he replied, “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side.”

²⁶ Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. ²⁷ Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!”

²⁸ “My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed.

²⁹ Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.”

Show Up to Go Up
Thomas had doubts, but he still showed up.  I don’t know why Thomas was absent the first time Jesus appeared to the disciples, but I’m glad he didn’t give up.  He’s quite honest in sharing his doubt.  Even though the other Disciples are adamant:  “We have seen the Lord!”  Thomas was skeptical:  “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side.”  He doubted, but he didn’t walk away.  He stayed connected with the other disciples.  And because of that, Thomas eventually saw Jesus too.

In uncertain times, it’s so important that we keep showing up—in worship, in prayer, in Christian community.  It’s ok to have your doubts, but don’t give up.  Show up.  Eventually, Jesus showed up for Thomas. He’ll show up for you, too.

Graduates, your young adult years are some of the most formative of your whole life.  Today, you are just barely out of high school—still children in your own thinking.  Over the next 4-5 years, you will have some of the most important experiences and make some of the most important decisions of your life.  Decisions about college, work, career, marriage, children…  Choices that will chart the course of the rest of your life.  And you will be making these decisions for yourselves as adults, not under the direction of your parents.  (Of course your parents will still love and support and advise you, but it will be different than when you were a child.)  These are years you need faith and direction from God.  Don’t walk away from Him in these years when you need God the most.  Show up for Him (even if you doubt) and Jesus will show up for you just as He showed up for Thomas.

Faith and doubt can coexist.  Thomas’ story names our doubts and reminds us doubt isn’t the enemy of faith.  Honest questions can lead to stronger, deeper faith.  Jesus isn’t afraid of your questions; He welcomes them because he knows they are opportunities to be real and go deeper. 

Seek a Personal Faith
Being honest about your doubts and yet continuing to show up is how we seek a personal faith that’s real and makes a difference.  Thomas didn’t want to hang his hopes on the faith of the other apostles.  No, Thomas didn’t just want hearsay—he wanted his own experience with Jesus.  He wanted to touch Jesus’ wounds.  He wanted to see for himself.

And for us, seeing for ourselves builds a faith that is firm and real.  Having experienced the risen Christ for myself over the years steadies me through whatever difficulties I face.  I know Jesus is real because I talk to Him every day.  I have seen Him in countless moments of ministry.  And I have felt His comfort in the darkest nights of my soul.  But I want all of you to have your own personal faith in Jesus.  When troubles come or you ultimately face the dark day of death, you don’t want your faith to be something you borrowed from me (or anyone else).  You want it to be your own personal experience of the risen Jesus.  So keep on seeking your own personal relationship with Jesus.

For We Walk by Faith, Not by Sight
But even with that being said, I want you to know that relationship comes by faith, not by sight.  Jesus said, “Blessed are those who believe without seeing.”  Doubting Thomas was given a rare opportunity when Jesus showed up and said, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side.”  It doesn’t happen that way for most of us.  Most of us must learn to believe without seeing, but Jesus says it is a greater blessing when we do.

It is not that we believe blindly.  The evidence is there.  We can “see” Jesus in a myriad of moments.  I hope our graduates have “seen” Jesus in their parents’ love, in our congregation’s support, and in the ways we’ve worked together to bless our community.  Perhaps they have seen Jesus in their friends or in the way someone has walked through adversity.  When we view life through the lens of faith it can reveal the risen Christ among us and can equip us to face the unknown with incredible spiritual fortitude.  This is true blessing.

After graduation (and in life in general), the path is rarely clear.  There is very little growth or reward if we always remain hidden in the mediocrity of our comfort zones.  We must at least occasionally be bold and have the faith to step out and take some risks to be rewarded with the full blessing Jesus wants to bestow.

Doubting Thomas learned to walk by faith too.  His faith in Christ led him to walk all the way from Jerusalem to India (over 3,000 miles), sharing his faith in the resurrected Christ’s all along the way.  To this day, there are churches in Syria and India that trace their founding to Thomas’ ministry.

Where will your faith in Jesus lead you?  Learn to trust Jesus step by step, even when you can’t see the full picture.

Beautiful Scars
Thomas touched Jesus’ wounds.  How do we “touch” Jesus now?  I can think of several ways.  We can touch Him through worship.  We can touch Him through Scripture.  We can touch Him through the Church and through loving service.  We can touch Him through the sacraments—as we encourage one another through baptism and as we partake of His body and blood in Holy Communion.  We touch Him whenever we participate in any of these by faith and we can touch Him through the relationships we have with each other.

Notice, that Jesus didn’t hide His scars from Thomas or any of the disciples.  Jesus’ scars became proof of His identity.  His scars were beautiful scars because they showed how much He loves us.  Graduates (and everyone):  Perhaps you have some wounds of your own.  Perhaps you will receive new wounds in the days and years ahead.  But don’t forget this truth Jesus reveals:  Your wounds and experiences shape you. Jesus’ scars are proof that suffering is not erased by resurrection but transformed through it into something beautiful.

If you put your faith in Jesus, the scars you have now and whatever wounds you receive in the future can have meaning.  The pain is real, but Christ has the power to transform it all into something for which you will be eternally thankful and proudly display as a testament to the goodness of God.

The Call Forward
Jesus commissions all His disciples—even doubters.  As we read in Matthew 28:19-20 last week, Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all the nations,^[a] baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. ²⁰ Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Graduation is not the end—it’s the beginning of your mission.  Walk by faith.  Live with hope.  Go forth with courage.  And trust in the risen Lord.  This is a call forward for our graduates and for all of us.