“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to Me again, strengthen your brothers.” Peter said, “Lord, I am ready to go to prison with You, and even to die with You.” But Jesus said, “Peter, let Me tell you something. Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know Me.”
Luke 22:31-34
Here is a very familiar passage which I am sure you have read many times before. G Campbell Morgan, a British preacher and Bible scholar (9 Dec 1863 – 16 May 1945) said you should read any passage of the Bible at least 50 times before you preach on it. I wonder how many times you have read this passage. Conversely I wonder how many times you have heard this passage preached. I am sure a number of times, at least in churches which faithfully preach the Word of God. Therefore you have a fair idea of what this passage is about. But I wonder if you have ever grappled with the text yourself or merely heard someone else’s opinion of what is found in this text.
I have been spending time preparing the next level of Deeper Bible where we focus on how to rightly interpret the Word of God. Establish the text first and then sort out the interpretation. So I throw this one out to you as a tester. Most often we are happy to receive someone else’s interpretation on what a passage means.
Spend some time pondering this brief passage before I dissect it for you. It is a short section that is packed with interesting things to be found. I will give you a couple of days to explore it to see what you can find and then I will pull it apart for you. Remember to use all the skills and approaches we have used in Bible GemS (and in Deeper Bible) thus far. See what you can find. As I tell Deeper Bible students, pay attention to the big picture and take note of the details at the same time. Look in all directions. Test yourself and see what gems you can find hidden in the text by yourself.
You need to go deeper before God can take you higher. Its the principle needed for the foundations of all tall buildings.
Ian Vail
Conditions are never just right. People who delay action until all factors are favourable do nothing!
Anon
Only 5-10% of people will push themselves into the zone of discomfort; these are always the highest performers in every field!
Rick Godwin
Go out on a limb. That’s where the fruit is.
Jimmy Carter
The only difference between stumbling blocks and stepping-stones is the way you use them.
Ian Vail
Choose to make the rest of your life, the best of your life.
Jamie Dunn
I never teach my pupils; I only attempt to provide the conditions in which they can learn.
Albert Einstein