Table of contents for Brave New Ministry

1. Brave New Ministry: Part 1 – Pharisees
2. Brave New Ministry: Part 2 – People
3. Brave New Ministry: Part 3 – Paternity
4. Brave New Ministry: Part 4 – Prayer
5. Brave New Ministry: Part 5 – Pain
6. Brave New Ministry: Part 6 – Persecution

We continue in our discussion of “Brave New Ministry” by talking about people. It’s easy for us to forget that the people we serve are the lambs and sheep of the world Christ charged us to love. If we are to truly embrace the world in a brave new ministry we must not forget who they are and how we a charged to love them.

John 21:15-17 Do You Love Me?

15 After breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon [uses the old name, not Peter which means rock], son of John, do you [LOVE, sacrificially, unconditionally, take a bullet] love me more than these [others around]?” “Yes, Master, you know I [feel, got your back] love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” 16 He then asked a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you [LOVE, sacrificially, unconditionally, take a bullet] love me?” “Yes, Master, you know I [I've got feelings for you; got your back] love you.” Jesus said, “Shepherd my sheep.”

17-19 Then he said it a third time: “Simon, son of John, do you [have feelings for you; have my back] love me?” Peter was upset that he asked for the third time, “Do you love me?” so he answered, “Master, you know everything there is to know. You’ve got to know that I [I've got feelings for you; got your back] love you.”