Ezekiel 18:23

Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign LORD. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?

From Background Notes [BN] for April 13^th & 14^thwritten by Pastor Bob Brown:

The famous mathematician, Blaise Pascal, argued in his essay for what some philosophers call “The Decision Matrix,” known as Pascal’s Wager. Pascal said that all of us are finite human beings.

Revelation 22:15

Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

From Background Notes [BN] for April 13^th & 14^thwritten by Pastor Bob Brown:

Persons who willfully persist in the practice of sin, having been previously granted freedom to choose God instead, by their own decision place themselves outside the good world where God makes all things new.

1 Peter 1:8-9 (NRSV)

Although you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

From Background Notes [BN] for April 13^th & 14^th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

Our lives constantly deal with outcomes: how things turn out, and where our actions take us. Deeds have consequences, and the deeds of a whole life have ultimate consequences. Peter uses the Greek word telos…

1 Peter 1:6-7

In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

From Background Notes [BN] for April 6^th & 7^th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

Throughout his letter, Peter makes clear that the present is a time of suffering and trial, but also of mercy and mission for the world. We see this in 1:6 where he tells his readers to allow their “rejoicing” in hope to sustain them for “a little while” (Greek: oligon) in the present when they experience “grieving” (Greek: lupēthentes).

John 21:18-19

Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”

From Background Notes [BN] for April 6^th & 7^th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

Peter labored in Rome during the last portion of his life, and there died as a martyr. The death of Peter is attested by Tertullian at the end of the second century, and by Origen in Eusebius (Church History III.1).

John 21:11-12

So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord.

From Background Notes [BN] for April 6^th & 7^th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

What do you do when your past feels shameful, and the person you hurt the most is suddenly standing within ear-shot? Why, you do what Peter did. You find ways to avoid eye-contact! You get dressed!

 

John 13:36

Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, where are you going?" Jesus answered, "Where I am going, you cannot follow me now; but you will follow afterward"

From Background Notes [BN] for April 6^th & 7^th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

Rising from the dead, Jesus offered the future to his followers and to anybody else who would choose his agenda over their own. However, the future included dealing with what the disciples had done when the chips were down and they had messed up the mission — or so they thought.