Joe Barnett

Simon son of John, do you love me?                               —John 21:17 Many a sermon has hammered Peter for his failures. He sank like a rock when fear trumped faith in his water-walking fiasco. He denied friendship with Jesus three times during […]

In all of this, Job did not| sin by blaming God.            —Job 1:22 You won’t find a better man than Job: “[He] was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil” (Jb 1:1). Yet, he lost everything. His ranch was raided, his servants were killed, all ten of his

I tell you a mystery. —1 Corinthians 15:51 Surprises! You’ve had your share of them. Some of them filled you with apprehension, others with joy. Some caused you to sob, others made you laugh. Try to imagine the reactions to the following surprises. When Adam and Eve stood by Abel’s fresh grave. When Enoch’s footprints

Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.                  —Mark 16:15 We interrupt this program to bring you a reminder that the part of the world in which you live is not the whole world but only a small piece of the big

The tongue is a small thing, but what enormous damage it can do.                          —James 3:5 A piercing scream came from the rambunctious little girl’s bedroom. Dad rushed to the room and found his daughter in tears. “What’s wrong?” he asked. “I burnt my

You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world.          —Matthew 5:13, 14 Having named eight character traits of discipleship, Jesus now illustrates how those who possess them exert a positive influence in the world. The Christian is to be vigilant in keeping “from being polluted by

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.                    —Matthew 5:10 It’s quite a jump from being a peacemaker to being a victim of persecution; from the endeavor to live peaceably to the experience of hostility. The operational words

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.                     —Matthew 5:9 A peacemaker is, first of all, one who refuses to be a disrupter of peace. “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Eph

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.    —Matthew 5:8 “Who may stand in [God’s] holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart” (Ps 24:3, 4). Jesus said, “Out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what defile a

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.              —Matthew 5:7 Viewing someone with disapproval and thinking, “If I were you, I would [do such and such].” No! If I were you, I would feel and act exactly as you are feeling and acting. Being merciful is changing