Posts by John Stephen Smith

Peter’s Metamorphosis It is now time for Peter to stand on his own instead of in the shadows. Now is the moment Christ had envisioned for him when he gave him the name “Rock” & underscoring that in his reinstatement after the resurrection that he would follow Christ, fish for souls, feed the sheep, & die for the name of Christ. From Passover to Pentecost, a period of 50 days, Peter has now processed the teachings of the Lord that…

Peter’s Metamorphosis “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.” These are among Jesus’ most potent and challenging teachings while he was here on earth. They ring out as a warning to us as well as those who heard them in the first century. They are both encouraging as we contemplate Jesus acknowledging us as one of his own before…

Peter’s Metamorphosis Today, we will look at several of the steps Peter took up until the time of the cross, noting both the good and the bad experiences that shaped him ultimately into the “rock” that Jesus envisioned. By revealing both the positive and negative experiences in his development, we will see quite clearly how human he was, how much like him we are at times, but also see the transforming power of Christ to use all kinds of experiences…

Peter’s Metamorphosis Peter is one of the great Bible heroes. Yet, he was very, very, very human – a guy many of us could easily relate to, due to the ups and downs of his spiritual struggle. We’re calling this series, “Peter’s Metamorphosis” as his development into a strong leader was not an immediate one. For him to blossom into the dynamic apostle who opened the gates of Christ’s kingdom on the day of Pentecost in Jerusalem, was the result…

Let’s take the proactive look and learn how to stay “attentive to anxiety.” We will learn how to do this from two of the more complete teachings in the Bible (one from Jesus, the other from the Apostle Paul) on handling the worries and anxieties that come from life. Matthew 6:19-34 Many worries start with A__________________________. “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth… But store up treasures in heaven…For where your treasure is, there your heart will be…

I must avoid anxiety like the plague that it is! In dealing with the Evil One, the Bible says we are to “resist” Satan and “he will flee from us.” That’s the attitude we need for anxiety as well – one of resistance and avoidance! Here are some steps to take. STEP ONE: ACKNOWLEDGE ANXIETY’S A______________________________ EFFECTS. From the writings of Charles Stanley, a well-known Preacher, comes these 7 harmful effects: Anxiety B_________________________ the mind. Anxiety slows your C__________________________________________________. Anxiety…

Where does my anxiety come from? Where did something this frightening get its start? How has it had such control over my mind? If I could just get some understanding as to its causes, maybe I could start to get a handle on how it is affecting me mentally, physically & spiritually. Important Distinction: Anxiety is not a A_______________________, but a B_______________________________! There’s something deeper inside you that is causing the anxiety, the restless nights, the confused mind, the shakiness…

We begin this study with seven foundational passages from the Bible to fortify our spirit until we can delve deeper into the causes, effects, and answers to living with an anxious spirit. There are many more scriptures than these seven and even more specific ones, but here are some to help your mind find peace, with 1 Peter 5:7 being our theme verse for this series. 7 Verses to Sustain Your Peace of Mind: “Give your A_____________________ to the Lord…

Train Yourself The Lord stood at my side and gave me strength” 2 Timothy 4:17 We now come to a great paradox in understanding the will of God. We are to train ourselves but not focus on ourselves. We are to train to be strong but rely on God to strengthen us. We are to train ourselves to be courageous and take a stand but do so in total surrender and humility to God’s will. This training of self is…

Train Yourself “Set an example in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity” 1 Timothy 4:12 Read the context of 1 Timothy 4:6-16 to get the full picture. At its simplest, godliness is taking on God’s character. It is imitating God. This has been the essence of godly living from the earliest times. The Old Testament law was premised on this injunction: “Be holy for I am holy.” In the New Testament it is the same. In Ephesians 4:24 Paul tells…