Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these? Yes, Lord, he said, you know that I love you. Jesus said, Feed my lambs. Again Jesus said, Simon son of John, do you truly love me? He answered, Yes, Lord, you know that I love you. Jesus said, Take care of my sheep. The third time he said to him, Simon son of John, do you love me? Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, Do you love me? He said, Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you. Jesus said, Feed my sheep.
John 21:15-17
Jesus also said: “If you love me, you will obey what I command.”
John 14:15
To be a Christian doesn’t just mean believing certain doctrines or attending church. It means loving Jesus. And he asks us today what he asked Peter so long ago: “Do you love me?” Love is a response of the whole person. We know about Jesus with our minds and we should feel love towards him with our emotions. But we show our love by obeying what he commands – in the way we live our lives, the way we choose our priorities, the way we relate to other people, including those we find difficult or hurtful.
It is possible to be very religious, to know our Bibles and our doctrine very well and to live a good life, but to neglect that priority of spending time alone with Jesus expressing our love and growing in that love.
This section is about being devoted to Jesus and what that means.
If you have questions or comments, feel free to write to my blog.
Articles are arranged according to subject and to whether they are:
1. Short popular articles for the general reader
2. Longer popular articles for the general reader
3. More academic articles where relevant
Teaching about Following Jesus
Teaching on Being Filled with the Spirit
Short popular articles for the general reader
Teaching on Bible Reading
Short popular articles for the general reader
Teaching on Dealing with Fear
Short popular articles for the general reader
- Coping with fear (pdf)
Teaching on Dedication
Short popular articles for the general reader
- Doing the Word
- “Ever only all for Thee”
- Self-indulgence
- Supermarket culture
- Is self-fulfilment a Christian concern?
- Normal Christianity
- Spiritual checklist on the Commandments (pdf)
- The importance of the will
Teaching on Faith
Short popular articles for the general reader
Teaching on Fear of God
Short popular articles for the general reader
Teaching on Forgiveness and Reconciliation
Short popular articles for the general reader
Teaching on Guidance
Short popular articles for the general reader
Teaching on Justice
Short popular articles for the general reader
Teaching on Knowing Christ
Short popular articles for the general reader
Teaching on Love
Short popular articles for the general reader
- Blessed are the meek (pdf)
- Love – a meditation
- Should wives submit to their husbands?
- The more excellent way – a challenge to men
- The sin of gossip
- A discovery of mercy (pdf; Summary)
- Love in complicated – but good for you!
Teaching on Materialism
Short popular articles for the general reader
Teaching on Preparation for Communion
Short popular articles for the general reader
Teaching on Worship
Short popular articles for the general reader
Teaching on Other Subjects
Short popular articles for the general reader
Teaching about Dealing with Suffering
Short popular articles for the general reader.
- The New Testament approach to undeserved opposition or oppression (pdf)
- Dealing with bitterness
- “Patient in Tribulation” A meditation
- How can I know if I’ve forgiven or if I’m holding resentment?
Teaching related to the Church Year
Short popular articles for the general reader.
- Why Christmas?
- Is Christmas pagan?
- Jesus wants you for a sunbeam! (Epiphany)
- Do we really believe it? (Good Friday)
- I don’t believe it (Good Friday)
- He is risen! (Easter)
- Jesus is victor (Easter)
- The silent power of God (Easter)
- Christianity is supernatural (Pentecost)
- Cowards can become heroes (Pentecost
- Do Christians believe in three gods? (Trinity)