June 14, 2026
Chiseled by Failure

Luke 22:31-34 (NIV)

"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."
But he replied, "Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death."
Jesus answered, "I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me."

Luke 22:54-62 (NIV)

Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, "This man was with him."
But he denied it. "Woman, I don't know him," he said.
A little later someone else saw him and said, "You also are one of them."
"Man, I am not!" Peter replied.
About an hour later another asserted, "Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean."
Peter replied, "Man, I don't know what you're talking about!" Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: "Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times." And he went outside and wept bitterly.

Luke 22:33 (NIV)

But he [Simon Peter] replied, "Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death."

John 21:15 (NIV)

When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?"
"Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."

John 21:16 (NIV)

Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you love me?"
He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep."

John 21:17 (NIV)

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.


Failure is not final.

Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)

For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Hebrews 7:25 (NIV)

Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.

June 7, 2026

Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)

For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Chiseled by Correction

Matthew 16:22-23 (NIV)

Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. "Never, Lord!" he said. "This shall never happen to you!"
Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns."

God builds people not only through affirmation, but through loving correction.

God's correction is a blessing that leads to abundant life.

Peter gets revelation, but still lacks maturity.

Matthew 16:16 (NIV)

Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God."

Jesus corrects Peter's thinking.

Matthew 16:23 (NIV)

Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns."

Peter wants Jesus without the cross.

Matthew 16:24 (NIV)

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.

Matthew 17:1 (NIV)

After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves.

May 31, 2026
Chiseled by the Call

Matthew 4:17 (NIV)

From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near."

Matthew 4:18 (NIV)

As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.

Matthew 4:19 (NKJV)

Then He said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men."

1. Following Jesus (submission to His authority)

2. Being transformed by Him ("I will make you")

3. Mission to others ("fishers of people")

He knows what's in you because He put it in you.

Matthew 4:20 (NIV)

At once they left their nets and followed him.

Bad habits have a cost; good habits have a price

Matthew 4:21 (NIV)

Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them,

Matthew 4:22 (NIV)

and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

Movements start with movement

Matthew 16:24-25 (NIV)

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.

Matthew 19:29 (NIV)

And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.

Romans 12:1 (NIV)

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God--this is your true and proper worship.

What do you need to leave behind to answer the call of Jesus?

Acts 4:13 (KJV)

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.