Christian Questions Bible Podcast

In our last episode, we examined the deep lessons Jesus was teaching his apostles when he appeared to seven of them after his resurrection while they were fishing. His miracle of orchestrating the massive catch of fish was a direct throwback to his fishing miracle three years before, when Simon Peter finally gave up fishing to exclusively follow Jesus. The first fishing miracle was a message about giving up all else to follow Jesus and to learn to be fishers of men. The second fishing miracle was a message to now become those fishers of men and step up to lead and preach. Jesus’ next direct conversation with Peter in that context was his questioning the depth of Peter’s love for him. Why would Jesus ask such questions right after showing such confidence in Peter and the other disciples?

Do you love me?

In this episode, we dive more deeply into that shoreline moment, uncovering how intentionally Jesus shaped Peter’s restoration and future calling. Jesus was purposefully reconstructing his memories. The miraculous catch mirrored Peter’s first call to discipleship, and now it marked the beginning of his call to preach and lead. From this setting, Jesus began reshaping Peter’s identity. Jesus asked three questions about love, but they were not repetitive. When Jesus asked, “Do you love me?” using the Greek word agapao, he was calling Peter to the self‑giving love that reflects God’s own character. Peter’s reply, using the Greek phileo, revealed great humility, as he no longer claimed more than he could live up to. Jesus accepted that sincerity and immediately entrusted Peter with responsibility: “Feed my lambs.”

The mission expands

Each question from Jesus expanded Peter’s mission. First, he was to feed the lambs—the youngest and most vulnerable followers of Jesus. Then he was to tend the sheep—guiding, guarding and keeping the maturing flock together. Finally, he was to feed the sheep—nourishing the entire community. These layers show Jesus moving Peter from follower to shepherd, from affection to sacrificial responsibility, resulting in a lifetime of powerful spiritual leadership.

Key Takeaways

Jesus intentionally recreated Peter’s past to prepare him for future leadership.

Peter’s honest phileo response became the foundation Jesus built upon.

Jesus gave three escalating responsibilities: “Feed my lambs”—care for the vulnerable. “Tend my sheep” — guide and protect the maturing. “Feed my sheep” — nourish the whole flock.

This moment was about healing shame, but it was also about commissioning leadership.

Being given the holy spirit at Pentecost would empower Peter to fulfill this calling.

The crucifixion of Jesus was an event that absolutely overwhelmed his apostles and disciples. Even though Jesus had forewarned them of what was coming, they were still taken by complete surprise. In his great wisdom, Jesus arranged his post-resurrection appearances in such a way as to them to show them not only who he was, but what was to come. It is fascinating to see how he revealed more and more about their future with each appearance. When we get to his third appearance to a group of his apostles, Jesus came to them as they were fishing. What he did and what he taught related to fishing gave them a pointed and powerful lesson regarding their future!

In this episode, we slow down and walk through John 21 step‑by‑step, noticing how Jesus masterfully uses a familiar setting—the Sea of Galilee—to reshape the apostles’ understanding of their calling. These men were back on their home turf, doing the work they knew best, yet they were also in a season of uncertainty. Jesus had risen, but he was no longer walking with them daily. They were waiting, wondering and trying to make sense of what came next. Into that moment of confusion and routine, Jesus stepped with purpose.

What unfolds is far more than a miraculous catch of fish.

It is a deliberate echo of an earlier moment—another empty night, another unexpected instruction, another overwhelming catch. By placing these two fishing events side‑by‑side, we can see how Jesus revealed how far the apostles had come and how much further they were about to go. The first miracle had been a call to follow. This one was a call to lead.

Through this encounter, Jesus showed them that their future work would require obedience even when the instructions seemed unusual, trust even when the results were unseen, and courage even when the task felt too large to carry. He reminded them that success in their new mission would never come from their own expertise, but from listening to his voice—even when they didn’t immediately recognize it.

This appearance at the Sea of Galilee becomes a living illustration about discipleship, leadership and the kind of faith required to become true “fishers of men.” It is a story of preparation and commissioning, and it still speaks powerfully to anyone seeking direction in seasons of waiting or uncertainty.

Key Takeaways

Jesus meets his followers where they are, often in the ordinary rhythms of life, to reveal extraordinary truth.

The two fishing miracles act as bookends – one calling the apostles to follow, the other preparing them to lead.

Obedience precedes understanding – the apostles cast the net before they knew it was Jesus speaking.

The “right side” symbolizes divine authority, reminding us that true success comes from God’s direction, not human expertise.

Seasons of waiting are not wasted – Jesus uses them to prepare us for the next stage of our calling.

Leadership in Christ’s service requires humility, dependence on his guidance and willingness to act even when the outcome is unclear.

There are many Bible accounts that have gathered a lot of attention over centuries because of their dramatic content. Cain and Abel, Noah and the Ark and David and Goliath are all powerful and dramatic Old Testament accounts filled with action. Two New Testament are Jesus in the manger and Jesus on the cross. All of these named stories show us a hero and their experiences. Then we have “Doubting Thomas.” Here was an apostle who did not betray Jesus and who was ultimately faithful to his calling, and yet we know him as the doubter. Is this a fair and unbiased way to be remembering one of Jesus’ closest followers? Was Thomas that far off from faithfulness so as to be labeled as a doubter?

Not a lot of information

Thomas’ specific actions or words appear only three times in Scripture. The first two instances in John 11 and John 14 reveal a disciple who has courage, loyalty and a deep desire to stay close to Jesus. It is the third instance that causes so many to see him as a doubter.

Thomas was absent during Jesus’ first resurrection appearance to the other ten apostles. The disciples joyfully reported, “We have seen the Lord,” but Thomas—traumatized, grieving and left out of that experience—could not process their claim. His statement, “I will not believe,” is a Greek conditional phrase meaning, “I am not able to believe unless…”—a cry of emotional impossibility, not rebellion.

A personal demonstration

Eight days later, Jesus appeared again and immediately addressed Thomas with compassion, not rebuke. He invited Thomas to examine his wounds, offering the same evidence the others received. Jesus gently dismantled Thomas’ doubt step by step, showing that honest struggle is always met with personalized grace. Thomas responded with one of the strongest declarations of faith in the New Testament: “My Lord and my God.”

Thomas’ story teaches five belief lessons about how Jesus builds faith, not by shaming doubt but by meeting it with truth and patience. Ultimately, Thomas became a model of how doubt, when brought to Jesus, can lead to deeper conviction and a more resilient faith.

Key Takeaways

Thomas’ doubt was rooted in trauma, not rebellion.

Jesus treats honest doubt differently from hard‑hearted resistance.

Thomas asked only for the same evidence the other disciples received.

Jesus responds with compassion, personalization and invitation.

Thomas’ final confession is one of the strongest expressions of faith in Scripture.

We believe he should be called ‘Discerning Thomas’ or ‘Faithful Thomas”!

God is watching over me. God’s got this. The Lord will take care of it. These are all expressions of faith in God’s overruling care for us. While this kind of faith is something we should all strive for, the question remains as to what makes these statements true. Just because I say, “God will take care of it,” does that mean it is absolutely going to happen? Are there things that I personally need to have in place for God’s providence to be reality, or does saying this with conviction qualify as having enough faith? Is there a difference between our believing in God’s attentive care and His actual giving of His attentive care?

The quiet way God leads us

The episode explores these questions by reminding us that God’s providence (His holy and wise supervision of all things) is not something we activate with confident phrases. His care unfolds within His character, His timing and His purposes—not our expectations. Israel’s 40 years in the wilderness becomes a vivid example. God fed them, sustained them and disciplined them, but none of it happened on their preferred schedule. Much of His care was quiet, even unnoticed, until they looked back and realized how thoroughly He had carried them. Providence, in other words, often feels ordinary while it is happening and only becomes obvious in hindsight.

When God’s providence arrives as hardship

Jesus’ preparation follows the same pattern. Before his ministry began, he faced hunger, misapplied Scripture and the lure of an easier path. None of these experiences looked like “providence” in the moment, yet each one shaped him for the work ahead. The episode emphasizes that God’s providence sometimes arrives as difficulty rather than relief—not because God is distant, but because He is forming something deeper in us than comfort. Jesus refused shortcuts, refused to manipulate God’s promises and refused to step outside his Father’s will. Only after the testing did the angels come to minister to him. That order matters.

Christians do not command providence; we receive it. We don’t decree outcomes or speak miracles into existence. Instead, we place ourselves where God’s guidance can reach us—by obeying what we already know, by waiting when the way is unclear and by trusting that God’s care is active even when it feels hidden.

Key Takeaways

God’s providence follows His timing and purposes, not our declarations.

Israel’s wilderness years show that God’s care is often quiet and recognized later.

Jesus’ temptations reveal that hardship can be part of God’s preparing grace.

We receive providence through obedience and patience, not by forcing outcomes.

True providence shapes us to follow God’s will, even when the path is difficult.

Let’s get practical. For most of us, the largest portion of our waking hours is spent working in one way or another to support ourselves and our household. Whether we are in a trade or at a desk, whether we are engaged in a service or retail or farming, building, manufacturing or raising children or going to school or freelancing, most of us are tied to the responsibility of investing time into our physical care. Now, if we are truly dedicated Christians, we know our primary responsibility is to God through Christ. How do we make these seemingly contradictory investments of our time work in perfect harmony? How do we fully live our Christianity while involved in spiritually mundane activities? What does my Christianity look and sound like when I am simply taking care of business?

One way to best frame the answer to these questions is to lay out what it looks like for a Christian to be an ideal employer or employee. By using the word “IDEAL” as an acronym, we can appreciate the guidelines we should strive for.

I.D.E.A.L.

Integrity, Diligence, Excellence, Attitude, Leadership—These attributes are a framework for living out faith at work.

Integrity is described as wholeness and consistency. Integrity is not an idea; it is a decision.

Diligence builds on integrity by turning conviction into sustained action. It is “urgent devotion,” not passive effort. Christian workplace diligence comes from seeking God’s will first!

Excellence is not just an ideal; it is an attainable reality and can be achieved even when the conditions of our work environment are lacking. Jesus is our example of excellence, and he should be ever present in our minds while we work.

Attitude is not just an emotional state; it is a driving force. The prophet Daniel is a powerful example of a godly attitude while he positively served the kingdom he was a captive of for his entire life.

Leadership is not just for those in front; it can be a privilege for all! When we work with Integrity, Diligence, Excellence and Attitude, we ARE leading by example!

Faith at work is revealed not primarily through words but through character—how we show up, how we treat others, how we handle pressure, and how we honor God in the mundane. 

Key Takeaways:

Integrity is being the same person in every setting.

Diligence is action, not emotion

Excellence comes from always truly applying our best efforts

Attitude is a powerful force that can change an environment

Leadership is a result of all these things in action

Faith at work begins internally, with Scripture, discipline and purpose.