Updated: 11/4/2024
Sermon Prep
Like I alluded to in the previous post, my fluctuating job changes put a lot of pressure on my wife Glory and I financially. We had to make budget cuts and figure things out because I quickly went from earning over 6 figures to then barely half that with this new role. The commission structure was set in such a way that I just couldn’t hit any of my numbers, along with the vast majority of the sales organization.
To make ends meet, we sold my brand new Honda Accord to get rid of car payments and bought a much more affordable car in cash. Also, cancelled my personal training with Nikki who is just the best. That was a tough pill to swallow because my training had never been better than with her directly coaching me for Strongman.
As far as this sermon goes, I did a lot of prep and research here because I was covering almost 80 verses which was a new high for me. Never had to cover so many dense verses up until this point. With that, here’s the notes and the recording:
Sermon Notes
Opening Line
- Read Proverbs 18:24.
- Who is closer than a brother to you?
Intro
- Andrew and Daniel are closer than brothers.
Transition To Main Point
- There are those closer than a brother and brothers who will never be close.
Main Point
- Peter was closer than a brother to Jesus, but Judas was a traitor and kind of sus.
- Luke 22:1-2 | Setting the Scene
- Define the feast, Passover; Seder.
- Lazarus was last straw; Caiaphas prophecy.
- Feared the people ready for revolution.
- Luke 22:3-6 | Operation Kill Jesus
- Judas was demon-possessed because he wasn’t a believer and was outside God’s grace.
- They wanted secrecy to avoid a revolt.
- Luke 22:7-13 | Mission: Impossible – Passover
- Seder prep usually took all day.
- What’s missing here? -> Observing without family.
- Luke 22:14-23 | Communion and Covenant
- A meal with those close preceded communion.
- Introduces the new covenant, while the kingdom of God is nearly here.
- Judas snuck away before communion unsuspected.
- Luke 22: 24-30 | Who is Greatest
- The previous questioning leads to dispute.
- Jesus washed their feet before meal.
- The world uses people, but we serve people.
- Luke 22:31-34 | Peter’s Denial Foretold
- Did Satan want to possess Peter, not Jesus?
- Peter believed he was steadfast and committed.
- Jesus knew Peter was overconfident.
- Luke 22:35-38 | Swords and Sandals
- Jesus is referring to Isaiah 53:12.
- The disciples thought Jesus would overthrow Rome.
- Luke 22:39-46 | Temptation Before Trial
- Small oil press surrounded by olive trees.
- Desert temptation prepared Jesus for this night.
- Disciples gave into temptation to give up hope.
- Luke 22:47-53 | Betrayal and Arrest
- The kiss was an act of greeting and honor.
- Peter thought this was the violent overthrow.
- Luke 22:54-62 | Peter Denies Jesus
- Only Peter followed, while the others fled.
- Peter was closer than a brother, yet denies it.
- Luke 22:63-71 | Better Call Paul
- By twilight, Jesus had friends and a sacred dinner.
- By day Jesus was alone, betrayed, and broken.
Why This Matters
- Sometimes those closest to us can hurt us the most.
- Jesus expected Judas to betray him, yet Peter’s denial probably hurt more.
- There’s a difference between a distant acquaintance and those closer than brothers.
- That intimate level of belonging opens you up to the greatest helps and hurts to the soul.
- Read John 15:12-13
- Love is sacrificial.
- Now go and love in spite of the cost.
Final Thoughts
I had a lot of passion going into this one. The topic of Peter and Jesus in general is endlessly fascinating. But I do think we as a team tried to rush our study in Luke and crammed too much material into the last final messages. There’s just too much to cover near the end of the book. Either way, I still really liked this message, but it was too long and just too much to follow. With that, Godspeed and Jesus bless.
chris cribari blog 
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