The Acts 13 Network

About The Acts 13 Network

The audio home of The Acts 13 Network.

Publisher

The Acts 13 Network

Category

religion & spirituality

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

15 Feb 2023

Latest episode

11 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

163 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   11 Oct 2026

   Believing is Seeing and Believing is Life - Breakfast on the Beach

   This is the penultimate message in our Gospel of John series — yes, I just like saying penultimate. We're in chapter 21, which, honestly, feels a little tacked on. John 20 ended so perfectly that scholars have been wrestling with chapter 21 ever since. I leave that mystery unresolved and just jump in: Jesus on the beach, the guys fishing all night, catching nothing. And that's what makes this little scene the living illustration of John 15 — "apart from me you can do nothing." The disciples go back to their self-reliant routine, lean on their own strength and generations of fishing expertise, and the nets come up empty. Then the man on the shore says, "Throw your net on the right side," they move it four feet, and it's filled to overflowing. I talk about what it really means to abide: Brother Lawrence washing the pots for decades and learning what he called practicing the presence of Christ. I share the C. S. Lewis line that apart from the Eucharist, the most holy thing you come in contact with throughout the week is your neighbor. And then there's Peter — putting his clothes back on before swimming to Jesus, because he recognized that breakfast on the beach with the risen Christ was a holy moment. My challenge for you this week: tomorrow morning — when you open your laptop, make breakfast, or start your commute — take a breath and pray, "Lord, I am available to you right here." There are no ordinary moments when we practice the presence of Christ. Scripture: John 21:1–14 In this message: Why John 21 feels tacked on — and why the Bible's messiness is part of the fun of taking it seriously The two unnamed disciples (and John's little slight) What "apart from me you can do nothing" looks like in a fishing boat Brother Lawrence, the pots, and practicing the presence of Christ Why Peter got dressed to go swimming How breakfast on the beach became holy ground — Daniel Listen to more messages: Peace Presbyterian Church — https://peacepresflint.com/sermons Acts 13 Network — https://acts13.net/messages

2. 

   6 Oct 2026

   Believing is Seeing and Believing is Life - Believing is Seeing

   Happy Easter. Yes, I know it's October. This week I'm in John 20 — the pinnacle of John's Gospel, and the story of that first Easter morning. Mary Magdalene comes to the tomb while it is still dark, in chaos and heartbreak and fear, and she finds the stone rolled away. What follows is a story about grief, unmet expectations, and how easy it is to miss the presence of Christ even when he's standing right in front of us. I walk through John's quiet trajectory of sight in the Greek — from blepei (just noticing), to theorei (really looking, evaluating), to eiden (seeing and believing) — and why Mary couldn't recognize Jesus until she heard him say her name. From there we sit with the disciples behind locked doors, and with Thomas a week later. I don't think Thomas is really doubting so much as making a declaration out of his grief, the way we do: If God were real, why would this happen? And Jesus doesn't shame him for it. He meets him with a gracious invitation: "Come to me. Put your finger here. Stop doubting and believe." We land where John lands — with the final beatitude: "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed" (John 20:29). We believe, and then we begin to see the hand of God all over our lives. Resurrection faith gives us sight. Believing is indeed seeing. Scripture: John 20:1–31 In this message: Why the angels never get to say "Do not be afraid" to Mary Yes, John really did make sure we know he outran Peter (three times) How grief and unmet expectations can blind us to Christ's presence Why we need to be listening for our Shepherd to call us by name What it means to live as the blessed who believe without seeing If you're walking through grief or a season of unmet expectations right now, I pray this meets you where you are. He will meet you there, too. — Daniel Listen to more messages: Peace Presbyterian Church — https://peacepresflint.com/sermons Acts 13 Network — https://acts13.net/messages

3. 

   27 Sept 2026

   Believing is Seeing and Believing is Life - The King We Need

   Have you ever listened to a hymn or a piece of music that ends on an unresolved note? Rather than finishing with a tidy, comfortable chord, it leaves you sitting in a moment of tension and reflection. In today’s episode, we explore John chapters 18 and 19, walking through the final night and hours of Jesus’ earthly life—from his arrest in the dark of the Garden of Gethsemane to his trial before Pilate and his ultimate enthronement on Calvary. As we look at the powerful contrast between earthly power and divine authority, we wrestle with a central, challenging truth: The King we need is rarely the King we want. Jesus reigns not by conquering his enemies through force, but by laying down his life in self-sacrificial love. Key Takeaways & Highlights Authority in the Darkness: When a detachment of hundreds of Roman soldiers arrived in Gethsemane, Jesus stepped forward unarmed. At the simple declaration of His name—Ego Eimi ("I am He")—an army drew back and fell to the ground. Jesus was never a victim of circumstances; He maintained absolute authority to the end. The Temptation of Earthly Power: Peter’s impulse to draw a sword in the garden reflects our own constant desire for a king who flexes physical force and worldly dominance. When Jesus refused to fight according to human standards, Peter’s courage failed, leading to his denial in the high priest's courtyard. "We Have No King But Caesar": Exploring the tragic turning point in John 19 where the religious leaders formally reject God as their ruler—echoing 1 Samuel 8—and choose allegiance to Rome’s power over the Kingdom of God. Enthroned on Calvary: Why the cross was not a moment of defeat or shame, but Jesus' crowning moment of glory, where He defeated sin and death once and for all. It Is Finished (Tetelestai): Understanding that Jesus yielded His own spirit; His life was not taken, but willingly given as an act of grace and redemption. Timestamps 00:00 – The power of an unresolved song & entering John 18–19 03:15 – Scene 1: Light in the darkness – The arrest in the garden 08:40 – "I AM HE" – Divine authority on display before 600 soldiers 13:20 – Peter’s sword vs. Jesus’ cup: Why we crave a different kind of king 18:05 – Standing before Pilate & the tragic declaration: "We have no king but Caesar" 24:30 – The cross as enthronement: Global proclamation written in Aramaic, Latin, and Greek 29:15 – "It is Finished" – Jesus yields His spirit 33:50 – Reflections: Where in your life are you dethroning the King you need? Reflection Questions for the Week Where in your life are you tempted to demand a Savior who serves your personal agenda rather than bowing to the King of the Cross? How do we, as modern believers, subtly declare "we have no king but Caesar" when faced with earthly fear, politics, or cultural pressure? How does knowing Jesus retained total authority over His life and death give you peace in your current circumstances? Scripture References John 18:1–11 – The arrest of Jesus in the garden John 18:15–27 – Peter’s denial & Jesus before the High Priest John 18:28–19:16 – The trial before Pontius Pilate John 19:17–30 – The Crucifixion of Christ 1 Samuel 8 – Israel demands an earthly king Connect & Subscribe If this message encouraged or challenged you, please leave a rating and review on Spotify, share this episode with a friend, and hit the Follow button so you never miss an episode!

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