There is a common sight across the southeast region of the United States.  It is a trio of crosses placed in a field near a highway or crossroads.  They are the work of a man named Bernard Coffindaffer.  He was a veteran of WWII and Iwo Jima.  When he came back from the war, he came to know Christ as his savior.  He became a successful businessman but never lost his gratitude for what Jesus did for us.

He spent his personal fortune to erect more than 1,800 trios of crosses.

But what is the significance of these three crosses?

The Final Word

“The Crosses of Calvary”

John 19:16b-18

1. The cross of rejection: one died in sin
2. The cross of reception: one died to sin
3. The cross of redemption: one died for sin

Tom Watson Jr., CEO of IBM between 1956 and 1971, was a key figure in the information revolution. Watson repeatedly demonstrated his abilities as a leader.

One example of his skill as a leader had to do with a young executive who made some bad decisions that cost the company several million dollars. He was summoned to Watson’s office.  He fully expected that he would be fired. As he entered the office, the young executive said to Watson, “I suppose after that set of mistakes you will want to fire me.” Watson was said to have replied,  “Fire you?!  Not at all, young man, we have just spent a couple of million dollars educating you” (Source: Edgar Schein in his book, Organisational Culture and Leadership). 

Watson was telling the young executive that he was more valuable now than before.  His failures were not final. 

Let’s face it, we have all failed.  The devil would have you think that that your failures are final—that you are of no value to the Lord.  But that’s a lie.  God is too compassionate, too redeeming for that.  He says to us, “Your failures need not be final.  There is more for you to do!”

The biography of Peter is a case study of the truth that “failure is not final.”  Today we will look at Peter’s life and find encouragement for our own.

The Final Word

“Failure Is Not Final”

John 18:15-18 and 25-27

1. Dangerous confidence
2. Disheartening collapse
3. Deep contrition
4. Dynamic comeback

In recent years our nation has been rocked by a string of mass shootings—Stoneman Douglas High School, Charleston, SC, Newton, CT, Virginia Tech, and the list goes on.  From these horrific incidents, some touching stories of courage and self-sacrifice have surfaced.

On December 2, 2015 county employees in San Bernadino, CA had gathered for a Christmas party.  Two gunmen stormed the center where they were gathered and opened fire on the unsuspecting crowd.  In the melee, coworkers Denise Peraza and Shannon Johnson took refuge behind an over-turned chair.  Shannon, an old Georgia boy, wrapped his arm around Denise and said, “I got you.”  With that, a bullet struck him.  He died while sheltering Denise.  She credits him with saving her life. 

This morning I want to show you that God in Christ would gladly wrap you in His embrace.  Despite all that it cost Him, He still says, “I got you.  I got you.”  John 18:1-11 shows us plainly that He will die that we might live.

La  Carrera de La  Fe

2 Timoteo 4:6-8

Hebreos 12:1-2

1. UNA CARRERA PUBLICA

1. UNA CARRERA PERSONAL

• UNA CARRERA PURA

1. UNA CARRERA PESADA

1. UNA CARRERA ENFOCADA

I’ve always been fascinated by people’s last words.  I heard last week about a Union General during the Civil War.  His name was John Sedgwick.  He was a respected and high-ranking general.  In 1864 he led his troops to Spotsylvania, Virginia for one of the last battles of the war. 

Confederate sharpshooters had been peppering the area all morning on May 9, wounding, among others, General William Morris. Staff officers cautioned Sedgwick not to approach the road, but he disregarded their warnings in his desire to encourage his men to face the enemy.  When his men warned him to take cover, Sedgwick responded by joking, "They couldn’t hit an elephant at that distance." Just then, a sharpshooter’s bullet crashed into his skull, right below his left eye, killing him instantly. 

He was the highest ranking Union officer to be killed during the war.

It’s dangerous to underestimate your enemy.  Don’t do it. 

Jesus did not do that.  He understood full well the spiritual battle in which we are engaged.  Because of it he turned to a vital piece of our spiritual arsenal—prayer.   We have a record of his prayer offered the night of his greatest battle—just as he faced arrest, trial, and execution.  This prayer opens our eyes as nothing else to the deepest longings of Jesus’ heart.  It teaches us what He values and how we, too, can overcome the world.

The Final Word

“The Real ‘Lord’s Prayer’”

John 17:1-26

1. Timing of Jesus’ prayer
   1. Reinforces a pattern
   2. Releases a power
2. Targets of Jesus’ prayer
   1. I pray for me
   2. I pray for mine
   3. I pray for missions
3. Triumph of Jesus’ prayer

La verdadera Oración de Jesús

Juan 17:1-26

1. Sincronicémonos con la oración de Jesús
2. Refuerza un modelo
3. Libera un poder
4. Los objetivos de la oración de Jesús
5. Ruego por mí

.           b. Ruego por los míos

1. Ruego por los demás
2. El Triunfo de la oración de Jesús