Sample Chapters

CHAPTER 1 — THE WIDOW OF NAIN (THE COMPASSION OF JESUS)

Several years ago, I was leading a tour of the Holy Land. Our group was about to exit the old city of Jerusalem through Lion’s Gate (St. Stephen’s Gate) when suddenly we heard such a commotion that we all froze and looked back.

Coming behind us was a funeral procession. But it was very different than any funeral I had ever seen before.

In front was the clergyman with the widow. Right behind them was the body of the deceased—not in a coffin like you might see in the United States, but wrapped in white cloth and lying on a flat pallet suspended on two poles.

Walking all around this pallet were friends and relatives, moaning, wailing, and crying out loud. There were cymbals and noisemakers of all kinds.

We stood there utterly mesmerized as this woeful procession passed by and headed out of the gate toward the graveyard.

Almost 2,000 years ago, in a small village called Nain, Jesus encountered a very similar scene. But unlike us, He did not stand by and watch. He stopped the procession.

“And it happened the day after that He went into a city called Nain; and many of His disciples went with Him, and a large crowd.” (Luke 7:11 NKJV)

“Now when He came near the gate of the city, behold, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother; and she was a widow…” (Luke 7:12 NKJV)

This woman had lost both her husband and her only son. In that culture, this meant complete helplessness. No income. No support. No protection. No safety net.

She was walking in front—crying not only in grief, but in fear.

“When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, ‘Do not weep.’” (Luke 7:13 NKJV)

The word “compassion” means to be deeply moved in one’s inner being. Jesus was not emotionally distant. He was profoundly affected.

He touched the coffin and said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” (Luke 7:14 NKJV)

“And he who was dead sat up and began to speak. And He presented him to his mother.” (Luke 7:15 NKJV)

Jesus brought the dead back to life.

This was the first recorded resurrection performed by Jesus in His ministry—but not the last.

The crowd was stunned:

“A great prophet has risen among us; and God has visited His people.” (Luke 7:16 NKJV)

They recognized they had witnessed something supernatural.

But the deeper lesson is this: Jesus was not performing a display. He was responding to compassion.

God is not distant from human suffering. He is deeply moved by it.

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CHAPTER 2 — THE DISCIPLES (GOD USES ORDINARY PEOPLE)

Years ago, I heard a song called Ordinary People that changed my perspective on ministry:

“God uses ordinary people… people just like me and you…”

That truth shaped my life. I decided early on that even though my “all was small,” I would give it completely to God.

This chapter is about the calling of the twelve disciples.

“And it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.” (Luke 6:12 NKJV)

Jesus was about to make a defining decision—choosing His twelve apostles.

“And when it was day, He called His disciples to Him; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles…” (Luke 6:13 NKJV)

These men would:

• Become His inner circle
• Witness His resurrection
• Write much of the New Testament
• Launch the early church
• Carry the Gospel to the world
• Most would die as martyrs

And Jesus spent the night in prayer before choosing them.

This reveals a pattern: Jesus did not make decisions impulsively—He bathed them in prayer.

The twelve included:

• Peter: impulsive, outspoken fisherman
• Andrew: quiet, steady, first to follow Jesus
• James and John: “sons of thunder,” passionate and bold
• Matthew: tax collector, considered a traitor
• Simon the Zealot: revolutionary fighter against Rome
• Thomas: doubter, skeptical until convinced
• Judas Iscariot: the betrayer

Humanly speaking, this was not a “dream team.”

Yet what unified them was not personality or background—it was Jesus.

God deliberately uses ordinary people so that the glory belongs to Him, not them.

“Not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called.” (1 Corinthians 1:26 NKJV)

God chooses the weak things of the world to confound the strong.

The lesson is simple: God is not looking for exceptional ability, but surrendered availability.

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CHAPTER 3 — JOHN’S DISCIPLES (WHEN GOD DOESN’T MEET OUR EXPECTATIONS)

Life often does not unfold the way we expect.

John the Baptist expected the Messiah to bring immediate judgment and political deliverance.

Instead, John found himself in prison.

“Now when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples…” (Matthew 11:2 NKJV)

John began to question:

“Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?” (Matthew 11:3 NKJV)

This is striking—John had earlier declared Jesus as the Lamb of God.

But now, circumstances did not match expectations.

Jesus’ response was not a direct explanation—but a demonstration:

“The blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed…” (Luke 7:22 NKJV)

In other words: “Look at what is happening. The evidence is clear.”

Then Jesus adds:

“Blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.” (Luke 7:23 NKJV)

In other words: “Blessed is the one who trusts Me even when My methods don’t match expectations.”

God’s ways are higher than ours.

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts…” (Isaiah 55:8–9 NKJV)

Scripture repeatedly shows this pattern:

• Joseph → slavery before leadership
• Moses → 40 years of delay
• David → years of hiding before kingship
• Paul → prison instead of planned travel

Even when life does not make sense, God is still in control.

The issue is not whether God is working—it is whether we trust Him when we cannot see how.

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CHAPTER 4 — THE TRANSFIGURATION (IS CHRISTIANITY A HOAX?)

On a certain occasion, Jesus took Peter, James, and John up a mountain.

“And as He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered…” (Luke 9:29 NKJV)

His divine glory was revealed.

Then Moses and Elijah appeared, speaking with Him about His coming death.

This shows heaven’s focus on the cross.

The cross is not an accident in history—it is the center of God’s plan.

“Through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross.” (Colossians 1:20 NKJV)

Then Peter, overwhelmed, suggests building shelters for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah.

But a cloud appears, and God speaks:

“This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!” (Luke 9:35 NKJV)

This is the key declaration: Jesus is not equal with others—He is supreme over all.

Hebrews 1 reinforces this:

• He is the Son of God
• He created the world
• He sustains all things
• He is the exact representation of God
• He is greater than angels
• He is seated at God’s right hand

The question then becomes: is Christianity true?

If it were a hoax, it would have collapsed immediately under persecution.

Yet Peter, who saw the Transfiguration, later died refusing to deny Christ—even under threat of execution.

Paul likewise suffered imprisonment and death rather than renounce his faith.

People do not die for what they know is a lie.

Peter himself wrote:

“We were eyewitnesses of His majesty…” (2 Peter 1:16 NKJV)

Christianity rests not on invention, but on eyewitness testimony.

The same men who saw Him glorified were willing to die for what they saw.

That is why the Christian faith endures.