Stochastic Worship

Tag: Bible books

  • Feed My Sheep

    Feed My Sheep

    It’s the Third Sunday of Easter – one of the Lectionary readings is from the 21st chapter of John’s Gospel. It’s a moving moment. Peter has seen the risen Lord. However, he feels that after his betrayal when Jesus needed him most, perhaps it would be better if he and the others returned to their old way of life, when things were simpler and far safer.

    So they go fishing. The last thing they expect is for Jesus to turn up. But He does. Because it’s time for Peter to accept the challenge he was given three short years ago. Jesus urges him three times. To parallel Peter’s three denials.

    I felt the song created by the model was a fitting finale to my John’s Gospel playlist. It draws from other parts of Peter’s story – his confession of faith at Caesarea Philippi and his attempt to walk on water in Matthew 14. But most importantly, the way the repetitive command to “Feed my sheep”. integrates well as the chorus.

    [Verse]
    On the shore when morning breaks
    Cast your net across the waves
    Fish abound where darkness fades
    Familiar voice calls out your name

    [Verse 2]
    Three times asked do you love me
    Feed my lambs and set them free
    Peter wept by dawn’s first light
    Turned his heart from wrong to right

    [Chorus]
    Feed my sheep and love my flock
    Build your faith upon this rock
    In your heart where I reside
    Guide them safely to my side

    [Verse 3]
    Walking down the sand-strewn path
    With the One who faced God’s wrath
    Grace pours down like endless rain
    Binding up what once was pain

    [Verse 4]
    Peter rise and walk with me
    Through the stormy Galilee
    Find your strength within my grace
    Every trial you shall face

    [Bridge]
    Three times love brought healing pure
    Past mistakes become obscure
    Rise and lead with strength anew
    Peter I believe in you

    That final line – points back to Peter’s confession all those years back, it’s obviously not in the gospel narrative. It’s a platitude we used to see on stickers and bookmarks many years ago. “God believes in YOU!” we would tell each other without thinking too hard about what that actually meant. Because it would mean that persecution and suffering would be our prize; a precious possession that our Loving Father knew He could entrust us with. Perhaps having a god who knew He couldn’t rely on you would be so much more … convenient.

    But for Peter, knowing what he would face in the future, it feels scarily apt.

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  • Nehemiah

    Nehemiah

    To those of you who are unfamiliar with the story: Nehemiah is a Jewish exile serving as cupbearer to the Persian king Artaxerxes. Upon hearing about the dilapidated state of Jerusalem’s walls, he is deeply distressed and prays for guidance. Granted permission by the king, he returns to Jerusalem and rallies the people to rebuild the city’s walls, despite facing strong opposition from neighboring enemies like Sanballat and Tobiah. Nehemiah’s leadership, strategic planning, and reliance on prayer help complete the reconstruction in just 52 days.

    This is what my playlist focuses on.

    But the backstory is even more bizarre! Ninety years earlier, the Temple was rebuilt. Ninety years! For nine decades the walls lay in ruins, leaving God’s people vulnerable, open to attack; limiting their ability to live as a community by harming their ability to look after those who most needed assistance.

    There’s a message here for the modern church. Nehemiah teaches us that when God stirs your heart, it’s for a purpose bigger than you. Through prayer, boldness, teamwork, and trust, broken things can be made whole — and God’s name is glorified.


    In a world full of brokenness (inside and outside the church), Nehemiah’s story is a call to rebuild what matters most: faith, community, and hope. But it starts with prayer.