A collection of 25 ordinary people from the New Testament who — despite doubts, misconceptions, and struggles — encountered Jesus in the midst of their everyday lives. These stories serve as reflections of God’s grace and how He still desires to meet us where we’re at today. Let’s see what happens when God meets us on our corner.

Meeting God on my Corner

John is known as “the disciple Jesus loved”. Jesus captured John’s loyalty, love, affection, and devotion. His life and writings are a constant encouragement for us to follow our true love, Jesus Christ, and fix our eyes on his second coming, as he wrote in Revelation.

Apostle John

James was one of Jesus Christ’s closest disciples. He was the first disciple to be killed for his faith. Early on, James thought Jesus was there to overthrow the Romans and free Israel. He asked for a high political position next to Jesus in his limited view of what Christ would do on earth. What James came to see was that God’s Kingdom was eternal and to serve Christ was to set one’s sights on God's grander plan unfolding through Christ the Church- even when it leads to his martyrdom.

James (Disciple)

Onesimus was a runaway slave who became a new man when he became a follower of Jesus Christ. God changes relationships, no matter how bleak they were, through making us new through him. Master and slave, we’re now equally beloved brothers.

Onesimus

Ananias was fearful and expressed this fear to God after receiving His instructions. The Lord said, "Go!” and Ananias obeyed, instead of cowering back in fear. Ananias allows faith in God’s words to triumph over his own human caution. God calls us to face fear as well, and respond in faith and obedience.

Ananias

Paul became a changed man after he met Jesus Christ. He went from being the chief hater of Jesus and His Church to the chief lover of Jesus and His Church. God used Paul to take the Gospel to the Gentiles all over the world, and he was a major factor as to why we even know Christ today. Side Note: He also wrote the majority of the New Testament we read now.

Apostle Paul

Philip did not hold back but was bold in his faith and trusted God to help him cross-culturally share the message of the Gospel. He knew there were no borders the Gospel could not cross. His whole life exemplified this, and God blessed his acts of faith and obedience, which led to the Gospel impacting regions and countries for then until now.

Philip the Evangelist

A vivid reminder to us to not hold back from telling others about Christ - no matter their background. God sent Christ to save both Peter and Cornelius from completely different upbringings. Faith in Christ is a gift from Heaven for all people, so let’s pay attention to those who desire to know God, but may need to hear more about the Gospel to understand how to be saved and have a relationship with God through faith in Christ Jesus.

Cornelius

Stephen offers us a powerful example of someone who lived and died serving the Lord faithfully. God used Stephen’s death to grow and spread in the church. God uses the tough trials we face as well as opportunities to display real faith in a real God. Let’s not back down, but be unashamed of Christ no matter the circumstance.

Stephen

Barnabas consistently kept Paul, Mark, and other leaders from giving up, letting conflict destroy the church and pushing God’s mission forward to reach others for Christ with the Gospel in the early days of the Church. Although it is often behind the scenes and not “on a stage” a short, meaningful act or word of truth can encourage a brother or sister in their soul in deep ways. So be reminded, don't underestimate the support beams of being an Encourager.

Barnabas

Caiaphas was a Sadducee and was used in God’s beautiful plan to save us. It was by his selfish political agenda to crucify Jesus that made way for the Resurrection to happen. And when it was all said and done, when Jesus rose again with all power in His possession, Caiaphas still refused to believe and even went as far to silence and persecute those who believed in Jesus.

Caiaphas

Jesus waited for Lazarus to die to then show up and do the most miraculous thing, raise him from the dead. He is doing the same thing for us today; he is waiting for the right moment to do what only He can do, miraculously change our situations. God uses our most difficult situations and experiences for our good and his glory.

Lazarus

Nicodemus wanted to learn from Jesus. Even though it was counter-culture, counter-clique, counter-religious, Nicodemus sought after Jesus. That night, Jesus Christ broke down what the Scriptures say about how to be made right with God - being born again in the Spirit by belief in Jesus!

Nicodemus

Thomas didn’t idolize his doubts; when approached by Jesus to believe in his resurrection, Thomas gladly believed. Doubt was not his way of life. While he had uneasy feelings and questions that needed to be answered, he honestly made them known; but when his questions were answered, he laid his feelings to rest and joyfully embraced the truth of Jesus’ resurrection.

Thomas

Jesus knew the Woman at the Well intimately. And he knew her need for what he called "Living Water". “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.” Jesus wants all who are thirsty for the deep satisfaction of eternal life and forgiveness to come to him. In the Messiah (Savior), we find water for a new life. He takes broken people and makes them new.

The Woman at the Well

Luke cared for people, their well-being and the truth about Jesus Christ, the Savior of the World. He served in the background caring for the Apostle Paul, writing down Scriptures and serving people. God can use all of our gifts when they are handed over to him to be purposed to serve Jesus.

Luke

Does resting get the job done? Jesus challenged Martha to see beyond the work that needed to be done, to understand that though details are important, the most important thing was right in front of her - and that was Him. Jesus wanted to teach Martha that while there is nothing wrong with work or details, sometimes the most important work to do is simply resting and enjoying His presence.

Martha (Lazarus' Sister)

Being too short to see over the crowds, Zacchaeus’ desire to encounter Jesus drove him to run ahead and climb a tree in hopes that Jesus would see Him. Well, not only did Jesus see Zacchaeus, He called him by name and asked if He could eat in his home. Jesus desires to personally encounter and know you.

Zacchaeus

Truth can hurt, but it also can lead us to freedom from our wrong ways if we respond humbly and admit our need. Herod wanted to silence the voice of truth and resisted turning from his sins. How are you responding to God’s voice of truth in this season of your life? Are you allowing the truth to "set you free"?

Herod Antipas

Mark made mistakes for many different reasons. And yet God called him, grew him from those mistakes, and used him to let the world know about the incredible Savior Jesus Christ. Never make mistakes and think, “I’m no good for God?” God has a curious way of calling us, who make mistakes for reasons too long to count, and sticking with us. Mark is a man who grew over time in His devotion and service to the Lord and his friends.

Mark

Selfishness is a beast that lives in all of us. It doesn’t take too long to think when we in some way have chosen the best for ourselves over loving God or other people, right? The question is, do we have to stay that way? Or was the same person Pilate executed, perhaps the Savior who was ultimately completing God's plan to save selfish people, like Herod? Like us?

Pontius Pilate

Fear paralyzes, but God can take our “hidden, and ashamed" faith, filled with the fear we all encounter for being different for Jesus, and grow us into bold followers that are unashamed of him. Joseph's small but bold step shows us the transformation God can do in all of us - turning us from fearful to boldly faithful!

Joseph of Arimathea

Mary Magdalene followed Jesus through the lows of seeing Him suffer and die. She actually saw the stone rolled across the front of her Deliverer’s tomb. But after Jesus’ burial, she was the first to see Him risen from the Dead! Mary is an example of a servant-disciple who follows Jesus no matter the highs and lows it may bring.

Mary Magdalene

God’s kingdom is only received by those who are like children; humbly coming in simple faith to the feet of Jesus for their every need. And we learn that Jesus wants us to come to Him with all His heart! So, do you approach God like a child?

The Children

Jesus called out to Matthew, “Follow me and be my disciple!” Matthew followed Jesus and never looked back. It’s almost shocking how, in a moment, Matthew knew his need and responded to following Jesus instantly. He left his messed-up way of making money and identity, exchanging it for a new life and purpose with Jesus. He knew the One calling Him was worth the exchange.

Matthew

Peter’s denial of Jesus is one of the epic failures described in Scripture. Yet Jesus restored him. How about you? Will you continue to follow even when you fail - knowing God gives you the grace to get back up and follow him along the road of this “Jesus walk”?