Lessons from the Lessons from the Life of PeterLife of Peter

Forest Hills Bible ChapelForest Hills Bible Chapel

14 January 200714 January 2007

Hospital, or Health Club?Hospital, or Health Club?

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Transformational GraceTransformational Grace We get into the Christian life by We get into the Christian life by

grace through faith – through a grace through faith – through a saving relationship with Jesus saving relationship with Jesus Christ. Titus 3:5-6; Colossians 2:6.Christ. Titus 3:5-6; Colossians 2:6.

““he saved us, not because of he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior,” – through Jesus Christ our Savior,” – Titus 3:5-6Titus 3:5-6

Transformational GraceTransformational Grace ““So then, just as you received Christ So then, just as you received Christ

Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” – Colossians 2:6-7thankfulness.” – Colossians 2:6-7

The transformational grace of God is The transformational grace of God is intended to dominate the Christian intended to dominate the Christian life from its inception, to its life from its inception, to its culmination, and during its entire culmination, and during its entire duration – beginning, middle, and duration – beginning, middle, and end.end.

Lessons from PeterLessons from Peter

A Lesson of FaithA Lesson of FaithMatthew 14:22-33Matthew 14:22-33

Immediately Jesus made the disciples get Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat was already a alone, but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against by the waves because the wind was against it. During the fourth watch of the night it. During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

#1 - A Lesson of Faith#1 - A Lesson of FaithMatthew 14:22-33Matthew 14:22-33

But Jesus immediately said to them, “It is But Jesus immediately said to them, “It is I. Don’t be afraid.” “Lord, if it’s you,” I. Don’t be afraid.” “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. Then Peter the water.” “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” And when they said, “why did you doubt?” And when they climbed back into the boat, the wind died climbed back into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”Son of God.”

#2 – A Lesson of #2 – A Lesson of UnderstandingUnderstanding

Matthew 16:13-28Matthew 16:13-28 When Jesus came to the region of When Jesus came to the region of

Caesarea Philippi, he asked his Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 “But what about you?” prophets.” 15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” 16 he asked. “Who do you say I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Christ, the Son of the living God.”

#2 – A Lesson of #2 – A Lesson of UnderstandingUnderstanding

Matthew 16:13-28Matthew 16:13-28 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon

son of Jonah, for this was not revealed son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Then he warned his loosed in heaven.” Then he warned his disciples not to tell anyone that he was disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ.the Christ.

#2 – A Lesson of #2 – A Lesson of UnderstandingUnderstanding

Matthew 16:13-28Matthew 16:13-28From that time on Jesus began to explain From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to killed and on the third day be raised to life. Peter took him aside and began to life. Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” shall never happen to you!”

Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.” things of God, but the things of men.”

#3 – A Lesson of Listening#3 – A Lesson of ListeningMatthew 17:1-8Matthew 17:1-8

After six days Jesus took with him After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 There he mountain by themselves. 2 There he was transfigured before them. His face was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. 3 Just became as white as the light. 3 Just then there appeared before them then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”Moses and one for Elijah.”

#3 – A Lesson of Listening#3 – A Lesson of ListeningMatthew 17:1-8Matthew 17:1-8

While he was still speaking, a bright While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” When the disciples heard to him!” When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” 8 When they looked up, they afraid.” 8 When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.saw no one except Jesus.

#4 – A Lesson of #4 – A Lesson of ForgivenessForgiveness

Matthew 18:21-22Matthew 18:21-22Then Peter came to Jesus and Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?” me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”seven times.”

#5 – A Lesson of #5 – A Lesson of ReinstatementReinstatementJohn 21:15-23John 21:15-23

Three Reinstatements for Three Three Reinstatements for Three Denials – John 21:15-17.Denials – John 21:15-17.

The Reinstatement of Jesus’ Lordship, The Reinstatement of Jesus’ Lordship, even over Death – John 21:18-19.even over Death – John 21:18-19.

Peter’s Reinstatement leads to “the Peter’s Reinstatement leads to “the same old questions” – John 21:20-22.same old questions” – John 21:20-22.

Jesus’ love for us, and His grace, are Jesus’ love for us, and His grace, are always needed, and always present.always needed, and always present.