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Objective

In this lesson, we’ll see how God patiently prepares and molds us over time to be His servants.

Key Verse

Luke 22:32: But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.

Introduction

Without a doubt, Peter is one of the characters in the Bible that many people can relate to. We can easily identify with his challenges and struggles. He steps off the pages of Scripture as a flesh-and-blood figure, not a remote or distant hero. His failures are our failures.

The encouraging thing we learn, however, is that Peter’s victories are also ours—when we are completely surrendered to Christ. God can take our foolishness, our mistakes, and even our greatest failures and transform them into something beautiful.

In this lesson, we’ll follow Peter through the key stages of his spiritual life. We’ll follow him through high points and the low points. As we do so, we’ll see how God, in His sovereignty, was preparing Peter for an important role in establishing His church and spreading the Gospel.

• The Fisherman
• The Disciple
• The Betrayer
• The Preacher
• The Leader
• The Shepherd

The Fisherman

We’ve seen throughout Scripture how God calls ordinary men and women and empowers them for service. Peter was no exception. He labored for years, along with his brother Andrew, as a fisherman in Galilee. Jesus called him from that life to become a different kind of fisherman—a fisher of men.

Luke 5:3-4: Jesus got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”

In that first encounter with Jesus, Peter realized what a sinner he was. But Jesus spoke the first of many words of encouragement to him, telling him that He was calling Peter to a great work.

Luke 5:8-10: When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” But Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.”

Matthew 4:19-20: “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him.

This wasn’t just a career change for Peter—it was a complete transformation of his life’s purpose. The skills he had learned as a fisherman would serve him well in his future ministry. Fishing required patience, persistence, and the ability to work with others. These same qualities would be essential as Peter learned to “catch” people for God’s kingdom.

Early in their relationship, Jesus visited Peter’s home and healed his mother-in-law from a fever.

Matthew 8:14-15: When Jesus came into Peter’s house, he saw Peter’s mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on him.

This healing in Peter’s own home showed him that Jesus cared about the personal needs of his family. It wasn’t just about the crowds and the miracles—Jesus was concerned about the people Peter loved most. This personal touch would deeply impact how Peter later ministered to others.

The Disciple

Peter followed Jesus with energy and zeal. Many times, however, he relied on himself rather than waiting on the Lord. He often talked when he should have listened. These were all lessons he needed to learn as he followed Jesus.

We see this pattern when Peter walked on the water and then began to sink. His boldness led him to step out of the boat, but his self-reliance and fear caused him to sink. This became a pattern that would repeat itself many times in Peter’s life as he had to keep learning what it meant to trust the Lord.

Matthew 14:28-29: “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.

Peter was part of a small group of disciples, along with James and John, who were especially close to Jesus. One day, Jesus took the three men up into the mountain where they witnessed the Transfiguration. Once again, Peter showed his zeal, but also his lack of judgment.

Matthew 17:1-4: After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”

Later, Peter would reflect on the significance of this moment and how he witnessed the glory of Christ. This experience would become one of the foundational memories that strengthened his faith throughout his ministry.

Notebook Moment: Think about a time when you witnessed God’s power in a way that left you speechless. How did that experience change your understanding of who God really is?

The most significant moment in Peter’s years of discipleship came when he made his famous confession about Christ.

Matthew 16:15-17: “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.”

In response to Peter’s confession of faith, Jesus confirmed that Peter would play an important role in the future work of His church. Jesus is the rock on which the church is built, but Jesus was saying that He would use Peter to accomplish His work. We see this fulfilled in Acts 2 when Peter preached and 3,000 were saved.

Even when other followers were turning away from Jesus because His teachings seemed too difficult, Peter remained committed.

John 6:68-69: Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”

This wasn’t blind loyalty—it was faith based on what Peter had experienced and learned about Jesus. Even when he didn’t understand everything, Peter knew that Jesus was his only hope.

The Betrayer

Jesus knew that Peter was zealous for God, but also weak in the flesh. God knows us better than we know ourselves, and He still loves us. Jesus gave a word of encouragement and prophecy to him that he would fail but be restored. Just as David had failed, just as Moses had failed, just as Elijah doubted and grew weak—in the same way, Peter would fail but be restored by God’s grace.

Luke 22:31-32: “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

Peter’s tendency to rely on himself and his own effort was his ultimate failure.

Matthew 26:33-35: Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.” “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.”

When the moment of testing came, Peter’s bold promises crumbled under pressure. In his fear, he denied even knowing Jesus—not once, but three times.

Luke 22:61-62: The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.

The look that Jesus gave Peter wasn’t one of anger or condemnation. It was a look of love mixed with sadness. That look broke Peter’s heart because it reminded him of Jesus’ warning and His love. Peter’s bitter weeping shows that his denial came not from a hard heart, but from fear and weakness.

But true to His word, Jesus restored Peter. God was preparing Peter to be a shepherd of the flock. Peter would be able to encourage other believers in the same way that he had been encouraged.

John 21:15-17: When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved Him—once for each denial. But this wasn’t punishment; it was healing. Each time Peter affirmed his love, Jesus gave him a commission to care for His people. Jesus was transforming Peter’s failure into his calling.

The Preacher

The man we see standing up and boldly preaching in the first chapters of Acts is very different. He’s the same bold Peter, but now his boldness doesn’t come from self-reliance. It comes from the power of the Holy Spirit.

When the Holy Spirit came upon the believers at Pentecost, Peter stood up with supernatural courage and preached to thousands of people.

Acts 2:14, 22: Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd… “Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know.”

Peter would continue preaching boldly. He would perform miracles through God’s power. When he and John encountered a lame man begging at the temple gate, Peter demonstrated the power of Jesus’ name.

Acts 3:6-7: Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong.

This miracle brought persecution from the religious authorities, but Peter was no longer afraid of their threats.

Acts 4:19-20: But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

Peter was even imprisoned for his bold preaching, but God miraculously delivered him.

Acts 12:6-7: The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists.

The fact that Peter was sleeping peacefully the night before his scheduled execution shows how completely his fear had been transformed by the Holy Spirit. Time after time, Peter witnessed the power of God in his life and ministry.

Notebook Moment: Consider how God has given you opportunities to speak boldly about your faith. What fears have held you back, and how might the Holy Spirit help you overcome them?

Peter boldly proclaimed that Jesus is the only way to be saved. He had learned well as a disciple, despite his many failings.

The Leader

But Peter still had much to learn about God’s grace and love. He had to learn that God offered salvation to all—not just to his fellow Jews. God’s plan was for the Gospel to go out into all the world. Peter had a dream about food that was unclean to a Jew. When God told him to take and eat, Peter objected.

Acts 10:13-15: Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.” “Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.” The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”

God was teaching Peter to open his heart to all people and love them as God does. Peter was commanded to go and share the good news with a man named Cornelius. This moment in his life was another turning point, another opportunity to grow deeper in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Acts 10:34-35: Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.”

Acts 11:17: So if God gave them the same gift he gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could stand in God’s way?

Despite the power of this lesson, Peter still struggled with this truth. Later on, Paul had to challenge Peter when Peter wasn’t standing firm for the truth. Some Jewish Christians were claiming that Christians needed to observe the Old Testament laws of the Jews in addition to faith in Christ. Peter failed to stand up boldly to this false teaching, and Paul had to confront Peter.

Galatians 2:11-12: When Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group.

This incident shows us that even mature believers can struggle with applying God’s truth consistently. Peter knew that God accepted all people, but when social pressure came, he acted according to his old prejudices rather than his new understanding.

It’s a sign of Peter’s spiritual maturity, however, that he accepted correction from Paul and the two were reconciled. This teaches us the importance of being open to correction from fellow believers and continuing to grow throughout our lives.

The Shepherd

Peter ultimately became the faithful shepherd that Jesus prophesied about. He became the one who “strengthened his brothers,” bringing them encouragement and comfort. We see this clearly in the powerful words of the letters he wrote:

1 Peter 1:3-4: Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.

1 Peter 2:9-10: But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Right to the end of his life, he continued to shepherd the flock and encourage them to continue growing in Christ the same way he had.

2 Peter 3:17-18: Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Notebook Moment: How has experiencing God’s forgiveness and restoration in your own life equipped you to encourage others who are struggling? What wisdom from your failures could you share to strengthen fellow believers?

Peter’s letters show a man who had learned deep truths about suffering, grace, and shepherding God’s people. The impulsive fisherman had become a wise and gentle shepherd who understood both the pain of failure and the joy of restoration.

Conclusion

Peter’s story is remarkable not because of his accomplishments, but because of God’s grace. Peter finally learned that lesson. Church history tells us that Peter died as a martyr, crucified in Rome. We’re told that he asked to be crucified upside down because he was not worthy to be crucified the same way as Christ.

From his early days as a fisherman to his final years as a faithful shepherd, Peter’s life shows us how God patiently shapes us for His purposes. God used Peter’s natural gifts—his leadership abilities, his boldness, his passion for truth. But God also had to deal with Peter’s weaknesses—his pride, his tendency to speak first and think later, his self-reliance.

The most encouraging truth we learn from Peter’s story is that God doesn’t give up on us when we fail. Jesus knew exactly how Peter would deny Him, yet He chose Peter anyway. Jesus prayed for Peter’s restoration even before Peter fell. And when Peter was broken by his failure, Jesus gently restored him and gave him an even greater ministry.

This should give us tremendous hope. The same Jesus who looked at Peter with love after his denial looks at us with that same love today. The same grace that transformed Peter’s failures into ministry opportunities is available to transform our failures as well.

May we be as faithful to the end, despite our shortcomings and failures. May we learn, as Peter did, that our usefulness to God depends not on our perfection, but on our willingness to be shaped by His grace.

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