Sermon Study Guide

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It’s Never Too Late: The Journey of Peter From Humiliation to Glory (A Special Message for the Easter Season) Luke 22:54-62; Acts 4:13 March 31, 2019

BIG IDEA As we begin an Easter break from our series in the Gospel of John, we’ll see that shame can be a terrible enemy. It can define us. It can ruin us if we let it. But be encouraged by the journey of Peter. No matter what lies in your past, God still wants to use you. Because when it comes to being used by God in amazing ways, you’re never too far gone. You’re never hopelessly over the cliff. Peter’s life shows us that because of God’s grace, it’s never too late.

THIS WEEK’S SCRIPTURE Context: We can divide the journey of Peter into the seasons of life. As you know, he began the road from humiliation to glory when Jesus sought him out to be a disciple. Matthew 4:18-20 While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. The highlight of Peter’s pre-passion ministry was his heartfelt confession that Jesus is the Christ: Matthew 16:13-18 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But what about you,” he asked; “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father

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in Heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” Now, as fall approaches, we see Peter diving into cold darkness only to be rescued to a ministry of power and glory by the grace of God. Luke 22:54-62 Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest’s house, and Peter was following at a distance. 55 And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. 56 Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light and looking closely at him, said, “This man also was with him.” 57 But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” 58 And a little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.” 59 And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.” 60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” 62 And he went out and wept bitterly… Acts 4:1-13 And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, 2 greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3 And they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. 4 But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand. 5 On the next day their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem, 6 with Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. 7 And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, 9 if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, 10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. 11 This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. 12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” 13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.

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DISCUSSION & APPLICATION 1. Peter’s Fall Was a Season of Rapid Change Luke 22:54 – Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest’s house, and Peter was following at a distance. Things were getting darker. Just five months after raising Lazarus from the dead, Jesus was arrested. So far, Peter had been loyal. He had promised Jesus that he wouldn’t betray him and he was following the Lord, but from a distance. It seemed he would be able to avoid both deserting the Savior and physical harm. It didn’t work. a. Things were changing rapidly for Peter. Can you describe a time when your life changed very quickly and you had a hard time catching up? What did that feel like? How did you relate to God during that time?

b. Fall decisions lead to consequences in winter. If we’re not careful, change can swallow us up. Peter thought he could have it both ways. He thought he could be close to Jesus but hide from trouble. What happens in your life when you try to keep one foot in the Kingdom of God and one foot in the world? Why are you tempted to do this?

c. Can you think of a verse that commands that we are totally sold out to Jesus? Read and talk about what a sold-out disciple looks like.

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2. Peter’s Winter Must Have Seemed Like the End of the Line Luke 22:55-62 – And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. 56 Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light and looking closely at him, said, “This man also was with him.” 57 But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” 58 And a little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.” 59 And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.” 60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” 62 And he went out and wept bitterly… Three times Peter denied the Lord—to a servant girl in verses 56-57, to an unidentified man in verse 58, and his Galilean accent gave him away in verses 59-60. Winter was in full swing. a. Have you ever made a promise that you can’t keep? How do you feel afterwards? Peter betrayed the one he loved. It seemed hopeless. What do you do when you feel hopeless?

b. Jesus gazed at Peter from across the courtyard. What do you think Jesus was thinking?

c. Do you believe that Jesus loves you even if you are struggling in your walk with Him? Why or why not? Can you think of scripture that has helped you in the past?

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3. Peter’s Spring Brought New Hope, a New Commission, and Restoration There are two major events in Peter’s life that clearly show that Jesus had restored him. This season of his life, spring, was a time of hope for Peter. The first event regarding restoration is the Lord’s commissioning of Peter on the shore of Galilee. The second is the Lord’s sovereign choice as Peter to be the first to enter the empty tomb. Here is the breakfast on the shore of the sea: John 21:15-19 – When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.” a. God sovereignly chose to restore Peter and usher him into a new ministryfilled season of life. What do you think God has called you to do for Him? Are you doing it?

b. The grace of God is written all over Peter’s life. He was the first to enter the empty tomb. Why do you think it was important that he experience the resurrection so acutely?

c. It looked as though Peter’s life with Christ was over. But Jesus brought him back into his inner circle. Is there someone that you need to give this kind of grace to? Who might that be and how will you do that?

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4. Peter’s Summer is Made Up of Spirit-Filled Power Acts 4:13 – Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. Peter was preaching with power. He’d moved from humiliation to glorification. No matter where you’ve been, or even where you are today, it’s not too late for you! The Apostle Paul understood the immense grace of God that is available to you: 1 Timothy 1:14-16 – …and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. a. Have you willingly received forgiveness from God? Now would be a good time to do that. Read 1 John 1:8-9 and repent! Then, allow God’s grace to flood over you. 1 John 1:8-9 – If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

b. Who do you need to forgive?

PRAY Dear Lord, thank you for your grace that extends to the heavens. It is always with me. You always forgive me. Thank you for using all of my past mistakes and weaving them into a beautiful tapestry through which I can do ministry for you. Amen.

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DIG DEEPER For further study this week:  

The Life of Peter: Fisherman, Disciple, Apostle – a book from F.B. Meyer Insight on Acts – a commentary from Chuck Swindoll

NEXT WEEK’S BIG IDEA Special Speaker: David Pierce from Steiger International – Evangelism and the Power of Christ

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