Simon Peter And Choices Series

The 12 Apostles

Week 1 – Simon Peter

Dr. Rik B. Wadge, Ph.D.

"Choices"

On the most important night of his life—on the most important night in history—Peter, "the Rock," sat alone in a dark corner weeping. This wasn’t common place for him. He was a strong self-reliant fisherman. He was bold! He was courageous! And now, he was completely undone. The Rock had been shattered.

Every great man or woman of God can point to a time of breaking in his or her life where a time of conflict, a time of pressure, or a time of decision transformed them from an ordinary piece of coal into a precious diamond, that is pliable in the master’s hand.

Abraham; Isaac; Jacob; David; Solomon; the prophet Jonah; Job; The disciples...

Peter is one of those individuals who was broken. Let’s go back to the very beginning when Jesus called him...

Mark 3:13-19

The Appointing of the Twelve Apostles

13 Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. 14 He appointed twelve—designating them apostles—that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach 15 and to have authority to drive out demons. 16 These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); 17 James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means Sons of Thunder); 18 Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot 19 and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

Definition:

The name Simon is a Hebrew name which means: "to hear"

The name Peter is the surname which Jesus gave him after Peter’s great proclamation of the person of Christ. Peter means: "a stone, or a rock"

We’re going to look at Peter’s life, through the use of four choices in the life of Peter: Q: Are you....

1.Fishing or Following?

Luke 5:1-11

The Calling of the First Disciples

5 One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, 2 he saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 3 He 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. 4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” 5 Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” 6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.

8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” 9 For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 10 and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners.

Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will catch men.” 11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.

Let me tell this same story in a different setting. You’re in business for yourself and sales are really down... you’re wondering where the next meal’s coming from. You’ve just put in an all nighter at the office. You’re depressed, you’re worried, you’re concerned... and you’re exhausted.

Just before you gather up your briefcase, you turn to lock the door and at the last moment in comes a new client. He makes a business deal with you that turns everything around. He hands you a large sum of money... you’re instantly thinking of the bills you can pay, the food you can buy, the family obligations you can meet... you’re on top of the world!

Your head is spinning. And before you can even catch your breathe... the stranger asks you to walk away, and leave everything behind you. Would you?

What is the relationship with God worth to you? If someone offered you the winnings of the California state lottery, and all you had to do was walk away from Christ or walk away from His church would you?

Peter had a choice. He left the world’s security behind him and chose to walk with Christ. When we follow Christ... it’s a walk of faith. He commands us to follow. Peter did.