The Rooster’s Call: A Story Of Denial, Repentance, And Transformation. Series

INTRODUCTION

OPENING SLIDE TITLE SLIDE

• After dedicating our lives to Jesus, I firmly believe that the majority of individuals have the utmost desire to follow and live for Him.

• The story of Peter punctuates this point.

• Peter was one of the closest disciples of Jesus.

• Peter was in the inner circle with James and John.

• As the end of Jesus' earthly ministry drew near, during the Last Supper, Jesus warned his disciples that they would fall away.

• When Peter regained his composure, Jesus prayed that Peter's faith would not falter.

Luke 22:31–34 NET 2nd ed.

31 “Simon, Simon, pay attention! Satan has demanded to have you all, to sift you like wheat,

32 but I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. When you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

33 But Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death!”

34 Jesus replied, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow today until you have denied three times that you know me.”

• Peter proclaims he was not going to fall away and that he was ready to go with Jesus wherever He went, even to the point of prison and death.

• I 100% believe that Peter meant what he said.

• I believe Peter thought he would be willing to even die for Jesus.

• I do not believe he was showing off; I believe what Peter said to Jesus came from the passion of his heart.

• However, in reality, that was not the outcome.

• Have you ever had good intentions but failed under pressure?

• If you failed someone in that scenario, how did you feel?

• Did you feel like you could come back from it, or did you feel that it was game over?

• Today, we will reflect on one of the most emotional stories in the New Testament—the story of Peter.

• Peter was a man who walked closely with Jesus, yet found himself in a moment of weakness, denying his Lord.

• This story is not just about Peter's failure; it is a powerful narrative of denial, repentance, and ultimately, transformation.

Big Idea of the Message: Peter’s denial of Jesus caused tremendous heartache, but he looked to Jesus and left transformed.

Luke 22:54–59 NET 2nd ed.

54 Then they arrested Jesus, led him away, and brought him into the high priest’s house. But Peter was following at a distance.

55 When they had made a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them.

56 Then a slave girl, seeing him as he sat in the firelight, stared at him and said, “This man was with him too!”

57 But Peter denied it: “Woman, I don’t know him!”

58 Then a little later someone else saw him and said, “You are one of them too.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not!”

59 And after about an hour still another insisted, “Certainly this man was with him, because he too is a Galilean.”

SERMON

MAIN POINT SLIDE

I. Peter’s pressured denial.

• Here is Peter.

• Isn’t he an easy target to pick on?

• He had just proclaimed his desire to follow Jesus until the very end.

• Peter could be impulsive; however, who else besides Jesus is known to have walked on water?

• Despite the short duration, Peter managed to walk on water.

• Did the other disciples get out of the boat?

• NO!

• Did Peter mean what he said when he said he would even die for and with Jesus?

• Yes!

• So what happened?

• Have you ever promised to do something for someone or Jesus but didn't when it got hard?

• I have read story after story about people who died for their faith when all they had to do to save their lives was deny Jesus.

• What would you do in that situation?

• What I would say about myself is that I would hope that I would not succumb to the temptation to deny Jesus to save my earthly existence.

• I know I want to never deny Jesus because I know what is at stake; however, when the fear of death is staring me in the face, I pray I will stand strong.

• In Luke 22:54-57, we witness Peter's denial unfold.

• Peter tried to remain inconspicuous by following Jesus at a distance after his arrest.

• Notice what the text tells us: Peter followed at a distance.

• Think about what verse 54 says about Peter’s proximity to Jesus.

• When Jesus faced arrest in the garden, did Peter flee or engage in combat?

• He was close to Jesus, and he drew his sword and cut off the ear of the slave of the high priest.