What is church all about?
Over the next few weeks we will looking at this important question - and attempting to answer it by looking at why Jesus called his disciples together and what happened as they lived, shared and worked together. We will look at individual characters, and in so doing, will see how Jesus used everyday situations to shape these men into who they were meant to be. We will discover that church has the potential to be the most exciting, life-changing experience on the face of this earth.
Teaching programme for the summer
11th July - Introduction - listen to the talk
18th July - Peter - see the notes below
25th July - John
1st August - Andrew, James
8th August - Matthew
15th August - Philip and Nathaniel
22nd August - Thomas
29th August - James (son of Alphaeus) and Judas (son of James)
5th September - Judas (Iscariot)
Peter the Disciple
If you wish to do some background reading on Peter, you may find these references helpful:
Peter’s background and family
1. He lived in Capernaum Mt 8:14.
2. He originally came from Bethsaida Jn 1:44
3. He was a fisherman by trade – Lk 5:10
Peter as a disciple of Jesus
1. Called – Mt 4:18-20
2. Saw many miracles – Mt 8:14-15; 17:24-27; Lk 5:4-8; Jn 21:2-6
3. Chosen to be with Jesus on certain occasions – Mt 17:1-2; 26:36-37; Mk 5:37
4. Sometimes was spokesman for others – Mt 15:15; 18:21; 16:15,16; Jn 6:69; Mt 17:4; 19:27; Mk 1:36-37; Lk 5:4-5; Jn 6:68.
5. His impetuous nature interacted with his devotion to Jesus – Mt 14:28-29; 16:22; 26:35; Jn 13:6-8; 18:10
6. He was commended and rebuked – Mt 16:17-19; 16:23; 26:34; 26:40,41; Jn 18:10-11; 21:20-22.
Peter’s denial and reinstatement
1. Denial – Mt 26:69-74
2. Repentance – Mt 26:75
3. Risen Christ appeared to him on his own – Lk 24:33-34; 1 Cor 15:4,5
4. He was reinstated in front of other disciples – Jn 21:15-17
Peter the Apostle
Peter was transformed as a result of the Spirit coming upon him
1. Credentials as an apostle – Mt 10:2; Ac 2:37; 5:29; 1 Pet 1:1; 2 Pet 1:1
2. As an apostle to the Jews – Gal 2:8
3. Leadership Ac 1:21-22; 2:14; 3:12; 4:8; 5:29; 8:20.
4. Peter and the Gentiles –
a. first to baptise Gentiles who had not been baptised Ac 10:47-48
b. defended action against critics – Ac 11:17; 15:7-11
c. wavered – Gal 2::11-14
5. Miraculous power of Spirit through Peter – Ac 3:5-7; 5:9-10, 15-16; 9:34, 40: 12:1-11
6. Missionary travels – 1 Cor 1:12; 9:5; 1 Pet 1:1; 1 Pet 5:13 (In this last verse, Peter was probably writing from Rome and was using the name ‘Babylon’ symbolically to refer to Rome.)
Questions to help you prepare
How did Jesus view this 'raw' fisherman and describe how he turned him into an effective church leader
What can we learn about teaching and encouraging each other from the way that Jesus interacted with Peter?