Help is on the way!

At times studying the Bible is an exhilarating experience - at others it can feel as if you are not getting anywhere. Our aim on this page is to provide you with tools and pointers to help you get the most from the Bible and to try to understand what God was really wanting to convey through particular passages. It is all too easy to skip over the difficult parts or the stories or sayings that we don't understand but it is often those very passages that turn out to be the real gems.

At present we have a study on the life of Peter that you can request from us via the contact page

We will soon have a study on 1 Thessalonians that will form the basis of our Sunday talks from 28th February onwards. Watch this page for when that becomes available.

If there is a feature that you would like to see included to assist you in your studies, please write in and let me know.

Do your own exploring

Use the facility above to assist you in your studies. Type a verse and click the symbol to the right of your reference. This will open up an opportunity to get multiple references and study material. 

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?