Pathway of Peter: Lesson 4 - What Matters Most

Have you been changed?

Have you ever been changed before? Where you experienced something that changed your life? Sometimes these are good things, sometimes they are bad. What was it? a class, book, concert, conversation, speaker, camp, love at first sight? Was it a car crash, the loss of a loved one, getting fired? There are moments in life that change us. They shape your life’s direction, priorities, enthusiasm. Have you ever been changed before?

You know, We’ve been talking about Peter the last three weeks and we’ve walked through a wide range of experiences in his life. Simon Peter is a changed man. Today, we’ll wrap up our conversation on Peter’s life. He has had some experiences that he walked away from being changed forever. There has been plenty for us to learn from Peter and we have more to learn from him Today.

read refrain.

How does a middle class fishin' man

End up in the middle of God's mission plan? 

He's a back water who walked on water.

One of the first to see Jesus in his authentic identity.

The Lord called this man the Rock. 

The gates of Heaven are his to unlock.

He's a truth denier turned Spirit-filled testifier.

After the resurrection God gave him a new direction.

God used this ordinary to do something extraordinary.

He didn't become the man he was in a day. 

So we need to look and see how he got this way. 

After the resurrection God gave him a new direction

Today we are picking up in Peter’s story 2 months or so after Jesus died and was resurrected. Jesus started a movement. He started a new faith - Christianity. He left the apostles - the men who witnessed Jesus’ minister responsible for it. The book of Acts records the incredible things that take place to grow the Christian church.

Pentecost - gift of the Holy Spirit - Peter boldly preaches about Jesus and 3,000 people became Christians in one day!

Peter and the rest of the Apostles continue to teach people about Jesus, they perform miracles, and start to care/love people in need. They start the work of the church. Jesus and his disciples didn’t weren’t “born Christians” as some us can say. They were Jews. Most of the first Christian converts were Jews first. So if you’re a Jewish leader in the most important Jewish city and there’s a new religion on the block siphoning off your followers from within your own meeting areas, you’re gonna get pretty upset.

So there is some major conflict between the Jewish authorities and Peter/the apostles. Remember, Jesus was killed by these men. They have already been trying to silence this movement. In an earlier account in acts 4 Peter and John get arrested by these men. They get released pretty soon, but tensions are escalating. That sets us up for today’s passage.

As we listen to this, think about how different Peter is. He’s a changed man. We talked about his struggle of faith as a fishermen to take those first faithful steps to follow Jesus. Then we talked about Peter learning from Jesus about his true identity. Last week, we explored the darkest moment in Peter’s story when despite all that he had seen/heard he lacked the faith to stand by Jesus and instead denied that even knew Jesus. And we talked about that incredible conversation between Jesus and Peter where Peter is forgiven and given a second chance. So in our story, Peter is a changed man using his second chance to get it right.

Turn over to Acts 5 I’m going to read through a large passage so we can see this full story as it unfolds. Right before this passage the Apostles became even more popular with the Jews by healing and caring for those in need.

talk about passage as needed as we read.

Acts 5:17–42 NIV

Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. “Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people all about this new life.” At daybreak they entered the temple courts, as they had been told, and began to teach the people. When the high priest and his associates arrived, they called together the Sanhedrin—the full assembly of the elders of Israel—and sent to the jail for the apostles. But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there. So they went back and reported, “We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside.” On hearing this report, the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests were at a loss, wondering what this might lead to. Then someone came and said, “Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people.” At that, the captain went with his officers and brought the apostles. They did not use force, because they feared that the people would stone them. The apostles were brought in and made to appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.” Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings! The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead—whom you killed by hanging him on a cross. God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins. We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.” When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. Then he addressed the Sanhedrin: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.

Determined No Matter The Cost

Peter and the apostles were determined to continue spreading the gospel at any costs. This was Peter’s 3rd time to be arrested. Spoiler: he gets arrested much, much more. These disciples are causing a fuss, dealing with pressure from the authorities, and sticking out like a sore thumb. The spotlight is on them. People are talking about them (crazy, cautious, curious). They’ve walked away from their careers and they are forging brand new way of life.

What are they so passionate about?

what is it that they are so passionate about? It’s the message of Jesus. It’s the good news that Jesus brings. That even though we deserve death/punishment for our sins, Jesus paid our debts. We can have forgiveness, we can have a new life, we can have a relationship with God again! The good news that Jesus gives his disciples his holy spirit, that we come together to build a family/church to continue living like Jesus and being like Jesus to others. God is up to something! he’s real, he’s at work! He is changing lives! There’s a lot to be passionate about in there!

Here is another, maybe even more important question:

Why are they so passionate?

Why are they so passionate? Check out the story of Peter/John’s first arrest in the previous chapter.

Acts 4:18–20 CSB

So they called for them and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. Peter and John answered them, “Whether it’s right in the sight of God for us to listen to you rather than to God, you decide; for we are unable to stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

Peter and John are ordered to STOP sharing this news they are passionate about. Peter’s response is bold. NO longer is Peter a TRUTH DENIER, now he’s a SPIRIT FILLED TESTIFIER. He says, our orders come from God, directly. We’re not going to listen to you! verse 20 shows us WHY Peter and the disciples were so passionate.

“we are unable to stop speaking about what we have seen or heard.” That is why they do it - because they have experienced the life change of the gospel for themselves. Peter and the disciples are the ones who saw Jesus, who heard him teach, who betrayed/denied Jesus in his hour of need. Then after Jesus raised from the dead, he meets this disciples and he forgives them, he gives them new life! They are preaching the message so boldly so passionate about spreading/growing the church because they have been changed by Jesus.

I ask you again, Have you been changed by the gospel of Jesus?

Have you been changed by the gospel of Jesus?

Throughout this room, we have 50+ different answers to that question.

There are some people here who are just learning about Jesus, you might not have been changed by him yet, because you still haven’t been properly introduced to him yet.

But there are many of us here who would call ourselves Christians.

Here’s my biggest fear as someone who cares for you all and this church. If I was to ask any of you “have you been changed by the gospel of Jesus?” my biggest fear is that your answer might be: “I WAS”.

Okay, what’s the issue with that answer. I have been changed before by Jesus. We’re on the same page right? My issue here, is that this hypothetical person’s response is PAST TENSE. That is what I fear for so many of us. Is that we can say Yeah, I WAS changed, but that was so long ago. It’s the thought that the only change that God should have in our lives is a one-time decision when we get baptized. Ya’ll the reality is the gospel should STILL be changing our lives. Our response to that question should be: “I am changed by the gospel everyday!” Becoming a Christian is the first change in a lifetime of daily life-change.

Romans 12:2 CSB

Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

that’s a present-tense command! Do this today!

Luke 9:23 CSB

Then he said to them all, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me.

We need the Gospel in our lives every day!

We need God’s forgiveness, grace, mercy every day. Every day, what God is doing should change us!

Let’s think about Peter again. Peter was so changed by God. It was a reality for Peter every day! He is o changed that now what matters most to PETER is telling others about Jesus.

When you’re changed by God, Sharing God’s message of change is what matters most.

Peter, John, and the rest of the Apostles were willing to sacrifice everything for following Jesus. Their jobs, their homes, their hobbies, even to some extent their families. When the Jewish leaders demanded the apostles to STOP preaching this was their response:

Acts 5:29 CSB

Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than people.

What matters most to you?

Lots of different answers. What matters to you is what you do. What you spend your time, money, and energy on. Peter argued that for him and the Apostles they would rather listen to God than man. Who are you listening to? To tells you what matters?

Be Changed by God Today

add specific application instructions 1. Dwelling on the gospel in your daily life 2. Workout your faith. “if you want to be changed by God everyday are you making opportunities in your day to listen/receive that change?

If you want God to change you, you might have to make some changes yourself. Maybe you feel like you’ve lost the “fire” you used to have for God because you haven’t found the right time, place, or practice to connect with him.

Here is a practice I have used with our students and try to do myself. At the end of the day/night pray to God in in your prayer walk-through your day. Confess to God the moments you failed and celebrate with God your successes. This isn’t meant to make you feel bad about yourself. That practice will help you see how the gospel of Jesus is still at work in your life. God wants to change you everyday.

Expect to be changed by God everyday and then make yourself available for God to introduce change to your life.

When you’re changed by God, Sharing God’s message of change is what matters most.

Prepare end of Peter’s life story . Writings about Persecution/Christian life. Martyrdom.