Peter- a nobody, trying to tell everybody, about somebody, who can save anybody

1 Peter 1:3-9 (NIV) Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

I. Introduction: Observations

1. A family man:
• he had a brother, Andrew
• married
2. A working man:
• fisherman (probably after his father)
• entrepreneur: partners with James and John, sons of Zebedee
• a homeowner: entertained Jesus and his fellow disciples and others
3. He was a companion:
• raised with James and John
4. Although not a religious man, he received religious instruction in his youth
• was acquainted with Scripture
• with prophecies regarding the coming Messiah.
• He had certain characteristics in his personality that distinguished him:

independent; outspoken; blunt-frank; impetuous-implusive; heady; inquisitive;

passionate; a fighter; and loyal;

• had his own point of view

1. Peter’s initial encounter with Jesus was by way of his brother Andrew, who persuaded Peter to come see Jesus.

II. When you encounter Jesus, He changes your life to reflect who you are in Him

1. Jesus changed Peter's name from Simon (a hearer), to Peter (a rock);

2. Jesus changed your name from sinner to saint;

3. changes your position from the rejected of God to the Elect of God;

4. changes your character from a state of unrighteousness to a state of

righteousness in the eyes of God;

5. changes you from an outcast to a child of God because you are adopted

into the family of God;

6. changes you rom being dead in tresspasses and sin to be made alive in Christ;

7. changes you from being separated from God to being Sealed by the Holy ghost;

8. changes you from having enmity with God to being reconciled and having peace

with God.

III. When you encounter Jesus, He’ll change your life purpose

Eph. 2:10- For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works,

which God prepared in advance for us to do.

1. Jesus changed Peter’s calling from a fisherman to a fisher of men (Matt. 4:19). He

became an Apostle, an evangelist, and a pastor;

2. Jesus changed you from spectators to participants in God’s plan by making you a

disciple and an ambassador for Christ (Matt. 28:19);

3. Jesus designated Peter as a rock or pillar of the early church and He makes

us stones /pillars of the Church with Christ being the Chief Cornerstone.

IV. When you encounter Jesus, He’ll change you from being faithless to being faithful

Peter’s faith in Jesus began to grow as he witnessed miracle after miracle

1. Jesus encounters Peter and Andrew on the sea of Galilee when they had completed an

night of fishing and they caught no fish. Jesus got on the boat and told them to

launch out in the deep and cast their nets; and they caught a great multitude of fish.

2. the raising of Jairus’ daughter from the dead;

3. the healing of the woman with the issue of blood’

4. the feeding of five thousand people on two fish and five loaves of bread;

5. calming of the raging sea;

6. walking on water;

7. evidencing the transfiguring of Jesus Christ

V. When you encounter Jesus, he’ll give you unconditional love and uncompromising

hope of everlasting life

With all that Peter came to know about Jesus; with all Peter’s boldness, straightforwardness and presumptuousness; with his insight and confession that Jesus was the Christ, at the time Jesus relied on him the most, Peter failed Jesus by being fearful for his own life and then denying Jesus as he was led from judgment hall to judgment hall. And on the day Jesus was crucified, Peter and the other disciples hid themselves. Yet, Jesus, after He rose from the grave, sought out Peter and the others and restored Peter to His favor.

Jesus asked Peter, “Simon, son of Jonas, do you love me?“ “Feed my lambs.” Jesus asked a second time, “do you really love me?” “…take care of my sheep.” Jesus asked him a third time, “do you love me?” “… Feed my sheep…” Peter fell down, but Jesus lifted him up and Peter went on to play a significant role in the development of the early Church.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls."