June 11. Acts 1:12-26 GRACE LESSONS: Today, we start to walk with Peter in his life after Jesus’ ascension to Heaven in Acts. This rough guy is about to become the leader of a new and growing faith group. The Christians are about to start church and our Peter will be right there helping to build it, just as Jesus planned it when He met Simon and called him Peter, the “rock.” Hear this prediction from Jesus and watch as Peter lives out the command to fish for men in the week ahead: “When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch […] Read more »

June 10. John 21:1-25 GRACE LESSONS: If the crucifixion and resurrection are the pivotal moment for all mankind (and that would be the plain truth), then this moment of restoration for Peter was the pivotal one for the giving of grace in his life in a personal sense. And what amazing grace it was! Jesus seeks Peter and the disciples out. He blesses them with a stunning catch of fish. He serves them breakfast, still modeling humility even as the risen Lord. After seeking them out, blessing them with a huge catch and fixing breakfast, Jesus extends grace by blessing Peter with an unmistakable reversing of the three denials the night before the crucifixion. Three times He gave Peter opportunity to declare his love for […] Read more »

June 9. John 20:1-23 GRACE LESSONS: I can’t begin to imagine the grief and horror Peter must have felt during and after the crucifixion of Christ. Added to the obvious misery of Jesus’ death, was Peter’s three denials. And then came the resurrection and our Peter was racing toward that tomb. Could it be true? Had Jesus actually risen from the dead? Did Peter shake his head and think back to his little drawn sword and how he tried to stop the greatest miracle and gift the world has ever known? Isn’t it good that God in His grace stopped Peter from starting a mini-rebellion there in the garden so He could die for our sins? Oh how thankful I am that He is able […] Read more »

June 8. John 18:1-27; Matthew 26:75 GRACE LESSONS: We start Week Two exploring the hardest three days of Peter’s life, I suspect. This pivotal moment in history has affected every person on this planet, whether they realize it or not. For Peter, it was particularly difficult and heartbreaking. Not only did Peter lose Jesus’ physical presence because of His arrest and subsequent crucifixion, Peter lost his self-respect and his confidence as he denied Christ three times. I wonder how this story first “got out” to everyone. Did John hear all three denials and tell everyone? Somehow, I don’t think so. My best guess is that Peter himself shared this ignominious time in his life with all the detail we see outlined in John’s gospel. No […] Read more »

Well hello friends!  How has your first week gone? Has God given you new insights to ponder? I hope finding a treasured verse each day has brought you moments of joy and discovery. Here's a video to help you kick off Week Two of our study. Enjoy!   Read more »

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June 7. Matthew 26:31-46 GRACE LESSONS: Oh what an example of the grace of God is shown in this passage. Jesus humbly asks for help of His disciples and especially chooses Peter, James and John to go further with Him. He asks them to keep watch with Him and pray. He shares how anguished and distressed He is. And after Peter, especially, declares his undying loyalty to Christ, he and the others fall asleep instead of doing the task Jesus asked of them. Not once, but three times. Yet even in this, when Judas shows up, Jesus just wakes them up and tells them the time is come. He gives no long lectures. He does not rant and rave at them. He extends grace to […] Read more »

June 6. John 13:1-17 GRACE LESSONS: It’s amazing to me how often Peter interferes with Jesus’ lessons. And yet, Jesus extends him grace time and time again, patiently teaching Peter God’s way of doing things and re-directing Peter from his way to God’s way. Peter never gets kicked out of the gang, does he? He is continually loved and taught, patiently, carefully and with great purpose. Oh the marvelous grace of God who gave undeserved favor to Peter, and who extends that self-same grace to us who follow Him as well. OUR PASSAGE: This is such a unique passage. Jesus did unusual things and created object lessons that would not be forgotten. This is clearly one of them. He bent to do the lowliest, dirtiest […] Read more »

June 5. Matthew 17:1-13 GRACE LESSONS: I can’t even imagine what it must have been like on that mountain top. Jesus suddenly transformed into this being of light and brightness and joined by two others. A stunning, surreal moment for sure. And Peter decides to talk and offer to build something for everyone. His enthusiasm is wonderful. His idea was not accepted. But God extended grace to Peter as He spoke an answer and re-directed Peter. As always, over and over, Peter is told to stop leading and suggesting and to simply follow Christ. We all are called to this, aren’t we? We are called to lay aside our own agendas and seek His agenda for our lives. He made us. He sees the future […] Read more »