June 4. Matthew 16:13-28 GRACE LESSONS: Poor Peter. In the same passage of scripture he goes from being praised by Jesus for his declaration that Jesus is the Messiah to being censured by Jesus for Peter’s own scolding of the Lord when He predicted His own death on a cross. Peter didn’t stay in a place of exaltation very long! Peter was so confident that he understood not only who Jesus was but what His mission was, that when Jesus started talking about His suffering, Peter took it upon himself to rebuke … the Son of God! It was another humbling of our guy. Yet there was God’s good grace in it, too, as Jesus taught Peter but certainly did not cast him out. Peter […] Read more »

June 3. Matthew 14:22-36 GRACE LESSONS: We see Peter here at his impetuous best in this story of his brief walk on water. As soon as he knew it was Jesus out in the storm, he wanted to go be with Him. He asks permission and is granted it and off he goes, walking on water. What a moment! But then, the enthusiasm wanes and the reality and human impossibility of his situation overwhelms him. The same guy who asked to walk on water is now asking to be saved. And Jesus in His grace saves Peter from drowning. Even when we are in trouble because of our own rash decisions or our own inability to do something we thought we could do, our God […] Read more »

June 2. Matthew 8:14-22; I Corinthians 9:5 GRACE LESSONS: When Peter heard the call to follow Christ, it seems like he did not know what it would involve. He just obeyed. And yet, notice how Jesus cares for Peter’s wife as well as for Peter. Peter didn’t just abandon her. He and his friends, including Jesus, were in his home that day when Jesus healed his mother-in-law. We don’t know the whole story, but we can trust that Jesus showed favor to Peter’s wife as well. We will see in the I Corinthians passage that she, also, was a believer. She met Jesus and she loved and followed Him, too. Like Peter, our Lord is interested in our family members, too. For God so loved […] Read more »

June 1. Matthew 4:1-22 GRACE LESSON: We meet Peter in this passage, just doing his job. A blue collar non-student. He’s fishing, like he does every day. Yet he along with his brother and two other brothers were called - by God’s grace and not their own ability - to follow Christ. Grace is undeserved favor. They didn’t “earn” this by being exceptionally astute. They were chosen for their hearts that would drop everything in a nano-second to follow the One who called. God’s not looking for brilliant and accomplished people. He’s looking for willing followers. In His grace, He also calls us to come and follow Him. We, also, don’t have to be particularly smart or strong or fancy. We, too, have received His […] Read more »