Message Notes

SUNDAY SCHOOL SPECIAL 29 March 2020

INTRODUCTION

1. Morning Message (Video streaming)

a) Messages from 1 Peter

b) Epistle written by the Apostle Peter

c) Outstanding features of the Apostle Peter cannot but be noted

2. Outstanding features
Three may be cited:

a) Knowledge of Peter

i) Clear

ii) Certain

iii) Christ-centered

b) Faith of Peter

i) Definite

ii) Distinctive

iii) Deep

c) Skills of Peter

i) As an Apostle

ii) As a leader

iii) As a writer

3. How did Peter become the man of God respected by so many?

a) Respected by his fellow apostles

b) Respected by the Church in Jerusalem

c) Respected by many others way beyond Israel

4. Personal application

a) Do we desire to become an outstanding Christian too?

b) Are we determined to take positive steps to grow our faith significantly

THE POWERFUL MINISTRY OF JOHN THE BAPTISER

1. He was a man sent from God (John 1:6)

2. He came for a witness (John 1:7)

3. He was a witness of the Light (John 1:8)

4. He preached about Jesus

a) He existed before John (John 1:15)

b) He is preferred to John (John 1:15)

c) We derive all from Him (John 1:16-17)

i) Grace for grace

ii) Truth

5. He was the voice in the wilderness (John 1:23)

6. He baptised many (John 1:28)

a) Calling for repentance

b) Correcting wrong ideas/ beliefs

7. Announcement and Bearing witness
About the teachings of the Messiah

a) Jesus is presented as the Lamb of God (John 1:29a)

b) He had come to take away the sin of the world (John 1:29b)

c) The Spirit of God came upon Jesus (John 1:32-33)

d) He declared Jesus as “The Son of God” (John 1:34)

ANDREW AND JOHN
John 1:35-39

1. Andrew and John (the unnamed disciple with him)
They were followers of John the Baptiser

“John stood with his two disciples” (John 1:35)

2. They heard John the Baptiser identifying Jesus as the Lamb of God

3. They went to Jesus and asked to speak to Him

a) They addressed Him as “Rabbi”

b) They followed Jesus (John 1:37-38)

ANDREW AND PETER
John 1:40-42

1. Andrew

a) First, a follower of John the Baptiser

b) Subsequently, he became a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ with John

c) He had a brother called Peter

d) Excitedly, he sought Peter out and declared that he and John had found the Messiah (The Christ) (John 1:41)

2. He brought Peter to see Jesus

3. Important comment of Jesus concerning Peter

a) “You are Simon the son of Jonah” (John 1:42a)

i) This was his original name

ii) This was given to him by his parents

b) “You shall be called Cephas” (a stone) (John 1:42b)

c) Aramaic terms

i) Messiah- “The Christ” (The Anointed One)

ii) Cephas- “A stone,” (or “a little rock”)

4. Peter

a) His response was not captured

b) He may have remained silent as he listened to what Jesus said about him

SIMON PETER

1. A prediction was made about Simon

a) He would become Peter

b) He would become a rock

2. The fulfilment of this prediction

a) Jesus would fulfil what He said about Peter

b) Jesus would train Peter as a Disciple

c) Peter would one day become an outstanding Apostle

RELEVANCE TO US TODAY

1. Humble beginning

a) Peter had a humble background

b) His father was a fisherman

c) He too was a fisherman

d) He was not a scholar

Our humble beginning does not determine the future outcome of our faith and life!

2. Huge impact on the life of Peter

a) The Lord Jesus Christ

b) The teachings of Jesus

c) The relationship between Jesus and Peter

d) The training of Peter as a Disciple

The Challenge is to see how faith in the Lord Jesus Christ can have that huge impact on our life so that we will be transformed significantly!