If I walked on water with Jesus you better believe I would be blogging about it within the hour. I would immediately be thinking how could put it into 140 characters for a Tweet on Twitter.

But Peter never mentions this or the other miracles he was involved with in his epistles! What a lesson in humility.

We studied Peter last week in Boomerang Express Vacation Bible School.

I put together a timeline of highlights from Peter’s life for our classroom wall to help the children get a good overview of  Peter’s life. As usual, preparing for children’s study taught me much!

Timeline of Peter

• Calling – John 1:40–42
• Name Simon changed to Peter by Jesus* – Matt. 17:25; Mark 14:37; Luke 22:31, comp. 21:15–17
• Fishing Net on Sea of Galilee - Matt. 4:18–22
• Refuses to let Jesus wash his feet – Luke 8:45
• Rebuked by Jesus – Matt. 16:21–23; Mark 8:31–33
• Present at the healing of Jairus’s daughter – Mark 5:37; Luke 8:51
• Transfiguration, wants to build 3 Tabernacles - Matt. 17:1–9
• Coin in the Fish’s Mouth for taxes – Matt. 17:24–27
• Walks upon the water w Jesus – Matt. 14:28–31
• Sent with John to prepare the Passover – Luke 22:8
• Denys Jesus – Matt. 26:33–35; Mark 14:29–31; Luke 22:31–34; John 13:36–38.
• After Resurrection sees linen –   John 20:1–10 Luke 24:9–12
• Ascension – Acts 1:15–26
• Pentecost - Acts 2:14–40
• Heal Cripple at the temple gate – Acts 3
• Imprisoned and scourged; his defense before the council – Acts 4:19, 20
• Foretells the death of Ananias and Sapphira - Acts 5:1–11
• Prays for the baptism of the Holy Spirit -Acts 8:15–18
• Rebukes Simon, the sorcerer -Acts 8:18–24
• Receives Paul -Gal. 1:18; 2:9
• Visits Lydda; heals Aenea – Acts 9:32–34.
• Raises Dorcas from the dead – Acts 9:36–43
• Has a Vision about Gentiles – Acts 10:9–16
• Preaches and Baptizes the centurion and his household – Acts 10
• Imprisoned and delivered by an angel -Acts 12:3–19 (VBS kidos fav story)
• Writes two epistles – 1 Pet. 1:1; 2 Pet. 1:1
• Council in Jerusalem – Acts 15:1–31; Gal. 2:1–10
• After this he appears to have carried the gospel to the east, and to have labored for a while at Babylon, on the Euphrates 1 Pet. 5:13. Where or when he died is not certainly known. Probably between 64 and 67.

After I put this timeline together, I read 1 and 2 Peter. That’s when I realized how humble he is.

Amazing, he never once mentions the miracles that happened to him personally. Peter reminds us that we need to remain humble of heart.

Themes from Peter’s Epistles

The focus on Peter’s episiles are on Christ and to believers to trust and obey God that we may be proven genuine in praise, glory and honor.

Accept Trails (1 Peter)

• Rejoice, even if you have to endure trials and testing (1:6-7; 4:12-13)
• Follow the example of Christ in suffering unjustly (1:11; 2:21-25; 3:18; 4:1; 5:9)
• Don’t do anything to deserve punishment (2:20; 3:16-17; 4:15)
• Don’t repay evil with evil, but by blessing and doing good to those who persecute you (2:23; 3:9; 4:19)
• You are blessed if you are reviled or suffer “for the name of Christ” or “as a Christian” (4:14, 16)

Maintain Hope (1 Peter)

• Jesus’ resurrection gives us hope for an imperishable inheritance (1:3-4, 11), the salvation of our souls (1:5, 9)
• Judgment day, the “end of all things” is near, so be prepared (2:12; 4:5-7; 5:8)
• In 1 Peter, the focus is on Theology more than Christology: Jesus is the model of obedient suffering, but God is the eschatological judge; the Christian community is the “Household of God,” rather than the “Body of Christ” (as in Paul)

Spread the Gospel and Avoid False Teachers (2 Peter)

• The whole letter is written in the form of a “Testament,” as the dying words of the apostle Peter (1:12-15; 3:1-2)
• Peter was an eyewitness of Jesus, not someone who made up or passed on myths (1:16-18)
• In contrast, f alse prophets and false teachers will try to deceive the believers (2:1-3, 10-22; 3:3-4, 16)

Live  Virtuous and Godly Life: Avoid Evil and Immorality (2 Peter)

• build up your lives step-by-step: faith / goodness / knowledge / self-control / endurance / godliness / mutual affection / love (1:5-7)
• the Lord will punish the unrighteous, but rescue the righteous (2:4-10)
• avoid sinners and any kind of sin: slander, revelry, adultery, greed, etc. (2:11-22)
• live ethical holy lives as you wait for the coming of the “Day of the Lord” (1:3-4; 3:11-12)

VBS is such a blessing. I Learned, I Hope Children Did Too!

The biggest lesson to me is Peter failed, he even denied Christ,  but still was awarded the “rock of the church” honor despite all of his weaknesses. This gives me hope that my life with all my failures can make a difference.

What have you learned from Peter, another disciple or VBS? Share in the comments.

Popularity: 41% [?]