Every conference I teach Biblical leadership principles by dressing as a Bible person and sharing what I, as that person, learned about leadership. Each year I do someone different. One year I was Peter: “Leadership Lessons from Peter.” I told about my background then talked about my wife and how important it is to have the support of a godly mate (1 Peter 3:7). There are many good lessons in the life of Peter.
Peter had his faith stretched by Jesus time and time again: casting nets when they had caught no fish, feeding hungry people, watching miracles and even walking on water. All godly leaders have their faith stretched by Jesus. God uses that to keep them humble, and Peter needed that as well. He was over-confident in himself and his pride caused many problems. It culminated in his denying he even knew Jesus. When he realized what he had done, and that Jesus heard him do it, he was crushed and his proud spirit was broken. He was a changed man from that time on, depending on God’s strength instead of his own.
Peter was willing to serve wherever and whenever God wanted. He was faithful his whole ministry, and also faithful in death. He was crucified alongside his wife. He didn’t feel worthy to die as Jesus had died, so he asked to be crucified upside down. What a great change had taken place in his life.
Peter is a man we all love and identify with. He is very human and lets his humanness show often. We can’t help but loving him, but there is also much we can learn from him.
1 Peter 1:3-4 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. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you.
In what ways can you identify with Peter? What can you learn from him? What advice would he give you if he could talk to you today?
cto Rev. Dr. JERRY SCHMOYER
Christian Training Organization
Jerry@ChristianTrainingOrganization.org
(India Outreach, Spiritual Warfare, Family Ministries, Counseling, World View)
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