Day 1 - Lords Day - Sunday | Daily Devotions | The KJV Standard Lesson Commentary, 2025-2026 |
January 25
Lesson 8 (KJV)
Call and Growth
Devotional Reading: Colossians 2:1–7
Background Scripture: John 1:40–42; Ephesians 4:11–16; Philippians 3:12–16; Colossians 1:9–11; Hebrews 6:1–3
Matthew 4:18–20
18 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.
Matthew 16:16–18
16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
John 21:15–18
15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
18 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.
2 Peter 3:14–15, 18
14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you.
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18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
Key Text
He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.—John 21:17
Enduring Beliefs of the Church
Unit 2: Grace and Reconciliation
Lessons 5–8
Lesson Aims
After participating in this lesson, each learner will be able to:
1. List significant events in the life of Peter after Jesus called him.
2. State why Jesus might have continued to express confidence in Peter despite his shortcomings and weaknesses.
3. Write a note encouraging another believer who wants to grow in faith.
Lesson Outline
Introduction
A. From Fisherman to Disciple
B. Lesson Context
I. Peter’s Call (Matthew 4:18–20)
A. Two Fishermen (v. 18)
B. One Mission (vv. 19–20)
II. Peter’s Proclamation (Matthew 16:16–18)
A. Recognized the Son (v. 16)
B. Revealed by the Father (vv. 17–18)
III. Peter’s Ministry (John 21:15–18)
A. One Question, Repeated (vv. 15–17)
Demonstration of Love
B. One Future, Predicted (v. 18)
IV. Peter’s Teaching (2 Peter 3:14–15, 18)
A. Living at Peace (vv. 14–15)
B. Growing in Grace (v. 18)
Free Time for French
Conclusion
A. The Journey of Discipleship
B. Prayer
C. Thought to Remember
How to Say It
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Aramaic |
Air-uh-may-ik. |
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Barjona |
Bar-jo-nuh. |
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Bethsaida |
Beth-say-uh-duh. |
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Caesarea Philippi |
Sess-uh-ree-uh Fih-lip-pie or Fil-ih-pie. |
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Capernaum |
Kuh-per-nay-um. |
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Eusebius |
You-see-be-us. |
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Gennesaret |
Geh-ness-uh-ret (G as in get). |
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Messianic |
Mess-ee-an-ick. |
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Messias |
Mes-sigh-us. |
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Palestine |
Pah-luh-stein. |
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Sheol |
She-ol. |
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Tiberias |
Tie-beer-ee-us. |
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Zebedee |
Zeb-eh-dee. |
Introduction
A. From Fisherman to Disciple
In 1986, a severe drought lowered the water level of the Sea of Galilee, resulting in shorelines once covered in water becoming visible. On its western shores, two brothers discovered the remains of a once-buried fishing boat. Informally dubbed the “Jesus Boat,” the vessel is about 27 feet long and 7 feet wide. Researchers have dated it to within approximately 100 years of the life of Jesus, causing many to hypothesize that it could be the type of boat used by first-century fishermen.
Today’s lesson explores the life, call, and ministry of one such first-century fisherman, Simon Peter. He left the waters (and fishing boats) of the Sea of Galilee to become a disciple of Jesus. Peter’s discipleship to Jesus was full of ups and downs, yet God used Peter to ensure the growth and spread of the first-century church.
B. Lesson Context
Simon Peter was from Bethsaida (John 1:44), a village on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee. Here, he worked as a fisherman with his brother Andrew (Mark 1:16). Their fishing operation was a partnership with James and John, the sons of Zebedee (Luke 5:10). Peter was married (Mark 1:30; 1 Corinthians 9:5). At some point, Peter, his wife, and at least one other family member moved to Capernaum (Matthew 8:5–14), a town approximately five miles southwest of Bethsaida.
The New Testament notes three names for Peter. His Hebrew name is Simon or the variant Simeon (Mark 1:16; Acts 15:14). Later, Jesus calls him Peter, a designation based on an ancient Greek word meaning “rock” or “stone” (Matthew 16:18; Mark 3:16); this is his most frequently occurring name in the New Testament, found over 160 times. The third name is Cephas, an Aramaic word for “stone” (John 1:42; 1 Corinthians 1:12; 3:22; etc.).
I. Peter’s Call
(Matthew 4:18–20)
A. Two Fishermen (v. 18)
B. One Mission (vv. 19–20)
II. Peter’s Proclamation
(Matthew 16:16–18)
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What Do You Think? In what ways has Jesus called you to follow and trust Him in the upcoming week? Digging Deeper How can you follow that call at work, with your family, or in your neighborhood? |
A. Recognized the Son (v. 16)
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What Do You Think? How would you respond to the question, “Who is Jesus to you?” Digging Deeper How will your answer to that question affect your daily living? |
16b. The Son of the living God.
B. Revealed by the Father (vv. 17–18)
18a. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church.
Theory 1:
Theory 2:
Theory 3:
18b. And the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
III. Peter’s Ministry
(John 21:15–18)
A. One Question, Repeated (vv. 15–17)
15a. So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?
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What Do You Think? What are some “lesser loves” that can distract us from loving Jesus supremely? Digging Deeper What diagnostic questions can we ask to ensure these loves do not displace our love for Jesus? |
15b. He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee.
15c. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
Demonstration of Love
My husband and I had been dating for roughly six months before he said, “I love you.” I’ll never forget the inflection in his voice. We had been talking and laughing when it just seemed to come out of the blue!
His proclamation of love was a turning point in our relationship. It was not the same as our expressing how much we loved reading or eating ice cream. There was a particular weight to that phrase in the context of our budding relationship. Love for each other would require mutual action, including selflessness, work, and even sacrifice. Our love has lasted 20 years, but the weightiness of those three words remains.
It wasn’t enough that Peter spoke of his love for Jesus; Peter needed to demonstrate it. He would show this through his taking care of God’s people. Peter’s love for Jesus would fuel his life’s mission as a leader of the first-century church. How does your love for Jesus motivate your actions? What does His love compel you to do?
—B. R.
B. One Future, Predicted (v. 18)
(2 Peter 3:14–15, 18)
A. Living at Peace (vv. 14–15)
B. Growing in Grace (v. 18)
18. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
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What Do You Think? In which areas of life do you need to grow most in Christ as you await His return? Digging Deeper Who is another believer you can ask to support you in this endeavor? |
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What Do You Think? In what ways does Peter’s story of discipleship mirror your own? Digging Deeper How will you use your own discipleship story to invite others to join you on the journey of discipleship to Jesus? |
Conclusion
A. The Journey of Discipleship
Peter’s life of discipleship took him from being a fisherman in Galilee to being a leader of the first-century church. He grew from being “unlearned and ignorant” (Acts 4:13) to being the author of the two letters that bear his name in the New Testament. But his growth process wasn’t a straight line that always trended upward! Neither will ours be.
Even so, Jesus calls all who would claim to be His disciples to grow in His grace and knowledge—there are no exceptions. Peter’s story is encouraging in that regard. And as we grow, we will find it natural to invite others to join us on this journey as well. Expect it!
B. Prayer
Heavenly Father, give us a heart for transforming growth in Your Son through Your Holy Spirit! Forgive us for times when we fail You. Empower us to recognize opportunities to invite others to become Your Son’s disciples as well. In His name we pray. Amen.
C. Thought to Remember
Discipleship is a journey of growth.
Involvement Learning
Enhance your lesson with KJV Bible Student (from your curriculum supplier) and the reproducible activity page (at www.standardlesson.com or in the back of the KJV Standard Lesson Commentary Deluxe Edition).
Mark S. Krause, Becki Rogers, and Connie Chandler, “Call and Growth,” in The KJV Standard Lesson Commentary, 2025–2026, ed. Taylor Z. Stamps et al., vol. 73, The KJV Standard Lesson Commentary (Colorado Springs, CO: Standard Publishing, 2026), 183–184.
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