The Power to Change

What strange tools the Carpenter of Nazareth used to shape a Simon into a Peter! His instruments of change were fish, roosters, pigs, and ordinary people like his wife, his brother, and even his mother-in-law. Shaped by adversity and hammered by time and circumstance, “The Rock” was chiseled into shape on the workbench of this world.

What tools will God’s carpenter use to get us into spiritual shape? He gives us, as He gave Peter, the privilege and capacity to cooperate in the process. He has the power to change us as He did Peter.

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Lessons from the Storms of Life

Speaker: Jill Briscoe

Peter’s life is introduced as a story of transformation in which Jesus, the “carpenter of Nazareth,” uses ordinary objects—fish, roosters, pigs, and in this passage, Matthew 14, a boat—to shape him from Simon into Peter. Jill then describes surveying young people about the church, finding that many view it as inconsequential, inhospitable, and indifferent, revealing a disconnect between what the church is meant to be and how it is often perceived.

Scripture: Matthew 14:22-14:33, 1 Peter 2:4-2:8

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Christian Partnership

Speaker: Jill Briscoe

Peter’s wife appears only briefly in Scripture, but Jill uses those small references to show that Peter and his wife shared a genuine Christian partnership—both were believers and both received God’s calling together. Their marriage becomes a model of “heirs together of the gracious gift of life,” illustrating how two committed believers can serve God side by side as a unified team.

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:1-3:7

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First Steps in Following

Speaker: Jill Briscoe

Peter’s conversion in John 1 begins when his brother Andrew tells him they have found the Messiah, appealing to Peter’s shared religious hope for Israel’s deliverance. The speaker explains that although the word “Messiah” never appears in the Old Testament, the concept grows from the anointing of Israel’s kings—especially David—whose sacred, chosen role eventually shaped Israel’s expectation of a future national deliverer.

Scripture: John 1:35-1:44

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Learning to Serve

Speaker: Jill Briscoe

In John 13, we learn about a servant’s lifestyle as Jesus uses the symbol of a towel to teach Peter that true greatness is found in servanthood, demonstrated most powerfully when He washed the disciples’ feet at the Last Supper. Peter learns that following Christ means adopting a servant’s heart—one willing to act humbly, sacrificially, and consistently, just as Jesus Himself will do even at His second coming.

Scripture: John 13:1-13:17

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From Failure to Faith

Speaker: Jill Briscoe

Peter’s denial in Matthew 26 shows that even sincere, devoted believers can fail, just as he did when fear made him disown Jesus three times before the rooster crowed. Jill explains that Jesus both foretold Peter’s fall and made provision for his restoration, teaching us that while failure is inevitable in the Christian life, we remain held securely in God’s hand and can always return to Him in repentance.

Scripture: Matthew 26:30-26:35, Luke 22:54-22:62

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Pentecost

Speaker: Jill Briscoe

Peter’s transformation from a fearful follower into a bold preacher happened because of the Holy Spirit, symbolized here by “fire.” Before Pentecost, Peter relied on his own strength—fleeing danger and denying Jesus—but after receiving the Spirit, he preached with power and courage, showing that true Christian living is impossible without the Spirit’s enabling presence.

Scripture: Acts 2

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Helping a Crippled World to Walk

Speaker: Jill Briscoe

In Acts 3, Peter and John heal a man who has been crippled since birth, showing that the risen Christ—working through the Holy Spirit—now acts through His followers to restore a broken, “crippled” world. Jill explains that believers become the vehicle of God’s healing presence, called to address the deep wounds of humanity with Christ’s power rather than relying on their own “crutches.”

Scripture: Acts 3

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Dealing with Prejudice

Speaker: Jill Briscoe

Peter’s vision in Acts 10 reveals how God confronts and dismantles his deep cultural prejudice, preparing him to bring the gospel to Gentiles like Cornelius. Through the vision of the sheet filled with “unclean” animals and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Cornelius’s household, Peter learns that God shows no favoritism and welcomes all who believe—breaking the barriers that once limited the early church’s mission.

Scripture: Acts 10

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Featured Offer

Find strength to conquer temptation

Every believer faces temptation, but God has not left us to fight these battles alone. Through His Word and His power, we can recognize temptation, resist the enemy’s schemes, and stand firm in God’s strength.

As our thanks for your gift today, we’ll send you Stuart and Jill Briscoe’s 4-message series, Triumph Over Temptation. In these practical and encouraging messages, you’ll discover biblical truth to help you overcome temptation, grow stronger in your faith, and experience victory through Christ.

Your gift will help share the timeless truth of God’s Word with people around the world searching for encouragement and the Life found only in Jesus. Thank you!

The Power to Change

Lessons from the Storms of Life

Christian Partnership

First Steps in Following

Learning to Serve

From Failure to Faith

Pentecost

Helping a Crippled World to Walk

Dealing with Prejudice

Featured Offer

Find strength to conquer temptation

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The Power to Change

Featured Offer

Find strength to conquer temptation

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