Ever since I was a little girl I’ve loved shows and movies about time travel. I love thinking about what it would have been like to be one of the thousands of people in the crowd when Jesus fed the 5,000 and heard Him speak. I love envisioning the scene with all the colors and textures of the field, the smell of the sea water, and the feel of the breeze on my face.

That’s what I want us to do these next six weeks.

I want us to travel back in time to when the twelve disciples walked on this earth. I want you to see them with fresh eyes – these ordinary men in their ordinary ways with their ordinary backgrounds; these men, who without Christ’s investment in them, would have stayed just that… ordinary.

But Jesus chose the disciples, and when He did He took them from ordinary to extraordinary.

This week we focus on Peter, who was an ordinary fisherman turned extraordinary leader.

I picture Peter as a little rough around the edges – a man with a big heart, raw leadership ability, and a ton of energy. I’m sure when he was little he was probably a handful, keeping his mama busy with questions, warp speed activity, and mischief in the twinkle of his eyes.

Peter was a man who saw things in black and white, with very little gray. He was completely passionate about certain issues and couldn’t hold back his opinion, regardless if the other person wanted to hear it or not.

Reading through our verses for today, I just wonder if he ever felt like he was too much: too much for those around him; too much for his menial job of fishing day after day. And I wonder if he ever wondered why God had made him with his strong personality and with his passion for life. I wonder if he ever wondered if there was more to life before Jesus called him.

I ask because I know I’ve sometimes wondered why God made me the way that He has. There are days when I feel like I’m too much, but many more when I feel like I’m not enough.

As we take a closer look at Peter’s life this week we see a man who is impulsive, emotional, one who speaks before he thinks… a man who is in need of some serious refining. Of all the disciples, Jesus rebukes and reprimands Peter the most, but Jesus also builds him up by naming him “The Rock.” Jesus speaks into Peter’s future regarding who He knows Peter is capable of becoming: an amazing leader who will one day lead the first-century church through very difficult times.

Peter is a man who goes from denying Christ to dying for Him.

God gave Peter the exact personality He knew Peter would need to fulfill the calling placed on his life. Peter didn’t develop into an amazing leader overnight. Oh, no. Peter learned through mistakes, rebukes, and words of encouragement. Peter came to be a better leader by being with Jesus. Over the years spent with Jesus, Peter learned to surrender his will and serve others rather than being served.

The change didn’t happen overnight.

Jesus used all of Peter – his past mistakes, his weaknesses, his overboard personality, and his incredible passion to crafted him into a man who was completely SOLD OUT and committed to carrying Christ’s message to all people… no matter the cost.

What God did in Peter’s life, He is willing to do in yours, too.

At times you may think that your personality is too much, too strong, too passionate, or even too mild. You may question God in how He crafted you and where He placed you. But make no mistake, God has given you everything you need to fulfill the calling on your life, just like He did for Peter.

But we must spend time with Him in His Word and in prayer. We must be willing to surrender our will for His. We must be willing to be like Christ and serve those He has placed around us. We must learn to bend low and wash one another’s feet.

We are all a work in progress. But praise God that day by day He is using our life circumstances, His Word, and prayer to chisel us more and more into His image, equipping us for the calling He has on our lives.

Remember the amazing work God did in Peter’s life and then embrace the work He is doing in yours.

Let’s Talk: Where are you from and what work is God doing in your life right now?

Love God Greatly!

 

 

 

Week 1 Video: Due to the summer schedule, we’re going for a little more laid back approach and will not have corresponding videos for this study. We’ll pick them back up in the fall. 🙂

Week 1 Challenge: Take time this week and thank God for the unique way He made you.

Week 1 Memory Verse:

Week 1 Reading Plan: 

Today kicks off WEEK 1 of our SOLD OUT study! Though our study name is titled SOLD OUT… our journals are definitely not! 🙂 Make sure to pick up your copies today! Our Bible study journals are packed full of beautiful content, are easy to use, and are designed with YOU in mind! 

Sold Out Adult Journal – http://amzn.to/2s1YOPK

Sold Out For Kids – http://amzn.to/2s8eSyJ

Sold Out Bible Study Journals

Angela Perritt

Angela Perritt

Angela Perritt is the founder and director of LoveGodGreatly.com, a nonprofit online Bible study ministry reaching thousands of women in over two hundred countries around the world with God’s Word through their translated Bible studies. She and her husband live in Dallas, Texas with their three daughters. Angela is passionate about God’s Word and believes one woman in God’s Word can change a family, community and ultimately a nation. Her greatest joy is to encourage her children and others to love God greatly with their lives one day at a time. You can connect with her on Instagram.

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