The fear of man in Peter
Intro Prayer
Heavenly Father, as we gather to discuss Peter's failure and Your redemptive grace, we ask that You would open our hearts to receive Your truth today. Help us recognize the ways we too have denied You when faced with fear. Give each person in this group the courage to be honest about their struggles and the wisdom to apply Your Word to their lives. May Your Holy Spirit guide our conversation and reveal what You want us to learn from Peter's experience. In Jesus' name, amen.
Summary
In this sermon, Andrew examines Peter's denial of Jesus in Mark 14:66-72, focusing on how fear of man inclines us toward sin. The passage shows Peter, who earlier boasted of his loyalty to Jesus, denying him three times when confronted by servants and bystanders in the high priest's courtyard. Andrew highlights the irony between Peter's self-seeking behavior and Jesus' self-giving sacrifice happening simultaneously. The sermon demonstrates how fear of man leads us to prefer comfortable lies over inconvenient truths and perverts our understanding of reality. When Peter focused on the opinions and threats of people around him rather than on Jesus, he failed dramatically, just as he began to sink when he took his eyes off Jesus while walking on water. The sermon concludes with practical applications for believers facing the temptation to fear people more than God.
Key Verses
Mark 14:72
Matthew 16:24-26
1 Corinthians 10:13
Key Takeaways
Fear of man inclines us toward sin by leading us to prefer comfortable lies over inconvenient truths.
When we fear people more than God, our understanding of reality becomes distorted, and we lose sight of who Jesus truly is.
When tempted to fear man, we should pray and ask God for wisdom rather than distancing ourselves from Him.
Remembering who God is—His sovereignty, power, and faithfulness—helps us resist the temptation to fear people.
Recalling what Jesus did for us on the cross is a powerful antidote to temptation and fear of man.
Ending Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank You for Your incredible sacrifice on the cross that covers even our moments of denial and fear. Like Peter, we have often failed You when faced with pressure from others. Forgive us for the times we've valued human approval more than Your truth. This week, strengthen us to remember Your sovereignty when we feel afraid. Help us to run toward You in prayer rather than away from You in shame when we're tempted. May we fix our eyes on You rather than the storms around us, and may the memory of Your cross give us courage to stand firm in our faith. Transform our hearts to fear You above all else. In Your powerful name we pray, amen.