Apostle Peter
Disciple Lessons from the Rock

by Dr. Ralph F. Wilson

Free E-mail Bible Study Bible study Faith of Abraham (Genesis 11-25)

Andrey Mirnov, detail of 'Saint Peter and Saint Paul' (2021), oil on canvas, 60x60
Andrey Nikolaevich Mironov (Ryazan, Russia), detail of 'Saint Peter and Saint Paul' (2021), oil on canvas, 60x60. Used by artist's permission.

Peter is one of the best-known characters in the Bible. Is there anything new to learn? Yes. We always profit as we process as adults what we first learned as children. And what we learn will help us grow in Christ and implement the lessons of Peter's life.

Peter is mentioned in the Gospels far more times than all the other eleven apostles put together. We'll consider all of these. In 8 or 9 instances, Peter serves mainly as the spokesman for the other disciples and isn't integrally involved in the narrative. But where Peter is part of the action or teaching, we'll spend the time to examine the context, the action, the related teachings, and see what we can apply to our lives. Here and there we'll draw wisdom from the mature apostle's letters, 1 and 2 Peter.

This study goes beyond being a biography. Rather it is a study designed to grow disciples today, using the life of Peter as a means to that end. We walk in Peter's steps and learn as he learned. We observe the younger, brash Peter and compare him to the apostle whose shadow heals people, who witnesses with bravery, preaches with power, and ministers with grace.

These materials can be used for individual study, as well as with a partner, small group, or class. Probing discussion questions help get at the main issues the text presents to us.

While the study is designed for the thoughtful lay reader, preachers and teachers will appreciate that the study is heavily footnoted with word definitions, Scripture cross-references, and sources used, drastically cutting down the time of sermon preparation. Indeed, many incidents from Peter's life can be easily formed into sermons drawing from the background materials presented here.

More than anything else, my prayer is that by studying the life of Peter, named "Rock" by his Master, you may grow as a disciple and enter further into your own ministry.

Please consider joining me in this study. It is absolutely free via e-mail.

Here is a brief outline of this 11-week study.

  • Preface

Available as a podcast
Available as a free podcast
  1. The Call of Peter (in each Gospel)
  2. Peter's Growth as a Disciple (Matthew 14-18)
  3. Peter's Confession and the Keys to the Kingdom (Matthew 16:13-27)
  4. Peter's Glory and Humiliation (Luke 9:27-36; John 13:1-17)
  5. Peter's Crisis and Denial (Luke 22, Mark 14
  6. Peter and the Risen Christ (Luke 24; John 20-21))
  7. Peter's Leadership in the Early Church (Acts 1-4)
  8. Peter's Authority and Power (Acts 5-8)
  9. Peter's Ministry to the Gentiles (Acts 9-11)
  10. Peter's Escape, Hypocrisy, and Counsel (Acts 12-15)
  11. Peter's Death and Legacy (John 21:18-19; 1 and 2 Peter)

A detailed outline enables you to see all the Scripture passages covered.

St. Peter: Disciple Lessons from the Rock, by Ralph F. Wilson
Available in book versions: paperback, PDF, and Kindle

I invite you to journey with me and thousands of brothers and sisters world-wide through an 11-week study of Peter. Here's how we'll study.

  • Each Saturday I'll e-mail you the lesson for the week. Then you'll read the Bible passage and use my notes to help you understand it better.
  • You can respond to discussion questions in your own journal, or use them to start a discussion with your class or group.
  • With each lesson you'll receive a link to this material in audio form. Some who learn better from hearing than from reading really appreciate this.
  • Then on Saturday, I'll send you the next week's lesson.

Why don't you sign up right now -- and then encourage some of your friends to sign up and study along with you. You will receive the first lesson the Friday after you sign up. The e-mail Bible study is absolutely free -- no cost to you!

Sign up now!

To sign up, start by clicking on your e-mail frequency preference:

You'll receive your first lesson the Friday after you sign up. There is no cost to participate in the study, though donations are encouraged so we can create more studies and reach more people.

We respect your privacy and never sell, rent, or loan our lists. Please don't subscribe your friends; let them decide for themselves.

Please don't sign up for more than one of my Bible studies at one time. There's no penalty, but each of them is pretty intensive. If you try to do too many studies at the same time without adequate reflection, you'll miss out on God speaking to you.

Apostle Peter: Disciple Lessons from the Rock

Copyright © 2025, Ralph F. Wilson. <pastor@joyfulheart.com> All rights reserved. A single copy of this article is free. Do not put this on a website. See legal, copyright, and reprint information.