Outlines of Sermons of Bible Conference Held on 14th April 2006

Second Sermon: The Path of Walking with God by James Chu

– Learn from the life of Peter —- the path of the Cross

Reference: Matt 4:19-20, 16:16-18,21-24; Luke 24:26-27; John 1:42, 21:18-22; I Peter 1:3,23, 2:9,19-21,4:1; II Peter 1:3-8

A. The Path of the Cross starts from the time the Lord Calls you
1. The Call of the Lord consists of the meanings of the call to follow, follow after, and the call to walk with, walking along side of Him. When calling Simon Peter, He said, “Follow, follow after and follow along side of, me and I will make you fishers of men.” And they straightway left their nets and followed, followed after and followed along side of, Him. (Matt 4:19-20)

2. The Lord not only calls individuals, he also calls groups of people. The Church is the one called to be out of the world and walk with Him. Hence, Jesus called his disciples, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me, follow after and along side of, me.” (Matt 16:24)

B. The Reveal of the Path of the Cross is the Reveal of Christ and Church. There needs to be the illumination of three “You are”.
1. First, be revealed of the Heavenly Father to know that “You are Christ, the Son of the living God”. (Matt 16:16)
2. Be revealed of the Lord that “You are Simon Barjona”. Although there is the presence of the old nature, do not savor the things of men. Do not rely on flesh and blood. (Matt 16:17)
3. Further, be revealed of the Lord that “You are Peter, the living rock upon which He will build His Church. (Matt 16:18)

C. The Essence of the Path of the Cross — Affliction, Crucifixion, and Resurrection for the Will of God to be done. (Matt 16:21; Luke 24:26-27)
When revealed of the essence of the Cross, one sees also the importance of
1. having the same mind as Christ to suffer (I Peter 4:1)
2. the necessity of denying self (Matt 16:24)
3. the hope of resurrection (IPeter1:3)

D. The Hope of the Path of the Cross
1. Peter has gone through three stages of life
a. Before called by the Lord- his name was Simon Barjona.
b. After the Lord had called him, the Lord changed his name to Peter. This is the stage during which he followed the Lord for three and a half years and the time of the early churches.
c. The last stage last for about 20 years. From the time of Acts 5 to the time he was put to death for the sake of the Cross, there are few records about him, except the letters he wrote. From his letters, one can see a ministry of hope that he shares about the path of the Cross that he has experienced in his life.
2. I Peter talks about that knowing God the Father and the Son of the living God, we have a living hope (IPeter1:3) and living word (I Peter 1:23), and we can experience grace in sufferings (I Peter 2:19-20). Therefore, the book of Peter has shown us a Peter who had experienced grace in sufferings because of the living hope he had.
3. The book of II Peter was written just before Peter passed away (II Peter 1:15). That means it was written when he had almost finished the road of the Cross. By then he was a genuine Simon Peter. He could boldly share with us how to be filled with hope as one walks with the Lord until the end of the road.