Peter the Disciple
I wasn’t the polished, put-together leader people imagined.
I was a fisherman — gritty, impulsive, rough around the edges. I had more callouses than credentials, and I was more known for speaking too soon than saying something wise. But Jesus looked straight through my flaws and called me something I never believed I could be: the rock.
📜 John’s Message – “Start Here”
“I was young when I followed Jesus. I didn’t have all the answers, but I knew one thing—He was the truth, and I had to follow Him. You may be searching too. Maybe you’ve battled addiction, pain, or doubt. Maybe you feel lost, like you don’t know where to begin.”
“That’s why Spread God’s Glory exists—to help you START HERE. You’re not alone. The same way Jesus changed my life, He can change yours. You have a place here, alongside others who are walking the same path.”
How It All Started
I was born into the grind. Fishing wasn’t glamorous — it was survival.
My brother Andrew met Jesus first and told me,
“We’ve found the Messiah.”
I didn’t know what that meant, but I showed up anyway. Then Jesus looked at me and said,
“You are Simon, but you will be called Peter.”
Just like that — a new name, a new identity. Before I ever earned it.
Following Jesus wasn’t a part-time spiritual side gig. It meant leaving the nets behind, leaving the predictable behind. And it was chaotic — dusty roads, constant crowds, miracles that shook us to the core. But I was all in. Even when I didn’t understand,
I stayed close.
He didn’t choose the elite. He chose us —
loudmouths, doubters, misfits.
And in that mess, I saw glimpses of something holy. I didn’t have a clue what was coming, but I knew this: I couldn’t go back to life before Him.
I Discovered a Secret
I thought loyalty was about being strong.
About always showing up, always standing tall. So when I told Jesus,
“I’ll die before I deny You,”
I meant it. But that night, fear crushed me. I denied Him — not once, but three times. And when the rooster crowed, I broke.
The shame was suffocating.
I had failed the One who believed in me most. And yet… after the resurrection, He came back for me.
He didn’t lecture me. He didn’t bring up my denial.
He simply made breakfast. He looked me in the eyes and asked, “Do you love Me?”
three times — one for each denial.
In that moment, I discovered the secret: grace isn’t about what you deserve — it’s about what Jesus already decided.
My failure didn’t disqualify me. It prepared me. He didn’t need me to be perfect — just present, just surrendered. That’s the power of grace.
I Had A Lightbulb Moment
It was by the fire — the same setting where I had denied Him.
But this time, it wasn’t fear speaking. It was forgiveness.
Jesus flipped the script. “Feed my sheep,” He said — giving me a mission, not a punishment.
That’s when everything changed.
I realized my identity wasn’t rooted in shame — it was redefined by His love.
I wasn’t just forgiven. I was restored. And not just restored, but trusted to lead. Me — the one who ran away when things got hard.
That kind of grace unlocks something in you.
It gives you boldness you didn’t know you had. Days later, I stood up in front of thousands and preached my heart out — and 3,000 people were saved. The same mouth that once denied Jesus now declared Him without fear.
That moment lit a fire that’s still burning.
HIS PROMISE
Lives Changed
JESUS IS CALLING
Prayers Answered
My faith journey is my Reward
I didn’t return to fishing.
I couldn’t. I had seen too much.
From that day on, my life was spent pouring out what Jesus had poured into me. I walked through miracles, persecution, prisons, and the building of the early Church. And none of it was easy — but every bit of it was worth it.
I didn’t lead because I was fearless. I led because I knew what it was like to fall and get back up.
That gave me compassion. It gave me clarity.
And it gave me the authority to speak into the broken.
Every soul transformed, every life touched, every time someone heard about Jesus — that’s my reward. Not glory, not recognition. Just the joy of knowing I stayed in the fight. The same guy who used to sink in fear was now anchored in faith. And the waves don’t scare me anymore.
I Call It Grace
You can call me Peter, Rock, leader, apostle —
but the truth is, I’m just a man rescued by grace. That’s the headline of my life.
I didn’t earn it.
I didn’t deserve it.
But Jesus gave it anyway.
When you think you’ve messed up too much, remember my story.
Grace isn’t soft. It’s fierce. It tracks you down, lifts you up, and pushes you forward. And no matter how far you fall, Jesus is always willing to cook breakfast and restore what you thought was lost.
If He could build His Church on me — the stubborn, scared, imperfect me — He can absolutely use you.
Grace turned my worst day into my greatest testimony. And I’m still walking it out, one step at a time.
🪨 Peter by the Numbers
A glimpse into the incredible journey of a man transformed by grace.
3,000+ Lives Changed at Pentecost
After receiving the Holy Spirit, Peter preached with boldness, and over 3,000 people were saved in one day — a historic moment that launched the early Church.
10,000+ Miles Walked
From Galilee to Jerusalem to Rome, Peter’s ministry took him across ancient cities and nations, walking thousands of miles to spread the Gospel.
100+ Sermons Preached
From simple shorelines to massive crowds, Peter delivered powerful messages fueled by fire and faith. Some are recorded in Acts, but many went unrecorded.
Dozens of Miracles Witnessed
Peter saw Jesus walk on water, heal the sick, raise the dead — and even experienced miracles himself, like healing a beggar at the temple gate.
3 Denials… and 1 Life-Changing Breakfast
Peter denied Jesus three times — but was lovingly restored during a quiet breakfast by the fire. Grace rewrote his worst moment into a redemption story.
1 Divine Nickname: “The Rock”
Jesus called him “Peter,” meaning rock — a bold declaration that this imperfect man would become a foundational leader of the Church.
1 Miraculous Prison Escape
In Acts 12, Peter was chained and guarded — until an angel led him out of prison, undetected. God wasn’t done with him yet.
1 Upside-Down Crucifixion (Tradition)
According to early Church tradition, Peter was crucified in Rome — upside down at his request, feeling unworthy to die in the same way as Jesus.
Countless Moments of Mercy and Boldness
Peter’s journey was filled with raw moments, powerful lessons, and bold steps of faith. He proves that grace doesn’t just restore — it launches you into purpose.
FAQs About Peter the Disciple
Why was Peter called the Rock?
Jesus called Peter “the Rock” because He planned to build His Church through him. The name symbolized strength, leadership, and Peter’s foundational role in spreading the Gospel.
Did Peter really walk on water?
Yes, Peter briefly walked on water toward Jesus during a storm, as recorded in Matthew 14. When he took his eyes off Jesus and doubted, he began to sink — a powerful lesson in faith.
How did Peter deny Jesus?
On the night Jesus was arrested, Peter denied knowing Him three times before the rooster crowed, just as Jesus had foretold. Peter was devastated, but later restored by Jesus after the resurrection.
What happened to Peter after Jesus rose from the dead?
After the resurrection, Peter became a bold preacher and leader in the early Church. He delivered the first sermon at Pentecost, leading over 3,000 people to faith.
How did Peter die?
Tradition holds that Peter was crucified upside down in Rome under Emperor Nero. He requested to be crucified differently than Jesus, feeling unworthy to die the same way.
🦶 How to Be Like Peter
Peter didn’t get it right every time — but he got one thing right:
He kept showing up.
Here’s how you can walk in his footsteps:
1. Say Yes, Even When You Don’t Understand
Peter left everything the moment Jesus called. He didn’t have the plan — he had faith.
✅ Take action when God speaks, even if it doesn’t make sense.
2. Don’t Hide Your Mistakes
Peter messed up — big. But he let Jesus restore him. He didn’t let shame silence him.
✅ Let grace write your comeback story.
3. Be Bold with the Gospel
The same man who denied Jesus became the man who preached to thousands.
✅ Tell someone about Jesus, even if your voice shakes.
4. Stay Humble
Peter never claimed perfection. He just kept surrendering.
✅ God isn’t asking you to be flawless — just faithful.
5. Keep Going After You Fall
Peter didn’t return to fishing. He moved forward in his calling.
✅ Fall forward. Let your pain fuel your purpose.
Faith Insights & Resources
Daily Devotionals
(Fresh Scripture & Encouragement)
Bible Study Topics
(Understand Scripture More Deeply)
Frequently Asked Questions
(Who is Jesus? How Do I Pray?)
Christian Data & Growth Trends
(How Faith is Spreading Globally)
Meet God’s Team – 12 Ordinary Men, One Extraordinary Mission
Peter – The Bold but Fearful Leader
Struggle: Hot-tempered, impulsive, and denied Jesus three times.Victory: Became a fearless preacher, leading thousands to Christ.
John – The Son of Thunder Turned Apostle of Love
Struggle: Had a temper and wanted power and recognition.Victory: Became the disciple closest to Jesus and taught love and humility.
James (Son of Zebedee) – The Hot-Tempered Warrior for Christ
Struggle: Wanted to call down fire on unbelievers.Victory: Became a powerful church leader and was the first disciple martyred.
Paul (formerly Saul) – From Christian Persecutor to Preacher
Struggle: Hunted and killed Christians, full of hatred.Victory: Transformed by Jesus and became the greatest missionary in history.
Bartholomew (Nathanael) – The Skeptic Turned Faithful Witness
Struggle: Initially doubted Jesus, saying, "Can anything good come from Nazareth?"Victory: Became a dedicated disciple and missionary, eventually martyred for his faith.
Philip – The Overthinker Who Learned to Trust
Struggle: Struggled with doubt, always needing logical proof.Victory: Became a bold evangelist who helped spread Christianity far beyond Israel.
Thomas – The Doubter Who Became a Believer
Struggle: Questioned everything, refusing to believe without proof.Victory: Saw the resurrected Christ and became a bold missionary.
Matthew – The Greedy Tax Collector Turned Follower
Struggle: Worked for Rome, seen as a traitor by his people.Victory: Left everything behind to follow Jesus and spread the Gospel.
Simon the Zealot – The Revolutionary Who Found a Greater Cause
Struggle: Was part of a violent political group before following Jesus.Victory: Gave up political rebellion to fight for God’s kingdom instead.
James (Son of Alphaeus) – The Quiet but Faithful One
Struggle: Not much is recorded about him—perhaps he felt overlooked.Victory: Remained faithful and preached the Gospel, showing that even quiet followers can have a big impact.
Thaddeus (Jude, Son of James) – The Forgotten but Faithful
Struggle: Often overlooked, not much is recorded about him.Victory: Became a faithful disciple who spread Jesus’ message in silence.
Judas – The One Who Fell
Struggle: Obsessed with money, betrayed Jesus for silver.Lesson: His story reminds us that greed and deception lead to destruction.