SIMON PETER: The Raising of Tabitha - Brandon Luna

Acts 11.1-18. In Acts 10 and 11 Peter is involved in an incident that sees the gospel break free from its exclusively Jewish roots and start to propel outwards towards the ends of the earth. But Peter’s friends are freaked out by this and confront him angrily about it. How is Peter going to turn this sudden crisis into a window of opportunity? 16 November 2025.

Acts 9.32-43. The early church continues to grow in numbers and expand outwards under Peter and the other apostles’ leadership. Many signs and wonders are done in Jesus’ name as they preach the gospel. But raising the dead? Peter had witnessed Jesus raising Jairus’ daughter in Luke 8. But now he is asked to raise a dead woman named Tabitha. Will this challenge prove to be a bridge too far? 9 November 2025.

Acts 4.1-31. Following the healing of the lame beggar (Acts 3), it all kicks off because the religious authorities can see public support for the new Jesus movement is exploding - at their expense. Peter and the apostles are roughly treated and strictly forbidden to do anything in Jesus’ name. How will Peter lead the Christian response? And how should we respond to public pressure to be silent about our faith? 2 November 2025.

Acts 3.1-16. Peter’s day is interrupted by a man begging at the temple gate. As it happens, Peter and John (who is with him) don’t have any cash on them, but they do have faith in the power of Jesus Christ. So Peter tells the man, who is lame from birth, to get up and walk in Jesus’ name, and then helps him to his feet. When Jesus said that his followers would do the mighty works he did - and greater ones still - this episode shows that he meant us to take him at his word. Apologies; the first minute or so of Phil’s talk is missing from the recording. 26 October 2025.

Acts 2.14-41. After the resurrection, restored by Jesus, Peter is a changed man. After Pentecost though, he is a new man. Peter is unrecognisable from all that came before once he is baptised in the Holy Spirit. How would you respond to Peter’s first sermon if you were listening in that day? 19 October 2025.

John 21.1-19. After Peter’s threefold denial, the risen Lord Jesus offers him a way back. Standing by a charcoal fire, which must have reminded Peter of his dismal failure, Jesus pointedly asks Peter three times if he really loves him. Once that is affirmed, Peter is entrusted with spiritual leadership. How can we move on from our own failures and show that we love the Lord? 12 October 2025.

Luke 22.31-62. His threefold denial, predicted beforehand by Jesus with pinpoint accuracy, is probably the thing Peter is most remembered for. Despite his protests that he would never deny his Lord, fear overtakes him and his night ends in catastrophic failure. What instruction and hope can we take from this story? 5 October 2025.

John 13.1-17. On the night he was betrayed, denied and abandoned, Jesus ate a last meal with his disciples and interrupted proceedings to wash everyone's feet. Peter vigorously protested. Why was this so countercultural and what does it have to say to us in our very different culture? 28 September 2025.

Mark 9.2-13 and 2 Peter 1.16-18. Imagine standing with Peter, James, and John as Jesus is suddenly transformed before your eyes, shining with a brilliant heavenly light. What did this awe-inspiring event mean for Simin Peter then, and what does it mean for us now? 21 September 2025.

Mark 8.27-38. Within a minute, Peter goes from hero to zero as his prophetic revelation of Jesus' identity is followed immediately by a hell-inspired attempt to divert Jesus from his saving mission. How can we in turn grow in our expression of the prophetic and avoid getting it all wrong? 14 September 2025.