Asking for a Friend #7 - I Won't Stumble Badly, Will I?
Matthew 26:31-75
Dr. Kurt Bjorklund
Part of Asking for a Friend—May 6 - June 25, 2023
June 23, 2023

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Group Study Guide

Date: June 24-25, 2023
Speaker: Dr. Kurt Bjorklund
Series: Asking for a Friend
Message: #7 - I Won’t Stumble Badly, Will I?

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Scripture

31 Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: “‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ 32 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” 33 Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.” 34 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” 35 But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same. 36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” 39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” 40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. 41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” —Matthew 26:31-41 (NIV)

69 Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said. 70 But he denied it before them all. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said. 71 Then he went out to the gateway, where another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.” 72 He denied it again, with an oath: “I don’t know the man!” 73 After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away.” 74 Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!” Immediately a rooster crowed. 75 Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly. —Matthew 26:69-75 (NIV)

15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” 16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” 17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. —John 21:15-17 (NIV)

Notes

  1. The Anatomy of Spiritual Failure
    a. Self-Confidence (v. 33-35)


    b. Spiritual Distance (v. 39-41, 57)


    c. Poor Influences (v. 69-75)

  2. The Restoration of Spiritual Failure
    a. Realize our failures don’t surprise God (v. 31-35)


    b. See failure as an invitation to start again (v. 69-75)


    c. Remember our failure is never greater than God’s love for us (John 21:15-17)

Study Guide

Step One: Icebreaker (Optional)
If you could have a personal mascot, what would it be and what kinds of things would it do?

Step Two: Open
Read Matthew 26:31-35 and pray to open your time together.

Step Three: Discuss

  1. What stood out to you the most in this weekend’s teaching? What was challenging, encouraging, or confusing to you?

  2. Looking at verse 31, Jesus predicts that his disciples will abandon him. Why do you think Jesus chose to share this with his disciples at this moment?

  3. Jesus says at the end of verse 32 that he will rise and go ahead of his disciples into Galilee. Do you think it was significant for the disciples to hear this from Jesus at this moment? Why or why not?

  4. Read Matthew 26:69-75. Peter makes a promise to Jesus in verse 33 that he will never fall away, even if all others do, and we see in these verses Peter goes against his word. What factors do you think could have played into Peter denying Jesus in the manner that he did?

  5. Peter’s emotional reaction to his denial of Jesus in verse 75 is the last time we see Peter mentioned in Matthew’s gospel account. How can understanding the deep nature of God’s love for us help in these types of moments?

  6. Read John 21:15-17. How do you think Peter must have felt after this conversation with Jesus? How might his relationship with Jesus have changed as a result?

  7. What other things can we learn from Peter’s failure that could change the way we see moments like this in our own lives? How have you personally seen God at work in your life during a time of personal failure?

Step Four: Close in Prayer