Lead
Becoming a Leader Worth Following: Lessons from Peter's Journey
Peter's life journey offers us one of the most relatable examples of faith in the Bible. From a brash fisherman to a wise church leader, his transformation shows us what it means to truly follow Jesus and then lead others to Him.
The Roller Coaster Faith of Peter
Peter's faith journey wasn't a straight line—it was filled with mountains and valleys. In one moment, he had enough faith to walk on water; in another, he began sinking. He boldly declared Jesus as the Messiah, yet later denied knowing Him three times.
This is what makes Peter so relatable. His journey reminds us that our faith isn't meant to be perfect. The ups and downs of life make up our faith journey with Jesus. Because of our sinful nature, life can't always be "up and to the right." But because of Jesus, we can have redemption—just as Peter did.
What Transformed Peter from Impulsive to Bold?
How did Peter go from being impulsive, inconsistent, self-serving, proud, fearful, and ashamed to bold, confident, compassionate, and courageous? What's even more astonishing is that the negative characteristics described him when he was physically walking with Jesus, while the positive ones emerged after Jesus had left.
The answer is simple yet profound: the Holy Spirit.
While walking with Jesus saved Peter's life, he didn't really become like Jesus until Jesus left and the Holy Spirit arrived. Jesus emphasized this in John 16:7: "Nevertheless, I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away. For if I do not go away, the helper, the Holy Spirit will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you."
Why is the Holy Spirit More Powerful Than Walking with Jesus?
Most Christians would probably say it would be better to physically walk with Jesus as Peter did, rather than have the Holy Spirit dwell within us. But Jesus knew that the Holy Spirit in us was more powerful than Him walking beside us.
You can encounter Jesus without the Holy Spirit, but you cannot become like Jesus without the Holy Spirit leading you. The Spirit will always lead us in the way of Jesus.
Jesus saw Peter's potential with the Holy Spirit in him. Often, we see only our sin-led selves, while Jesus sees our Spirit-led selves. This was the difference between Peter before and after receiving the Holy Spirit.
From Being Led to Leading Others
In First Peter 5, we see Peter writing to the church in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey) that was experiencing persecution and suffering. He addresses two groups: church leaders (verses 1-4) and the people of the church (verses 5-11).
Peter had progressed from someone who didn't understand what Jesus was teaching to someone who helped others understand. This is the mark of a mature believer—moving from being spiritually fed to feeding others spiritually.
What Does Jesus Expect from His Shepherds?
When Jesus restored Peter in John 21:15-17, He gave him three commands:
"Feed my lambs"
"Tend my sheep"
"Feed my sheep"
Jesus was calling Peter to become a shepherd who would protect, lead, and feed His flock. A godly leader hears from Jesus, listens to Jesus, changes to become more like Jesus, and then leads others to Jesus.
How Should Church Leaders Lead?
In 1 Peter 5:2-4, Peter instructs church leaders to:
Shepherd willingly, not under compulsion
Lead eagerly, not for shameful gain
Be examples to the flock, not domineering over them
Being a shepherd means leading from a posture of serving, not a posture of power. A godly leader leads by example—they practice what they preach.
What Does Peter Tell the Church Members?
Peter then addresses the church members in verses 5-11, instructing them to:
Be subject to the elders
Clothe themselves with humility toward one another
Humble themselves under God's mighty hand
Cast their anxieties on God
Be sober-minded and watchful against the devil
All these instructions fall under the umbrella of humility. You cannot be an effective member of the body of Christ without humility, because as a member of the body, you're asked to serve, give, and be subject to leadership.
The Danger of Pride in the Church
Pride is the foundation of an ungodly church:
Pride leads to ungodly leadership
Pride leads to not fully submitting to godly leadership
Pride leads to conflicts within the community of believers
Pride leads to worrying about things that God has control over
Pride leads to a lack of clarity in our mind and judgment
Peter urges the church to be sober-minded and watchful because otherwise, they will be devoured by the enemy. Being sober-minded means having sound judgment, mental clarity, and self-control—something Peter himself had learned through his own failures.
Life Application
Like Peter, we are all on a journey of faith with ups and downs. The question is: How will we respond to the Holy Spirit's leading in our lives?
Questions to reflect on this week:
In what areas of my life am I still trying to lead in my own strength rather than being led by the Holy Spirit?
Am I someone worth following? Do I practice what I preach and lead by example?
Where is pride showing up in my life—in my leadership, my relationships, or my worries?
Am I listening more to outside voices (social media, news, others' opinions) than to the Holy Spirit dwelling within me?
This week, challenge yourself to spend more time listening to the Holy Spirit through prayer and Scripture. Cast your anxieties on God because He cares for you. And remember that you don't have to know everything to lead others to Jesus—just share what you do know as the Spirit leads you.
