Follow Me Message 1 artwork depicting Simon Peter by a fishing boat at sunrise

FOLLOW ME: MADE BY JESUS › MESSAGE 1

MESSAGE 1 · John 1:35–42

Identity: You Are Simon. You Shall Be Called Peter.

Big Idea: Jesus knows the man He calls, and He makes the man He intends to use.

John the Baptist points two of his disciples to Jesus. One is Andrew, who brings his brother Simon after recognizing Jesus as the Messiah. Before Simon has done anything in this series, Jesus looks at him, names him, and declares what he will be called.

READ THE TEXT

JOHN 1:35–42 | NASB95

35 Again the next day John was standing with two of his disciples,

36 and he looked at Jesus as He walked, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!”

37 The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.

38 And Jesus turned and saw them following, and said to them, “What do you seek?” They said to Him, “Rabbi (which translated means Teacher), where are You staying?”

39 He said to them, “Come, and you will see.” So they came and saw where He was staying; and they stayed with Him that day, for it was about the tenth hour.

40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.

41 He found first his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which translated means Christ).

42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John; you shall be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter).

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.Lockman.org

ANDREW BRINGS SIMON. JESUS MAKES PETER.

Teaching Outline

  1. Jesus draws men to Himself through the testimony of others. — John 1:35–37
  2. Jesus invites those who seek Him to come and know Him. — John 1:38–39
  3. Those who encounter Jesus naturally bring others to Him. — John 1:40–42a
  4. Jesus sees who we are and knows what He intends to make of us. — John 1:42b

What We Covered

  • John the Baptist directs his disciples to Jesus.
  • Jesus invites those who seek Him to come and know Him.
  • Andrew brings Simon to Jesus.
  • Jesus knows Simon completely and declares what grace will make of him.

Choose the resource you need

Use the participant handout during class. Review the completed notes afterward, or open the teaching slides for a visual summary of the lesson.

Didn’t attend the class? Start with the Completed Notes for the fullest public study resource.

Participant Handout (PDF)Completed Notes (PDF)Teaching Slides (PDF)