In this powerful sermon, You Can Still Get There, guest speaker Joe Jackson shares how God restores us even after failure and calls us forward with purpose. Through the story of Peter, we see that failure is not final and God’s grace is greater than our mistakes. If you’ve ever felt like you’ve gone too far, this message will remind you that you can still get there.
You Can Still Get There: Peter’s Story of Failure and Restoration
Before Peter met Jesus, he was just a fisherman. His life was simple. He worked hard and knew how to fish well. That was his identity.
Peter didn’t see anything special in himself. But Jesus did. Jesus saw a man with purpose. This reminds us that even when we don’t see value in ourselves, God sees something greater.
Peter Walks With Jesus
When Jesus revealed himself to Peter, Peter’s whole life began to change. Jesus told him he would become a “fisher of men.”, meaning that Peter would help lead people to God.
For three years, Peter spent time with Jesus and saw amazing things. He saw miracles and heard powerful teaching. Eventually, Peter would boldly proclaim that Jesus was the Son of God (Matthew 16).
But Peter wasn’t perfect. Thought he had strong faith at times, he also made mistakes. He was brash, and would often act on his own without waiting for Jesus’ instruction. His story shows us that following Jesus is a journey, and even after walking with Jesus for years, we can still struggle to follow his commands.
Peter Denies Jesus
Though Peter loved Jesus, he still had moments of failure. Before Jesus’ arrest, Peter boldy proclaimed he would die for Jesus before denying him. However, as Jesus stood before the counsel, Peter became afraid. People started asking if he knew Jesus. Three times, Peter said no.
Many of us can relate to this. We have all denied Jesus at some point in our lives. We’ve all done things we said we would never do. We all sin and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).
But here is the important truth: For believers, falling short is not the end.
Jesus Calls Peter Back
After Jesus rose from the dead, something powerful happened. In Mark 16:7, the message says, “Go tell His disciples—and Peter.”
Why does the angel say “and Peter”? Because Peter needed to hear that he was not forgotten.
Even after Peter denied Him, Jesus still called him back. Jesus did not give up on Peter. He still had a plan for his life.
This shows us something amazing: though we may feel we have walked away from God’s plan for our lives, God does not change His mind about us. Even when we fail, He still calls us back to Him. He redeems us and shows us our purpose.
You Can Still Get There: What Peter’s Story Means for You
Peter’s life teaches us a simple but powerful lesson: you can still get there.
You may feel far from God and your sin is too great. You may have walked away from following in His ways and His purpose for your life. However, your story is not over. God can take your mistakes and turn them into something to bring glory to Jesus. He still is calling you to Himself.
Peter went from denying Christ to becoming a leader in the early church. God used him in a big way, and He can do the same for you.
If you feel like you’ve messed up, don’t allow that to stop you from calling out to Jesus. God is still working in your life.
About Harvest Church
At Harvest Church, we are passionate about helping people grow in their faith and understand how the Bible applies to everyday life. In our current series, The Famous Ones, we’ve been walking through powerful stories in Scripture—from Noah and the flood, to the Tower of Babel, and to the calling of Abraham. Each message shows how God’s plan to work through real people would eventually bring about redemption from sin through Jesus and reminds us that He still has a plan for our lives today. If you missed any part of this series, be sure to check out the other messages and continue growing with us as we follow Jesus together.