International Sunday School Lesson January 25, 2026
Welcome to another edition of our treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson. Today’s lesson is for January 25, 2026. It is taken from Matthew 4:18-20, Matthew 16:16-18, John 21:15-18, 2 Peter 3:14-15, and 2 Peter 3:18. The title of today’s lesson is, “Call and Growth”.
Called to Cast Nets
Peter, James, and John were fishermen. They were partners along with James and John’s father. Jesus called them to apostleship at their place of business.
Matthew 4:18–20 ESV
While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him.
It is always great to see how God uses our skills and talents. D. L. Moody had only a fifth grade education but was a very successful shoe salesman before being called into the ministry. That’s the talent God cultivated in him and used to develop one of the greatest salvation salesman in the last 120 years. God uses your natural talents. Friends, I can’t sing but I can compose music and write poetry. So, I do those for the glory of God and avoid punishing folks with the sound of my singing. We should use the talents God has given us and not worry about the talents we wish He gave us.
Confession Builds Community
Now we look at the greatest confession in the Bible. It is the critical belief we must have to be a Christian.
Matthew 16:16–18 ESV
Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
There is a lot of discussion what ‘this rock’ means. I’m merely going to state what I believe it means. Peter had just confessed that Jesus is the Son of the Living God. The rock the church is built upon is the confession that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God.
Commissioned Despite Failures
Here we come to the section of scripture that burned in my heart when I knew I was called into the ministry.
John 21:15–18 ESV
When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.”
Peter had denied the Lord three times standing by a charcoal fire. The Lord made him assert his love three times by a charcoal fire.
Diligence in Difficulties
We must strive our best to live as clean as we can.
2 Peter 3:14–15 ESV
Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him,
We must do our best to live the life the Lord would have us live. Brother James says in James 1:27 “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.”
Growing in Grace
We should work to grow in the Lord.
2 Peter 3:18 ESV
But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
Brother Paul said in Colossians 2:19 “and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.”
Concluding Thoughts
A couple of concluding thoughts. Be very attentive to the work of God. Each of us have a calling. Those aren’t the same calling. God isn’t calling duplicates. Fulfill the work God has called you to do. Grow stronger in your work and calling. Strive to better every day in your journey. Well friends, good Lord willing, I’ll be back with you next weekend.
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