A series of steps led to Peter's denial of the Savior

First: too much self-confidence

Second: following at a distance

Third: hanging out with the wrong crowd

Luke 22:55 shows Peter warming himself at the enemy's fire, in the courtyard of Caiaphas, who was trying Jesus. At this point, Peter was already worn down, defeated, and weak. He was vulnerable, and the last place he should have been was at a fire surrounded by unbelievers.

Sometimes we think we are influencing others, when in fact they are influencing us. Sometimes we think that we are pulling them up, when in fact they are pulling us down. Psalms 1:1 says, "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful." Notice the regression in the words in Psalm 1. First, there is walking. Then there is standing. And finally, there is sitting.

When we sin, it usually begins with a series of steps. And when we hang around with the wrong people in the wrong places, we are going to end up doing the wrong thing.