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Sermon Series: We are currently going through a sermon series in the Gospel of Matthew. Today, we’re talking about who Jesus is, what He has done, and why it matters. 

Peter Confesses Jesus as the Christ

¹³ Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” ¹⁴ And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” ¹⁵ He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” ¹⁶ Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” ¹⁷ 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. ¹⁸ And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock^[a] I will build my church, and the gates of hell^[b] shall not prevail against it. ¹⁹ I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed^[c] in heaven.” ²⁰ Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.

Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection

²¹ From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. ²² And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord!^[d] This shall never happen to you.” ²³ But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance^[e] to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

Take Up Your Cross and Follow Jesus

²⁴ Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. ²⁵ For whoever would save his life^[f] will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.²⁶ For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? ²⁷ For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done. ²⁸ Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

Who we understand Jesus to be, and what He’s done, is vital to understanding how we are to live our lives. In this part of God’s Word, we see Jesus clearly putting forth what it looks like to follow Him. 

We need to understand that:

1. Jesus is the Messiah and God Himself

Matt. 16:13-17, Jer. 23:5, Is. 7:14, Gen. 3:15, John 1:1, 14, 5:18

2. Jesus has made a way of salvation possible

Matt. 16:21, John 14:6, 1 Pet. 2:24, 1 John 2:2

3. We can only either accept or deny Jesus

Matt. 16:18, 10:32-33, Rom. 1:19-20, 2 Tim. 2:11-13

4. We are to play a role in His Kingdom

Matt. 16:18-19, 5:13-16, Heb. 12:28, 1 Cor. 12:4-7, 2 Cor. 5:20

5. We won’t fully understand everything

Matt. 16:22-23, 28, Rev. 4:6-8, Prov. 3:5, Ps. 37:4-6

6. We are to go all-in for God’s Kingdom

Matt. 16:24-27, 22:37-40, Titus 2:7, Heb. 13:15, Col. 3:23-24

7. We are to be continually led by God

Matt. 16:20, John 14:26, 16:13, Rom. 8:14, Ps. 143:10

Reflecting on God’s Word

Getting Started

• Take some time to read over Matthew 16:13-28 and pray. 
• Have you ever read or heard about this before? What stood out to you as we were talking about it? 
• What surprised you as we talked about it?
• As we talked about this part of God’s Word, why does knowing who Jesus is and what He’s done matter so much?

Diving In 

1. Read Matthew 16:13-17. Jesus makes it clear that Peter is correct when he says that Jesus is the Messiah and also God Himself. Have you ever been confused about this before? What are some common misconceptions that those around you might struggle with about who Jesus is and what He’s done? How can you help them to understand who Jesus is?  

2.  Read Matthew 16:21. Jesus makes it clear to His disciples that He will be killed, and on the third day be raised again. This makes a way of salvation possible for each of us. How would remembering that truth change your daily life? How can you better keep that truth at the forefront of your mind? 

 

3.  Read Matthew 10:32-33. Each one of us will either accept or deny Jesus as our Lord and Savior. What are some common misconceptions that people have about that, and how can you help those around you to understand what Jesus taught us about salvation? 

4.  Read Matthew 16:18-19. Jesus gives a role for Peter to play in His Kingdom, and after we’ve accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, He does the same for each one of us. What is the role that God has given to you? Are you being faithful in this season of your life to fulfill that role? 

5.  Read Matthew 16:22-23. Peter couldn’t quite wrap his head around Jesus having to die. What are some things about God that you can’t quite wrap your head around, and how do you deal with it? 

6.  Read Matthew 16:24-27. Take some time to think about if there is anything you’re holding back from God. If there is, think through how you can better honor the Lord with it.

7.  Read Matthew 16:20. It wasn’t quite time for the disciples to go and share the good news about Jesus yet, though it will be soon. This teaches us the importance of being led by God. How can you stay open to His leading during this season of your life? 

Applying the Scripture

What are your biggest takeaways from this passage of God’s Word? 

• What practical step(s) do you need to implement in your life to apply what God has taught you in this passage of Scripture? 
• How would applying this affect your life and your relationship with the Lord? 
• Who can you ask to keep you accountable to applying this to your life?

 

Small Group Guide: