Jesus Is God (Matthew 16:13-20)
Food for Thought
Ice Breaker: It’s never a bad time to let people share their stories of when they first came to know Jesus in a saving way. Let a person (…or two… or three!) talk about the way they came to say that Jesus is “the Messiah, the Son of the living God,” just like Peter.
If someone asked you what’s “core to your Christianity,” where would you start?
Why do you think this series starts with Jesus being God?
What difference does it make if he is or isn’t?
Read Matthew 16:13-20. Why would Jesus care about who his disciples have heard other people say he is? Does it matter to him? …to them?
Why would Jesus care about who they (his disciples!) say that he is?
Does he care who you say that he is?
If we say Jesus is “the Messiah, the Son of the Living God,” why does Jesus say that we (like Peter) are “blessed”?”
How is that actually a blessing? What if we were the ones who had to figure out on our own who Jesus is? What if it was only up to someone’s earthly father to pass that revelation on?
Jesus says he’s building his church on the rock of this revelation of who Jesus really is. Why is this bad news for sin, Satan, and death (Hades)?
Why is that rock good news for us, the whole church, and his kingdom?
“Binding and loosing” is a phrase that can refer to the authority to “admit” people in, kick people out, make judgments about good and evil, and/or interpret applications of Scripture. Why would a revelation / confession about who Jesus is be “the rock” (or foundation) of this authority in the church?
Peter knew Jesus because the Father let him. Jesus knew Peter (his name, his earthly father, etc.) because he made him, chose him, and saw everything about him. How is being known by Jesus also a blessing?
How does all of this together form the foundation of a relationship with Jesus?
What does this mean about what our relationship with Jesus should look like?
Where can you take a closer, deeper step towards Jesus this week?
Reflection Questions
Where are you tempted to keep Jesus at a safe distance as a helpful teacher rather than bowing to Him as God?
What area of your life must shift from running your own story to surrendering to Jesus, the main character in every story?
What would it look like if you lived today as if Jesus is the one true living God?