Jesus asked His disciples who He is, and Peter confessed that He is the Christ. This confession serves as the foundation of the church, and we can see that the church must be built around Jesus Christ.
13. Now when Jesus came into the parts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” 14. They said, “Some say John the Baptizer, some, Elijah, and others, Jeremiah, or one of th…
In today's sermon, we reflect on Jesus' words about establishing the church, focusing on the essence and meaning of the church. The church is a community built on the faith that confesses Jesus Christ, a gathering of people whom God has called together in the world. Within the church, we should encourage one another and live lives that follow Jesus, while also remembering that this journey may involve suffering and sacrifice. Ultimately, let us remember that the church is a place that overcomes the powers of hell and fulfills the mission of God's kingdom.
- Matthew 16:13-20 13. Now when Jesus came into the parts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” 14. They said, “Some say John the Baptizer, some, 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 answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17. 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. I also tell you that you are Peter,and on this rock I will build my assembly, and the gates of Hadeswill not prevail against it. 19. I will give to you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven; and whatever you release on earth will have been released in heaven.” 20. Then he commanded the disciples that they should tell no one that he was Jesus the Christ.
- Matthew 16 1. The Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing him, asked him to show them a sign from heaven. 2. But he answered them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ 3. In the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites! You know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but you can’t discern the signs of the times! 4. An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and there will be no sign given to it, except the sign of the prophet Jonah.” He left them, and departed. 5. The disciples came to the other side and had forgotten to take bread. 6. Jesus said to them, “Take heed and beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 7. They reasoned among themselves, saying, “We brought no bread.” 8. Jesus, perceiving it, said, “Why do you reason among yourselves, you of little faith, ‘because you have brought no bread?’ 9. Don’t you yet perceive, neither remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you took up? 10. Nor the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you took up? 11. How is it that you don’t perceive that I didn’t speak to you concerning bread? But beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 12. Then they understood that he didn’t tell them to beware of the yeast of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees. 13. Now when Jesus came into the parts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” 14. They said, “Some say John the Baptizer, some, 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 answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17. 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. I also tell you that you are Peter,and on this rock I will build my assembly, and the gates of Hadeswill not prevail against it. 19. I will give to you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven; and whatever you release on earth will have been released in heaven.” 20. Then he commanded the disciples that they should tell no one that he was Jesus the Christ. 21. From that time, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and the third day be raised up. 22. Peter took him aside, and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This will never be done to you.” 23. But he turned, and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me, for you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of men.” 24. Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 25. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, and whoever will lose 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 life? Or what will a man give in exchange for his life? 27. For the Son of Man will come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and then he will render to everyone according to his deeds. 28. Most certainly I tell you, there are some standing here who will in no way taste of death, until they see the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom.”
- Mark 2:17 17. When Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are healthy have no need for a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
The Church is Established as the Body of Jesus Christ
- The Beginning of the Church
- The Essence of the Church
- The Mission of the Church
- The Authority of the Church
- The Forgiveness of the Church
Six days of devotions drawn from this Sunday's sermon — one for each day, Monday through Saturday.
Five quick questions from this Sunday's message. Tap an answer to see if you're right.
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What question did Jesus ask Peter in Matthew 16?
Jesus asked his disciples, 'Who do you say I am?'
Today, we are talking about my ecclesia, my church. The first sermon I preached when I first planted the church ten years ago was based on this very passage. This passage was the sermon for the first Sunday when we started the church. I am delivering this message again because God has commanded me to do so. This Matthew 16 contains many important teachings, including the stories of feeding 4,000 people, and then we come to today’s passage. Here in Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asks, "Who do people say that I am? Who do you say that I am?" He poses this question and then Peter confesses, "You are the Christ. You are the Son of the living God." Jesus blesses him, saying, "On this rock, I will build my church, my ecclesia." This is a very important statement.
Many people might think that the word 'church' appears frequently in the Gospels, but it only appears three times. Just three times. And interestingly, where does it appear? It appears once in Matthew 16, where the word 'church' or ecclesia first appears, and then it appears twice in Matthew 18, which we will examine in today’s sermon. Yes, Pastor, is it not found in the Gospel of Luke? No, it is not. Is the word 'church' not found in the Gospel of John? No, it is not. It appears frequently in the Book of Acts. There is something very significant here: Jesus was the first to use the word 'church.' This has meaning. If we look at verse 18, it says, "And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church." I will build my church on the rock. This raises many questions. What is the rock? Ah, the church is Jesus's church. It is not the pastor's church, nor the elder's church, nor the deacon's church; it is Jesus's church. And the church can be established.
If we look at verse 13, Jesus comes to the region of Caesarea Philippi, which has very important spiritual significance. Throughout His public ministry, Jesus was not someone who asked questions on a whim. Caesarea Philippi, I cannot explain everything due to time constraints, but you know Philip, right? He is the son of King Herod. Ultimately, he turned this place into a site where many people worship idols. In other words, Caesarea Philippi is named after the Roman Emperor and Philip himself, and it became a place where many idols were worshipped. Spiritually speaking, where is the place where these abominable spiritual beings gather? It is here. Yet, in this place, Jesus asks, "Who do people say that I am?"
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