Peter’s Confession and Jesus’ Church
Jesus accomplishes his mission through his Church, but our part in a local church can be challenging as well as rewarding. In Matthew 16, we discover part of the foundation for God’s work through his Church and our part in it. How might God be calling you to be part of his mission through LifePoint Church?
Read through Matthew 16:13-19, and perhaps the expanded passage through verse 28. Consider the response to Jesus’ first question, “Who do people say that I am” (v. 13). What do people say about Jesus today and what similarities do you find between the modern response and the response in v. 14?
How does Peter’s declaration, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (v.16) elevate the message about Jesus’ identity?
What do you hear most clearly when you read how Jesus described the mission of his church in verses 17-19?
How have your experiences in churches been positive and helpful as well as difficult and challenging?
Why is it important and valuable to be part a local church? How does our love for other people demonstrate our love for Jesus?
How might Jesus be calling you to be part of his mission? Ask Jesus if he is calling you to take another step of engagement with his church.
Searching for the Generous Life
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Searching for Reconciliation
Confronting others concerning biblical/theological compromise is never easy or pleasant. Such encounters must be handled with sensitivity to the needs of others, directed by spiritual wisdom and the Scriptures, and guided by the Holy Spirit. Paul closed chapter two of...
Searching for Courage
On the surface, hearing God and following His commands seems straightforward. However, when God calls us to do something that generates fear in us and feels daunting, second-guessing His call becomes reasonable. Finding the courage to obey such a call is overwhelming....
Searching for the Abundant Life
Jesus explicitly explained his purpose when He said “…I came so that they would have life, and have it abundantly” (Jn 10:10). He said similar things many times, and these ideas are repeated, over and over again, by those who wrote the New Testament. Yet many people,...
Searching for Real Friendship
Some relationships may imitate friendship, but there’s no substitute for the real thing. Exploring the relationship between David and Jonathan in the Bible, we’ll identify some distinguishing features of friendship that are often overlooked and discover how to infuse...