Introduction – The Noise Around Us
Good morning, church.
We live in a world that never stops talking.
Every day, we’re surrounded by more words, opinions, and messages than our hearts can process.
Social media feeds us one perspective. News outlets feed us another. Podcasts, YouTube, and talk shows tell us what’s right, what’s wrong, and who’s to blame.
It’s a constant flood of noise.
And if we’re honest, it’s exhausting trying to make sense of what’s true anymore.
Every scroll of the phone, every click of a headline, every opinion shouted across the digital street says: “Listen to me. Believe me. I’ve got the truth.”
But in the middle of that chaos, there’s still one voice that matters above all the rest — the voice of Jesus.
And He’s still asking the same question He asked 2,000 years ago:
“Who do you say I am?” (Matthew 16:15)
That question is not just a Bible moment — it’s the question that defines your life.
It’s the question that decides your peace, your identity, your eternity.
Because how you answer it determines how you live every single day.
Let’s Read Matthew 16:13-15
1) Many Voices, One Truth
Matthew 16 tells us that Jesus takes His disciples on a journey — about 25 miles north of Galilee — to a place called Caesarea Philippi.
Now, to the disciples, that was strange. Because Caesarea Philippi was the most pagan, idolatrous city in that entire region.
The cliffs there were filled with carved-out shrines and temples — dedicated to false gods.
There was even a cave at the base of the cliff that locals called “The Gates of Hades.” It was believed to be the entrance to the underworld — where sacrifices were made to pagan gods.
So Jesus — intentionally — brings His disciples right into that place of spiritual darkness.
He wanted them to see the contrast between all the false gods people were chasing and the truth that stood right in front of them.
He looks around and asks,
“Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
They answer honestly — “Well, some say you’re John the Baptist. Others say Elijah. Still others think Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
In other words, everyone has an opinion.
The crowds loved speculating about Jesus. They admired Him, but they didn’t know Him.
Sound familiar?
People today are still doing the same thing.
If you walk into a coffee shop, open your social media app, or even scroll through YouTube theology debates — everyone’s got a take on Jesus.
“Good teacher.”
“Moral example.”
“Revolutionary.”
“Outdated idea.”
The problem isn’t that people have questions — it’s that they stop at speculation instead of revelation.
We live in an age where people Google truth instead of seeking God for it.
Where feelings become facts.
Where truth has become a buffet line — take what you like, skip what you don’t.
But Jesus doesn’t ask, “What do they say?”
He looks straight at His disciples — straight at you and me — and says,
“But who do you say that I am?”
That’s the question that cuts through every other voice.
Because it’s not just about what you believe — it’s about what you build your life on.
Modern Illustration – The Noise Filter
Have you ever used noise-canceling headphones?
You put them on, and suddenly, the airplane engine, the chatter, the chaos around you — all fades into silence.
You can finally hear the music clearly.
The technology works because it detects unwanted noise and plays a counter-sound that cancels it out.
Church — that’s what the Holy Spirit does for us in a noisy world.
John 16:13 says “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future.”
When you’re surrounded by confusion, when the world is shouting one thing and God is whispering another, the Spirit helps filter the noise so you can hear His truth clearly.
But we have to put the headphones on.
We have to choose His voice over the crowd.
Let’s Continue to Read vs 16-20
2) The Power of Revelation
Simon Peter, in that moment, steps forward — you can almost see him puff up a little — and he says,
“You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.”
And Jesus smiles and says,
“Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for flesh and blood didn’t reveal this to you, but My Father in Heaven.”
Peter didn’t figure this out by logic. He didn’t take a poll or read it on a scroll.
The Father revealed it to him through the Spirit.
That’s what revelation is.
It’s not head knowledge — it’s heart awakening.
When you get a revelation of who Jesus truly is, everything changes.
Because when you know who He is, you finally discover who you are.
Jesus says,
“You are Peter, and on this rock I will build My Church.”
There’s a play on words here. The Greek for Peter is Petros — meaning “small stone.” The word for “rock” is petra — a foundation rock.
Jesus is saying, “Peter, you’ve just spoken a foundational truth — and on that truth, I’m going to build my entire Church.”
The Church isn’t built on opinions. It’s not built on personalities.
It’s built on the unshakable revelation that Jesus Christ is Lord.
That means when the storms hit — and they will — you can stand firm because your faith isn’t based on shifting voices, but on an unchanging truth.
Modern Illustration – The Name Exchange
You know what’s powerful?
The moment Peter said, “You are the Christ,” Jesus replied, “You are Peter.”
Identity follows revelation.
It’s like Jesus said, “You just told Me who I am — now let Me tell you who you are.”
That’s still true today.
We live in a culture obsessed with identity — but confused about where to find it.
People try to define themselves through careers, causes, relationships, and even pain.
But until you know who Jesus is, you’ll always struggle to know who you are.
When you discover His identity, He restores yours.
When you declare, “You are the Christ,” He answers, “You are Mine.”
Isaiah 62:2-3 2 The nations will see your righteousness. World leaders will be blinded by your glory. And you will be given a new name by the LORD’s own mouth.3 The LORD will hold you in his hand for all to see— a splendid crown in the hand of God.
Continue reading vs 21-24
3) Following Jesus When It’s Hard to Hear
Right after that revelation moment, Jesus starts to teach something hard.
He tells the disciples plainly that He must go to Jerusalem, suffer many things, be killed, and rise again.
Peter — same guy who just had the revelation — pulls Jesus aside and says,
“Never, Lord! This shall never happen to You!”
And Jesus turns and says,
“Get behind Me, Satan. You’re a stumbling block to Me.”
Ouch.
One minute, Peter’s a rock. The next, he’s a roadblock.
Why?
Because Peter loved Jesus — but he didn’t like His plan.
He was listening to emotion instead of revelation.
It’s amazing how quickly we can do the same thing.
We can be in church, feel the Spirit moving, say “Jesus, You are Lord” —
and then on Monday, we find ourselves arguing with His Word because it’s uncomfortable.
We want His blessing, but not His boundaries.
We want His comfort, but not His correction.
We want a Savior who agrees with us instead of transforms us.
But Jesus says, “If you’re going to follow Me, you must deny yourself, take up your cross, and come after Me.”
The call to follow Jesus isn’t just about knowing the truth — it’s about living it when it costs you something.
Modern Illustration – The GPS Detour
Ever use your GPS, and halfway through a drive it says, “Recalculating route”?
You’re convinced you know a faster way, so you turn off the suggested path — and before you know it, you’re lost on a dirt road wondering why you didn’t just listen.
That’s Peter’s moment.
He thought he knew better than the route Jesus laid out.
And Jesus lovingly, but firmly, corrected him.
Because real love won’t let you stay lost.
The same is true for us. When we wander off, God’s grace doesn’t abandon us — it reroutes us.
The Holy Spirit whispers, “Get back behind Me. Follow Me again.”
God is always calling us back to him to reroute us when we aren’t willing to follow him listen to these verses from the old testament:
Isaiah 30:21 “Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, “This is the way you should go,” whether to the right or to the left.”
Jeremiah 3:21-22
21 Voices are heard high on the windswept mountains, the weeping and pleading of Israel’s people. For they have chosen crooked paths and have forgotten the LORD their God.22 “My wayward children,” says the LORD, “come back to me, and I will heal your wayward hearts.” “Yes, we’re coming,” the people reply, “for you are the LORD our God.
Listen for the Holy Spirit.Application – Learning to Listen Again
So how do we discern truth today, in this loud, confusing world?
1. Limit the noise.
Some of us need to create more sacred silence.
Less scrolling. Less arguing. Less comparison.
You don’t have to comment on every controversy — you just have to hear the voice of the Shepherd.
2. Lean into Scripture.
The Word of God is not outdated — it’s eternal.
It doesn’t bend to culture; it builds your foundation.
If you want to recognize what’s false, spend time in what’s true.
3. Listen for the Holy Spirit.
The Spirit still speaks — but He won’t shout over your distractions.
He guides through peace, conviction, and confirmation in the Word.
The more time you spend with Jesus, the clearer His voice becomes.
Closing Illustration – The Lighthouse in the Storm
There’s a story of a battleship navigating through dense fog one night.
The captain sees a faint light ahead and radios,
“Adjust your course 10 degrees south to avoid collision.”
The reply comes back, “You adjust your course 10 degrees north.”
Irritated, the captain says, “This is a battleship — change your course!”
The voice answers calmly, “This is a lighthouse.”
In that moment, the captain realized — he wasn’t the fixed point.
The lighthouse was.
Church, that’s Jesus.
In a world drifting in darkness and fog, He’s not the one who adjusts — we are.
His truth doesn’t move. His Word doesn’t change.
He stands firm and says, “If you’ll listen, I’ll guide you safely home.”
Altar Response – Hearing His Voice Again
As we come to a close, Jesus still asks:
“Who do you say I am?”
Not who your friends and family say
Not who the church down the road says.
Not who social media says.
Who do you say?
Maybe you’ve been caught up in the noise — chasing voices that promise clarity but only cause confusion.
Maybe you’ve been following from a distance — hearing about Jesus but not from Him. Maybe even searching for that one consistent thing that you need to be able to focus on that one point because you've been adrift too long. Well. Jesus is that point.
Today, you can come close again.
As we move into a time of worship, this altar is open — not just for those who need forgiveness, but for those who need clarity And to fix their bearings.
For those who say, “Jesus, I need to hear You again.”
Let Him remind you who He is, and in doing so, remind you who you are.
Benediction – Sent with Clarity and Courage
May you go this week with hearts that listen and eyes that see.
May you walk in a world of noise with peace that comes from knowing who Jesus is.
May you stand firm when the world shifts, anchored in the unchanging truth that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God.
And may your life — your words, your choices, your witness — all answer His question clearly:
“You are the Christ.”
And now—
May the Lord bless you and keep you.
May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you.
May the Lord show you His favor and give you His peace.
Amen.
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