West Greeley Baptist Church
September 2nd 2001
“Like a rock”
Matthew 16: 13-18
By Pastor Mark Hensley
Introduction: Julianne 37, store owner, married, mother of three, Arizona. Life is so hectic for us. Sunday morning is the one time my family doesn’t have to get up early and rush out the door.
I guess I’m one of those family-values advocates, although I don’t believe in spending family time in a religious setting. The five of us need quiet time together more than we need to be with other people, which is where we are every other day of the week.
I think our time on Sunday mornings—having brunch, laughing, talking, sharing, maybe even going somewhere special together—is more important to my family’s well-being than whatever a minister could say to us from a pulpit.
We attend special services as a family—mostly Christmas and Easter. So we do want to incorporate the Christian traditions and beliefs, but we feel those occasions are enough.
Transition: Would you venture a guess as to what objection Julianne makes that bothers me the most? If you guessed: “having brunch, laughing, talking, sharing, maybe even going somewhere special together—is more important to my family’s well-being than whatever a minister could say to us from a pulpit.” You would be right!
Julianne is pro family and anti church! Not completely anti-church she will allow time for the church at Christmas and Easter! Today we will look at the church this wonderful and complex creation of our Lord.
More important than the church, we will look at the foundation of the church that the Lord Jesus Christ said was like a rock! Matthew 16: 13-18
“When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" 14They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
15"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" 16Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ,[1] the Son of the living God." 17Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. 18And I tell you that you are Peter,[2] and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades[3] will not overcome it.”[4]
The foundation of the church is like a rock! From the Gospel of Matthew 16: 13-18 we will listen to the:
Opinions of others
The Declaration of a disciple
The Assurance of our Lord
I. Opinions of others: “When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" 14They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets”
The city of Caesarea Philippi was on the southwestern slope of Mount Hermon and the northernmost extent of Jesus’ ministry. Here, about 25 miles north-east of the Sea of Galilee, Jesus could be alone with His disciples — outside the domain of Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee, and within the area of Philip the Tetrarch. The population was not Jewish, so Jesus could teach the twelve in peace.
With Caesarea Philippi as a backdrop we have a dramatic picture of Jesus of Nazareth, a penniless Galilean carpenter, surrounded by twelve ordinary men. The Jewish leaders were already plotting and planning on destroying Him as a dangerous heretic.
Jesus was standing on a road in an area littered with the temples of the Syrian gods, a place where the Greek gods looked down, a place where the most important river in Judaism sprang to life, a place where the white marble splendor of the home of Caesar-worship dominated the landscape. And here, of all places, He stands and asks men who they believe Him to be. David Padfield.
"Who do people say the Son of Man is?" 14They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets”
Opinions, ideas conclusions. Everyone seems to have there take on any given topic. In our Lords day it was no different than today. Jesus asks the disciples who do people say the son of man is? It wasn’t idle curiosity on our Lord’s part; he knew that human nature is often shaped by what others think.
Opinion polls play an important part in strategy be it political or business. Jesus wanted to listen to how the disciples were being shaped by the thoughts and opinions of those they would meet from day to day.
Julianne, the 37 year old store owner from Arizona states: “We attend special services as a family—mostly Christmas and Easter. So we do want to incorporate the Christian traditions and beliefs, but we feel those occasions are enough.”
Her opinions have been forged and shaped by her experiences and upbringing and her conclusion is that attending church as a family is important only on occasion.
Julianne is misguided! When ones opinion of what Christ established (the church)is so low as to be content with attending once or twice a year it is because her opinion of Christ much like those whom the disciples met, see Him as many things but not as Lord! She is not alone!
Listen to the opinions given in a recent America Online Poll about the key to getting to heaven.
What is the key to getting into heaven?
-- Living a good life 60.5%
-- Having connections to someone at the top 32.5%
-- Helping old ladies cross the street 2.2%
-- Slipping St. Peter $20 1.7%
-- Having a strong letter of reference 1.6%
-- Making a deal with the devil 1.0%
-- Telling a really good lie 0.6%
Total votes: 8602
Are you going to heaven?
-- Yes 91.2%
-- No 8.8%
Total votes: 10284
Opinions very from person to person! Jesus ask’s a question that every human being must answer.
So it was at Caesarea Philippi then that Jesus asked his disciples the most important question they would ever face.
"Who do you say that I am?" It is the same ultimate question we must answer if we too are to be transformed and become like Jesus! If heaven is to be our final home! Notice Peter responds with a declaration:
II. The Declaration of a disciple: "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" 16Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ,[1] the Son of the living God."
Who do you say Jesus is? Your response to Him will determine not only your values and lifestyle, but your eternal destiny as well.
C.S. Lewis observed, "You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come up with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to” (Mere Christianity [Macmillan, 1952], pp. 40-41)
"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?
Some people think it doesn’t matter what you believe as long as you’re sincere. But without a valid object your faith is useless. Similarly, if Jesus is the only source of salvation, and you’re trusting in anyone or anything else for your salvation, your faith is useless.
It isn’t enough to believe certain facts about Christ. Even Satan and his demons believe in the true God (James 2:19), but they don’t love and obey Him. Their faith is not genuine. True saving faith always responds in obedience. “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.. (Ephesians 2:10).
Peter is acknowledging Jesus as the Messiah! He is declaring Jesus as the sovereign Lord!
When you obey Him you are acknowledging His lordship and submitting to His authority. That doesn’t mean your obedience will always be perfect, but that is your goal. There is no area of your life that you withhold from Him.
And that kind of obedience is not achieved once or twice a year!
Julianne states: I guess I’m one of those family-values advocates, although I don’t believe in spending family time in a religious setting. The five of us need quiet time together more than we need to be with other people, which is where we are every other day of the week. I think our time on Sunday mornings—having brunch, laughing, talking, sharing, maybe even going somewhere special together—is more important to my family’s well-being than whatever a minister could say to us from a pulpit.
Christians do not primarily attend church to listen to a preacher!
The longest sermon on record was preached by Clinton Lacy of West Richland, Washington in February of 1955. It took 48 hours and 18 minutes to deliver it. Small wonder someone proposed the adoption of a new Beatitude: "Blessed is the preacher whose train of thought has a caboose." E. Eugene Williams
Some pastors preach "longhorn sermons," a point here, a point there, and a lot of bull in between. Source Unknown.
I promise you I will study and pray and preach to the best of my ability, but I know your not coming here to hear me! And were not here this morning just to see one another! Not primarily.
Followers of Christ come to worship the redeemer of their soul! To join countless millions of people whose lives and destiny have been shaped and wonderfully changed by all mighty God through his glorious son the Lord Jesus Christ!
We join in Peter’s declaration it becomes apart of the fabric of our being:
"You are the Christ,[1] the Son of the living God."
We have listened to:
Opinions of others
The Declaration of a disciple
III. The Assurance of our Lord:
17Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. 18And I tell you that you are Peter,[2] and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades[3] will not overcome it.”[4]
Peter’s statement was possible because God revealed Jesus to him. It’s impossible to enter a relationship with Christ without God enlightening you. Peter’s statement is described by our Lord as being rock like!
You see the foundation of our faith is Christ the son of the living God, that foundation is solid dependable and trustworthy! Like a rock! That’s why you can build your life on the foundation of devotion and service to Christ and in doing so know your life is secure!
Our Lord promises victory for those who trust in him! 18And I tell you that you are Peter,[2] and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades[3] will not overcome it.”[4]
Church is referring to saved people. People who have confessed their sins and asked Christ to be their Savior and Lord! His promise is that he will not allow the gates of hell to prevail against his church!
One writer believes the term “Gates of Hell” refers to the power of death, if that’s true Jesus is teaching that the fear of death is destroyed by faith in the Lord! I believe this term refers to the ultimate triumph of Christ and all those who follow him!
I liked what Dr. D James Kennedy said about our Lord.
“The world has always thought itself rid of Christ and His Church, only to find themselves disappointed again as God has continued to fulfill His promise and Christ has continued to build His Church.
The very gates of Hell—with all of the demonic forces and all of the efforts of unbelievers—have failed to stop her. That has been true since the beginning.
The world of unbelief nailed Christ to the Cross...saw Him drop His head in death...saw His body taken down from the Cross and placed in a tomb...saw the stone sealed in front of the tomb...saw a cohort of soldiers placed in front of it...and the world of unbelief said: "Well, that is that! So much for Jesus Christ!"
But in spite of their satisfaction, three days later, on that bright and peaceful Sunday morning, the stone rolled away from the tomb, and Jesus Christ walked out into the light of morning! And they have never been able to put Him back in the tomb again!
There will always be Julianne’s who think your foolish to give up a perfectly good Sunday morning to come to this church. May our desire always be to worship our Great God and King, not just once or twice a year but all days that lay ahead!
“When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" 14They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
15"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" 16Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ,[1] the Son of the living God." 17Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. 18And I tell you that you are Peter,[2] and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades[3] will not overcome it.”[4]
Appeal: Who do you say Jesus is?
Is he the Lord of your life? Your time?
Fearful of the future? Remember he is victor!
