“Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And 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. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ. From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” —Matthew 16: 13-23

Here are some thoughts to wrestle with this week:

1.) Who does the world around us, (culture, media, government, friends, family, co-workers), say that Jesus is? Why? Who do you say that Jesus is? Why? And does the world around us have any influence on who we say Jesus is and vice versa? Have we at times re-made God in our own image?

2.) Why is how we view and what we believe about Jesus so important to our lives and the church as a whole? Who does Jesus say He is? Why do you think Peter got it so right and yet so wrong at the same time?

3.) Have you ever struggled with trusting Jesus as your Savior and Lord? Why? What effect did that or could that have on your life? What rock or rocks is your life built upon? What difference has Jesus made in your life? What more can He do and what do you need Him to do? How can we help each other seek and see Jesus for who He is and not who we want Him to be?