Jesus Fights for Our Redemption Pt. 2

Jesus Fights For Our Redemption - Part 2

(from 10/16/16 sermon)

I. OPEN - See if there is anyone who wants to share a short testimony, or if there are there specific praise updates to begin CG.

PRAY

Q - Sermon takeaways from those who were in attendance?

*READ ALOUD MATTHEW 16:13-17 & 21-24

II. REFLECT

In this passage we see Peter proclaiming Jesus as “ the Christ, the So n of the living God” and receiving a blessing from Jesus for this bold Spirit-led declaration...but then a few verses later we see Jesus provide this same Peter with the sharpest of all rebukes, going so far as to say to him, “ Ge t behind me, Satan!” Why the sudden pivot from blessing to rebuke? That is what we’ll be jumping into this week as we further contemplate Jesus fighting for our redemption. Did you notice in v. 17 that Jesus calls Peter by his full name, Simon Bar-Jonah? It’s a small detail, but in what way(s) do see this as significant? Webster gives this definition of Redeem .

Full Definition:

1a : to buy back : repurchase b : to get or win back 2: to free from what distresses or harms: as a : to free from captivity by payment of ransom b : to extricate from or help to overcome something detrimental c : to release from blame or debt : clear d : to free from the consequences of sin 3: to change for the better : reform 4: repair , restore 5a : to free from a lien by payment of an amount secured thereby b (1) : to remove the obligation of by payment <the United States Treasury redeems savings bonds on demand> (2) : to exchange for something of value < redeem trading stamps> c : to make good : fulfill 6a : to atone for : expiate < redeem an error>

Q - Have different people look up and read the following passages: Eph 2:12-13, Mark 10:45, Titus 2:14, Gal 3:13, Rev 5:9, Col 1:13-14, I Cor 6:20. Compare Webster’s definition of “Redeem” to the verbiage found in these verses. What stands out to you? What all are we redeemed from...eternally as well as daily? Think about the images given on Sunday of us being in “prison” and “separated” from God. After Peter’s declaration Jesus “ strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that He was the Christ.” To the Jews, the Christ or Messiah meant an end of regional and/or global tyranny. Their Messiah would be a liberator from Roman rule...he would be successful, but there was to be no suffering or death for him. Yet we see in v.21 that “ from that time Jesus began to show his disciples that HE MUST go to Jerusalem and suffer many things...and be killed…” This is when Peter steps in a nd says “N o way! That’ll never happen to you!” (loose paraphrase) and is sharply rebuked by Jesus.

On Sunday, referencing the writings of Francis Schaeffer and Ray Ortland, Spencer reminded us that:

a) There is the Lord’s work the Lord’s way

b) There is the devil’s way

c) And there is the Lord’s work OUR way

Q - In what way(s) do we often show that we really prefer to do the Lord’s work OUR way instead of HIS way? How do we show that we prefer to follow Him if He’ll come to where we are instead of us following Him wherever He might be leading?

III. FURTHER APPLICATION

Over and over throughout the B ible we are reminded that “t he Righteous shall live by faith.” The Lord calls us to drop our nets and follow Him. Period. He doesn’t always tell us where He’s going, how we’ll get there, what obstacles we’ll face along the way, how hard it’ll be, etc. We often want the Messiah that is successful and therefore makes us successful, but in this life the full knowledge of the Kingdom cannot and will not ever be fully obtained. Peter thought he was protecting the Lord and showing allegiance to Him, but by attempting to protect the Lord from suffering and death he would have prevented the reason that Christ had come to begin with...our redemption. Thus the need for such a sharp rebuke. Afterward we read in v.24, “ Then Jesus told his disciples, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.’”

DISCUSS - Jesus is reminding his disciples that our path is similar to His in that we must, in humility, take up our cross and follow Him...that we must we willing to lose our lives for His sake. Q - Practically speaking, what does that mean? What does that look like on a day to day basis? How are we to proclaim Him as the Christ, the Son of the Living God in how we take up our crosses and lose ourselves for His sake? .

IV. CLOSE

Final thoughts

V. BE ON-MISSION

Q - What 1-2 things did you receive from this passage or discussion that you can implement and/or give away this week? Specifically, how do you plan to do so?