Jesus reveals that rightly confessing him as the Messiah matters, but even sincere and faithful disciples can still be dangerously misguided when they resist God’s purposes with merely human concerns.
City Groups Guide
Matthew 16:13-23
Who Do You Say That I Am?
A simple discussion guide to help City Groups process the sermon together and apply it honestly this week.
Sermon
Sermon In a Sentence
Sermon Recap
What We Heard
In Matthew 16:13-23, Jesus brings his disciples to the central question of faith: who do you say that I am? Peter rightly confesses that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God, and Jesus blesses him, showing that this revelation came from the Father and that Peter will have a significant role in the advance of the church and the gospel. Yet only moments later, Peter rebukes Jesus for speaking about his coming suffering and death, and Jesus sharply corrects him because Peter is thinking from a human perspective rather than God’s redemptive plan. The sermon’s burden was to press us beyond merely saying true things about Jesus and to ask whether our view of him actually shapes our lives, especially when his purposes confront our desire for control, comfort, or safety. Even when we are confused, fearful, or misguided like Peter, Jesus does not cast off his people but meets them with grace that is stronger than their failure.
Discuss
Questions For Your Group
How is your answer to “Who is Jesus?” shaping a real decision or struggle in your life right now?
Where are you tempted to resist Jesus because his way threatens your sense of control, comfort, or safety?
What situation is exposing that you are focused more on human concerns than on God’s purposes?
How does Peter’s story encourage you to receive grace and keep following Jesus when you feel confused or misguided?
Scripture
Scripture Passage
Matthew 16:13-23
Read full passagePeter’s Confession of the Messiah
13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 “But you,” he asked them, “who do you say that I am?”
16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus responded, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father in heaven. 18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.
19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will have been loosed in heaven.” 20 Then he gave the disciples orders to tell no one that he was the Messiah.
His Death and Resurrection Predicted
21 From then on Jesus began to point out to his disciples that it was necessary for him to go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders, chief priests, and scribes, be killed, and be raised the third day. 22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, “Oh no, Lord! This will never happen to you!”
23 Jesus turned and told Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me because you’re not thinking about God’s concerns but human concerns.”
Scripture text from the Christian Standard Bible (CSB), used here for church ministry purposes.
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