August 25, 2002

Matthew 16:13-20

When Jesus arrived in the villages of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "What are people saying about who the Son of Man is?"

They replied, "Some think he is John the Baptizer, some say Elijah, some Jeremiah or one of the other prophets."

He pressed them, "And how about you? Who do you say I am?"

Simon Peter said, "You're the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the living God."

Jesus came back, "God bless you, Simon, son of Jonah! You didn't get that answer out of books or from teachers. My Father in heaven, God himself, let you in on this secret of who I really am. And now I'm going to tell you who you are, really are. You are Peter, a rock. This is the rock on which I will put together my church, a church so expansive with energy that not even the gates of hell will be able to keep it out.

"And that's not all. You will have complete and free access to God's kingdom, keys to open any and every door: no more barriers between heaven and earth, earth and heaven. A yes on earth is yes in heaven. A no on earth is no in heaven."

He swore the disciples to secrecy. He made them promise they would tell no one that he was the Messiah.

[The Message ]

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1. So, who do people say you are? I hope you are not going to keep that a secret.

2. How do you talk about who others are? They, like you, in their particularity, are the grounding of the church. This is a key for church renewal. And don't you just love the picture of the church as expansive with energy rather than in a defensive posture protecting access to GOD's enterprise of life.

3. Where do you see GOD at work in the lives of individuals these days? It is now time to tell that out abroad and not to keep it to yourself.

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