Going … Make Disciples!

It has been said that “Words matter!” Yet it could be debated what even that statement MEANS! What about the statement, “Actions speak louder than words?” Does that mean words DON’T matter? These brief examples reveal the importance of definitions. It has become clear today that we need to define words that have been used for hundreds of years because people have either not been taught what they mean, or they have rejected a definition that was previously accepted by most people. In our text today there are a number of such words: “Christ,” “Rock” and “Church,” “keys,” and even “death.” If you don’t know what these words mean, you can read what Jesus says to His disciples in this brief conversation and totally or partially misunderstand the message He intended to convey to them … and to us! Jesus began with what is perhaps the most important question ever asked: “Who do YOU say that I am?” Every human being will one day have to answer that question, and the truth is, your answer to that question affects HOW you live in this world, and WHERE you will live in eternity!! Peter gave an answer, and JESUS said he was right: “You are the CHRIST, the Son of the living God!” Do you know what that means? Jesus then declared that Peter’s confession was and is the “rock” upon which He would build His Church. Do you know what “Church” means? Then Jesus told the disciples what anyone who would follow Jesus, who would be His disciple (“follower”) must do: “deny himself and take up his cross.” If all of this seems too confusing, and perhaps even irrelevant to your life now, pray that the Spirit of God would open your ears today, giving you understanding and wisdom to apply these “words of Jesus” not only to YOUR life, but also to prepare you to explain them to others. God is able!!