MESSAGE NOTES AND INDIVIDUAL/GROUP REFLECTION QUESTIONS, 3/3/24

During this Lenten season,  our hope is that you would journey to the cross through the eyes and experiences of the apostle Peter. In doing so, may you find yourself in his flawed humanity and deep faithfulness that came through encountering Jesus’ life, death and resurrection.  This week, we focus on Peter being given the keys to the kingdom and acting as a bedrock and a stumbling block for the future church. 
  1. Who is Jesus? (Set a timer for two minutes and write everything that comes to mind—if in a group, call out one-word or two-word answers to the question.)
    Read Matthew 16:13-23.
  2. Peter identifies Jesus as “the Christ, the Son of the living God.”  Note that this conversation took place before the death and resurrection of Jesus so Peter’s response does not represent everything Christians have come to believe about Jesus.  How are your responses to the first question representative of what twenty-first-century Christians believe about Jesus?
  3. How do you think the disciples were feeling at this moment? What thoughts may have been running through their minds?
  4. Between the discussion of “Peter the Rock” and Jesus predicting His own death, Peter’s thoughts, feelings and reaction shift dramatically. How does this reveal his flawed and faithful nature?  As Jesus rebukes Peter, what does He mean regarding “God’s concerns” and “human concerns” in verse 23? How does Isaiah 55:8-9 relate? How is this true of us as believers?
  5. Who or what have been “bedrocks” and “stumbling blocks” for you in your faith journey
  6. Jesus says He will give Peter the keys to the kingdom? What did He mean my that? In what ways have you been a “key to the kingdom” for others as they have grown in faith in Christ? Why is it so important for us to understand that we have a role in opening up the kingdom to others?
  7. PRAYER

Holy God, we thank you for sending Jesus to show us the way to you.  We thank you for Peter who answered your call to be the rock upon which you built your church.  Open our eyes to the work

You call us to do and give us the courage to say yes.  We know that as you were able to use Peter, flaws and all, you are able to work through us to make more disciples for Jesus Christ. Amen

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