December 7 2024
A video introduction using illustrations, personal stories, metaphors, or active learning examples to begin the discussion.
After the video, prompts are supplied for thinking and sharing with others personal perception and experience. This opening activity prompts participants to think about and relate to the topic, and to share with others.
If you had to tell only five stories from the Bible, or from the life of Christ, which five stories would you tell. Write them down and share with others. Why did you choose the stories in your list?
You can tell a lot about a person by the stories and information that you share. When you listen to someone else, your level of attention increases significantly when they are telling something personal.
Explore this story in which Jesus gets personal!
The Bible discussion begins with a careful reading of the whole passage, either from your own Bibles, or from the provided images below.
Then participants are to ask:
Read Matthew 16:13-20:
Peter Declares That Jesus Is the Messiah
13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter,[a] and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades[b] will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be[c] bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be[d] loosed in heaven.” 20 Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
Why do you think Jesus was more of a prophet than a Messiah in the minds of people that day?
"Who do you say I am?" Is there a more direct or personal way to ask the disciples to share their opinions about Jesus? Why is it important to be honest about our perceptions of Christ?"
The stories you tell and the information you share reveal much about what you think of someone. When listening to others, you pay more attention when they share something personal. Hearing a personal testimony has more impact than facts, statistics, or arguments. Deep down, people strongly desire to know and be known, as shown in this story.
Jesus makes powerful promises about how our testimony and views of God will shape the church's future. Is this an exaggeration, or is it true that the power of the Christian movement depends on what we say about Christ to the world?"
When Jesus declares that our testimony will have great power until the end, is it possible that we are timid or shy or "too careful" of the perceptions that others might have by hearing our opinions? Are we too concerned with how others perceive our relationship with God?
What would you say today if you had to declare your opinion of Jesus to the world?
A parting video clip with a personal invitation to apply the message to “knowing Christ” and “living in Christ” in the coming week.