Week 7 - RESCUE (Jesus’ Death and Resurrection)
CONNECT
What are you thankful for?
What challenge are you facing?
Have there been any answers to prayer?
Pray for each other.
Did anything stand out to you from last week’s follow-up Bible readings and connection prompts?
How did your “I will …” statement from last week go?
How did your sharing goal from last week go?
How’s your memory work coming along?
Colossians 1:13-14 (NLT)
13 For [God the Father] has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, 14 who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.
DISCOVER
Let’s start with a review.
CREATION
God created everything and as humans, we have been made in God’s image to rule the world on His behalf.
REBELLION
Through Satan’s temptation, humans rebelled against God, but God promised One who would destroy Satan.
RESCUE (Abraham)
God called Abraham from out of the world and promised Abraham that his family would be a Blessing to the whole world.
RESCUE (Moses)
God used Moses to rescue His people from their slavery to the Egyptians and through Moses God gave His people His law and the sacrificial system.
RESCUE (David)
God promised King David that he would have a Descendant who would reign over an eternal Kingdom.
RESCUE (Jesus’ Birth and Mission)
The Angel Gabriel announced to Mary and Joseph that Jesus is both God’s Son and the promised Rescuer King.
And now …
RESCUE (Jesus’ Death and Resurrection)
As God’s Son and our Rescuer King, Jesus saves us from our sinful rebellion by dying on the cross and rising from the dead.
Ask God to speak to you as you read His Word.
Matthew 16:13-27 (NIV)
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, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” 20 Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
21 From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.
22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”
23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”
24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. 26 What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.”
Have someone retell this passage in their own words.
What stands out to you in this passage?
What does this passage say about God (The Father, His Son Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit)?
What does this passage say about people, including ourselves?
What does this passage say about the life God invites us to live?
Digging Deeper
Today who do people say Jesus is/was?
Who did Peter say Jesus is?
What does it mean that Jesus is the Messiah (Christ), the Son of the Living God? Think in terms of what we have already covered in FAITH. Think in terms of God’s Threat to the Serpent (Satan), Abraham’s Blessing, David’s Descendant and Moses’ Sacrificial Lamb.
Why did Peter try to prevent Jesus from going to the death Jesus predicted?
How do you think Peter felt after being commended for his first response to Jesus and then condemned for his second response to Jesus?
Jesus' response to Peter reveals there are 3 possible sources for our thoughts:
Flesh and blood (either our own thoughts or the thoughts of those and the world around us)
God
Satan
Why is it helpful to know not every thought we have comes from ourselves?
Have you ever sensed God revealing truth to you? What was the truth? How did you know that it was from God?
How have you discerned Satan influencing you?
Romans 4:25 (NLT)
[Jesus] was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God.
1 Corinthians 15:3-5 (NLT)
3 I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. 4 He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. 5 He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve.
Why is Jesus’ death and resurrection so central to God’s Rescue plan?
Matthew 16:24-27 (NIV)
24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. 26 What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.”
How does Jesus call us to follow Him? Why are these important to following Jesus?
How have you seen in your experience that death to self leads to life in Jesus?
Matthew isn’t the only Gospel writer to cover the story of Jesus asking His disciples who He is. Mark does the same. Watch this video about The Gospel of Mark.
What’s your reaction to this video?
Getting Personal
Who do you say Jesus is?
How will you now follow Jesus?
LIVE
What truth have you discovered from today’s Bible passage(s) and conversation?
What would stop you from believing and obeying this truth?
How will you live out this truth this coming week? Finish this statement: “I will ….”
Who else needs to hear this truth? How could you share it with them?
When will we meet again?
Who will facilitate that meeting?
Pray for God’s help as you seek to follow Jesus this coming week.
FOLLOW-UP BIBLE READINGS
Here are the Bible passages you are encouraged to read this coming week:
BUDDY SYSTEM
Connect with your buddy this week and ask each other these questions:
How are your readings going?
How’s your “I will …” statement coming along?
How’s your sharing goal coming along?
How can I pray for you?