Perplexing Question - Pastor Justin Miles

1-26-20 Sermon by Pastor Justin Miles,

Luke 9:18-36 Peter’s Confession of Christ and the Transfiguration

(Parallel passages - Matthew 16 and 17, Mark 8 and 9)

Snapshot from a person in the pew that morning:

Each of us are faced with perplexing questions about life.  Health, money, family, love, work, nightly news, all topics that make us uncomfortable at times.  Jesus and his disciples lived life together for several years, did they have perplexing questions?  You bet they did!  Today's sermon included Jesus asking questions of his disciples.  

Jesus first asked a simple question with a simple answer, and then a second simple question with a not-so-simple answer.  

The first simple question Jesus asked was, "Who do the crowds say I am?"  The disciples only had to repeat what they heard people saying, easy question and answer!  But the second question from Jesus got a little personal, "Who do YOU say I am?"   Now the disciples had to choose.  Not so simple.  Did they really believe he was the Messiah, God in the flesh?  Were they brave enough to say it out loud?  We know from the Bible story that Peter boldly spoke up, and with the correct answer!

Pastor Justin's sermon then led to our daily life.  We have the same two questions.  Who do people around us say Jesus is?  A prophet?  A teacher?  A social activist?  A delusional fake?   We don't have to struggle with the first question, we just repeat what others have said.  But now to the tough question, who do WE say Jesus is?  It is fairly easy to parrot Peter and say, "You are the Christ!"  The hard part is examining our daily lives to see if we give evidence that we truly believe Jesus is the Son of God, the Messiah.  Our time, our bank account, our prayer life, our actions all expose the truth of what we actually believe.   

Take a look at the bullet points below, examine your life.  Who do YOU say Jesus is?

Question: What does it look like to walk with Jesus?

o Live a lifestyle of prayer (vv. 18, 19)

o Confess Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God (v. 20)

 “Christ” is a title meaning “Messiah”

 Jesus came as a personal savior, not a political one

o Called to daily take up our "cross" and empowered by the Holy Spirit to do so

o Testify to the Gospel: the grace of God

o Follow His teachings by applying God's principles to every area and decision of life - family, work, neighborhood, etc.

o Follow His teachings by making disciples (Our church mission is "A church making disciples of all peoples, in the city of West Buechel and "to the ends of the earth")

o Listen to Him, over and above any other authority

o Know that God has the ultimate victory

o Become more like Jesus

Weekly Bashford Manor Baptist Church announcements:

Men's Breakfast with Pastor Justin - February 8, 2020, 8:00-10:00 AM, Fellowship Hall

Women's Ministry - Book of Proverbs Study, start reading Proverbs through the month of February, email for information: womensministry@bashfordmanorbaptist.com