Ep. 131: Peter’s Confession – Who Do You Say That I Am?In this episode of Focused on Christ, Mike Crump and Pastor Nathan Smith dive into one of the most pivotal moments in the Gospels—Peter’s confession in Matthew [16:13]–23.
From Jesus’ probing question, “Who do you say that I am?”, to Peter’s bold declaration that He is the Christ, we unpack the depth of this confession, the divine revelation behind it, and what it teaches us about faith, evangelism, and the church.
We also explore the tension between Peter’s great moment of insight and his later rebuke of Jesus, revealing how even devoted followers can misunderstand God’s plan—especially when it involves suffering and sacrifice.
Topics in this episode include:
- The significance of public opinion about Jesus
- What it means to confess Christ as the Son of the living God
- How God reveals truth to His people
- Modern-day hindrances to trusting Christ in suffering
Discussion Questions:
- Peter confessed Jesus as ‘the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ What do you think these titles meant to Peter at that time, and what do they mean to you today?
- Jesus said that Peter’s confession came not from ‘flesh and blood’ but was revealed by the Father. How have you experienced God revealing truth about Jesus in your own life?
- How does understanding the Trinitarian work in revelation (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit all involved in revealing truth) impact your view of how people come to faith?
- Peter quickly went from profound confession to rebuking Jesus about the cross. When have you found yourself resisting God’s ways because they didn’t align with your expectations?
- Jesus called Peter ‘Satan’ when he opposed the way of the cross. Why do you think Jesus responded so harshly, and what does this teach us about the centrality of the cross?
- How might our evangelism change if we truly believe that God must reveal Christ to people rather than depending solely on our persuasive abilities?
- The sermon mentions that ‘you cannot have Christ, the Son of God, without the cross.’ How have you seen people try to separate these two aspects of Jesus’ identity and work?
- How does understanding the necessity of the cross shape your view of suffering in the Christian life?