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Rethrone Part 1

 Week 1

Text: Matthew 16:21–28
Topic(s): Salvation, Discipleship, Celebrity
Big Idea of the Message: Following Jesus requires sacrifice and selflessness. Application Point: Believers keep their eyes focused on Christ and his purposes instead of being distracted by cool Christianity.

Talking Points:

  1. In this passage, Jesus begins revealing to his disciples that he will suffer, die, and be raised to life in the days ahead (Matthew 16:21). Peter does not like this plan, and he confronts Jesus about it. Peter tells him, “No way.” This is not going to go down like Jesus described it. Jesus fires back at Peter and tells him to knock it off. Peter has lost sight of God’s plan and is too focused on “the things of man” (vv. 22–23).

  2. Peter is so relatable, because sometimes God’s plans seem awful from our perspective. We tend to be drawn to the things that look appealing. Why would people want to follow a suffering Savior? That’s just bad marketing. Even now, there is a tendency to latch on to celebrity Christians to gain some clout for Jesus—as though we need to jazz up Jesus to make him more attractive. But the song and dance shouldn’t distract us from what it really means to be a disciple of Christ. This clip from Guardians of the Galaxy (directed by James Gunn [Marvel Studios, 2014]), where Peter challenges Ronan to a dance-off, is a funny example of being distracted: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaaJyAjvajo.

  1. After the talk with Peter, Jesus takes his message to his disciples. Jesus wants them to know that following him is a serious commitment. It isn’t the path to a cushy life filled with all the available earthly pleasures. The follower of Jesus must “deny himself and take up his cross” (v. 24)! “Denying self means to live as an others-centered person. Jesus was the only person to do this perfectly, but we are to follow in His steps (‘and follow Me’). ... Human nature wants to indulge self, not deny self. Death to self is always terrible, and if we expect it to be a pleasant or mild experience, we will often be disillusioned. Death to self is the radical command of the Christian life. To take up your cross meant one thing: you were going to a certain death, and your only hope was in resurrection power” (David Guzik, “Study Guide for Matthew 16,” Blue Letter Bible, 2013, https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/guzik_david/StudyGuide2017-Mat/Mat- 16.cfm?a=945024).

  2. It is wonderful that God is at work in every social sphere. He can save in Hollywood, and he can save in rural towns that are barely a dot on the map. All of us face God on equal footing. We are all broken and desperate for the redemption of our souls. We could have everything the world offers and still be empty-handed and empty-hearted (v. 26). The truest reward will be the blessings of God’s kingdom, our redemption, and restored relationship with him (vv. 27– 28). We can rejoice when celebrities become believers. But we should be equally excited that our friend, neighbor, or little sister have become believers. And most importantly, we can keep our eyes focused on Christ instead of these new believers, rich or poor, and remember to offer grace as we all seek to move closer to the Lord. God’s blessing and influence are not dependent on our social status but come by the Holy Spirit and his continuing work in all of God’s
    children.

  3. As we look around at cool pastors, celebrities, and the branding of professional church marketing teams, we must compare their message to Jesus’s words. His teachings help us understand what it means to follow him. If we move toward belief and discipleship, it can’t be because it’s popular or even because our pastor wants us to. The Spirit is the motivator, moving our heart to faith. Brett McCracken writes, “If we are interested in Christianity in any sort of serious way, it is not because it's easy or trendy or popular. It's because Jesus himself is appealing, and what he says rings true. It's because the world we inhabit is utterly phony, ephemeral, narcissistic, image-obsessed and sex-drenched—and we want an alternative. It’s not because we want more of the same” (Brett McCracken, “The Perils of ‘Wannabe Cool’ Christianity,” Wall Street Journal, August 13, 2010, https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB100014240527487041117045753553111226481 00). Jesus refuses to give us what sells but instead gives us what saves. 




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