Following Jesus: Focus On The Message – Matthew 16

Last Updated on June 3, 2022 by Rocklyn Clarke

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Description

Welcome to Focus On The Message – the first component of our Following Jesus discipleship program. This web page contains the lessons for:

Matthew 16

Purpose

Follow this link for information about these key aspects of our training: Purpose, Goals, Habits, Ministries, and Assignments.

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Matthew 16

This chapter has 4 lessons. You should ideally cover one chapter (with all of its lessons) in a week, but please don’t let a week go by without completing at least one lesson.

Lesson 1: The Demand for a Sign

Main text and related passages:

• Matthew 16:1-4 – Bible Gateway
  • Matthew 16:1-4; Mark 8:11-12 – Bible Gateway
  • Matthew12:38-45; Luke 11:16; Luke 11:29-32 – Bible Gateway
  • Jonah – Bible Gateway

Checkout the following:

• • Watch: Jonah Bible Book Overview Video | BibleProject™

Topics to explore:

• • Have you ever looked at Jonah this way before?
  • What sign does Jesus promise the Pharisees and teachers of the law? What role will they play in that sign?
  • Have you ever looked for a sign instead of paying attention to what God was already doing?

Additional resources to check out:

• • 24. Two Ways to Miss Jesus [Matthew] – Tim Mackie (The Bible Project) – YouTube (00:50:42)

Training assignment (do this yourself, and use it to help train someone else):

Lesson 2: The Yeast of the Pharisees and Saducees

Main text and related passages:

• Matthew 16:5-12 – Bible Gateway
  • Matthew 16:5-12; Mark 8:13-21
  • Luke 12:1-3

Checkout the following:

• • Leaven – Exodus 12:1-20
  • Chametz – Wikipedia

Topics to explore:

• • What was the problem with the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees?
  • What are some of the ways that you see hypocrisy in ministry today?
  • Are there ways in which you have dealt with hypocrisy personally? Discuss.

Additional resources to check out:

• • 24. Two Ways to Miss Jesus [Matthew] – Tim Mackie (The Bible Project) – YouTube (00:50:42)

Training assignment (do this yourself, and use it to help train someone else):

Lesson 3: Peter Declares That Jesus is the Messiah

Main text and related passages:

• Matthew 16:13-20 – Bible Gateway
  • Matthew 16:13-20; Mark 8:27-30; Luke 9:18-20

Checkout the following:

• • Psalm 2
  • Psalm 89
  • Psalm 110
  • Watch: The Messiah Biblical Theme Video | BibleProject™ (00:05:16)
  • Watch: Son of Man Biblical Theme Video | BibleProject™ (00:05:50)

Topics to explore:

• • What did “Son of God” mean to the people of Jesus’ day? What does it mean to us now?
  • What does this teach us about how Jesus viewed himself and his mission? Is this passages compatible with the idea, popular in some circles, that Jesus was just a good teacher who didn’t want to be thought of in any other way?

Additional resources to check out:

Training assignment (do this yourself, and use it to help train someone else):

Lesson 4: Jesus Predicts His death

Main text and related passages:

• Matthew 16:21-28 – Bible Gateway
  • Matthew 16:21-28; Mark 8:31-9:1; Luke 9:21-27

Checkout the following:

• • Watch: Son of Man Biblical Theme Video | BibleProject™ (00:05:50)
  • Watch: The Satan and Demons – Spiritual Beings Theme Video | BibleProject™ (00:06:20)
  • Watch: Soul (Nephesh) Shema Word Study Video | BibleProject™ (00:04:00)

Topics to explore:

• • What does this teach us about how Jesus viewed himself and his mission? Is this passage compatible with the idea, popular in some circles, that Jesus was just a good teacher who didn’t want to be thought of in any other way?
  • Is Jesus predicting his resurrection? What did he mean by “rising again” or being “raised to life”?
  • What does “satan” mean. Why does Jesus refer to Peter that way? Why was this embarrassing episode kept in the scriptures?

Additional resources to check out:

Training assignment (do this yourself, and use it to help train someone else):

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Advance to Matthew 17