In Matthew 16:13-20 we have the familar passage of Jesus asking the disciples who do the people say that he is, AND who do they think he is.

Well Lets read it anyway:

13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? 14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. 15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Petera, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 20 Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ. a Peter: this name signifies a rock

The Holy Bible : King James Version. 1995 (electronic ed. of the 1769 edition of the 1611 Authorized Version.) (Mt 16:13-20). Bellingham WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

Introduction

In the movie The Replacements... a ficticious story about the NFL strike (which aside from 2 very questionable scenes.. is a hilarious movie, and with ClearPlay filters a very family friendly movie). There is a scene where the coach asks the players what do they fear... some mention spiders... some snakes... but then the QB mentions quicksand... metaphorically... his teammates looked at him questionably... he said you may be playing a game... and everything thing is going your way... then one little thing goes wrong, and then another, and then another, and soon you are just expecting things to go wrong... and you just flail about... you're in quicksand...

As I was watching this movie, I was thinking about our church and our country... you know we've had it so good these last 40 years... oh there have been hard times but compared to the things that have happened in other countrys... we've had it remarkably easy... We could worship, when/where we wanted. We could stand in times square (arguably the center of the world... to the worldly and declare Jesus is LORD!...

But now we see first 2 years ago, the democrats took power on the basis of big government, and the call to end the war in Iraq... And their liberalist agenda has very little room for evangelical Christians. And now our country has elected a

ultraliberal... who has been quoted as saying that the constitution has become and impediment to our growth as a country. Theres a lot to fear these days... I know people who are stockpiling food and guns.

You know at First Baptist, we've had it good too.... We've gotten a Bible believing pastor, we've seen positive growth in the last 4 years, we've been blessed with a plethera of Godly men, and women who could lead and teach. And now we have a Bible Believing Associatate Pastor....But on January 21st a whole new era begins, and Peter's words are (according to Jesus) are to be our Rock... that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God... in whom shall we fear? And that needs to be our rock, no matter what happens

What can we do...

As Paul reminds TImothy in 2 Timothy 4:2-5 :

2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. cConvince, drebuke, eexhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 3 fFor the time will come when they will not endure gsound doctrine, hbut according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and ibe turned aside to fables. 5 But you be watchful in all things, jendure afflictions, do the work of kan evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

The New King James Version. 1982 (2 Ti 4:2-5). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

This needs to be our rock

Sermon text with italics and bold and John 3:16 and v. 20.

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