Announcements:


Thanks to Andi Gasparinatos and SDN Children and Family support-City Light has offered to collect holiday gifts for the children of families her organisation supports. They come from very vulnerable situations and many of the children have never received presents before and would not likely receive any gifts this Christmas season.

The children ages  range from 0-12 years.

Below is a list of guidelines to follow.

•The organisation is not a Christian organisation so gifts cannot be bibles or gifts with religious affiliation

•Keep in mind that some of the parents cannot read so simple children’s books rather than books that are difficult or advanced a preferable

•Families range in diversity and culture. Toys such as barbies and dolls in some cultures may not be appropriate.

•Gifts that focus on development and positive education are great. Some examples: puzzles, books, baby shape toys, colouring pencils ect.

•All presents to remain UNWRAPPED

All gifts will be collected on Sunday the 5th of December- unwrapped. This is a great opportunity to give a little something to those who are vulnerable and in need.

READ:

MATTHEW 16:13-28
 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter,[b] and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be[d] bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be[e] loosed in heaven.” 20 Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

Jesus Predicts His Death

21 From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”

23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life[f] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. 26 What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.

28 “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

Discussion

1. What things stand out to you as you read this passage?

2. Why would Peter rebuke Jesus straight after he has correctly identified Jesus as the Christ?

3. Why is Jesus so strong in his language to Peter in v23? 

4. The cross in the first century was a symbol of death. Knowing this, what do you think Jesus means in verse 24, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must … take up their cross….”?

5. What might it look like to gain the world, yet forfeit your soul? (vs26)

6. What does to mean in verse 35 “to lose your life for me and for the gospel…”? In what sense does becoming a Christian mean losing your life? 

   
   Application

7. Are there any areas that you are struggling to deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Jesus?
   
   PRAY

8. For what you have shared, and any other prayer points you may have.