What Did He Say? Understanding the Church’s True Mission

Today’s journey took us deep into the heart of what it means to be the church—not just a church, but the church that Jesus envisioned and established. We began by reflecting on the importance of returning to our original mission, just as any organization must revisit its founding purpose to avoid drifting off course. The church, as Christ intended, is not defined by traditions, personalities, or the preferences of its leaders, but by the unchanging mission and character of Jesus Himself.

We explored Matthew 16, where Jesus confronts the Pharisees and Sadducees for seeking signs while missing the true signs of the times. Their error was not just skepticism, but a tendency to add their own “leaven”—their own interpretations and traditions—to the Word of God, distorting its original intent. Jesus warns His disciples to beware of this leaven, teaching us to be vigilant against any doctrine or practice that strays from the pure truth of Scripture. The challenge is to discern between what is genuinely from God and what has been “sprinkled” with human agendas.

The conversation then shifted to the disciples’ own understanding. When Jesus asked, “Who do you say I am?” Peter’s confession—“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God”—became the foundation upon which Jesus would build His church. This wasn’t just a theological statement; it was a recognition of Jesus’ anointing, His unique authority, and His fulfillment of centuries of longing and prophecy. The church is built not on personalities or human validation, but on the revelation of who Jesus truly is.

We also considered the implications for our own lives. If we are to be Christ-like, do people see in us the evidence of having been “smeared with oil”—consecrated, anointed, and set apart? The call is to embody the character and mission of Christ so authentically that others recognize His presence in us, just as Peter recognized it in Jesus.

Finally, we acknowledged that Jesus’ church is radically inclusive, built with people who might never have been chosen by religious establishments. The true qualification is not human approval, but the call and anointing of Christ Himself. As we move forward, our task is to continually return to what Jesus actually said and to let His words shape our identity, mission, and community.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Guard Against “Leaven” in Doctrine Jesus’ warning about the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees is a call to vigilance. It’s easy for traditions, personal preferences, or cultural trends to subtly infiltrate our faith and teaching, distorting the original message. We must continually examine whether what we believe and practice aligns with the pure intent of Scripture, resisting the temptation to add or subtract from what God has spoken. [20:54]
• 2. The Foundation of the Church Is Revelation, Not Tradition Peter’s confession that Jesus is the Christ is the “rock” upon which the church is built—not Peter’s personality, not institutional authority, but the revealed truth of who Jesus is. Our communities must be rooted in this revelation, allowing Christ’s identity and mission to define us, rather than our own histories or denominational distinctives. [53:29]
• 3. Authentic Discipleship Flows from Intimacy, Not Credentials Jesus chose disciples who were not validated by the religious elite, and He formed them through close relationship, not formal endorsement. True spiritual authority and effectiveness come from walking intimately with Christ and being transformed by Him, not from external validation or titles. This challenges us to prioritize genuine relationship and mentorship over mere institutional recognition. [76:52]
• 4. Christlikeness Is Recognizable and Transformative Peter could identify Jesus as the Christ because he had witnessed His character, power, and love firsthand. In the same way, our lives should bear such a resemblance to Christ—marked by anointing, compassion, and integrity—that others can’t help but see Him in us. The world is watching for evidence of the “oil” of God on our lives, not just our words or affiliations. [60:01]
• 5. The Church’s Mission Is Unchanging and Inclusive Jesus’ vision for His church transcends human boundaries and qualifications. The “ekklesia” is a gathering of those called out by God, empowered by the revelation of Christ, and entrusted with His authority. Our mission is to embody and extend this calling, ensuring that our communities remain open, Spirit-led, and faithful to the unchanging purpose Jesus set forth. [63:10]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [02:13] - Opening and Prayer
• [04:48] - Wrestling with the Church’s Mission
• [06:44] - Returning to the Mission Statement
• [09:52] - Introducing “What Did He Say?” Series
• [10:11] - Matthew 16: Pharisees and Sadducees Seek a Sign
• [12:43] - Jesus’ Rebuke: Discerning the Times
• [17:16] - The Disciples Forget Bread
• [20:54] - The Leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees
• [23:27] - Understanding Leaven and Doctrine
• [27:26] - Lessons from the Miracles of Provision
• [31:59] - Spiritual Bread vs. Physical Bread
• [35:51] - Who Do You Say I Am?
• [53:29] - Peter’s Confession: The Christ
• [62:43] - Upon This Rock: The Meaning of “Church”
• [76:52] - Discipleship, Validation, and Spiritual DNA
• [82:06] - Closing Prayer and Farewell

Bible Reading

Matthew 16:1-20 (ESV) —
> 1 And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven.
> 2 He answered them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’
> 3 And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.
> 4 An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” So he left them and departed.
> 5 When the disciples reached the other side, they had forgotten to bring any bread.
> 6 Jesus said to them, “Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
> 7 And they began discussing it among themselves, saying, “We brought no bread.”
> 8 But Jesus, aware of this, said, “O you of little faith, why are you discussing among yourselves the fact that you have no bread?
> 9 Do you not yet perceive? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered?
> 10 Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you gathered?
> 11 How is it that you fail to understand that I did not speak about bread? Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
> 12 Then they understood that he did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
> 13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
> 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
> 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
> 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
> 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.
> 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
> 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
> 20 Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.

Observation Questions

1. What did Jesus mean when he warned the disciples to “beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees”? ([20:54])
2. How did the disciples first misunderstand Jesus’ warning about leaven? ([25:08])
3. What was significant about Peter’s answer to Jesus’ question, “Who do you say I am?” ([53:29])
4. According to Jesus, what is the “rock” on which he will build his church? ([01:03:10])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Jesus was so concerned about the “leaven” (teaching) of the Pharisees and Sadducees? What dangers did it pose to the disciples and to us today? ([20:54])
2. Peter’s confession that Jesus is “the Christ, the Son of the living God” was called a revelation from the Father. Why is this revelation so foundational for the church? ([53:29])
3. The sermon pointed out that Jesus’ church is not built on personalities, traditions, or human validation. What are some ways churches today might drift from this foundation? ([08:51])
4. The pastor asked, “Do people think this way about us? When they see us, do they assume that we’ve been smeared over with oil?” What does it mean for our lives to show evidence of being “anointed” or set apart? ([01:00:01])

Application Questions

1. Jesus warned about the “leaven” of the Pharisees and Sadducees—how can we recognize when traditions, preferences, or cultural trends are starting to “sprinkle” into our faith or church life? Can you think of a specific example where this has happened in your experience? ([20:54])
2. The sermon challenged us to regularly return to Jesus’ original words and mission. What is one practical way you can do this in your personal walk or in our small group? ([09:52])
3. Peter’s confession was not just a right answer, but a recognition of who Jesus truly is. How can you cultivate a deeper, more personal understanding of Jesus, rather than just knowing about him? ([53:29])
4. The pastor asked if people see evidence of Christ’s “oil” (anointing, character, compassion) in us. Is there an area of your life where you want to be more Christlike or “oily”? What would that look like this week? ([01:00:01])
5. The sermon said Jesus’ church is radically inclusive and not based on human approval. Are there people you tend to overlook or exclude from your idea of “church”? How can you be more open and welcoming? ([01:16:52])
6. The pastor talked about authentic discipleship coming from intimacy, not credentials. Who is someone you could intentionally build a deeper spiritual relationship with, either as a mentor or a friend? ([01:16:52])
7. When was the last time you asked someone close to you, “What do you see in me?” or “How do you experience Christ through me?” Would you be willing to do that this week? Why or why not? ([42:43])