Who Do You Say Jesus Is?

There is a power in the name of Jesus that brings dead things to life. This is not just a phrase we sing, but a deep spiritual reality. In a world filled with confusion about who Jesus is—where some see Him as a teacher, a prophet, or even a myth—the real question is not who we want Jesus to be, but who He says He is. Jesus was clear and uncompromising: He claimed to be God, the Christ, the Son of the living God. This claim demands a response from each of us. We cannot reduce Him to a mere moral teacher or a spiritual helper who exists to meet our needs. He is either Lord, a liar, or a lunatic—there is no middle ground.

The revelation of Jesus as Lord is not something we can arrive at by our own intellect or effort. It is a work of God, a supernatural illumination by the Holy Spirit that moves the truth from our heads to our hearts. Until that happens, we may know all the right answers, but we remain unchanged. When the Spirit makes Jesus real to us, He becomes the most significant reality in our lives, and we are transformed from nominal believers into living stones, built together into a spiritual house.

This truth is the foundation of the church. The church is not built on personalities or traditions, but on the confession that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. When we are united in this truth, the gates of hell cannot prevail against us. Our calling is to examine ourselves honestly: Is Jesus truly Lord of our lives, or have we settled for a version of Him that is more comfortable or convenient? The church’s mission is urgent and ongoing—to proclaim the gospel, to push back darkness, and to invite others into the life that only Jesus can give. As we celebrate God’s faithfulness, we must also press forward, committed to the work of making Christ known in our community and beyond.

Key Takeaways

• 1. The identity of Jesus is not up for personal redefinition. In a culture that encourages us to shape spiritual truth to our preferences, Jesus stands apart, declaring unequivocally that He is God. We must confront the uncomfortable reality that we do not get to decide who Jesus is; we are called to respond to who He has revealed Himself to be. This demands humility and surrender, not customization. [44:03]
• 2. Intellectual knowledge about Jesus is not the same as saving faith. The difference between knowing facts about Christ and truly knowing Him is the work of the Holy Spirit, who brings illumination to our hearts. Until the Spirit makes Jesus glorious and real to us, our faith remains theoretical and powerless. True transformation happens when the gospel moves from our minds to our hearts, producing genuine trust and worship. [56:07]
• 3. The confession that Jesus is Lord is the unshakeable foundation of the church. The church is not built on human leaders, traditions, or buildings, but on the living reality of Christ as the cornerstone. When believers are united in this confession, they become living stones, joined together in a spiritual house that the powers of darkness cannot overcome. Our unity and strength come from Christ alone. [11:16]
• 4. Self-examination is essential to authentic faith. Scripture calls us to test ourselves, to see whether we are truly in the faith. This is not about doubting our salvation, but about ensuring that our trust is in the real Jesus—not a version we have invented. The evidence of true faith is visible in a transformed life, ongoing growth, and fruitfulness that flows from grace, not self-effort. [64:12]
• 5. The mission of the church is urgent and ongoing. We are called to be outposts of heaven, pushing back darkness and proclaiming the gospel to every corner of our community and the world. This work is not optional or secondary; it is the very reason the church exists. As we celebrate God’s faithfulness in the past, we must remain vigilant and passionate about carrying the gospel forward, trusting that the gates of hell will not prevail against Christ’s church. [76:15]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [30:54] - Worship: Dead Things Come Alive
• [40:38] - Jesus’ Question at Caesarea Philippi
• [42:12] - The Real Question: Who Does Jesus Say He Is?
• [44:19] - Pancake Story: Misunderstanding and Truth
• [46:39] - The Danger of Defining Jesus for Ourselves
• [48:22] - Jesus’ Clear Claims of Divinity
• [50:06] - C.S. Lewis’ Trilemma: Lord, Liar, or Lunatic
• [54:54] - God’s Work of Illumination
• [57:36] - The Spirit Makes Jesus Real
• [60:06] - The Gospel: Dead in Sin, Alive in Christ
• [64:12] - Examine Yourself: Is Jesus Lord?
• [67:19] - Jesus Builds His Church
• [71:33] - Living Stones: The Church’s Foundation
• [73:54] - The Church’s Mission and Urgency
• [77:48] - Closing Prayer and Celebration
• [83:08] - Fellowship and Invitation to Eat

Bible Reading

Matthew 16:13-18 (ESV) — > Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 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. 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.”

John 3:16-18 (ESV) — > “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.”

2 Corinthians 13:5 (ESV) — > Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!

Observation Questions

1. In Matthew 16, what different answers do people give when Jesus asks, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” How does Peter’s answer stand out? [40:38]
2. According to Jesus, how did Peter come to know that Jesus is “the Christ, the Son of the living God”? [55:34]
3. What does Jesus say will be the foundation of his church, and what promise does he make about it? [41:40]
4. In John 3:16-18, what is the difference between those who believe in Jesus and those who do not? [01:00:43]

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Jesus asked his disciples who people said he was, and then who they said he was? What is the significance of this two-part question? [40:38]
2. The sermon says that knowing about Jesus is not the same as truly knowing him. What does it mean for the truth about Jesus to move from your head to your heart? [56:07]
3. The pastor said we can’t redefine Jesus to fit our preferences. Why is it tempting to do this, and what are the dangers of making Jesus into someone he never claimed to be? [44:03]
4. According to 2 Corinthians 13:5, why is self-examination important for authentic faith? What might it look like to “test yourself” in practical terms? [01:04:12]

Application Questions

1. The sermon challenged us to ask, “Who is Jesus to you?”—not just in words, but in how you live. If someone looked at your life this week, what would they say you believe about Jesus? [47:42]
2. The pastor said that the Holy Spirit is the one who makes Jesus real to us, not just a concept. Have you ever had a moment when Jesus became more than just a story or idea to you? What happened? [57:36]
3. The message warned against settling for a “comfortable” or “convenient” version of Jesus. Are there ways you have tried to make Jesus fit your own desires or expectations? What would it look like to surrender those areas? [44:03]
4. The foundation of the church is the confession that Jesus is Lord, not personalities or traditions. How can we as a group or church make sure we are building on Jesus and not on other things? [41:40]
5. The sermon called us to examine ourselves honestly. Is there an area of your life where you need to “test yourself” and see if Jesus is truly Lord there? What step could you take this week to invite him in? [01:04:12]
6. The church’s mission is to push back darkness and proclaim the gospel. What is one practical way you can help “push back darkness” in your family, workplace, or community this month? [01:16:15]
7. As we celebrate God’s faithfulness, the pastor said we must also “press forward.” What is one area where you feel God is calling you to step out in faith or serve others more boldly? [01:17:06]