Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1919-11-06
LESSON FOR NOVEMBER g
PETERS GREAT CONFESSION

LESSON TEXT-Matt 16:13-2.
GOLDEN TExT-Thou are the Chrisf,
the Son of the living God.-Matt. 1916.
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL-Mark 8:z7-
49, Luke 9:1S-26; John 6:e6-6s.
PRIMARY AND JUNIOR TOPIC-what
Peter confessed.
INTERMEDIATE TOPIC What it
means to confess Christ
SENIOR AND ADULT TOPIc-The
Messiahship of Jesus
The time has now come for the King
TO take account of his ministry.
This confession in some sense marks
the turning point in Christ's ministry
Hereafter it is more restricted to his
disciples. Two reasons are sufficient
why this should be wv. 1-12): (1)
The Pharisees and Sadducees show
their attitude towards him in their de-
mand for sign. His answer is TINT
none shall be given save that. of his
death and resurrection, as symbolized
IN the experiences of the Prophet
Jonah. (2) The disciples show their
inability to understand the spiritual
nature of his teaching. When he.s
warned them OF the leaven Of the.
Pharisees and Sadducees they UNDER
stood him to refer to bread when he
meant their doctrine. It was at this.
crisis when Christ turned from the.
nation which had rejected him. that
Peter made this great confession. 10
was made in the borders of Caesarea-
Philippi, practically GENTLE territory.
l. Peters Confession wv. 1916.
Two questions of Christ provoketl
this confession:
l. The question as to the opinion OF
!, the people concerning him.
They recognized him as teacher or
prophet of more than human author
ity and power. Today, as then, there
Is diversity Of opinion among the
! people as to Jesus Christ. Some think
! he is only man; others, that he is
great teacher, but nothing more. Had
he been content with this he would
not have been molested in Jerusalem.
for the Jews willingly acknowledged
him us more than human teacher.
, It was his persistent claim to be the
Goldman. the Son Of God, that sent
| him to the cross.
q The second question involved the.
personal opinion Of the disciples con-
corning him. To be able to tell what
others think Of Jesus is not enough
j there must be definite, correct. and
! personal belief in him.
/ II. The New Body, the Church, An.
nounced wv. 17-2O). ~
| Peter had made noble confession.
Of Christ, SO now Christ confesses him.
If we confess Christ he will confess NJ
(Matt. 1882, 33). Christ declared his
intention of bringing into existence .
| new body to the members Of which Nc
will give eternal life, and to whose
hands he will entrust ehe keys Of the
i Kingdom. Peter was to have dis
tinguished place in this body. The
keys entrusted to him were used ON
the day of Pentecost, and again In the
case Of Cornelius. Association in this
new body cannot be broken by death.
Tor the gates Of hades shall not prevail
against it. This body, the church, is Of
a heavenly origin, heavenly calling.
and heavenly Inheritance.
III. The Cross the Way to the
Throne. wv. 21-33).
This was. no doubt, startling to the
disciples They did not realize that re-
demption was to be accomplished
through the passion of the cross. So
unwelcome was this announcements
! that Peter cried, "This shall not be-
/ unto thee" Peter later saw through
this darkness to the glory on the hiIl-
/ top beyond. A new hope then filed
his breast Il Peter 1:3. ~. Victory
through death is yet the stumbling
block of many. Many are stumbling
over the doctrine of salvation and re-
! demption through the suffering Of the
cross. All such are under the control
Of the devil ". 2S). Salvation by
blood, the devil hates.
/ ~. The Cost OF Discipleship CIV. 24-
/ 27).
To follow Christ means suffering. To
/ follow linn is to turn ones back upon
the world. Life can only be saved By
losing 1t. II we are going to be Chris
tians we must share Christ's suffering.
We ca1not 60 to heaven on flowery
beds OF ease.
1. There must be denial of self ".
4 24). There is a wide difference be-
tween self-denial and denial Of self
1 Self-denial is practiced everywhere by
all people, but only the disciples or
Christ or Christian people deny sell.
Christ takes the place Of self.
4 2. "Take up his cross" This cross
IL the suffering an shame which lie
l In tho M RI IF lovn y RI God IT., In
our duty will mean suffering e Tim.
4 3:12).
i 8. Follow Christ. This means to-
have the mind Of Christ. to do like
Christ. All such shall be rewarded
when Christ comes in glory
Christian Character.
4 One truly Christian life will do more
to prove the divine origin Of Christian
l vno t., - {.