Reading Ourselves Into Peter

The sermon from August 23, 2020. The text is Matthew 16:13-20:

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.

21 From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. 22 And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” 23 But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

Faith is Great When It Is Content in the Crumbs

 The sermon from August 16, 2020. The text is Matthew 15:21-28:

And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. 22 And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.” 23 But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying out after us.” 24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 25 But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” 26 And he answered, “It is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs.” 27 She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table.” 28 Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.

Two Rules of Theology

 The sermon from August 9, 2020. The text is Job 38:4-18:

“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?

    Tell me, if you have understanding.

5 Who determined its measurements—surely you know!

    Or who stretched the line upon it?

6 On what were its bases sunk,

    or who laid its cornerstone,

7 when the morning stars sang together

    and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

8 “Or who shut in the sea with doors

    when it burst out from the womb,

9 when I made clouds its garment

    and thick darkness its swaddling band,

10 and prescribed limits for it

    and set bars and doors,

11 and said, ‘Thus far shall you come, and no farther,

    and here shall your proud waves be stayed’?

12 “Have you commanded the morning since your days began,

    and caused the dawn to know its place,

13 that it might take hold of the skirts of the earth,

    and the wicked be shaken out of it?

14 It is changed like clay under the seal,

    and its features stand out like a garment.

15 From the wicked their light is withheld,

    and their uplifted arm is broken.

16 “Have you entered into the springs of the sea,

    or walked in the recesses of the deep?

17 Have the gates of death been revealed to you,

    or have you seen the gates of deep darkness?

18 Have you comprehended the expanse of the earth?

    Declare, if you know all this.