Thank you for coming to Samsbiblestories.com and for taking a look at the lessons I have added. These lessons are the result of years of teaching Sunday school at an Elementary level. God has richly blessed me in being able to share His Word with thousands of young people. It is now my privilege to share them with you. Please feel free to use them with your class, wherever God has planted you. The only think I ask is that you drop me a line and let me know who you are and how the lessons are working for you. Any comments or suggestions would be appreciated. God Bless you, Sam God Bless

Bible Story-time Say My Name (who do you say that I am?) Matthew 16:13-20

Volunteers Needed: 1. Jesus Character 2. Peter 3. A few of the other Disciples Say My Name! (who do you say that I am?) Matthew 16:13-20

Let’s think back to what it must have been like to be one of these early followers of Jesus Christ. Remember, they were living, traveling, eating and sleeping together 24/7. We have had a lot of time to figure out who Jesus was, why He came and what that means to us personally and to our world. But think what His early followers must have been thinking…

What do you think some of these questions may have been??

13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” Say My Name! (who do you say that I am?) Matthew 16:13-20

14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” Say My Name! (who do you say that I am?) Matthew 16:13-20 John the BaptizerElijah the ProphetO.T. Prophets Isaiah, Ezekiel, Jeremiah or Daniel and others.

Say My Name! (who do you say that I am?) Matthew 16:13-20 But then Jesus made it very personal for His Disciples 15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” This is exactly the question the disciples of Jesus have been asking each other for the last year or so that they have been following Him. Who is this man? Is He a god, Is He a Prophet? Is He an Angel? They were not quite sure. It was time to answer this all important question.

Say My Name! (who do you say that I am?) Matthew 16:13-20 It was none other than Peter, the “simple” fisherman who would finally put an answer on the table as to WHO Jesus was. 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Now Peter took quite a chance in making a statement like this. Remember that Jesus is a Jewish Rabbi and He would be required to publicly correct Peter for calling him “Messiah” unless… it was true!

Say My Name! (who do you say that I am?) Matthew 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.

Say My Name! (who do you say that I am?) Matthew 16:13-20 Jesus went on to say… 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, 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 bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” With these words, Jesus was saying that he was making Peter the leader of the Disciples and putting him in charge of leading His church after He was gone back up into Heaven.

Say My Name! (who do you say that I am?) Matthew 16:13-20 Jesus finished up by saying something that might seem strange: 20 Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah. Why do you think Jesus finished up with these words?

WHO DO YOU SAY JESUS IS?