Who Do YOU Say I Am?
Month 4: Is Jesus Really God? · Heart Matters
Today's Scripture
Read together: Matthew 16:13-17
13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, He questioned His disciples: “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” 14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 “But what about you?” Jesus asked. “Who do you say I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, 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.
Memory Verse
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”— John 1:1 (BSB)
📖 Bible-in-a-Year (optional)
Today's reading: Genesis 45-47
Reading the whole Bible in a year — do this when you have extra time. (Around Day 94 of 365 — Joseph forgives his brothers, and the family is reunited.)The Heart of It
Jesus asked His disciples two questions, and the order matters. First He asked, "Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?" The disciples had lots of answers. Some said John the Baptist. Some said Elijah. Some said a prophet. Those were the popular opinions, the things "people" said. Then Jesus turned the question, and it landed right on each heart. He asked, "But who do you say that I am?" Notice He didn't ask, "What's the most common answer?" He asked, "What do you believe?" Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." And Jesus said this truth didn't come from people. It came from God the Father, who revealed it to him.
Here is the part that matters most for you tonight. You can know all the right answers about Jesus. You can know He's eternal, that He forgave sins, and that He's the Word from . And you can still never have answered His question for yourself. Believing in Jesus is not borrowing your parents' faith or repeating what your church says. It is your own heart saying, "Yes, You are my Lord." God invites everyone to answer. He never forces anyone. He never drags a heart against its will. He stands and asks, kindly, "Who do you say I am?" Then He waits for your real answer. The most important words you will ever speak are not, "I think Jesus is a nice person." They are, "Jesus, You are my Lord and my God."
Around the Table
Jesus wants to know what you think about Him — not just what other people say. Can you tell Him, "Jesus, You are God, and I love You"?
Let's do it: Take turns finishing this sentence out loud: "Jesus, I think You are ______."
Lots of people had opinions about Jesus, but He asked, "Who do you say I am?" Faith is your own answer, not a borrowed one.
Let's talk: What's the difference between knowing facts about Jesus and actually trusting Him yourself?
Peter's confession came as the Father revealed it to him — yet Peter still had to say it. God invites a real, personal faith-response; He doesn't believe for you.
Let's go deeper: If a friend asked you tonight, "Who is Jesus to you?" — how would you answer in your own words?
💬 Conversation Starter
Has anyone ever asked you to give your opinion instead of just repeating someone else's? How did that feel? Jesus does that with each of us about Him.
🛡️ Defending the Faith
Faith isn't second-hand. Knowing about Jesus matters. But Jesus asks each person, "Who do you say I am?" When you share your faith, you're not forcing anyone. You're inviting them, kindly, to answer Him for themselves. That respect for another person's choice is part of giving an answer "with gentleness and respect" ().
For Dad · Go Deeper
There is a sobering truth in this passage for Christian parents. Your child can grow up surrounded by right answers and never make them his own. Researchers who study faith retention keep finding the same thing. Kids who only inherit their parents' beliefs, without ever owning them, are far more likely to walk away as adults. Jesus models the cure here. He doesn't lecture Peter. He asks him, drawing out a personal confession. Notice too that this honors genuine free will. The Father reveals, but Peter responds. Salvation is by grace through a real faith-response, never coerced. So make room in your home for honest questions and real wrestling, not just correct recitation. Your job is not to manufacture belief in your children. You can't. Your job is to lead them again and again to the One who lovingly asks, "Who do you say I am?"
Draws on: Natasha Crain, Talking with Your Kids about God.
Let's Pray Together
"Father, thank You that You invite each of us to know Jesus for ourselves. Help every heart in this family answer truly. Help each of us say, 'Jesus, You are the Christ, my Lord and my God.' In Jesus' name, amen."
The biggest question isn't what people say about Jesus. It's what I say.