A New Story Begins Here
Matthew 16:13-20
Sunday August 23 2026
8:30am & 11:00am
Ed Whipple, Preaching
Surrendering our lives to God is more than simply speaking the right words or making a confession of faith.
In Matthew 16:13–20, Jesus asks His disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” Peter, by the revelation of the Holy Spirit, confesses, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” It is a powerful confession, but Jesus makes clear that this revelation is not something Peter has discovered on his own—it has been given to him by the Father.
Our faith, too, is a gift of God’s grace, made known to us through the work of the Holy Spirit. Yet our confession is meant to become more than words spoken at Confirmation or on a Sunday morning. We are called to walk in faith and allow our lives to reflect the One we confess.
The question Jesus asks Peter is also asked of us: Who do you say that Jesus is? And may our answer be seen not only in what we say, but in how we live—surrendering our lives to Christ and allowing the Holy Spirit to make our lives a living confession of faith.