TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2022

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Tuesday, September 6, 2022

 

 

Confronting the “Gates of Hell”

 

Mark 8: 34 (NLT)

 

    Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.

 

Matthew 16: 13 – 18 (ESV)

 

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.

 

  1. The cave at the base of Caesarea Philippi was called the “gates of hades,” and in this setting Jesus continued teaching about the building of His church. He boldly declared that “the gates of hell will not prevail against it.” If the purpose of gates is to defend, who or what would be attacking the forces of hell? What did Jesus say would be the outcome of this battle?

 

 

 

 

  1. Would you say the church today generally views itself as being offensive or defensive in the battle against evil?

 

 

 

  1. How might this view differ from what Jesus taught His disciples in Caesarea Philippi?

 

 

 

 

  1. How might an offensive vs defensive mentality affect the way disciples (YOU) minister in the culture around them today?