The Early Church:  Everything to Lose, Nothing to Gain  (Part 2)


Essential Lessons for Ministry in a Pagan World

Jesus took his disciples from their familiar Jewish religious surroundings in Galilee to the equally religious but incredibly pagan city of Caesarea Philippi about thirty miles away. Caesarea Philippi was a world center of Pan worship, the location of an annual Pan festival and an assortment of other pagan shrines. Here Jesus gave his disciples essential lessons that would prepare them for their future ministry in a pagan world.

     "When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, 'Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”
     "So they said, 'Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.'
     "He said to them, 'But who do you say that I am?'
     "Simon Peter answered and said, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.'” (Matt 16:13-16)

11. Considering their location at Caesarea Philippi, why was Peter’s use of the word “living” so significant when he declared Jesus to be “the Christ, the Son of the living God”?

"I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” (Matt 16:18-19)

12. The cave at the base of the cliff in 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 Hades will not overcome it.” If the purpose of gates is to defend, who or what would be attacking the forces of Hades?

 

    What would be the outcome of such a spiritual battle?
 

Note: “The gates of Hades,” can be translated as “hell.” Hades, called Sheol  in Hebrew, is where departed spirits live. Apparently it was frequently used as a synonym for hell. (See Psalm 9:17; 55:15; 116:3.)

 For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you." (1 Peter 4:3-4)

13. In what ways would people who worshiped Pan and other gods have to deny themselves" in order to follow Jesus?

"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever." (1 John 2:15-17

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

"At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me.”  (John 14:20-21)

15. What did you learn about living as Jesus commands in the mist of a culture that chases after many different gods? How is this a problem in today's culture?

16.  How would you have the power to attack "the gates of hell" and overcome the pagan values of the world?

17. What are you doing to challenge the forces of evil in your world?

"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." Mark 8:34

18. What does this Scripture mean in today's cultural and spiritual context?

19. How can we live by this truth from day to day?

20. What happens when we do? 

"Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord." 1 Corinthians 15:57-58