The Question of Our Time

Matthew 16:15

The Importance of Scripture and Personal Conviction

The Role of Questions in Jesus' Ministry

Jesus' Use of Questions
- Jesus frequently asked questions in the Gospels
- The significance of Jesus' questions across different epochs of Christian history

Historical Questions and Their Relevance

Questions Across Epochs of Christian History
- First Century: John 13:38 – "Will you lay down your life for my sake?"
- Early Church: Matthew 22:42 – "What think ye of the Christ? Whose son is he?"
- Reformation: John 11:40 – "Did I not say unto you that if you would believe, you would see the glory of God?"
- Modern Missions: Luke 18:8 – "When the Son of Man returns, will he find faith on the earth?"
- 20th Century: John 6:67 – "Will you also go away?"

The Question of Our Time

The Question for the 21st Century
- Matthew 16:15 – "Who do you say that I am?"
- The challenge of affirming the exclusivity of Christ in a pluralistic and inclusive culture

Two Types of Leadership

Leadership by Public Consensus vs. Personal Conviction
- Public consensus: Leading based on what people want
- Personal conviction: Leading based on deep-seated beliefs and the Word of God

The Danger of Pluralism and Inclusivism

Consequences of Public Consensus
- Pluralistic compromise: Belief in multiple ways to heaven
- Political correctness and inclusivism in church culture
- The importance of maintaining the exclusivity of the gospel of Christ

The Necessity of Personal Conviction

Personal Conviction in Proclaiming Christ
- Peter's declaration: "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
- The role of personal conviction in facing cultural opposition

Conclusion

The Call to Affirm Personal Conviction
- Emphasizing the exclusivity of Christ for salvation
- Encouragement to boldly proclaim the identity of Christ

Closing Prayer