03.15.2026. Sunday Sermon — Rev. Lee Jeungbok
Text: Matthew 16:13–16, 16:21
Title: The Church Built on the Rock
Matthew 16:13–16
When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others say Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.”
This year marks the 55th anniversary of the founding of our church. For many years, our church has served as an ark of salvation in Madison. Even though we have experienced many difficulties, by the grace of God our church has been able to worship Him. Going forward, our church will continue to worship God in spirit and in truth and fulfill its mission as an ark of salvation in Madison.
Therefore today I will preach about what the church is. The reason I give this kind of sermon is so that the members may have confidence in our church and so that it may be known that our church is a church established by God in the midst of the world.
1. The beginning of the church starts with the confession of who Jesus is.
In Matthew 16:13, Jesus asks His disciples an important question.
“Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
The disciples answered that people say Jesus is John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets. Peter’s answer means that the people of that time thought of Jesus as one of the great prophets. It also means that they did not know exactly who Jesus truly was.
Then Jesus asks a more fundamental and important question.
“But who do you say that I am?”
This question is a direct question: Do you truly know who I am, the one whom you are following? Jesus asked this question directly to the disciples so that they would clearly know who the One they believed in and followed was and be able to make a confession of faith.
Although the first recipients of this question were the disciples, it is also a question given to people of every generation.
Therefore the confession of all believers must be like that of Peter:
“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
In fact, after this confession Jesus clearly revealed the final work He had come to do on this earth.
Matthew 16:21
“From that time Jesus Christ began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders, chief priests, and scribes, be killed, and on the third day be raised.”
The disciples who make this confession would come to understand why Jesus had to suffer and die instead of receiving glory. Through the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, the disciples would make a confident confession:
“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
As apostles of Jesus Christ, they would build the church upon this confession of faith.
A church is not established simply because people gather together, rent a building, and invite a pastor. The church began and must continue with people who confess, “Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God.”
Therefore, as we celebrate the 55th anniversary of our church, we should not merely think about celebrating the founding of the church. Dear members, you must examine your confession of faith once again.
When all of us truly make this confession of faith, even if our numbers are small, we can be confident that we are God’s church and will continue to stand firmly as His church.
Let us all sincerely make the following confession of faith together for one minute:
“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
2. The foundation of the church is not human wisdom but God’s revelation.
Jesus did not ask Peter, “How did you know this?” Instead He said:
“Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah. For this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by My Father who is in heaven.”
The church has a fundamentally different starting point from other organizations. The church did not begin through human wisdom or human methods.
The church was able to begin because God first revealed His only begotten Son, Jesus, and opened our hearts so that we could receive Him.
Our confession of faith did not come from our own wisdom. Rather, God opened our hearts so that we could understand the revelation He made known and thus confess our true faith in Jesus.
Therefore the beginning of the church can be said to come from God’s revelation— in other words, from grace.
However, other religions require people to begin first or to offer something first. It is assumed that the gods reveal themselves to those who offer many sacrifices and then provide help.
Thus, in general religions, human effort is the starting point.
When we clearly understand this difference, we will give thanks that everything involved in building and preserving the church begins with God, and we will have a faith that depends even more on Him.
3. The church does not collapse when it is built on the rock.
Jesus said to Peter:
“You are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church.”
Here, the rock does not mean a large stone, nor does it refer to Peter as the first pope as the Roman Catholic Church claims.
The rock is Peter’s confession of faith.
In other words, every church must be built upon the confession of faith that “Jesus is the Christ.”
But if the church is built not with Jesus at the center but with people and worldly methods at the center, the church will collapse in the wind and rain. Even if a church was originally built upon the right rock, if it abandons this rock it will collapse.
Therefore we must always examine whether our church is making the right confession of faith.
At one time our church had many members. But now only a small number remain. However, what is important is not the number.
What is most important is whether we truly confess before God that our rock is only Jesus Christ and whether we live according to that confession.
When we have the right confession of faith, Jesus will protect our church. This is because the head—the Lord and owner—of the church is Jesus Christ.
Therefore we should not worry that the church will collapse because of persecution or suffering. The only time a church disappears is when it forgets that Jesus is the Christ and becomes merely a social fellowship.
The clear truth we must remember is that Jesus Christ is the head of the church and we are the members of His body.
Our church stands upon the confession that Jesus is the Christ.
4. The church Jesus builds on the rock has the power to overcome the gates of Hades.
“I will build My church on this rock, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.”
The church is not an ordinary gathering of people. The church is a community engaged in spiritual warfare.
Here, “the gates of Hades” refers to the power of death, sin, and Satan. In other words, the church has the power to fight against and overcome these powers.
The powers of Hades attack most strongly when the gospel is being preached. Some people even go so far as to file lawsuits against the church.
Another situation occurs when believers struggle against sin. When they try to break away from bad habits or sinful behavior, the temptations often become even stronger.
The powers of Hades attempt to destroy the church by spreading malicious slander against it or by stirring up distrust toward pastors. In some cases false teachings infiltrate the church.
However, the church that Jesus builds upon the rock has the power to overcome the powers of Hades.
Individually we may suffer because of the attacks of the evil one. Dear believers, each one of you is a member of the body of the church. Therefore, through Jesus who is the head of the church, I pray that you will overcome the powers of Hades.
5. In conclusion.
First, we must remember that our church is a church built by Jesus upon the confession of faith:
“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
The most important question is how our church will reveal to the world its identity as a church that believes in Jesus Christ as Lord.
Of course, it is wonderful for a church to be filled with love, service, and ministry. But above all, it must reveal that it is a church that rightly confesses Jesus.
The way to reveal that we are a church serving Jesus Christ as Lord is only when each member sincerely confesses at every moment that Jesus is the Christ and lives while continually examining themselves.
I earnestly pray that you will be believers who make this confession every moment.
Second, there is a word of Jesus that we must remember as we lead and manage the church:
“I will build My church.”
All the history of the building and growth of the church comes not from people but from Jesus Christ. Therefore we must always strive to build the church with the help of Jesus.
For this reason we must pray every day. Prayer is our confession that we entrust everything into God’s hands and live by His help.
The greatest means by which the church is preserved and revived is prayer.
In summary, the church is built through the right confession of faith and the prayers of the believers.
Therefore before you go to sleep tonight, you should ask yourself one question:
“Who do I think Jesus is as I live my life?”
If you have answered this question honestly, then ask yourself another question:
“Am I truly living and acting as one who believes that Jesus is the Christ and my Lord, just as I have confessed?”
Through these right questions and answers, our church will become a victorious church that does not collapse even when wind, rain, and floods come.
“I will build My church on this rock, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.”
Let us pray.
(End)