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Series: Simon Says Message 3: When Jesus Called Me Satan

March 30, 2025

LEADER NOTES

ANNOUNCEMENTS

INVITE & SERVE AT EASTER: Start talking about who your group can invite to easter and where

they can serve. More details at obcc.church/easter

BAPTISM ON APRIL 20: If someone in your group is interested in this next step, stop by

Connection Central or let Brent know (BBranchaud@olive-branch.org) to be baptized Easter.

GROUP DISCUSSION

1. Describe a moment moment when you were sure you were right—only to find out you weren’t?

When was it and what’d you do in response?

2. Read Matthew 16:13-20. What were the various answers the disciples gave to Jesus'

question about His identity? What does Peter's response reveal about his understanding and

what does Jesus say about how Peter came to this knowledge?

3. Read Matthew 16:21-23. How does Peter respond to Jesus' foretelling of His suffering and

death? Why does Jesus respond so strongly, calling Peter "Satan" (see also Matthew 4:1-11)?

4. In what ways might you be trying to tell God what to do rather than submitting to Him as

LORD? What steps can you take to ensure that you have the things of God in your heart and

mind?

5. Read Matthew 16:24-28. According to Jesus, what must someone do to follow Him? How

does this passage redefine success or a "full life"?

6. When we fail to understand that following Jesus will take us to the cross, we may equate faith

with an easy life and expect only blessings. How might that dim our view of God’s faithfulness

when life gets hard?

7. Giving up our rights is not our default human response. Sin leads us to put ourselves first. In

what situation are you facing where you want to seek your own way? Where is Jesus asking

you to surrender control or “deny yourself”?

GOING FURTHER

MEMORIZE: " Then Jesus told his disciples, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself

and take up his cross and follow me.'" Matthew 16:24

MEMBER NOTES