This morning's text is found in Matthew 16 verses 13 through 20.

And I encourage you to follow along in your Bibles or in the Pew Bible in front of you.

Matthew 16 verses 13 through 20.

Now when Jesus came into the district of Cessary of Philippi, he asked his disciples,

who do men say that the son of man is?

And they said, some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, and others,

Jeremiah are one of the prophets.

And he said to them, but who do you say that I am?

Simon Peter replied,

You are the Christ, the son of the living God.

And Jesus answered him,

Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you,

but my father who is in heaven, and I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will

build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it.

I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven

and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven

and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. And whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.

One of the hymns that we love to sing during Advent

is a hymn that connects the coming of Christ into history for the salvation of sinners with the coming of Christ into our hearts for the salvation of this

center. Let me read you the first stanza.

Thou just leave thy throne and thy kingly crown when thou cameest to earth for me, but in Bethlehem's

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