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Gleanings From The Word

Tag: Upon this rock

  • Upon This Rock

    Upion this rock - large rock small stone

    In Matthew 16 is a well-known but controversially understood verse. Jesus asks the disciples who they think He is and gets various replies. Upon hearing Peter’s reply, Jesus says, “…and upon this rock I will build My church.”

    He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. Matthew 16:16-18

    The New Testament was written in Koine Greek, the common, less formal Greek language.  There are nuances that don’t transfer over to English. There is an important word play here that doesn’t come across well in our language.

    Jesus calls Peter petros, a word meaning a very small stone. The word we translate as ‘rock’ is petra, meaning a massive, immovable bedrock. 

    This same word, petra, is used elsewhere in the bible to describe absolute stability. The wise man builds his house on petra (Matthew 7:24). The solid petra is where Jesus tomb was carved (Matthew 27:60).

    The idea that Jesus the Christ is the rock is further reinforced in Scripture. In 1 Corinthians 10:4, Paul identifies the imagery with Christ, stating, “…that Rock was Christ.” Similarly, throughout the Old Testament, “Rock” is a title reserved for God, not a human leader (see Psalm 18:2)

    When Jesus is saying “upon this rock…” What is he saying?

    By moving from the image of a “small stone” to that of “solid bedrock,” we are gently drawn into a deeper understanding. When Jesus said, “upon this rock,” He pointed beyond the strength of any one man to something far more enduring—the truth that had just been revealed: that He is the Messiah.

    Peter was chosen, shaped, and given a meaningful role, yet even he stood upon that same foundation. The strength of the Church does not rise from human ability, but from the unshakable reality of who Christ is.

    And so the Church stands—firm, steady, and secure—because it is built upon this rock: the living truth of Jesus Himself.

    Hold fast to the petra, the living bedrock of Jesus.

    Be blessed

    Kevin

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    Spread of the Gospel

     Summary

    In Matthew 16, Jesus contrasts Peter (a small stone) with the “rock” (petra), pointing not to Peter himself but to the foundational truth that Jesus is the Messiah. The Church is built on this unshakable reality—Christ Himself—not on human strength.

    Three takeaways:

    The “rock” refers to the revealed truth of Jesus’ identity, not merely Peter as a person.

    Scripture consistently uses “rock” (petra) as a symbol of divine stability, often pointing to God or Christ.

    The Church’s foundation is secure because it rests on who Jesus is, not on human leaders.

    The Gospel – the best news you will ever hear
    Every Member Is Necessary — 1 Corinthians 12

  • Happy Anniversary Church – What is our future?

    A styled image of a church with the text Immanuel's 40th Anniversary - our lccal church is celebrating

    This weekend, our local assembly is celebrating its fortieth anniversary.  That’s both a huge milestone and a stepping stone for our little church. 

    Statistically, over 80% of new church plants last less than five years, so this one has done very well. Depending on which source you look at, churches that make it past the first 5 years last somewhere between 75 and 100+ years. There’s lots of time to go yet.

    Like most congregations, this one has ebbed and waned over the years. It’s presently undergoing significant change, with a much larger multicultural makeup reflecting our community as a whole. That’s a good thing.

    I’ve often spoken of the need for unity in the church, and an area that doesn’t often get touched on are cultural differences between what differing communities think of as “church.” I’m excited to see what we will look like at our 45th and 50thanniversaries,

    Will the music change? The service format? What about the ministries we are involved in? It’s likely. The question is by how much. Will we even recognize the church?

    Will you move as the Spirit leads, or will we fight change it tooth and nail because it isn’t the way we think church should be done?  Probably some combination of both.

    We can forget that it is never “our church”. The church in all its forms belongs to God. His pleasure is to use the church (both as the body of believers and the organizations therein) to fulfill His goal, of seeing all who will be saved come to Him, and as a training ground for believers to be shaped into His image.

    And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.  Matthew 16:18

    And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.  Ephesians 1:22-23

    He is preparing His bride (the church) to present to the Father and will shape her as He wills.

    That’s great news for us. We don’t have to fret about change. We are free to simply follow the Lord as He leads and walk by faith.

    I don’t know what the next 40 years hold for Immanuel: growth, decline, or even demise.  I do know I needed worry. I can celebrate what God has done, is doing, and will do.

    That’s a good place to be.

    Be blessed

    Kevin

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    Every Member Is Necessary — 1 Corinthians 12

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