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26

Peter declares that Jesus is the Messiah

Luke 9: 18-36

  • Session: 26
  • Week: 4
  • Day: 5
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Introduction

In this session, Luke 9: 18-36, Jesus focuses his investment on his disciples by revealing himself to them in four main dimensions namely, the disfigured servant, the resurrected Lord, the reigning priest (transfigured), and the soon coming King. Jesus warned his disciples not to tell anybody that he is the Messiah even though he had already revealed himself to be the Messiah. Son of the living God.

Objectives

By the end of this session, the learner will have:

  • Understood the four dimensions of Jesus the Messiah, i.e., the disfigured servant, the resurrected Lord, the reigning priest, and the soon coming King.
  • Appreciated why you should not express Christ to others until you have known him personally in the four dimensions?

Outline

  • Three types of investment (self, mentee, and target audience)
  • The amount of transfiguration
  • The person of Christ
  • Got a revelation but hold on until…

Group Study Time

Luke 9: 18-36

Connecting

  • Gather with two or more people for a community discovery bible study session.
  • Start with a heartfelt prayer, inviting God to guide and bless your understanding.
  • Explore the passage by reading it at least twice, using different Bible versions if available, then retell the story together as a group.
  • Reflect and share the challenges and blessings you experienced from the previous study.

Comprehending

  • Who is Jesus? How do you know Him? What happens when you have known Him? What happens when you fail to know Him better?
  • Read Luke 9: 18-21. Who do the crowds say Jesus is? Who do the disciples (agents of change) say Jesus is? Why did Jesus strictly warn his disciples not to tell anyone that Jesus is the Messiah, even after his revelation to them? verse 21.
  • Read Luke 9: 21-22. 26b. List five truths Jesus said (revealed) about himself being, 1. the suffering servant, and being 2. the resurrected Lord and being 3. The soon coming King 👑 and 4. being the reigning priest? 4. Read Luke 9: 23-27. What four things did Jesus say are the conditions of being his disciples? (students of his school of thought)
  • Read Luke 9:28-36. What is Transfiguration? Retell in 2 minutes what happened on the mountain 🏔️ of transfiguration. Who did the father say Jesus is on this mountain? What did Moses (Law of God) and Elijah (prophesies of the Lord) reveal about Jesus Messiah?

Committing

  • Engage with the Bible—read, study, memorize, meditate, pray, listen, and live it out.
  • List three lessons you have learnt as an agent of change that you would like to put into practice and teach others about.
  • Take time and worship Jesus with the attributes revealed about Christ.
  • Use the SPACEPETS model, to assist you in putting God’s word into practice. Look for:
    • Sin to confess
    • Promise to claim
    • Attitude to change
    • Command to keep
    • Error to change
    • Prayer to make
    • Example to copy
    • Truth to obey and
    • Something praiseworthy

Communicating

  • Identify one person you can connect with and share the valuable insights and lessons you gained from this session.
  • Reach out to a new believer—either in person or by phone—and pray with them to support them through their challenges, including any concerns about attending church.
  • Create a new group and guide others through this study to help them grow in their understanding.

Post Lesson Teaching Summary

Great job completing the study! Take a moment to listen to this summary to reinforce your group’s understanding of the text and ensure you’re all on the same page. We’re here to support your learning journey!

Peter declares that Jesus is the Messiah

Luke 9: 18-36

Luke 9:18-36

Context

  • Jesus progressively reveals His identity to the disciples as they mature, taking them aside for deeper, private teaching.
  • He shows four dimensions of Himself: the suffering servant, the exalted Lord, the ascended priest, and the soon-coming King.

Jesus Reveals His Four Dimensions (Luke 9:18-36)

  • Suffering Servant (vv. 18-22): While praying privately with the disciples, Jesus asks who the crowds say He is. Answers include John the Baptist, Elijah, or a risen prophet. He then asks, “But who do you say I am?” Peter declares, “God’s Messiah.” Jesus warns them not to tell anyone and explains that the Son of Man must suffer, be rejected by the leaders, be killed, and rise on the third day.
  • Cost of Discipleship (vv. 23-27): To follow Him, one must deny self, take up their cross daily, and lose their life for His sake. What profit is it to gain the whole world yet lose oneself? Whoever is ashamed of Him and His words will face His shame when He comes in glory with the Father and angels. Some standing there will see the kingdom before death.
  • Exalted Lord – The Transfiguration (vv. 28-31): About eight days later, Jesus takes Peter, John, and James up the mountain to pray. His appearance changes, clothes become dazzling white. Moses and Elijah appear in glory and speak of His coming departure (exodus) in Jerusalem.
  • Ascended Priest – The Voice from Heaven (vv. 32-36): The disciples are sleepy but see His glory and the two men. As Moses and Elijah leave, Peter suggests building shelters. A cloud covers them; a voice says, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to Him.” The disciples are afraid; then Jesus is alone. They keep silent about this until later.
  • Purpose: Jesus reveals these dimensions to prepare the disciples for His suffering, death, resurrection, ascension, and future return. They did not fully understand at the time but kept silent until the right moment.

Application

  • Recognize Jesus’ full identity—suffering servant, exalted Lord, ascended priest, and coming King. Deny self daily, take up the cross, and follow Him without shame. Listen to Him above all, and anticipate His return in glory.
Close

How to use these studies

These lessons are designed as short, 25-minute studies based on Bible truths, and meant for self-learning or small group study. The study sets systematically cover different books of the Bible. 

Each lesson follows a simple structure:

  • Introduction (Including the outline and objectives)
  • Step 1: Connecting
  • Step 2: Comprehending
  • Step 3: Committing
  • Step 4: Communicating

These sections include questions to help you reflect on the bible passage and how it applies to your life. 

Use these lessons to disciple others by journeying together over time and allowing God’s word to penetrate your heart and bring transforming change to your life. As a leader, pray for wisdom in leading and for modelling the truths in your own life.

Sharing offline

  • Mobile Friendly PDF
  • Print Friendly PDF
  • Full Study PDF

Each lesson has three buttons allowing you to download a easily saveable and shareable PDF version of the study. You can choose either a Mobile-friendly PDF version, and Print-friendly PDF version, or a print version of the Full Study PDF (for example all the lessons in the current book of the Bible).

These are free and can be easily copied and shared from one person to another!

Gathering a Small Group

Start small to build a safe space for sharing and growth.

  • Pray first: Ask God to show you 3-6 people who need encouragement in faith, like family, neighbors, or fellow believers facing hardship.
  • Invite personally: Meet one-on-one, explain how the lessons are designed to help people grow in their faith and knowledge of God and his Word.
  • Keep it simple: Meet in a home or quiet spot; no need for fancy setup – just willing hearts.
  • Aim for consistency: Suggest weekly meetings, but be flexible for busy lives or safety concerns in persecuted areas.

Trust helps everyone open up, reflect, and apply truths without fear.

  • Start with sharing: In the first meeting, share simple stories of your own faith struggles to show vulnerability.
  • Set ground rules: Agree to listen without judging, keep stories private, and focus on encouraging each other.
  • Build bonds: Begin each session with a short prayer or song inviting God to be present with you.
  • Be patient: Trust grows over time – encourage quiet members gently, and celebrate small steps of honesty.

Good preparation makes the lesson flow and helps discipleship.

  • Read ahead: Study the lesson before; pray over the Bible passage and think how it fits your group’s challenges.
  • Adapt for the group: Use simple words; if literacy is low, read aloud slowly and explain questions or stories.
  • Gather basics: Have a Bible (in your language) and paper for notes.
  • Reflect personally: Ask yourself the study questions first – lead from your own growth and experience.
  • Pray: Pray for your group members.

Guide the group through the lesson structure to encourage discovery and commitment.

  • Step 1 – Connecting: Start the group meeting by praying together. Thank God for his Word and ask for open hearts to receive it. Read the Bible passage together (Read it aloud twice; ask someone to repeat in their words.)
  • Step 2: Comprehending: Use the provided questions to help you grapple with the truth of the Bible passage.
  • Step 3 – Committing: Consider how the passage might apply to your lives and what simple steps of obedience you can commit to. The goal of these studies if life-change! Not just knowledge!
  • Step 4 – Communicating:  Think of who you can share the truths you have learned with.
  • Close with Prayer: Let group members pray short prayers of thanks or commitment. Pray for one another.

For many of the lessons, there is a short summary teaching voice-note at the end of the lesson (together with a text summary). This is designed to be a recap and reminder of the key lessons you should have learned through the lesson. 

As a leader, you might like to use these summary teaching resources to help you in preparation for leading your group, though ideally not before you have spent time prayerfully reflecting on the passage.

This is an ongoing discipleship journey aiming to transform lives and help people to live victorious Christian lives. Focus on growth, not just finishing lessons.

  • Meet regularly: Join together at least once a week. Review past actions at each start to build accountability.
  • Encourage reflection: Between meetings, urge personal time with the lesson – read, pray, and try complete commitments made.
  • Support one another: If your group members are facing challenges, use lessons to pray together and share burdens; become “agents of change” by helping others in your community.
  • Multiply groups: As trust grows, encourage members to start their own small groups with family or friends.
  • Keep it short: Stick to 15 – 25 minutes per lesson to fit busy, challenging lives.
  • Handle challenges: If fear or hardship arise, encourage members by always pointing back to God’s love. 
  • Stay safe: In persecuted areas, meet discreetly; focus on heart change over big displays.
  • Celebrate progress: Note how people have grown in faith; allow time for sharing testimonies of what God has done. Take note of what you pray for, and give thanks when God answers prayer.

Final encouragement

Leading these lessons is serving like Jesus – humble, loving, and truthful. As you journey together, God will build growing faith into each person’s life. Pray often, and watch lives transform!

If you would like to share stories of faith from your own communities, please get in touch with us!