Sermon: Get Behind Me

Get Behind Me: The Cross We Cannot Avoid — Matthew 16:21-28 — Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 17) — LCMS SermonHave you ever wanted Jesus to be your Savior, but only on your own terms? In this sermon on Matthew 16:21-28, Pastor David Balla examines Peter's stunned reaction when Jesus announces His coming suffering, death, and resurrection in Jerusalem, a reaction that exposes the same instinct hiding in every human heart: wanting God's blessings without God's cross.This message names that resistance honestly. We all, like Peter, want the crown without the cost. But Jesus walked the road to Calvary anyway, bearing our sin so that forgiveness, grace, and salvation could be freely given to sinners like us. His death opens the Kingdom of Heaven to all who believe, and that same redeeming work is still delivered to us today in the Lord's Supper, where Christ gives His true body and blood for the forgiveness of sins.Whether you are wrestling with suffering, doubt, or what it means to follow Jesus faithfully, this sermon points you to the Savior who turns the cross into the doorway of eternal life.Subscribe for weekly sermons and devotions grounded in the historic Christian faith. If this ministry has blessed you, consider supporting it here: https://buymeacoffee.com/whitegandalphSupport this ministry: https://buymeacoffee.com/whitegandalphHashtags:#LCMS #LutheranChurch #ChristianSermon #BibleTeaching #Gospel