What does it really mean to confess that Jesus is Lord?

In Matthew 16, Peter identifies Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of the living God, but reveals that he has misunderstood what kind of Messiah Jesus is. Peter expects a Messiah who conquers with power and the sword. Jesus reveals a different way: the way of the cross, self-giving love, forgiveness and service.

In this sermon, David explores the contrast between the sword and the towel. The sword represents the world's pursuit of power, status, control, recognition and domination, while the towel points to the way of Jesus — the King who bends down to serve.

Drawing on the work of theologians Jürgen Moltmann, Dallas Willard and Henri Nouwen, the sermon asks whether Christians are merely people who confess the right things about Jesus, or whether we are becoming ...