Monthly ArchivesMarch 2021

Matthew 9:1–2   9 Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. 2 Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”   One thought: For the convicted sinner, Jesus is a beacon of light in an otherwise dark pit   Three questions: Why does Jesus have the authority to forgive sins?   Have you taken heart?   Reflect on the forgiveness of your sins today   Prayer: Praise God for sending Jesus to save sinners. Give thanks that Jesus has forgiven you and others through the work of the cross. Ask God to help ...

Matthew 8:31–34 31 The demons begged Jesus, “If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.” 32 He said to them, “Go!” So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and died in the water. 33 Those tending the pigs ran off, went into the town and reported all this, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men. 34 Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they pleaded with him to leave their region.   One thought: Who said the Bible was boring?   Three questions: Have a read of this – https://au.thegospelcoalition.org/article/the-world-we-cannot-see/   How does this ...

Matthew 8:28–30 28 When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way. 29 “What do you want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?” 30 Some distance from them a large herd of pigs was feeding.   One thought: Even the demons know His name.   Three questions: How should we think of demon-possession in the Bible?   Do you believe in demons?   Check out ‘The Chosen’ for a helpful impression of the times of Jesus   Prayer: Praise God that He is good ...

Matthew 8:25–27 25 The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” 26 He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. 27 The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”   One thought: Matthew gives us no option to see Jesus as just a teacher   Three questions: How does Jesus calm the storm? What’s the significance of this?   Who do you see Jesus as?   Pray for three people who need to see who Jesus is.   Prayer: Praise God that He ...

Matthew 8:23–24 23 Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. 24 Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping.   One thought: When you truly trust in the sovereignty of God, you can sleep through just about anything   Three questions: Youtube storms on the sea of Galilee   What stops you from sleeping?   Reflect on the sovereignty of God   Prayer: Praise God that He is in control of all things and that ultimately all things will be for His people and His glory. Give thanks for Christ who trusted in His Father enough to come to earth and go to ...

Matthew 8:18–22 18 When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake. 19 Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” 20 Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” 21 Another disciple said to him, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” 22 But Jesus told him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”   One thought: If there is no cost to your Christianity – you might want to question that Three questions: What principle is Jesus’ stating about ...

Matthew 8:14–17   14 When Jesus came into Peter’s house, he saw Peter’s mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. 15 He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on him. 16 When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. 17 This was to fulfil what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: “He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases.” One thought: Nothing could be more counter-cultural in our age than someone who has everything giving it all up for the sake of others who didn’t deserve anything. Three questions: Why does Matthew ...

Matthew 8:11–13   11 I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that moment.   One thought: Faithful Christians in Australia often feel like a minority that leads us to ask questions like – how many will be saved – the answer… many. Three questions: What will hell be ...

Matthew 8:8–10 8 The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 10 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.   One thought: We don’t trust people in authority anymore because they don’t do what they say.   Three questions: Why can we ...

Matthew 8:5–7 5 When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. 6 “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.” 7 Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?”   One thought: We are all suffering in some way, some just more obvious than others.   Three questions: Why do people come to Jesus? Do you know you need Jesus? Bring your problems and sufferings to Christ in prayer today.   Prayer: Praise God that He is a God of mercy and compassion. Give thanks for Christ who came to save sufferers and end suffering. Ask God to help you + someone else come to Jesus with your suffering and ...