Where Are You Heading Today? | Matthew 9:18-34
Series: All: All Authority, All Nations, All Allegiance
Scripture: Matthew 9:18-34 (Main)
Title: “Where are you heading today? (Darien Gabriel)
Bottom line: Jesus has all authority in the world and therefore deserves all allegiance from the world—He calls the religious leaders, the crowd and the sick to follow him. Will you?
Jesus wants to change the trajectory of your life. He has all you need to get you where you need to go. The question is, will you surrender and follow him?
Discussion questions for group and personal study.
1. What would you say if someone asked you, "What is your greatest need?" Explain your answer.
2. Explain the difference between suffering that is directly related to your own sin and suffering that comes as a result of living in a fallen world.
3. If someone said that Jesus never claimed to be divine, how could you respond by using the account of the paralytic?
4. How might Jesus' calling of Matthew give us hope for unbelievers we know who seem unreachable with the gospel?
5. Why do disciples of Jesus fast now? What does this say about our ultimate hope?
Final Questions (optional or in place of above)
What is God saying to you right now?
What are you going to do about it?
Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcast
Intro
Jeff Bezos steps down to change the inevitable trajectory of Amazon.com Article:
Bottom line: Jesus has all authority in the world and therefore deserves all allegiance from the world.
The world = all authority over disease, demons, the Devil, danger, disciples, death and damnation. That’s pretty comprehensive, wouldn’t you say? Would you say that anyone with that kind of authority in our world would be worthy of all allegiance? Do you live like this?
3-2-3-2-3 pattern
“Sermon on the Move” where Jesus is demonstrating his authority and the kingdom of God coming being good news.
9:18-34
Q. What do I want you to know?
A. Jesus has divine authority over diseases and death.
Q. Why?
A. So that you will believe that he is worthy of your full allegiance.
Q. What do I want you to do?
A. Pledge full allegiance to Jesus and let him change the trajectory of your life.
Q. Why?
A. So that you will gladly pledge your full allegiance to Jesus as savior and lord.
Conclusion
Perpetual Perpetuas
“In the first three centuries of the church, if Christians were known for anything it was their courageous faith. The accounts of the early Christian martyrs tell the stories of many followers of Jesus who demonstrated this courageous faith even unto death. One such martyr was Perpetua.
Perpetua was twenty-two years old. She was married and the mother of an infant boy whom she nursed from her jail cell. She was in prison for being a Christian. All she had to do was recant her belief in Jesus, offer a simple sacrifice to Caesar, and call him, "Lord." Her father begged her to do this, but she refused time and again. Finally, as she was led out into the Roman Colosseum to be killed by beast or gladiator, she was singing hymns to Jesus.
Can you imagine that kind of courage? Twenty-two years old! Her last words, spoken to her brother, also a Christian, were, "Stand in the faith."
Do you want to follow Jesus? Great. Go for it. But know that if you are to follow him, you must do it without airs (humbly come to him and serve him as Lord), without compromise (he is first; everyone and everything else is a far second), and without fear (courageously trust him).” -Douglass Sean O’Donnell
Jeff Bezos was so determined to change the trajectory of his company that he quit his job as CEO so that he could focus on the things he believed would breathe new life into his company.
How much more should we desire new life. Jesus breathes new life into us when we pledge our allegiance to the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. When we deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow him. How will you respond?
We see the responses of the people here:
The religious leaders oppose Jesus despite his authority over death, demons, disease and disciples.
The crowd who is amazed at his works but unmoved in the trajectory of their lives.
The new disciples who are healed and then immediately disobey his clear command.
The faithful disciple who answers the call to follow Jesus fully and faithfully. (Matthew)
Which are you? What story does your life tell?
Are you willing to repent and believe that you can have a better story?
References/Bibliography:
“Preaching the Word” Commentary, Douglas Sean O’Donnell, Edited by Kent Hughes
“Matthew” by RC Sproul
“CSB Christ Chronological,” Holman
“Jesus Manifesto” sermon series, by Darien Gabriel: https://youtu.be/x65i2tqFrXk
“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)
“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)
“Exalting Jesus in Matthew” by David Platt (CCE)
Outline Bible, D Willmington
NIV Study Bible (NIVSB)
ESV Study Bible
ESV Gospel Transformation Bible (GTB)