Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is

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Matthew 8:18-22, 9:9-17, and 9:35-38

Senior Pastor David Rose challenges believers to move beyond lip service to truly live out our faith in a world that craves instant results and comfort.

Key Takeaways

  • Jesus brings change to people.
  • Jesus says discipleship has a high cost. (8:18-22)
  • Jesus has power over the natural and supernatural.
  • Jesus calls His disciples to follow (9:9-17, 35-38)
  • Jesus calls His disciples to minister to needs.
  • Jesus calls His disciples to teach the truth.
  • Jesus calls His disciples to reach the lost.
  • Jesus calls His disciples to endure.
  • Jesus calls His disciples to see the need.
  • Jesus calls His disciples to pray for the harvest.

Further Study

  1. Matthew 8:5-13 shows Jesus healing the centurion’s servant from a distance. How does this demonstrate faith in Jesus’ authority, and how does it relate to our faith in the unseen work of Christ on the cross? (cf Hebrews 11:1)
  2. In Matthew 8:23-27, Jesus calms the storm. How does this miracle point to Jesus’ power over creation and His ability to bring peace in the midst of chaos? What can we learn from His response to His disciples when He asked, ““Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” How does this relate to Paul’s assurance in Philippians 4:6-7?
  3. Matthew 9:1-8 shows Jesus forgiving sins before healing physical ailments. How does this prioritize our spiritual needs over physical ones, and how does it relate to the Gospel’s emphasis on spiritual regeneration? Take a minute to read through Ephesians 2:1-5.
  4. In Matthew 9:9-13, Jesus calls Matthew and eats with tax collectors and sinners. What does this teach us about God’s heart in reaching out to the marginalized? How should this shape our view of the Great Commission (cf. Matthew 28:19-20)?
  5. Matthew 9:35-38 describes Jesus’ compassion for the crowds. Prayerfully read through Colossians 3:12-14.

The Gospel

If you have questions about what it means to be a Christian, we would love to talk with you about it.

Reach out

The Gospel is the profound truth that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came to earth to save sinners like you and me. Christ demonstrated His authority over both the natural and supernatural realms, healing the sick, calming storms, and casting out demons. These miracles point to His divine nature and power.

However, the heart of the Gospel goes beyond outward miracles. As Paul told us in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.” Jesus, the perfect and sinless One, took upon Himself the punishment that we deserved for our sins. His death on the cross was a substitutionary atonement, paying the debt we could never pay.

But the Gospel doesn’t end at the cross. Jesus rose victorious over death, demonstrating His power over sin and offering us the hope of eternal life. This resurrection is the cornerstone of our faith, proving that Jesus’ sacrifice was accepted by God the Father and that we too can have new life in Him. This is new life Pastor David talked about when he said that Jesus changes people. Through faith in Christ, we are transformed from the inside out.

And though salvation is not earned by our good works at all, following Jesus (discipleship) requires us to, like Pastor David said, consider our ambitions and loyalties. It’s what Christ was talking about when He called us to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him (Matthew 16:24).

The Gospel is the good news that despite our sin and brokenness, God loves us so much that He sent His Son to redeem us. Through faith in Christ’s finished work on the cross and His resurrection, we can be forgiven, reconciled to God, and given new life. This transformative power of the Gospel then empowers us to live as disciples, following Christ in that “long obedience in the same direction.”