He Takes Our Illnesses
Read: Matthew 8:14-17 He touched her hand, and the fever left her. (v. 15) In Jesus’ society, women were second-class citizens. They were not allowed to enter the inner courtyard of the temple. They literally didn’t count in the synagogue; thirteen men were required in order to organize a synagogue. Outside of marriage, men and […]
A Man under Authority
Read: Matthew 8:5-13 I too am a man under authority. (v. 9) It wasn’t easy to surprise Jesus. Only twice are we told in the Gospels that something astonished him. One was the lack of faith among his hometown friends and neighbors—”he marveled because of their unbelief” (Mark 6:6). The other was the faith of […]
Jesus’ First Miracle
Read: Matthew 8:1-4 And Jesus stretched out his hand . . . (v. 3) The man who approached Jesus after his Sermon on the Mount was a hopeless case. Leprosy, with its hideous symptoms, was incurable. Those who suffered from it were unclean—literally untouchable—and were forced to warn off passersby lest they also become infected. […]
Two Builders, Only One Foundation
Read: Matthew 7:24-29 And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes. (vv. 28-29) Most theology books are based on works by other theologians—you can read about them in the footnotes and bibliographies at the back […]
The Way of Salvation
Read: Matthew 5:1-3; 7:12-14 Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (v. 3) The Sermon on the Mount is not the way of salvation. Jesus’ concern in the sermon is not to explain to people how they can be saved but to teach them how to live once they […]
The Message of Jesus
Read: Matthew 4:12-17 Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. (v. 17) This might surprise you, but Jesus wasn’t a Christian. A Christian is one who has been saved by grace through faith in Christ. Jesus wasn’t justified by faith; he was justified by his own righteous works. Christians have been reconciled to […]
November Prayer Guide 2021
SOUTH SUDAN — Revenge killings continue in South Sudan. Pray that the peace of Christ as proclaimed through Words of Hope programs would turn hearts toward non-violence. We have heard directly from individuals who, after listening to Words of Hope messages about peace and reconciliation in Christ, have decided to forgive revenge killings in their […]
Jesus’ Public Ministry
Read: Matthew 4:23-25 And he went throughout all Galilee . . . (v. 23) Matthew 4 and Matthew 9 contain two almost identical passages (compare 4:23-25 and 9:35). Between these bookends is a series of snapshots illustrating the three major elements in Jesus’ public ministry. First, he preached. He “went throughout all Galilee . . […]
The Summit of Grace
Read: Romans 8:31-39 We are more than conquerors through him who loved us. (v. 37) Our climb up the mountain of Romans 8 began with the life-giving declaration “no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (v. 1). It ends with the breathtaking view from the summit that nothing “will be able to separate […]