Today we’re reading through Matthew 9. Since we invite everyone to fast with us until 5 PM every Wednesday, let’s talk about Matthew 9:14-17. What did Jesus’ Words on fasting mean to John’s disciples 2000 years ago? What do you think Jesus’ Words have to say to ekklesia today?

We’re starting off our week with Matthew 8. After reading it, which of these stories of Jesus stuck out most to you, and why?

As we finish reading the sermon on the mount, we see that Jesus’ last Words in verses 15-27 show us that we need to become very familiar with these 3 chapters of the Bible (Matthew 5-7). Jesus says that all of these teachings are marks of discipleship. Those who follow Jesus are to live by these, by faith, of course. When we reflect on our lives daily, we should ask God to show us how we are succeeding and how we are failing at following these teachings.

As you look back to all of His teachings in these chapters, are there any that you don’t understand, or would like to ask questions about?

As we continue reading this sermon Jesus preached, which of the teachings in Matthew 6 challenged you the most?

We have now entered into what is commonly called, “The Sermon on the Mount.” Matthew chapters 5-7 are a compact version of what a faithful disciple of Jesus looks like. Of course, there will be many struggles along the way, but this is the vision for the new humanity in Christ, made possible because of Christ’s death/resurrection.

Which of these teachings really pop out at you and why?

When you look at the three temptations Jesus faced, all of them were focused on avoiding suffering.

Jesus could’ve turned the wilderness into Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory if He wanted to, but He chose fasting instead.

Jesus could’ve thrown Himself down from the temple and be rescued by angels, displaying His majesty in a way that would’ve gained Him tremendous popularity overnight, but He chose to remain humble and pursue His mission with patience.

Jesus came to earth to bring us back to Himself. Satan offered Him the world on a platter, but Jesus chose the way of the cross instead.

In reality, Jesus got everything He wanted, which was infinitely more than anyone or anything could have offered Him. Yet it cost Him everything. These temptations would have seemed alluring at the time, however they were nothing but mirages… false comforts… deceptions that would have led to nothingness.

What are some temptations we face? What are some things that seem to be appealing, but could end up destroying us if we give in to them…?

Yesterday was one of the greatest days of my life. We baptized 13 people! Interestingly, in today’s passage we read about baptism, including the baptism of Jesus.

So, for those of you who were at the service yesterday, what were some of the ways you were impacted? Also, what did you find interesting about today’s reading?

In today’s reading, 3 types of people immediately stand out.

1) The Magi: They were from a distant land. They worshiped false gods and used astrology to come up with all kinds of false and misleading teachings. However, God spoke to them through their study of the stars, and they headed out on a journey to find the real Jesus.

2) King Herod: Herod was known around the world for his spectacular building projects. This is the man who had it all and didn’t want to surrender any of it. He was the king of his own life. He didn’t want anyone else to tell him how to live his life.

3) The Religious People: They studied the Bible for years, and they “knew” the Scriptures, but they didn’t go after the real Messiah, because they had their own ideas of who God was, and what life should look like.

The truth is, we have all three of these characters inside of us. I invite you today to blog about that. What are some ways these three types of people have shown themselves throughout our lives?

As we approach Easter, today we start our journey into Matthew. Some people may find the first 17 verses boring, however they are loaded with extremely interesting and important stuff. Feel free to share your thoughts on it. Also, what did you find interesting about verses 18-25?

Today marks the day we finish reading Acts together, as a church. As we come to the end of this book, I invite you to comment on chapter 28, or anything else from the entire book of Acts.