Scripture: Matthew 10:16-42 I. The divisiveness of Jesus leads to opposition from the world. A. “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master” (vs. 24) The world will treat you as a follower of Jesus in the same way they treated Jesus. And Jesus was crucified! “I am sending you out as…

Scripture: Matthew 9:35-10:15 I. Compassion is Jesus’s basic response to human need. A. Jesus was very busy (vs. 35). But He had compassion on all the people (vs. 36).  By acting as a compassionate shepherd, Jesus fulfills the prophecy of Ezekiel 34:23-24: “And I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them:…

Scripture: Matthew 9:1-17 I. Jesus came to forgive sin and change sinners. A. This was Jesus’ mission. Jesus says something totally unexpected in vs. 2: “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.” Yes, the man needed healing. But sin is always our greatest problem, and therefore forgiveness is always our greatest need. The scribes thought Jesus was…

Scripture: Matthew 8:18-34 I. The real Jesus makes demands that are personal and costly. A. In vs. 18-22 we meet two men who said they wanted to be Jesus’ disciples. A scribe, a teacher of the law, is quick to make a promise to Jesus in vs. 19: “I will follow you wherever you go.” The real Jesus…

Scripture: Matthew 8:1-17 I. Jesus has the authority to heal and transform. A. Jesus shows He has authority over both sickness and sin by healing a leper (vs. 3). All sickness is caused, directly or indirectly, by sin. In Matthew 1:21 the angel told Joseph about Mary’s child: “She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for…