Who Do You Say I Am?
The ministry of Jesus began in and around His hometown area but quickly began to expand more broadly throughout the Galilee region. We track that expansion through His teaching and activity in Matthew 13-16.
This series is part 6 of a 10-part series on the Gospel of Matthew.
‘Naming’ Jesus
Peter boldly declares who Jesus is and this becomes the pivot of Jesus’ turn toward Jerusalem. Peter’s declaration calls us to respond to Jesus. Matthew 16:13-20 Sermon Outline “When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say the Son of Man is?’” (Matthew 16:13) Jesus’ First Question (Matthew 16:13-14) “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” Who Have People Said Jesus Is? John the Baptist (Matthew 14:2) Elijah (11:14) Jeremiah…
Mixed-Up Priorities
Jesus is confronted by religious leaders, who again ask for a sign. He challenges their mixed-up priorities about God and life. Matthew 16:1-12 Sermon Outline “Why is it you don’t understand that when I told you, Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees, it wasn’t about bread? Then they understood that he had not told them to beware of the leaven in bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” (Matthew 16:11-12) Jesus tested by Pharisees…
Soul Food: Feeding the 4,000
Jesus feeds a crowd of over 4,000 people with near to nothing. What does that tell us about Jesus? Matthew 15:29-39 Sermon Outline “Jesus called his disciples to him and said, ‘I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way.’” (Matthew 15:32) Jesus’ Amazing Healing (Matthew 15:29-31) Great crowds with great needs Great healings…
Jesus and the Canaanite Woman
Jesus heals an outsider, a Canaanite woman, and it shows us some very interesting things about the nature of Jesus’ mission. Matthew 15:21-28 Sermon Outline Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment. (Matthew 15:28) The Request A Canaanite woman asks Jesus to heal her daughter. Jesus is off duty, needing rest. Woman is a representative of Israel’s enemy; she is “other.” The Delay Jesus is…
Matters of the Heart
Jesus challenges the predictable understanding of what defiles someone and redirects attention to the heart and the interior life. Matthew 15:1-20 Sermon Outline “The things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them.” (Matthew 15:18) Conflict Between God’s Commands and Human Tradition (Matthew 15:1-9) The visit from Jerusalem “The tradition of the elders” Corban (qorban) Jesus the True Teacher (Matthew 15:10-20) Understanding the purpose of God’s commands Identifying what really defiles human life…
Walking on Water
Jesus walks on water. What does this tell us about Jesus? (Matthew 14:22-36) Sermon Outline “Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of God.’” (Matthew 14:33) We cannot know God unless He reveals Himself to us. Who is Jesus in this Passage? Jesus is the Son of Man (Matthew 14:23). He is a human being like us. He depended completely on God. Because He is human, He understand and sympathizes with our…
The New Moses
Jesus feeds a crowd of over 5,000 people with near to nothing. What does that tell us about Jesus? Matthew 14:13-21 Sermon Outline “When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.” (Matthew 14:13) Jesus’ Unsuccessful Withdrawal (Matthew 14:13) Withdrawing from Herod Antipas and the crowds Jesus pursued by the crowds into the wilderness Jesus’ Heart (Matthew 14:13-14) “He had compassion on them…” (NIV) “His heart went out to them…” Jesus Feeds…
Mistaken Identity
John the Baptist is killed because of an old grudge passed down from one generation to the next and manipulation at a party. Why do terrible things happen to godly people? (Matthew 14:1-12) Sermon Outline “At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus, and he said to his attendants, ‘This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead!’” (Matthew 14:1-2) Jesus Mistaken for John the Baptist (Matthew 14:1-2) Reports about Jesus reach Herod Antipas The…
Missing Jesus
Jesus is rejected in His own hometown, so He begins to go elsewhere. Why would anyone reject Jesus? (Matthew 13:53-58) Sermon Outline “Jesus said to them, ‘A prophet is not without honor except in his own town and in his own home.’” (Matthew 13:57) Amazed by Jesus (Matthew 13:53-54) The power of Jesus’ teaching Echoes of the Sermon on the Mount Different kinds of amazement Misunderstanding Jesus (Matthew 13:55-57) Different types of questions: rhetorical questions probing questions Knowing what we…