Fear and Faith

Matthew 8:18-22; 23-27

Following Jesus requires sacrifice and commitment. Following Jesus is not easy. The question Jesus is asking is, "will you follow Jesus whatever the cost".

When you made the decision to follow Jesus; how did you feel? Maybe you were anxious. Unsure of what would happen. Maybe you were excited and felt the rest of your life would be easier? We all have some expectation that a life with Jesus will make our lives better. True but few realize the true cost of following Jesus!

The disciples are immediately put into a boat and tested with a storm. Jesus has all power and authority to save! Storms will always come and Jesus does not avoid the storm. He addresses the storm!

Do you doubt in the midst of hardship and struggles? What does faith look like in the midst of a storm? Jesus took a nap! Jesus was sleeping through the chaos. Jesus trust God with out giving into fear!

The disciples got in the boat with Jesus. You have to stay with Jesus! The people that Jesus challenged to follow in vs 18-22 chose not to get into the boat. For many reasons that we would think were good reasons. Storms will come. Staying close to Jesus is the only way to weather the dangers of life! What we give up is nominal compared to what we receive!

Will you follow Jesus?

Where would you be today had you not followed Jesus? Where will you be tomorrow if you chose to follow him?

Be Attitudes

Matthew 5

Jesus challenged the current thoughts and beliefs of the day. He did not dance around social issues. The pharisees tried to trap Jesus with questions on social issues. Jesus talked about the law of Moses from the perspective of Gods heart. He did not treat the law as a set of rules!

Do you treat Gods word as a list of rules or do you see Gods heart surrounding the law. The pharisees loved to police sin and they especially loved to police adultery. Jesus challenged their self righteous judgements!

Jesus demonstrated the need for grace that all of us need! There is a call in the bible to look out for and watch for the sin of your brother. The motive and intention is to help your brother and call them to repentance. Not to be judge and jury! There is no call to police sin someone else.

When people police sin they always draw the line on sin just a little bit past what they are doing. God is the standard and he defines sin. With his definition we all need grace and none of us can stand on our own merit.

Jesus did not replace the law with conscience! Jesus abolished a lot of the daily non moral requirements of the Old Testament but never changed or lightened any of the moral commands in the Old Testament. He increased the standard of the moral commands! Our conscience cannot be the guide to what is right and wrong!

Jesus revealed a shocking version of the law. Through these revelations many allowed his teachings to be a stumbling block. They could not get past their own hard heartedness and distorted beliefs. Jesus picture of the kingdom of God and His plan for salvation went against their idea of God and our relationship with him.

Fear and Faith

Matthew 8:18-22; 23-27

Following Jesus requires sacrifice and commitment. Following Jesus is not easy. The question Jesus is asking is, "will you follow Jesus whatever the cost".

When you made the decision to follow Jesus; how did you feel? Maybe you were anxious. Unsure of what would happen. Maybe you were excited and felt the rest of your life would be easier? We all have some expectation that a life with Jesus will make our lives better. True but few realize the true cost of following Jesus!

The disciples are immediately put into a boat and tested with a storm. Jesus has all power and authority to save! Storms will always come and Jesus does not avoid the storm. He addresses the storm!

Do you doubt in the midst of hardship and struggles? What does faith look like in the midst of a storm? Jesus took a nap! Jesus was sleeping through the chaos. Jesus trust God with out giving into fear!

The disciples got in the boat with Jesus. You have to stay with Jesus! The people that Jesus challenged to follow in vs 18-22 chose not to get into the boat. For many reasons that we would think were good reasons. Storms will come. Staying close to Jesus is the only way to weather the dangers of life! What we give up is nominal compared to what we receive!

Will you follow Jesus?

Where would you be today had you not followed Jesus? Where will you be tomorrow if you chose to follow him?