Matthew 8:23 – 9:8 — 3 Miracles Showing the Authority of Jesus
THE MANIFESTATION OF THE AUTHORITY OF JESUS STIRS UP REACTIONS OF BOTH AWE AND REJECTION
Matthew 8:18-22 — The Demands of Discipleship
DISCIPLESHIP DEMANDS RADICAL COMMITMENT
Matthew 8:1-17 — 3 Healing Miracles to Confirm His Authority — Featuring the Power of Jesus and the Universal Scope of His Ministry
DESPERATE SITUATIONS SHOULD PROMPT EVEN THE OUTCASTS OF SOCIETY TO REACH OUT TO JESUS FOR THE POWER OF HIS HEALING TOUCH
Matthew 7:13-29 — Challenges to Implement Kingdom Righteousness
COMMIT TO OBEYING THE TEACHING OF JESUS
Matthew 7:12 — Golden Rule of Relationships
KINGDOM ETHICS SUMMED UP IN THE GOLDEN RULE CONSISTENT WITH THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS = LOVING OTHERS
Matthew 7:7-11 — Our Heavenly Father Answers Prayer
GOOD THINGS COME TO US FROM OUR GOOD HEAVENLY FATHER IN RESPONSE TO PERSISTENT PRAYER
Matthew 7:1-6 — Prohibition against Censorious Judging Balanced by the Need to Exercise Discernment
DON’T BE OVERLY CRITICAL OF OTHERS BUT DON’T BE NAÏVE REGARDING VICIOUS OPPONENTS OF GOD’S TRUTH
Matthew 6:25-34 – Kingdom Perspective Towards Worry — Can You Trust God to Provide?
SEEK GOD’S PRIORITIES AND TRUST HIS PROVISION RATHER THAN WORRYING
Matthew 6:19-24 — Kingdom Perspective Towards Wealth — What Do You Treasure?
UNDIVIDED ALLEGIANCE AS CITIZENS OF THE KINGDOM MUST BE REFLECTED IN OUR VALUE SYSTEM, VISION AND VOLITION (LOYALTIES)
Matthew 6:16-18 — Practice Righteousness the Right Way from the Right Motivation — Example of Fasting
PRACTICING RIGHTEOUSNESS FOR PUBLIC ACCLAIM FORFEITS HEAVENLY REWARD – TRUE VS HYPOCRITICAL PIETY -- EXAMPLE OF FASTING
Matthew 6:7-15 — The Model Prayer as Taught by Jesus
OUR PRAYERS SHOULD NOT TRY TO MANIPULATE GOD BUT SHOULD EXPRESS OUR COMPLETE DEPENDENCE IN WORSHIP AND PETITION FOR NEEDS AFTER THE PATTERN INSTRUCTED BY JESUS
Matthew 6:5-6 — Practice Righteousness the Right Way from the Right Motivation — Example of Praying
PRACTICING RIGHTEOUSNESS FOR PUBLIC ACCLAIM FORFEITS HEAVENLY REWARD – TRUE VS HYPOCRITICAL PIETY -- EXAMPLE OF PRAYING