Sermons
God’s Mission: Harvest is Plentiful, Workers Few
| Matthew’s Gospel / 6 |
For this reflection and the next we consider how Jesus gives the disciples instructions about the mission of God, and the role we are to play in what God is doing in the world. Jesus using the illustration of harvest time to demonstrate how important and urgent the situation is. He says the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. When the harvest is ready to be collected, farmers only have a short period of time to collect it before the crop is ruined. And so they have to hurry to collect in the harvest as soon as possible. Read more
For this reflection and the next we consider how Jesus gives the disciples instructions about the mission of God, and the role we are to play in what God is doing in the world. Jesus using the illustration of harvest time to demonstrate how important and urgent the situation is. He says the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. When the harvest is ready to be collected, farmers only have a short period of time to collect it before the crop is ruined. And so they have to hurry to collect in the harvest as soon as possible. Read more
Spiritual Awareness
| Matthew’s Gospel / 5 |
Following Jesus’ miraculous healing of a woman with bleeding and a dead girl, Jesus is approached by 2 blind men begging for mercy from the Son of David. Jesus touches them and they are healed. Then a demon-possessed man who has been made mute is brought before Jesus and He drives out the demon, giving the man a new chance of life. The blind men may not have been able to physically see, but they were spiritually aware enough to recognise who Jesus is. And while the demon was possessing the man, he was spiritually cut off from God. By driving the demon out, Jesus gave the man a new chance to connect with God. Read more
Following Jesus’ miraculous healing of a woman with bleeding and a dead girl, Jesus is approached by 2 blind men begging for mercy from the Son of David. Jesus touches them and they are healed. Then a demon-possessed man who has been made mute is brought before Jesus and He drives out the demon, giving the man a new chance of life. The blind men may not have been able to physically see, but they were spiritually aware enough to recognise who Jesus is. And while the demon was possessing the man, he was spiritually cut off from God. By driving the demon out, Jesus gave the man a new chance to connect with God. Read more
Jesus’ healing touch
| Matthew’s Gospel / 4 |
Once again, as we read through Matthew’s Gospel, we see Jesus reaching out to heal, restore and bring life to those who are suffering. This time we see the encounter Jesus has with 2 people that bring restoration. A father approaches Jesus, desperate for Him to come and restore life to his daughter who has just died. And a woman with bleeding for 12 years reaches out to touch the edge of Jesus’ cloak. With both of these scenarios, Jesus responds with compassion and love, bringing not just physical healing but complete restoration. Read more
Once again, as we read through Matthew’s Gospel, we see Jesus reaching out to heal, restore and bring life to those who are suffering. This time we see the encounter Jesus has with 2 people that bring restoration. A father approaches Jesus, desperate for Him to come and restore life to his daughter who has just died. And a woman with bleeding for 12 years reaches out to touch the edge of Jesus’ cloak. With both of these scenarios, Jesus responds with compassion and love, bringing not just physical healing but complete restoration. Read more
What is important? Jesus sharing God’s love
| Matthew’s Gospel / 3 |
What do you consider is most important? What things do you want to safeguard and protect? For the Pharisees, tradition and purity were of highest importance. For John’s disciples, working to earn God’s love through fasting was important. But Jesus demonstrates a far more important thing - to share God’s love. Jesus countered the Pharisees’ love for tradition with compassion and love for ’tax collectors and sinners’. And Jesus taught John’s disciples that mercy and forgiveness is more important than works. Read more
What do you consider is most important? What things do you want to safeguard and protect? For the Pharisees, tradition and purity were of highest importance. For John’s disciples, working to earn God’s love through fasting was important. But Jesus demonstrates a far more important thing - to share God’s love. Jesus countered the Pharisees’ love for tradition with compassion and love for ’tax collectors and sinners’. And Jesus taught John’s disciples that mercy and forgiveness is more important than works. Read more
Jesus forgives and heals a paralysed man
| Matthew’s Gospel / 2 |
What is your greatest need? Is it to be nourished? Safe? Healthy? Jesus identifies our greatest need as forgiveness. Healing from spiritual decay. When He looks at the paralysed man lying on the mat, His first response is to offer Him forgiveness and absolution. The physical healing was secondary to the spiritual healing. Jesus demonstrates His authority, not only to heal physical injury but to pronounce forgiveness for sins. So, let’s worship Him and give Him all our adoration. Read more
What is your greatest need? Is it to be nourished? Safe? Healthy? Jesus identifies our greatest need as forgiveness. Healing from spiritual decay. When He looks at the paralysed man lying on the mat, His first response is to offer Him forgiveness and absolution. The physical healing was secondary to the spiritual healing. Jesus demonstrates His authority, not only to heal physical injury but to pronounce forgiveness for sins. So, let’s worship Him and give Him all our adoration. Read more
