This week we read a lot about faith. What role did faith play in the miracles of Jesus? Does our lack of faith equate with our lack of miracles in our life? Do we still see Jesus performing miracles today?Why is it a big deal that Jesus had authority over nature, disease, and demons? Does He still have that authority today? In what ways have you experienced that personally?Being a follower of Jesu...  Read More

Matthew 8:28-34  (HCSB)Demons Driven Out by the Master28 When He had come to the other side, to the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men met Him as they came out of the tombs. They were so violent that no one could pass that way. 29 Suddenly they shouted, “What do You have to do with us, Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?” 30 Now a long way off from them, a l...  Read More

Matthew 8:18-27  (HCSB)Following Jesus18 When Jesus saw large crowds around Him, He gave the order to go to the other side of the sea. 19 A scribe approached Him and said,“Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go!” 20 Jesus told him, “Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.” 21 “Lord,” another of His disciples said, “first let me go bury ...  Read More

Matthew 8:14-17 (HCSB)Healings at Capernaum14 When Jesus went into Peter’s house, He saw his mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. 15 So He touched her hand, and the fever left her. Then she got up and began to serve Him. 16 When evening came, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. He drove out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick, 17 so that what was spoken through ...  Read More

Matthew 8:5-13 (HCSB)A Centurion’s Faith5 When He entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, 6 “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, in terrible agony!”7 “I will come and heal him,” He told him.8 “Lord,” the centurion replied, “I am not worthy to have You come under my roof. But only say the word, and my servant will be cured.9 For I too am a man under authority, having...  Read More

JESUS VALUES EVERY PERSONMatthew 8:1-4 (HCSB)A Man Cleansed8 When He came down from the mountain, large crowds followed Him. 2 Right away a man with a serious skin disease came up and knelt before Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.”3 Reaching out His hand He touched him, saying, “I am willing; be made clean.” Immediately his disease was healed. 4 Then Jesus told him, “S...  Read More

AUTHORITY ACKNOWLEDGEDApply The TextBelievers’ lives should exhibit spiritual fruit.Believers are known by their desire to obey God’s  Word.Believers can stand firm on God’s Word.How can the members of your group encourage and hold one another accountable to hear and act on Jesus’s words? Make a list of ways this might be done—phone calls, meeting weekly in pairs, encouraging text messages. Pair u...  Read More

Matthew 7:24-29 (HCSB)The Two Foundations24 “Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain fell, the rivers rose, and the winds blew and pounded that house. Yet it didn’t collapse, because its foundation was on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of Mine and doesn’t act on them will be like a ...  Read More

Matthew 7:15-20 (HCSB)15“Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravaging wolves. 16 You’ll recognize them by their fruit. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, but a bad tree produces bad fruit. 18 A good tree can’t produce bad fruit; neither can a bad tree produce good fruit. 19 E...  Read More

Matthew 7:13-14, 21-23  (HCSB)Entering the Kingdom13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the road is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who go through it.14 How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it.21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord!’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of My F...  Read More

Matthew 7:7-12 (HCSB)Keep Asking, Searching, Knocking7 “Keep asking, and it will be given to you. Keep searching, and you will find. Keep knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who searches finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 9 What man among you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a...  Read More

Matthew 7:7-12 (HCSB)Keep Asking, Searching, Knocking7 “Keep asking, and it will be given to you. Keep searching, and you will find. Keep knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who searches finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 9 What man among you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a...  Read More