The Christ of the Storm – Matthew 8:23-27

 This brief history of a small event in the life of Christ carries with it some huge implications. Adding the accounts of Mark and Luke to what is here in Matthew, we have a full rendering of the event. And of course, as mature Christians we believe every word of it...

Disciples on the Fringe – Matthew 8:18-22

 Have you ever noticed that Christ Jesus never had a desire to pastor the biggest church in town? After the public healing of the demon-possessed man in the Capernaum synagogue, and then after the many miraculous healings early on Sunday evening, He went to bed –...

He hath Borne our Griefs – Matthew 8:16-17

 As I said last week, Christ Jesus was in Caperaum and had earlier in the day spent time in the local synagogue. Mark and Luke tell us that He was more than just a visitor – He was asked to speak. Both gospels speak of Jesus’ “exousia” – His unusual authority in...

The Healing of Peter’s Mother-in-law – Matthew 8:14-15

  There are some people who spend a great deal of time trying to disprove the miracles described in the Bible. For example in this case, they may try to minimize the fever that this woman had. I have had a fever off and on for the last couple of weeks; was I...

Ingress and Egress from the Kingdom of Heaven – Matthew 8:10-12

 As we were going home last Sunday evening, Judy told me that she liked my message on the healing of the Centurion’s servant. But then she went on to say that there was a part of that scripture which I didn’t expound. She said what I didn’t preach has been as much a...

Centurion Believers – Matthew 8:5-13; Luke 7:1-10

  The record of this miraculous healing is given to us in both Matthew and Luke. They are not photocopies of each other and each gives us information which the other omits. I don’t want to bore you, but this afternoon’s theme is very much like the theme of this...

True Faith – Matthew 8:1-4

  One of the most difficult things about Bible study is trying to see any particular scripture within its context. For example, when we study the Book of Galatians, the context makes all the difference. Galatia was a heathen region in Asia Minor evangelized by Paul,...

The Man of All Authority – Matthew 7:21-29

The Latin Vulgate version of Lord Jesus’ Sermon on Mount begins with the word “be-a-ti-tu-do.” It is embarrassing for Baptists to use a word taken from a Catholic Bible, but it is the common term. “Beatitude” is a word derived from “be-a-ti-tudo” and it is the Latin...

What about the Foundation? – Matthew 7:21-27

 I have read a great many of the books of C.H. Spurgeon – including some of his more obscure titles. I think that it may have been in his “Lectures to My Students” where he said that every good pastor should be able to bring any message back to Christ, no matter what...

Ineffective Religion – Matthew 7:21-23

 What is the best test for the value of something? It is not the number of serving per pound. Some people were buying turkeys last week for 99¢ a pound, but others found some for 49¢. One is a good deal, but the other appears to be a better deal, assuming the turkey...