Matthew 9

"But some of the teachers of religious law said to themselves, "That's blasphemy [when Jesus told the paralyzed man his sins were forgiven]! Does he..."

"As Jesus was saying this [about old and new cloth and wineskins], the leader of a synagogue came and knelt before him. "My daughter has just died," he..."

"After Jesus left the girl's home [— the dead girl he raised], two blind men followed along behind him, shouting, "Son of David, have mercy on us!" ..."

How do you feel about the people who interrupt your day? Many of Jesus' miracles began as interruptions in his daily schedule.

"Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he..."

"When Jesus arrived at the [synagogue] official's home, he saw the noisy crowd and heard the funeral music. "Get out!" he told them. "The girl isn't..."

Does the connection show up in our ministry? All too frequently people claiming to follow Jesus separate proclamation from compassion, evangelism from service, but if we have a DNA connection with Jesus, both must be present.

"When [the two blind men who had been healed] left, a demon-possessed man who couldn't speak was brought to Jesus. So Jesus cast out the demon, and..."

"[After Jesus called Matthew to follow him], Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and....."

"Jesus climbed into a boat and went back across the lake to his own town. Some people brought to him a paralyzed man on a mat. Seeing their faith,..."

What would you see if you had new windows in your church? We must view the world outside our churches in new ways, especially through the eyes of compassion like Jesus did.

"One day the disciples of John the Baptist came to Jesus and asked him, "Why don't your disciples fast like we do and the Pharisees do?" Jesus..."

"[After pointing out that wedding guests do not fast, Jesus continued:] "Besides, who would patch old clothing with new cloth? For the new patch would...."

"As Jesus was saying this [about old and new cloth and wineskins], the leader of a synagogue came and knelt before him. "My daughter has just died," he..."

"As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at his tax collector's booth. "Follow me and be my disciple," Jesus said to him. So..."

"[After Jesus heard the Pharisees criticize him for eating with tax collectors and other sinners, he said,] "Now go and learn the meaning of this..."

"On hearing [people complaining he associated with sinful people], Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.""

"But go and learn what this means: I desire mercy, not sacrifice. For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

"She said to herself, "If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.""

"Behold one of the great Physician's mightiest arts: he has power to forgive sin! While here he lived below, before the ransom had been paid, before..."

Inspirational illustration of Matthew 9:12 -- On hearing this, Jesus said, 'It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.'

Inspirational illustration of Matthew 9:21 -- She said to herself, "If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed."

Sooner or later, we have to leave school and start living what we know! Rick Brown talks about discipleship being more than sitting and learning, it involves going and doing.

How in the world did they do this? Rick Brown talks about how we can accomplish the Great Commission in our world today, the same as they did it long ago.

Are you willing to get rid of the stuff in your life that is just in the way? Patrick Odum challenges us to get rid of the clutter in our lives and our churches just like Jesus challenged the people of his day.

What position are you trying to play in life's big game? Rick Brown talks about teaching a Bulgarian friend how to play softball and it reminds him that many followers, disciples, of Jesus need to be given a job description.

How can we minister to Jesus? One way we can minister to Christ is to serve those in need, especially those in prison or in jail.

Why are we so prone to a tug-of-war on important issues? Phil Ware talks about tug-of-war and how we so often get into them in the Christian community and whether or not it is more important to do service trips or mission evangelism trips.

How can you mend a broken heart, especially when it's your own? Tom Norvell reminds us that broken hearts hurt and we often wish we could be dead, but that God stays close to us.

When's the last time you jumped up and down for joy? Tom Norvell talks about a returning soldier being greeted by unrestrained joy by his wife and children and asked when was the last time you did that with God.

What's standing in the way of us really finding health care? Patrick Odum reminds us of the heart of Jesus for those who are sick and broken.

Will we hold a miracle in our hands? My experience says, “Yes!” Phil Ware continues his series on 'I Doubt it' focusing this week on Jesus' challenge to the apostles to feed the five thousand.

What can this old story powerfully say to our geopolitical messes of today? Phil Ware shares his series for December 2015 on welcoming Jesus and focuses on the Magi from the gospel of Matthew and lets that story remind us our need to reach out to the lost and foreigner and alien and refugee among us.

If an event is epoch-changing, part of the dynamic that makes the event so transformational is the timing. Demetrius Collins and Phil Ware combine to bless us with a powerful message on the timing of Jesus' coming and death as well as a virtual worship service focused on our right on time Savior.

How is faith an answer to prayer? Ann Voskamp reminds us that faith and prayer are a two street and the both are intertwined with each other and when this happens, grace, joy, and healing flow into Shalom, peace, wholeness and fullness of life.