Matthew 8: 23-9:8

Jesus Calms the Storm

Jesus, being God and also fully human, is sleeping in the midst of a furious storm at the beginning of this section of Matthew's narrative. His disciples were in the same boat, but were not as calm...

 The disciples had been in the company of Jesus while He healed many and cast out demons with a word. However, it appears that during this storm, their faith was shaken. 

(Suggested reading Job 38)

1. Let's discuss the disciple's reaction to this storm...

-As they had personally witnessed the great miracles of Jesus Christ, why did they not turn to Christ first- before worrying?

-Was their lack of faith due to the personal nature of this trial? For instance, they had seen Jesus saving others from death. Would it take a greater level of faith if it involved their own lives?

2. When people are in the midst of a severe thunder storm, what are some theories of how it started or when it will end?

-Is it more likely that they will attribute the control of the weather to "Mother Nature" or some other abstract hollow philosophy before they recognize this as the power of God?

-When YOU think of God, do you believe that He controls the waves of the sea and that He is the father of the rain as spoken of in Job 38?

-Is it hard for you to believe that God can control the direction of a lightning bolt- for it to strike exactly where He meant for it to go?

3. That God, in human form, stood in a boat and rebuked the winds and the waves. By His words, everything became calm. 

-Discuss how the disciples may have reacted when they witnessed this. 

-Why was it a shock to them? Was it because they had never personally witnessed Him controlling the weather? Or, did they believe that this storm was out of His sphere of influence?

4. Recall an emotional storm that you have faced or are facing.

-Did you wonder if Christ would be able to guide you through it?

-Had you seen Christ do radical things in the lives of others and questioned if His range of influence would include the trial in your life?

-After the trial had passed, were you shocked that God was able to do even greater things than you imagined or had previously witnessed?

The Healing of Two Demon-Possessed Men

Jesus arrived in Gadarenes and two demon possessed men approached Him. Immediately, they recognized Him as Son of God.

1. How would they know this information?

(Review James 2:19)

2. What can be said about the reaction of the demon possessed men?

-What is the "appointed time" that they are referring to?

-Why would they be tortured during that time?

As a side note:

The demons are cast out of Jesus and sent into a herd of pigs. Considering that God advised the people of Israel in the time of Moses that the pig is an unclean animal, why is there a thriving pig industry in this area outside Galilee?

Chapter 9

Jesus Heals a Paralytic

Some men brought a man that was paralyzed to Jesus. Their faith led Jesus to forgive the sins of the paralyzed man

1. Was the paralyzed man asking for forgiveness?

-What led him to believe that Jesus could fulfill this request?

2. The teachers of the law immediately responded and criticized Jesus of being a blasphemer. Review Jesus' response in verse 4.

-In your opinion, which is easier to say: "Your sins are forgiven," or "Get up and walk?"

3. The crowd that saw these events were amazed that this "authority had been given to men." 

-Was this authority given specifically to the man known as Jesus or to all of mankind?

Teacher: Paul Sabino

Matthew 8: 23-9:8

Matthew 8: 1-22

The Man with Leprosy

 According to Dictionary.com, (the unofficial Cornerstone Staff dictionary...,) leprosy is defined as a "slowly progressive, chronic infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium Leprae. It damages nerves, skin, and mucous membranes and can lead to loss of sensation, paralysis, gangrene, and deformity if left untreated."

 The book of Leviticus notes that people with this condition would also be considered ceremonially unclean. 

1. How would this disease affect a person socially? Financially? Emotionally? Spiritually?

2. Review vs 2. 

-Discuss what his thoughts may have been as he was approaching Jesus. 

-Would these thoughts have influenced why he started his request to Jesus with the words, "Lord, if you are willing...?"

-What thoughts or feelings would some of the people in the large crowd have had as the man with leprosy approached Jesus for healing?

3. Jesus tells the man with leprosy that He is indeed willing and cures the leprosy. Now, everything has changed. The man with leprosy will be able to find a good paying job, develop more social connections, and enter the temple for worship. Imagine his excitement!

-Why would Jesus tell him not to tell anyone?

4. Fast forward to 2008...

-Who are the "lepers" of our society? Basically, who are the people that we find ourselves avoiding? The homeless? The mentally ill? Single mothers?

-Have you ever felt like an outcast? What were some of the feelings associated with that time of your life? 

-How have we, as a church, responded to those that society shuns?

The Faith of the Centurion

A Roman military officer in charge of 100 soldiers approached Jesus asking for help in regard to his sick servant.

1. Let's take a few minutes and break down the motivation of why the centurion approached Jesus. Imagine you were the centurion...

-If you were the centurion, would you have first taken the servant to the best physicians that you could afford?  

-What would compel you, a high-ranking member of the Roman army, to approach a poor Jewish man for healing? Would this have been your last resort?

-What would your friends and colleagues think?

-Do you think that the centurion considered these things before approaching Christ?

2. After the centurion presented his request to Jesus, Jesus responded by saying, "I will go and heal him." The centurion's response is noted in verses 8-10.

-Why would the centurion respond in this way?

-What does his method of leadership have to do with Jesus coming to his house?

3. When Jesus heard the centurion's response, He was astonished by his faith.

-Why did Jesus feel that the centurion showed great faith?

(Suggested reading: Hebrews 11:1)

Jesus Heals Many

Capernaum, and specifically, Peter's house, became Jesus' "base of operations." Many came to this location to seek healing.

1. Review v. 16

-If Jesus drove out spirits with a word and healed all of the sick in the same manner, why didn't He just heal EVERYONE and wipe out all illness while He was on the earth? 

-Was this the primary purpose of Jesus' ministry?

The Cost of Following Jesus

A person approached Christ and advised Him that he would follow Jesus, but first he needed to bury his father. Review Jesus' response in v 22.

1. What did Jesus mean by this response?

-Does His response seem uncaring? Or, is He just being frank regarding the cost of being a disciple?

2. What is the cost of following Jesus?

-Is it the loss of family and friends? Is persecution part of the cost? Is submitting your heart, mind and soul to His Lordship a cost?

-For those that currently don't follow Christ, which of these is the most "costly?" 

Teacher: Jeff Dodge

Matthew 8:1-22

Matthew 4: 12-25

Jesus Begins to Preach

1. Review vs 12. It appears that Jesus began His ministry after John the Baptist was put in prison- (the reason for his imprisonment will be discussed later in Matt 14:1-14)

-Why did Jesus wait until after John was imprisoned? 

2. Jesus withdrew from Galilee and moved to Capernaum.

-Why would He have left His hometown of Nazareth?

(Suggested reading: Luke 4: 14-31)

3. Review v 14-17 and Isaiah 9:1-2. Matthew noted that Jesus was again fulfilling Scripture...

-How would Christ's arrival be a Light to those that were living in darkness? Would those living in darkness have recognized Jesus in this manner? 

4a. review vs 17. Matthew noted the "Kingdom of Heaven" over 30 times in his writings.

-What is the "Kingdom of Heaven?"

-How is the reign of God brought about through Jesus Christ? 

-How does the Kingdom of Heaven differ from an earthly kingdom? 

-Specifically, how would Jesus' version of a Kingdom look different than the people of Israel's version? For instance, would those that were looking for a grand king that would save Israel from its enemies, have noticed Jesus as that king? Would their narrow view include a King that would remove the consequences of their sin?

4b. Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near."

-Why would the proximity of Jesus' Kingdom necessitate repentance?

The Calling of the First Disciples

1. Review vs 18 and 21.

-Why did Jesus first approach fishermen to be His disciples? Why didn't He choose educated men that held positions of greater prominence in the area?

2. In verse 19, Jesus says "Come follow me and I will make you fishers of men."

-What does this mean?

-If fishing was their livelihood, why would this statement compel them to throw down their nets and follow Jesus?

-If Jesus approached us in this same manner, would we have been ready for this task? If Jesus' statement meant living in a manner worth of God and aggressively pursuing souls for His Kingdom, are you ready now?

Jesus Heals the Sick

1. review v 23-25. Jesus went throughout Galilee teaching, preaching and healing the sick. News about Him obviously began to spread. This wasn't the year 2008- a time of mass-media with news that can spread over the internet, television and the press...

-That said, what are some of the things that people would have said about Jesus? 

-Would they have placed more focus on His healing of the sick or would His message have been the focus?

-Would less people have talked about Him if He hadn't healed anyone?

Teacher: Troy Nesbitt

Matthew 4:12-25

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PLEASE NOTE: CHAPTERS 5, 6 and 7 will not be covered in this teaching series as they were covered in the Kingdom Manifesto Series. 

Audio messages of this series are available here:

www.cornerstonelife.com/connect_grow/resources/messages_manifesto.php

Blog questions for that series can be found in the Blog Archive between months February-June.

Matthew 4: 1-11

The Temptation of Jesus


1. Review vs 1.
-What is the difference between being "tested" and being "tempted?"
-Why would the Spirit lead Jesus into the desert to be "tempted" by the Devil?
(See Hebrews 4:15)

2. It appears that the Devil approached Jesus after He had been fasting for 40 days and 40 nights.
-Is there some significance to the timing of this temptation?
-Is it common for the Devil to tempt us when our defenses are down? For instance, does he seek us out at the end of the day when we are tired or hungry? Does he tempt us the most when we are alone and disconnected from the Body? Or, is the greatest time of temptation after an extended period of not being in the Word or praying?

3. The devil begins his temptations with the words, "If you are the Son of God...," in at least two of his attempts.
-Would the devil not have been aware of the relationship between Christ and God?
-Why do you suppose he started his dialogue with Christ in this manner?

4. The first temptation involves the devil tempting Christ into using his supernatural powers as the Son of God for His own needs.
-Would it have been a sin for Christ to turn the stone into bread?
-What does it say about Jesus that He relies on God for spiritual feeding and not on His own abilities?

5. Review verses 5 and 6.
-Is the devil attempting to tempt Christ or bring God's Faithfulness into question in this temptation? Both?
-If the devil's first attempt to tempt Jesus involved bread for a man that hadn't eaten in 40 days, what is the attractive nature of the second temptation?
-This time the devil also cites Scripture. Is it being misused? What is the proper context of the Scripture being cited by the devil-Psalms 91:11,12?

6. Review vs 8 and 9.
-The devil offers "all of the Kingdoms of the World" to Jesus. Does he have the kingdoms of the world under his control in the first place?
-Why would the devil choose this temptation? How would world dominion be a temptation to Christ? How would bowing down to Satan interfere with Jesus' mission noted in Matthew 1:21?

Additional questions:
-What can be said about Jesus' response to the devil in all 3 temptations? For example, why did Jesus choose Scripture to defeat the devil in all of his attempts? What example is He setting for us?

Teacher: Jeff Dodge
Matthew 4: 1-11

Matthew 3

John the Baptist Prepares the Way

1. Review vs 4. Imagine that you were approached by a guy eating bugs and dressed in camel hair. 

-Would you be resistant to his message?

-What drew people from Jerusalem, Judea and the whole region of the Jordan to listen to John the Baptist despite his appearance?

2. The religious elite approach John and immediately he holds them accountable for their sin. Review vs 8-10.

-What are the "fruits" that come with repentance? Do you struggle with producing this "fruit?"

-When he says that the ax is already at the root of the trees and that every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down, does that worry you?

3. Review vs 11 and vs 12

John the Baptist explained to the religious elite and the crowds surrounding him that he baptized with water for repentance. However, he noted that one day Christ would come and baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

-What is the difference?

-What is the meaning of his symbolism regarding wheat and the chaff? 

-Would you consider yourself "wheat" or "chaff?"

The Baptism of Jesus

1. Jesus came from Galilee to be baptized by John. John felt that it would be more appropriate for Jesus to baptize him instead. In contrast, Jesus replied that it was proper to be baptized by John in order to "fulfill all righteousness."

-What does this mean? Why was it important that John baptize Jesus?

-What is the significance of baptism? Is this an example that Christ is setting for his followers?

Special note: All three persons of the Trinity are seen in verses 16-17, (God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.)

Teacher: Troy Nesbitt

Matthew 3