Romans 9 begins with anguish, not abstraction. Paul grieves deeply over Israel’s unbelief, yet insists that God’s word has not failed. In this passage, we are confronted with the sovereign freedom of God in salvation. God’s mercy is not earned by effort, lineage, or works, but flows from his gracious will alone. These truths humble us and lead us to deep thankfulness for God’s unfailing mercy and purpose.
For most of us, our family is our most treasured relationship. We honour our parents and cherish our children above everything else. But what happens when loyalty to Jesus collides with loyalty to family? In Matthew 10:34–42, Jesus challenges us to reconsider our priorities. He demands our highest love and allegiance, even above our family. He calls us to put him first, even when it is costly. Join us this Sunday, as we consider Jesus’ challenging call and why he is worthy of all our love.
More often than not, Jesus sends us as witnesses to those who are uninterested or resistant to the gospel. Facing such an audience is sometimes scary, other times dangerous. But in Matthew 10:16-33, Jesus knows what it will be like and he equips us to be wise and fearless in mission, trusting the Father’s authority and care.
Are we truly engaged in Jesus’ mission? It’s easy to be blind or unmoved by the plight of those who do not know Jesus. In Matthew 9:35–10:15, we see Jesus’ compassion for the lost and his call for disciples to pray and proclaim the good news of God’s kingdom. Will we share Jesus’ heart and be true disciples on mission, or hold back to preserve our own comfort?
It’s often when we feel most powerless and desperate that we see our greatest need for God’s help. Faced with desperate situations like incurable disease and death, we know that there is nothing we can do to save ourselves. But in Matthew 9:18–34, we see that Jesus’ authority extends even over death. Those who turn to Jesus in desperation and faith meet a compassionate and powerful Lord, who grants salvation and life to those who trust in him. Will we recognise our desperate state and depend ...
Failure to recognise our greatest need is harmful, but refusal of the one who can meet that need is disastrous self-harm. In Matthew 9:1-17, Jesus’ undeniable authority not only calls us to humbly come to him for the forgiveness we need and to follow him. His heart of mercy in his mission should also radically shape our mission of calling others to him.
When life feels out of control, where do you turn for hope? We live in a broken world where evil, suffering, and death often disrupt our lives and leave us fearful for the future. But in Matthew 8:23–34, we see Jesus’ unmatched authority, commanding storms and driving out evil with a word. How will we respond to him? Will we turn to him as the only one who can save us from death? Will we trust him when life overwhelms us, or cave into our fears?
We often want to follow Jesus on our own terms — when it is convenient or safe. But as the King who heals yet suffers for many, he has set very costly terms for discipleship. In this passage, Jesus challenges us to follow him without the comfort we desire, to prioritise his mission and purpose above all else, but also to trust that following him is worth everything.
Authority and compassion are rarely seen together. Someone who’s not powerful cannot help us. Someone who’s not compassionate is relationally distant from us. But as we begin our Matthew 8-10 series, we see a deeply compassionate Jesus exercise his powerful authority for the unclean and unlikely. This compassionate Lord ultimately goes to the cross on our behalf and invites us to trust him afresh.
What is the greatest gift God could give us? Jesus says it is life—eternal life that begins now and lasts forever. This life is not just about endless time, but about knowing the God who made us and the Saviour who came to bring us home. In a world chasing meaning, Jesus offers what no one else can: the gift of life itself (John 17:3).
