Sermons on Matthew 10:8
The various sermons below interpret Matthew 10:8 as a call to action for the modern church, emphasizing the need to engage with foundational practices such as healing and community support. Both interpretations stress that these practices are not merely historical but are meant to be vibrant and active in today's church. A sermon from The Flame Church highlights the importance of physical healing, using the Greek word "Iami" to underscore that the healing mentioned in the verse is not limited to spiritual or emotional realms. Meanwhile, a sermon from Tony Evans focuses on the communal aspect, suggesting that the directive to "freely give" involves collective efforts to liberate and support one another, akin to the unwrapping of Lazarus. Both sermons agree on the necessity of reclaiming these practices as part of the church's mission, yet they offer unique nuances in their interpretations.
In contrast, the sermons diverge in their theological emphases. The Flame Church sermon argues against the cessationist view, positing that the gifts of healing and deliverance are available to all believers today and should be seen as acts of compassion that demonstrate God's power. This perspective insists that these gifts are not just historical validations of the gospel but are essential components of the church's ongoing mission. On the other hand, the sermon from Tony Evans presents a theological theme centered on the communal responsibility of the church, suggesting that the church's role is to facilitate freedom and deliverance within the community. This interpretation emphasizes the church as a collective entity where believers actively participate in each other's spiritual liberation, rather than focusing solely on individual acts of healing or deliverance.
Matthew 10:8 Interpretation:
Re-digging the Wells of Faith and Healing (The Flame Church) interprets Matthew 10:8 as a call to rediscover and re-engage with the foundational practices of the early church, such as healing the sick and casting out demons. The sermon emphasizes that these practices are not just historical but are meant to be active and alive in the church today. The speaker uses the Greek word "Iami," meaning to cure or heal, to stress that the healing mentioned in Matthew 10:8 refers to physical healing, not just spiritual or emotional. This interpretation is unique in its insistence that the church must reclaim these practices as part of its heritage and mission.
Faith, Delays, and Community: The Lazarus Lesson (Tony Evans) interprets Matthew 10:8 by emphasizing the communal aspect of Christian life. The sermon highlights that while Jesus provides life, liberty is often facilitated through the community of believers. This interpretation suggests that the directive to "freely give" involves not just individual acts of generosity but also participating in a community that helps "unbind" and "set free" others, drawing a parallel to the unwrapping of Lazarus. This perspective underscores the importance of community in the application of Matthew 10:8.
Matthew 10:8 Theological Themes:
Re-digging the Wells of Faith and Healing (The Flame Church) presents the theme that the church has a mandate to actively engage in healing and deliverance as a demonstration of God's power and compassion. The sermon argues against the cessationist view, which holds that such gifts were only for the apostolic age, and instead posits that these gifts are for all believers today. The sermon also emphasizes that healing and deliverance are acts of compassion, not just signs to validate the gospel message.
Faith, Delays, and Community: The Lazarus Lesson (Tony Evans) presents a unique theological theme by connecting the act of freeing others to the communal responsibility of the church. The sermon suggests that the church's role is to facilitate freedom and deliverance, aligning with the directive in Matthew 10:8 to "freely give." This theme emphasizes that the church is not just a place for individual spiritual growth but a community where believers actively participate in each other's liberation and spiritual freedom.
Matthew 10:8 Historical and Contextual Insights:
Re-digging the Wells of Faith and Healing (The Flame Church) provides historical context by referencing the early church's practices of healing and deliverance as described in the New Testament. The sermon highlights that these practices were integral to the church's mission and were not limited to the apostles but extended to all believers, as seen in the sending out of the 72 disciples in Luke 10.
Matthew 10:8 Cross-References in the Bible:
Re-digging the Wells of Faith and Healing (The Flame Church) references several Bible passages to support its interpretation of Matthew 10:8. These include Isaiah 53:3 and 1 Peter 2:24, which speak of healing through Jesus' wounds, and Luke 9:1-2 and Luke 10:1-9, which describe Jesus giving authority to his disciples to heal and cast out demons. The sermon uses these passages to argue that the mandate to heal and deliver is a continuous command for the church.
Flowing Generosity: A Heart Aligned with God (Eagles View Church) references 2 Corinthians 9, where Paul urges the church in Corinth to be prepared with their generous gift. This passage is used to support the idea that generosity should be proactive and ready, aligning with the message of Matthew 10:8 to "freely give." The sermon uses this cross-reference to emphasize the importance of being prepared to act generously and not allowing resources to "stop" with oneself.
Faith, Delays, and Community: The Lazarus Lesson (Tony Evans) references Galatians 5:13, which speaks about using liberty to serve others. This passage is used to reinforce the message of Matthew 10:8, suggesting that the freedom believers have received should be used to serve and free others, thus expanding the understanding of "freely give" to include acts of service and liberation within the community.
Matthew 10:8 Christian References outside the Bible:
Re-digging the Wells of Faith and Healing (The Flame Church) does not explicitly reference any non-biblical Christian authors or theologians in its discussion of Matthew 10:8.
Faith, Delays, and Community: The Lazarus Lesson (Tony Evans) does not explicitly reference non-biblical Christian authors when discussing Matthew 10:8.
Matthew 10:8 Illustrations from Secular Sources:
Re-digging the Wells of Faith and Healing (The Flame Church) does not use any secular sources or popular culture references to illustrate Matthew 10:8.
Flowing Generosity: A Heart Aligned with God (Eagles View Church) uses the metaphor of a cul-de-sac versus a street or avenue to illustrate the concept of generosity. The sermon suggests that believers should not be like a cul-de-sac, where resources stop and accumulate, but rather like a street or avenue, where resources flow through to others. This metaphor is used to emphasize the importance of allowing generosity to move through us, aligning with the message of Matthew 10:8 to "freely give."