Do You Believe Sermon

Today’s focus is on the God who still works miracles, using ordinary and broken people to accomplish extraordinary things. From the very beginning, God has chosen people with flaws, struggles, and complicated pasts—like Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, and so many others. If God only used perfect people, He wouldn’t use anyone at all. What matters most is not our mistakes, but our willingness to follow Him and trust Him with our lives.

We revisited the stories of Jarius’s daughter and the woman with the issue of blood, highlighting how faith in Jesus brings healing and restoration. These miracles are not just ancient stories; they are living realities. Testimonies from our own church family—Mary, Vicki, Jana, Patty, Kenneth, Danielle, and Andy—remind us that God is still moving powerfully today. When we face impossible situations, God invites us to reach out in faith, just as the woman did, believing that even touching the edge of His garment can change everything.

Matthew 9 is filled with miracles: the paralyzed man, the two blind men, the mute demoniac, and many more. Jesus’s compassion for the crowds, His authority to forgive sins, and His power to heal every disease reveal the heart of God. But the question He asks is the same for us: “Do you believe I am able to do this?” Faith is not just intellectual agreement; it’s a relationship, a willingness to follow, to trust, and to testify to what He has done.

We are called to be workers in God’s harvest field, sharing our stories and living lives that reflect His grace. Our testimonies matter because they are rooted in real transformation. Belief is more than mental assent—it’s a life lived in response to God’s love and power. Even when life is hard, when we face setbacks or pain, God is still present, still working, and still inviting us to trust Him more deeply. He wants to set us free from the prisons we create for ourselves—whether guilt, shame, addiction, or fear. The door is open; we only need to walk through in faith.

Key Takeaways

• 1. God Uses Imperfect People God’s pattern throughout history is to use people with brokenness, failures, and complicated stories. Our past does not disqualify us from being used by Him; in fact, it often becomes the very platform for His glory. What matters most is a heart willing to follow, not a record of perfection. God’s grace is bigger than our mistakes, and He delights in using us as we are, transforming us along the way. [03:47]
• 2. Miracles Are Still Happening Miracles are not confined to the pages of Scripture; they are present realities in the lives of believers today. When we witness healing, restoration, or transformation—whether physical, emotional, or spiritual—we are seeing the hand of God at work. These testimonies are powerful reminders that God’s compassion and power have not diminished, and He invites us to expect and recognize His miracles in our own lives. [11:16]
• 3. Faith Is More Than Belief—It’s Relationship and Action Believing in Jesus is not just about agreeing with facts; it’s about trusting Him enough to reach out, to follow, and to obey. The difference between mere belief and saving faith is relationship—knowing Him, walking with Him, and letting our lives be shaped by His presence. Even the demons believe, but true faith leads to transformation and a life that bears witness to His love. [29:21]
• 4. Our Testimonies Matter The credibility of our witness is strengthened by the consistency of our lives. When we walk through trials with faith and integrity, our stories become believable and impactful to others. Living authentically, acknowledging our struggles, and sharing what God has done invites others to believe that He can do the same for them. Our lives are living proof of God’s ongoing work. [28:45]
• 5. Freedom Is Found in Honest Surrender God invites us to step out of the prisons of guilt, shame, addiction, and self-reliance. The door to freedom is open, but we must be honest about our need and willing to surrender. He doesn’t require us to clean ourselves up first; He meets us in our mess and leads us out. Walking in freedom is a daily act of trust, confession, and reliance on His grace. [38:05]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [01:07] - God Uses Broken People
• [03:47] - Grace Overcomes Our Past
• [04:24] - Review: Miracles of Jarius and the Woman
• [06:14] - Modern Miracles in Our Church
• [08:08] - Jana’s Testimony of Healing
• [10:39] - Reaching for the Hem of His Garment
• [13:54] - Do You Believe? (Matthew 9)
• [15:08] - The Paralyzed Man Forgiven and Healed
• [17:06] - The Calling of Matthew
• [18:24] - More Miracles: Jarius’s Daughter and the Woman
• [19:44] - Two Blind Men Receive Sight
• [22:16] - The Mute Demoniac Set Free
• [24:54] - Jesus’s Compassion and the Call to Harvest
• [28:45] - The Power of Testimony
• [34:15] - God’s Miracles in Everyday Life
• [36:10] - Honest Struggles and Growth
• [38:05] - Freedom and Surrender
• [39:59] - Invitation to New Life and Discipleship

Bible Reading

Matthew 9:1-38 (ESV) — > 1 And getting into a boat he crossed over and came to his own city.
> 2 And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.”
> 3 And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.”
> 4 But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts?
> 5 For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’?
> 6 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic—“Rise, pick up your bed and go home.”
> 7 And he rose and went home.
> 8 When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men.
> ...
> [Read the full chapter for all the miracles and teachings referenced in the sermon.]

Observation Questions

1. What kinds of people did Jesus interact with and heal in Matthew 9? List the different situations and needs represented.
2. In the story of the two blind men (Matthew 9:27-31), what question does Jesus ask them before healing, and how do they respond?
3. According to the sermon, what are some examples of modern-day miracles shared by people in the church? ([06:14])
4. What is the connection between faith and action in the stories of healing in Matthew 9?

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Jesus often chose to heal people who were considered outcasts or had complicated pasts? How does this reflect God’s character? ([03:47])
2. The sermon says, “Faith is not just intellectual agreement; it’s a relationship, a willingness to follow, to trust, and to testify to what He has done.” What does this mean in practical terms? ([29:21])
3. How do personal testimonies of God’s work in our lives strengthen the faith of others? Why is it important to live in a way that makes our testimony believable? ([28:45])
4. The pastor described freedom as “walking out of the prisons we create for ourselves.” What are some of these “prisons,” and why is honest surrender necessary for freedom? ([38:05])

Application Questions

1. The sermon highlighted that God uses imperfect people with messy stories. Is there a part of your past or present that you feel disqualifies you from being used by God? How might God want to use that very thing for His glory? ([03:47])
2. Think about a time when you or someone you know experienced something that could only be explained as a miracle. How did that experience affect your faith? Are you willing to share that story with others? ([11:16])
3. Jesus asked the blind men, “Do you believe I am able to do this?” Is there an area in your life right now where you need to answer that question honestly? What would it look like to reach out in faith, even if it’s just “touching the edge of His garment”? ([19:44])
4. The sermon emphasized that faith is more than belief—it’s relationship and action. What is one step you can take this week to move from just believing to actively trusting and following Jesus? ([29:21])
5. The pastor talked about the importance of sharing our testimonies. Is there someone in your life who needs to hear what God has done for you? What’s holding you back from sharing? ([28:45])
6. Are there “prisons” in your life—like guilt, shame, addiction, or fear—that you sense God is inviting you to step out of? What would honest surrender look like for you, and who can support you in that journey? ([38:05])
7. Jesus said the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. What is one practical way you can be a “worker in the harvest field” this week—either by serving, encouraging, or sharing your faith? ([24:54])