Embracing Transformation: The Call to Flexibility in Faith
Summary
### Summary
Good morning, church. Today, we delved into the Gospel of Matthew, specifically focusing on Matthew 9:9-17. We explored the life of Matthew, the tax collector, and how Jesus called him to be a disciple. Despite being a figure of disdain in his community, Matthew's willingness to follow Jesus exemplifies the kind of heart God seeks—one that is open to transformation and new beginnings.
We discussed the importance of being adaptable and open to God's new works in our lives. Jesus used two illustrations to emphasize this point: the unshrunk cloth on an old garment and new wine in old wineskins. Both examples highlight the necessity of flexibility and readiness for change. If we become rigid and resistant to new things, we risk missing out on the blessings and growth God has in store for us.
The Pharisees' reaction to Jesus dining with tax collectors and sinners, as well as their criticism of His disciples for not fasting, serves as a cautionary tale. Their rigidity and adherence to tradition blinded them to the new work God was doing through Jesus. In contrast, Matthew's immediate response to Jesus' call demonstrates a heart ready for transformation.
We are reminded that God is never done working on us. No matter our age or stage in life, there is always room for growth and new experiences in our walk with Him. If we find ourselves resistant to change, we must seek God's help to soften our hearts and make us receptive to His will.
### Key Takeaways
1. God Seeks a Willing Heart: Matthew's story teaches us that God looks for individuals who are open to transformation. Despite his past as a tax collector, Matthew's willingness to follow Jesus made him a vessel for God's work. This reminds us that our past does not disqualify us from being used by God; our willingness to be transformed does. [33:27]
2. Flexibility in Faith: Jesus' illustrations of the unshrunk cloth and new wine in old wineskins emphasize the need for flexibility in our spiritual lives. If we become rigid and resistant to change, we risk missing out on the new things God wants to do in us and through us. Being adaptable allows us to grow and experience God's blessings fully. [41:00]
3. The Danger of Tradition Without Heart: The Pharisees' criticism of Jesus for dining with sinners and not fasting highlights the danger of adhering to religious traditions without understanding their purpose. True faith requires a heart that seeks to understand and live out God's will, rather than merely following rituals. [51:55]
4. God's Continuous Work: No matter our age or stage in life, God is never done working on us. There is always room for growth and new experiences in our walk with Him. If we find ourselves resistant to change, we must seek God's help to soften our hearts and make us receptive to His will. [45:00]
5. Responding to God's Call: Matthew's immediate response to Jesus' call serves as a powerful example of obedience and readiness. When God calls us to something new, our response should be one of willingness and trust, knowing that He has a purpose and plan for our lives. [58:35]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[07:24] - Evening Announcements
[08:23] - Upcoming Events
[09:29] - Mission Trip to Poland
[10:47] - Introduction to Matthew
[33:27] - Matthew's Story
[34:59] - Jesus Calls Matthew
[36:41] - The Importance of Flexibility
[41:00] - Illustrations of New Cloth and Wine
[45:00] - Continuous Growth in Faith
[51:55] - The Pharisees' Criticism
[57:07] - Matthew's Willingness
[58:35] - Responding to God's Call
[01:00:26] - Conclusion and Prayer
[01:05:41] - Final Announcements and Closing
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Matthew 9:9-17
#### Observation Questions
1. What was Matthew's occupation before Jesus called him to be a disciple? ([33:27])
2. How did the Pharisees react to Jesus dining with tax collectors and sinners? ([34:59])
3. What two illustrations did Jesus use to emphasize the need for flexibility in faith? ([36:41])
4. According to the sermon, what is the significance of Jesus' statement, "I desire mercy, and not sacrifice"? ([34:59])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Jesus chose Matthew, a tax collector, to be one of His disciples? What does this choice tell us about the kind of people God calls? ([33:27])
2. How do the illustrations of the unshrunk cloth and new wine in old wineskins relate to our spiritual lives? What is Jesus teaching us through these examples? ([36:41])
3. In what ways did the Pharisees' adherence to tradition prevent them from recognizing the new work God was doing through Jesus? ([51:55])
4. How does the concept of "God's continuous work" challenge our comfort zones and call us to be open to new experiences in our faith journey? ([45:00])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt unworthy of God's call, much like Matthew might have felt. How did you respond, and what can you learn from Matthew's immediate willingness to follow Jesus? ([33:27])
2. Jesus emphasized the need for flexibility in faith. Are there areas in your spiritual life where you have become rigid or resistant to change? How can you become more adaptable to God's new works? ([36:41])
3. The Pharisees missed out on God's blessings because of their rigid adherence to tradition. Are there any traditions or routines in your life that might be hindering your spiritual growth? How can you approach these with a fresh perspective? ([51:55])
4. God is never done working on us. Identify one area in your life where you feel resistant to change. What steps can you take to seek God's help in softening your heart and becoming more receptive to His will? ([45:00])
5. Matthew's story teaches us the importance of responding to God's call with willingness and trust. Is there something new God is calling you to do? How can you take a step of faith in that direction this week? ([58:35])
6. Think about the people you interact with daily. How can you show mercy and compassion, as Jesus did, rather than just following religious rituals? ([34:59])
7. Reflect on the sermon’s message about continuous growth. What is one specific way you can grow in your faith this month? How will you hold yourself accountable to this growth? ([45:00])
Devotional
Day 1: A Willing Heart for Transformation
Matthew's story teaches us that God looks for individuals who are open to transformation. Despite his past as a tax collector, Matthew's willingness to follow Jesus made him a vessel for God's work. This reminds us that our past does not disqualify us from being used by God; our willingness to be transformed does. Matthew's immediate response to Jesus' call serves as a powerful example of obedience and readiness. When God calls us to something new, our response should be one of willingness and trust, knowing that He has a purpose and plan for our lives. [33:27]
Ezekiel 36:26-27 (ESV): "And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules."
Reflection: Think about an area in your life where you feel unworthy or disqualified. How can you open your heart to God's transformative power in that area today?
Day 2: Flexibility in Faith
Jesus' illustrations of the unshrunk cloth and new wine in old wineskins emphasize the need for flexibility in our spiritual lives. If we become rigid and resistant to change, we risk missing out on the new things God wants to do in us and through us. Being adaptable allows us to grow and experience God's blessings fully. Jesus used these illustrations to show that new spiritual realities require new forms and structures. Just as new wine needs new wineskins, our faith must be flexible to accommodate the new works God is doing. [41:00]
Isaiah 43:18-19 (ESV): "Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert."
Reflection: Identify one area in your spiritual life where you have been resistant to change. How can you become more flexible and open to God's new work in that area?
Day 3: The Danger of Tradition Without Heart
The Pharisees' criticism of Jesus for dining with sinners and not fasting highlights the danger of adhering to religious traditions without understanding their purpose. True faith requires a heart that seeks to understand and live out God's will, rather than merely following rituals. The Pharisees were so focused on their traditions that they missed the new work God was doing through Jesus. This serves as a cautionary tale for us to ensure that our religious practices are rooted in a genuine relationship with God. [51:55]
Amos 5:21-24 (ESV): "I hate, I despise your feasts, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies. Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; and the peace offerings of your fattened animals, I will not look upon them. Take away from me the noise of your songs; to the melody of your harps I will not listen. But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream."
Reflection: Reflect on a religious tradition or practice you follow. Is your heart truly engaged in it, or are you merely going through the motions? How can you align this practice more closely with God's will?
Day 4: God's Continuous Work
No matter our age or stage in life, God is never done working on us. There is always room for growth and new experiences in our walk with Him. If we find ourselves resistant to change, we must seek God's help to soften our hearts and make us receptive to His will. This ongoing process of growth and transformation is a testament to God's unending love and commitment to us. We are called to remain open and willing to be molded by Him, trusting that He knows what is best for our spiritual journey. [45:00]
Philippians 1:6 (ESV): "And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ."
Reflection: Consider an area in your life where you feel stagnant. How can you invite God to continue His work in you, and what steps can you take to be more receptive to His guidance?
Day 5: Responding to God's Call
Matthew's immediate response to Jesus' call serves as a powerful example of obedience and readiness. When God calls us to something new, our response should be one of willingness and trust, knowing that He has a purpose and plan for our lives. This kind of immediate and wholehearted response is what God desires from us. It shows our trust in His plans and our readiness to be used for His glory. [58:35]
Isaiah 6:8 (ESV): "And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?' Then I said, 'Here I am! Send me.'"
Reflection: Think about a recent moment when you felt God calling you to do something. How did you respond? What can you do to ensure that your future responses are immediate and wholehearted?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "God wants to do something new in your life if you're breathing he's not done working on you if you're here he still has something for you the work is not complete this side of heaven you don't gonna say i think i've done enough i think i've matured enough i've got my place now leave me alone you can try that but when god is calling upon your heart for something new it's just it's going to be ripping at you it's going to hurt because god's not done with you." [01:00:26] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Christ is trying to remind them and us today that it's very dangerous when there's no room in your life. For God to do something new. It's very dangerous when there's no room for God to do something new. Now, why do I say that's what Christ is getting to his point here? Because again, he's saying there's something new, right? You got to adapt to that. It's going to stretch. It's going to change." [43:37] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "I mean, wouldn't you want that in your life? Don't you want to say, God just blessed me greatly and used my life for glorious things, and I experienced wonderful things with Christ my Savior? Well, I think paying attention to Matthew's story shows you the type of person that God wants to use." [39:37] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "I love matthew's story as short as it is just one verse but a verse about a man willing to say yes to the master matthew's story's done i mean he lived his life matthew's story is done for the most part as we even study through this book of the bible we kind of go back to focusing just on jesus we don't really hear just about matthew anymore his his story is done his race is run yours is not yours is not do you have room for god to do something new in your life today." [01:03:48] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "I think it teaches us a really, really important lesson about the type of person God wants to use to do mighty things, to reveal his glory in, to bring about tremendous blessing. I mean, wouldn't you want that in your life? Don't you want to say, God just blessed me greatly and used my life for glorious things, and I experienced wonderful things with Christ my Savior? Well, I think paying attention to Matthew's story shows you the type of person that God wants to use." [39:37] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "But then I realized something looking at these verses. Certainly these verses do not contain all there is to know about Matthew's life, but I do believe they contain all we need to know about Matthew's life. Right? I mean, if we had the account, we could write pages of his days, just he lived his life, just like we live our life, all the different stories and experiences and things. Matthew, you know, we could, a lot of things happen in his life. It'd be interesting to know what happened in his life, and I'll find out one day in heaven. But until such point, I really believe that what we have here tells me all I need to know about Matthew." [38:03] (46 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "I see this all the time in people's lives. We get so rigid, so inflexible that we're not open to what God is wanting to do in our lives. Listen, I think one of the most common experiences is that the more years we live on this place, the harder it is to adapt to new things. It is what it is, right? I've noticed that in my own life. I'm not criticizing anybody. I think it's just, this is just one of the most common experiences." [45:00] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "You see all these people who encountered Christ, they, there was no, there's no room for growth in their heart and life. There was no room for anything new. There was no room for Jesus to come along and says, you've been interpreting scripture like this, but here's what it really means. Here's what this really should look like in your life. You've got these traditions and they're good in themselves, but you have been just going through the routine. Here's what they should really look like in your life. There was no room left for them." [54:35] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "But Jesus wasn't doing that. I was trying to explain it to you. I was trying to again compare, what was compared to in our life today? And I was trying to think, what's a modern day example in our Christian walk of a similar thing, a similar complaint? And I was coming up with something. It's kind of like, what would happen if a group of Baptists got together for a meal, get ready, and we didn't pray first? Right? You got your plate loaded up with fried chicken and mac and cheese and 10 desserts, and you forgot to pray. You forgot to say, God bless this food." [53:20] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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