The sermon begins with the pastor returning to their series on the Gospel of Matthew, specifically focusing on Matthew 8:1-13. The pastor recaps the journey through Matthew thus far, highlighting key events such as Jesus's genealogy, birth, baptism, triumph over Satan's temptation, and the Sermon on the Mount. The pastor emphasizes Jesus's authority and the profound impact of his teachings on the crowd. As they transition into chapter 8, the pastor mentions that they will now be focusing on Jesus's miraculous deeds, which further underscore his divine authority.
The pastor then uses the example of someone who talks about their cooking skills but fails to deliver when it comes to actually cooking. This serves as a reminder that words must align with actions. The pastor highlights that Jesus was not just a compelling preacher, but a doer, as demonstrated by the extraordinary miracles and supernatural acts He performed. The sermon focuses on the seamless alignment of Jesus's words and actions, using the healing of a leper and the centurion's servant as examples.
The pastor emphasizes the compassion of Jesus as demonstrated in a miracle. Jesus willingly heals a tired and broken man out of his deep compassion and grace. This stands in stark contrast to the religious leaders of the day who boasted about mistreating people with leprosy. The pastor emphasizes that Jesus extends his hand of grace to the rejected and despised of society, pointing to his ultimate purpose of coming to cleanse us from our sin.
The pastor emphasizes the importance of not avoiding the topic of hell and instead focusing on the good news of the gospel. The pastor highlights the unshakable faith of the leper and the Centurion, who believed that Jesus could save and heal them despite their outcast status. The pastor reminds the congregation that while hell is a real consequence, Jesus took upon himself the punishment for their sins on the cross, offering forgiveness and freedom.
The pastor concludes by emphasizing that Jesus is not just a historical figure or distant deity, but a living savior who is eager to touch, heal, and transform lives. The pastor encourages those who feel unclean to bring their uncleanliness to Jesus and ask for him to make them clean, reminding them that Jesus is not only able but also willing to do so. For those who have already experienced the cleansing power of Jesus and are now clean with the righteousness of Christ, the pastor urges them to be a people of compassion and grace, following Jesus' example of reaching out and touching others with love, regardless of their condition.
Key Takeaways
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