Jan. 23rd, 2005: Kimber Kauffman, Senior Pastor of College Park, challenged us from four
stories in Matthew 8, reminding us that Jesus Christ is mighty and able to
conquer all the needs of the world. He loves the most unlovable, cures the most
feared diseases in an instant, and is calling all of us to follow him with our
whole hearts and lives. [NOTE – Some of these application points were derived
from Joe Bartemus’ follow up message to Kimber’s sermon during the Sunday evening
service].
1.
Jesus starts building His kingdom with
a leper. He saves amidst the worst, ugliest, and most hopeless of conditions!
(Mt. 8:1-4)
a. Who are the “lepers” (outcasts) of College Park Church? In other words,
who would be least likely to attend our services because they would most likely
be shunned by the people of our congregation?
b. How are you doing in loving these people, and what needs to change in our
lives as a result of Christ’s example?
2.
Matthew shocked his Jewish audience by
recounting an event in Christ’s life when a Roman Centurion had more faith than
anyone in Israel. The Gospel is for all
who have faith in Christ, and God’s Kingdom entails much more than our little
sphere of influence! (Mt. 8:5-13)
a. Who are the people in your sphere of influence or in popular culture that
you think are the least unlikely to place their faith in Christ (refer back to
1.a.)?
b. Why do we often discount God’s ability to save people who are different
from us? Why do we as Americans think we have a corner on the Truth or God’s
power, when we will actually be a minority in God’s kingdom of ALL nations of
the world (cf. Rev 7:9)? What can we do to enlarge our understanding of what
God is doing in the entire world?
3.
Jesus then went to Peter’s house and
healed his mother-in-law. In a world of tsunamis, wars, and political bouts,
Jesus cares about the very concerns and people that we care about (Mt. 8:14-17).
a. We have a God who cares! Take some time during the meeting to thank God
for his love and lift up each other’s prayer concerns.
b. Consider meditating on the words of the song we sang on Sunday morning: “What
a friend we have in Jesus all our sins and grief’s to bear! What a privilege to
carry everything to God in prayer! O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless
pain we bear, all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.”
4.
Jesus challenged his followers to
consider the cost of following Him. In stark contrast to many Christian
messages today, Jesus promises a life of hardship, insecurity, and homelessness
to those who walk in His steps.
a. Evaluate your own heart – In what areas of your life are you trying to
control, or hold on to, that are keeping you from being devoted to Christ? In
what ways do you need to start making a sacrifice so that you can stop wasting
the resources God has given you and start storing up treasures in heaven?
b. What does it look like to be a devoted follower of Christ in the 21st
Century – in your home, work environment, and in regards to your attitude
towards entertainment, shopping, or standard of living?