Text: Matthew 17:14-21
Synopsis: A man came to Jesus requesting help for his son, who he called a “lunatick” in that he often fell into the fire and into the water. His experience is typical of that of the person who is away from God, in that they are often not in their “right mind” and therefore often find themselves burned by people and circumstances and drowning in their situation.
Text: Matthew 14:19
Synopsis: Throughout the Bible we see a pattern of blessing, breaking, and giving. Joseph was blessed, then broken as a slave and in prison, then given back to the world as a blessing. Moses was blessed in Pharaoh’s house, then broken as an exile, then given back to Israel as their deliverer. God often allows us to be broken so that we can be given back as an even greater blessing to our world. Job was blessed, then broken, then given back to the world as an example of perseverance and faith. The supreme example is Jesus, who was blessed, then broken, then given back to the world as a Savior.
Text: Genesis 12:1-3
Synopsis: The Biblical land of Canaan is a type of perfection, reflecting times of perfect communion with God in our lives. It is easy for us to become too comfortable in a strange land (i.e., outside of Canaan, or God’s perfect will for us). We should never lose sight of the place God really wants us to be in relation to Him.
Text: Matthew 26:69-75
Synopsis: Peter denied that he knew Jesus, yet just fifty days later was called upon to preach the most important sermon in the church age. No matter what you have done in the past, it is never too late to realize your full potential in the kingdom of God.