T h e I n c o mp a r a b l e J e s u s [A STUDY - PDF document

SEPTEMBER 18, 2016 SERMON NOTES The Storm Before the Calm Matthew 8:23-27 Pastor John Sloan Introduction: With a word, Jesus silences a deadly squall, while his followers cower in fear. On the surface, this story appears to be all about Jesus’ companions’ lack of faith and the test of true discipleship. But as we dig a little deeper, we see Matthew’s chief priority: He is showing us something about who Jesus is. This is less a paradigm for discipleship and more a lesson in Christology. 01. 02. 03. T h e I n c o mp a r a b l e J e s u s [A STUDY THROUGH MATTHEW’S GOSPEL]

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION & DISCOVERY 1. How is genuine faith difgerent than simple Bible knowledge? 2. Read Psalm 127:2. In what ways have you learned to trust God, and sleep well, knowing that he is sovereign and good? 3. What is the doctrine of the hypostatic union? Why does it matter? 4. What does Jesus’ disciple John mean when he says that “perfect love drives out fear” (1 John 4:18)? 5. In what ways have you seen God’s love for you on display this week? What thoughts do you entertain when you go through a period in which God’s love is not so evident? T h e I n c o mp a r a b l e J e s u s [A STUDY THROUGH MATTHEW’S GOSPEL]

SEPTEMBER 11, 2016 SERMON SLIDES The Storm Before the Calm Matthew 8:23-27 Pastor John Sloan 1. Read Matthew 8:23-27. 2. 01. Jesus trusts that his Father’s plans for him are good, which is the foundation for true faith. 3. “God never pursues His glory at the expense of the good of His people, nor does He ever seek our good at the expense of His glory. He has designed His eternal purpose so that His glory and our good are inextricably bound together. What comfort and encouragement this should be to us. If we are going to learn to trust God in adversity, we must believe that just as certainly as God will allow nothing to subvert His glory, so He will allow nothing to spoil the good He is working out in us and for us .” - Jerry Bridges 4. “Then he rose, rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.” - Matthew 8:26b 5. “Creation recognizes its Creator.” - Jerome 6. “To God belong wisdom and power; if he holds back the waters, there is drought; if he lets them loose, they devastate the land.” - Job 12 7. “The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders.” - Psalm 29 8. 02. The storm-calming word by the just-awakened Jesus shows that he is God in the fmesh: both fully human and fully divine. 9. Read Matthew 8:26a. 10. 03. Jesus is a merciful Savior, who receives those who come to him with even a little faith. 11. “Faith—the way Jesus wants us to relate to him, important as it is, is not the theme of this story. Jesus’ salvation of even weak-in-faith disciples is.” T h e I n c o mp a r a b l e J e s u s [A STUDY THROUGH MATTHEW’S GOSPEL]