"Little-Faiths" (The Disciples & the Epileptic Boy)

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Speaker: Steve Estes
Scripture: Matthew 17:14-20
March 26, 2023

Sermon Outline

1. The awful situation

2. Who Matthew focuses on

• Like other gospels, Matthew records Christ's frustration with an "unbelieving generation."

• Unlike other gospels, Matthew focuses on Jesus' disciples in this regard.

3. Jesus' reply: "You of little faith"

• Common theme in the gospels.

4. Lack of faith is no small matter

• The disciples' unbelief caused Jesus frustration while he walked the earth.

• Unbelief shows that one is affected by one's culture rather than by God's promises.

• Unbelief hinders our usefulness in God's kingdom.

• Thus, unbelief is perverse.

5. How Christ sought to stir their faith

• Jesus taught how much can be accomplished when we believe.

• Jesus taught how little faith it takes to move mountains

Elijah Must Come First

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Speaker: Steve Estes
Scripture: Matthew 17:9-13
March 12, 2023

Matthew 17:9-13: Jesus replied, "To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things. But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands." Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist.

Sermon Outline

1. The hard thing Jesus commanded

2. The problems raised by His words (Malachi 4:5-6)

• Malachi predicted: Elijah would precede the Messiah

• Malachi predicted: Elijah would bring restoration to the world

3. How Jesus addresses these problems

• Regarding Elijah coming before the Messiah

• Regarding Elijah restoring all things

• Regarding the disciples' view that Jesus' death was incompatible with Elijah coming

• How this applies to Jesus as the Messiah

4. Lessons

• The reliability of Scripture is not tied to our understanding it

• Not all interpretation is literal

• Jesus and his followers bring salvation through suffering

The Transfiguration

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Speaker: Steve Estes
Scripture: Matthew 17:1-8
March 5, 2023

Sermon Outline

1. Emotional state of the disciples

2. What the disciples saw and heard

• Jesus transfigured

• Brief comment: How to read Bible stories

• Two visitors appear

• Something else unexpected appears

• The voice of the Father from the cloud

3. How Jesus comforted them

4. What we learn

• Ecstatic spiritual experiences are not the norm

• A glimpse into life after death for believers

• The Old Testament God is the same as the New Testament God

• Jesus Christ has no equals

• The need to listen