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The “Runaway Train” of Anger
Matthew 12:22-30, NLT – Then a demon-possessed man, who was blind and couldn’t speak, was brought to Jesus. He healed the man so that he could both speak and see. The crowd was amazed and asked, “Could it be that Jesus is the Son of David, the Messiah?” But when the Pharisees heard about the…
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Jesus’s Secret Ambition
Matthew 12:14-21, NRSV – But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him. When Jesus became aware of this, he departed. Many crowds followed him, and he cured all of them, and he ordered them not to make him known. This was to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet…
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Pharisaical Tendencies
Matthew 12:1-14 – At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain and eat them. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.” He answered, “Haven’t you read what…
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The “Unforced Rhythms of Grace”
Matthew 11:28-30, NIV – “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry…
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Why Would Wisdom Be Hidden?
Matthew 11:25-27 (CEB) – At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you’ve hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have shown them to babies. Indeed, Father, this brings you happiness. “My Father has handed all things over to me. No one knows the Son except…
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A Jesus That Makes Us Uncomfortable
Matthew 11:20-26, CEV – In the towns where Jesus had worked most of his miracles, the people refused to turn to God. So Jesus was upset with them and said: You people of Chorazin are in for trouble! You people of Bethsaida are in for trouble too! If the miracles that took place in your…
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Seeing the World the Way We Want. . .
Matthew 11:16-19, The Voice – What is this generation like? You are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out, “When we played the flute, you did not dance; and when we sang a dirge, you did not mourn.” What I mean is this: When John came, he dressed in the clothes of a…
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If John Had His Doubts, What Chance Do I Have?
Matthew 11:6-15, NIV – “Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.” As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? If not, what did you go out to see? A…
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Seeing the Forest for the Trees (John the Baptist edition)
Matthew 11:1-5, NLT – When Jesus had finished giving these instructions to his twelve disciples, he went out to teach and preach in towns throughout the region. John the Baptist, who was in prison, heard about all the things the Messiah was doing. So he sent his disciples to ask Jesus, “Are you the Messiah…
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What is a “Prophet’s Reward?”
Matthew 10:40-42, NIV – Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. And if anyone gives even a…
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Weekday Word w/ Eric 