Matthew 15:21-28-  The woman of Sidon whose daughter was possessed approached Jesus in boldness and desperation. But how she was tested! Can I be a dog, or an unworthy servant? If we find ourselves in DESPERATION, engage in EXALTATION, and accept HUMILIATION without OFFENSE, we will see His LIBERATION!

Matthew 15:15-20- it is not what goes into a man that makes him unclean in God's eyes, but what proceeds out of Him. The irony of this teaching is that what we take in is also what will inevitably also come out. Jesus is shifting our focus from the shallow externals of earthly life to the weighty eternals of a truly spiritual life.

Matthew 15:1-14- The Pharisees were offended when Jesus called them blind guides. He had confronted them about their hypocrisy and was calling them to make a change. How do I respond when something is pointed out where I may need to change? Ownership is the mature alternative to offense.

Matthew 14:34-36- Jesus wants to work in all "regions" of our lives. We try to make a law out of our experiences only to find later that Jesus has moved on! Once we recognize Him in the new "region", things begin to change very quickly- not the same work, but the same Jesus working!

Walking in faith doesn't mean ignoring challenges, but rather trusting God in the midst of them. Storms of life  cause our faith to grow as they force us to rely on God in ways that calm seas never would.

Matthew 14:1-12 : John the Baptist's Life seems almost arbitrarily thrown away. Yet, when we consider all that Jesus said about him, he was afforded the highest honors that heaven could confer. We need perspective! 
If we are not careful, we will miss the greater purpose we were created for!

Change comes directly from the things we see now that we could not see before. For 2025: We Desire for Life Bible Church to be the Happiest, Healthiest Church in our Community.

Matthew 14:1-12 : John the Baptist's Life seems almost arbitrarily thrown away. Yet, when we consider all that Jesus said about him, he was afforded the highest honors that heaven could confer. We need perspective! 
If we are not careful, we will miss the greater purpose we were created for!

“Make new friends but keep the old. One is silver, the other is gold.” Friendships- real ones- are essential to survival on the journey of life and faith in Jesus. How can we care for them in a way that ensures they are longlasting? Jonathan and David are a picture of deep, lasting friendship.

Time is like money, in that we budget and spend it, and cannot get it back once it is gone. Time is unique, though, because there is a limited amount apportioned to each person, it is always being spent, and more cannot be earned! Time is a stewardship we manage well by prioritizing eternity, investing in people and God’s Kingdom.