Theme: Jesus brings the disciples to a point of decision. He asks them to reveal who they think he is. Peter rightly identifies Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God. We all must eventually answer the question, “Who do we say Jesus is?”

Theme: A Canaanite woman comes to Jesus, desperate for him to heal her daughter. She will not be denied because she believes Jesus can work the miracle she longs to see come to pass in the life of her child. Jesus responds to her request by healing her daughter. And Jesus marvels at the great faith of this Canaanite woman, which stands in stark contrast to the disbelief of the Pharisees and scribes. 

Theme: Jesus comes to his disciples in the midst of a raging storm and calms the sea. In the process, Jesus teaches his disciples to choose faith over fear and trust he will provide for them. 

Theme: Jesus performs a miracle by multiplying the five loaves and two fish to feed thousands in a desolate place. Jesus’ miracle harkens back to God’s provision for his people in the wilderness. In this episode we are reminded that God takes our meager resources and multiplies them for our good and his glory. 

Theme: The Parable of the Sower can be read as an encouragement to sow the seeds of the Kingdom of God far and wide, trusting the results are ultimately in God’s hands and not ours. 

Theme: After telling his disciples they will encounter persecution and must lose their lives in pursuit of making him known, Jesus encourages his disciples with the truth that his yoke is easy and his burden is light. 

Theme: Jesus teaches his disciples that the path to true life is found in taking up their crosses and following him. He is worthy of every sacrifice and in the end we will only find life if we lose our lives for his sake.

Theme: Jesus promised to send his Spirit to indwell and empower his disciples. On the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came in power to enable the church to bear witness to the resurrection of Jesus Christ.