New Creation Albuquerque

Wrapping up our summer discussion of Kingdom Encounters in Matthew 8-9, we dive into Matthew 9:35-10:1. When Jesus shows up the good news of the Kingdom confronts the lies of isolation, hunger and fear. Jesus heals, looks with compassion on the crowds and recruits and empowers a people to go on mission with him.

All followers of Jesus experience doubt. Is doubt and enemy or friend to faith? We are called to faith and trust in the God revealed most clearly in Jesus. As we look at Matthew 9:18-34, we will see how we are called into faith that does not ignore doubt, but allows God to work in and through it.

The good news of Jesus' Kingdom is that all are invited to dine with their savior and healer. Matthew 9:9-17 reveals Jesus to be one that eats with outcasts, traitors and sinners. The gospel moves us from hostility to hospitality, from exclusion to embrace and from independence to interdependence. These moves of the gospel are made possible by the freedom and forgiveness Jesus offers.

Forgiveness is the way of the Kingdom. Jesus sees our need holistically and brings freedom through forgiveness, sometimes when we are not even looking for it. Matthew 9:1-8 shows us to forgive completely and unconditionally is nothing less that freedom fighting in the way of Jesus.

Whenever Jesus encounters barriers that exist between people and God or people and people, he creates a bridge to overcome that barrier. As people of the Kingdom, we are called to do the same. Where the world puts up barriers, we are called to create bridges to gospel life and reconciliation.

Baptism is a public proclamation of our allegiance to the Lamb that was slain and to the Kingdom which he set up. In so doing, we are declaring our union with a Person: Jesus Christ and A People: the Church.

The storms of our life our revelatory. They reveal who we are and who God in inviting us to become. Most importantly, they reveal who Jesus really is as he is with us, speaking to us and acting for us in the midst of the storm. Matthew 8:23-27 shows us the power of the storm when we listen and look to Jesus.

Walking with Jesus is full of Invitation and Challenge. The challenge is often inherent in the invitation. He comes offering, not a class, but a quest. We often come seeking information, Jesus offers transformation.

Jesus enters into the household of Peter. He comes inside with eyes to see, healing Peter's Mother In Law. Then, this house is turned inside out.