Wednesday in the Word

Jesus didn’t just heal a man’s body—he forgave his sins. And that changed everything.

In this episode, we look at the moment Jesus heals a paralyzed man in Capernaum. But the real surprise isn’t the miracle. It’s what Jesus says first: “Your sins are forgiven.” This story draws a sharp line between those who come to Jesus in faith and those who stand by in judgment. It reveals not only what Jesus has the power to do, but who he truly is.

In this week’s episode, we explore:

• Why Matthew leaves out key details found in Mark and Luke—and what that highlights
• How the paralytic’s crisis was spiritual, not physical
• What Jesus saw in the bold actions of the man and his friends
• Why the scribes were offended, and how Jesus exposes the limits of their theology
• What it means for Jesus to forgive sins before the man even asks
• How this miracle confirms Jesus’ divine authority—and challenges our assumptions

After listening, you’ll walk away with a deeper understanding of how Jesus responds to faith, why forgiveness is always the greater miracle, and what it means to trust a Savior who sees our true need before we speak. You’ll be invited to respond, not with ritual or performance, but with faith in the one who has authority to heal both body and soul.

Even the darkest forces must bow to the authority of Jesus.

In this episode, we explore one of the most unsettling and revealing moments in Matthew’s Gospel. Two violent, demon-possessed men confront Jesus—and the demons inside them immediately recognize his authority. What follows is a strange and unforgettable scene involving a herd of pigs, a frightened town, and a powerful reminder of who Jesus truly is. This isn’t just a story about spiritual warfare. It’s a story about hope for anyone who’s ever felt tormented, trapped, or too far gone to be rescued.

In this week’s episode, we explore:

• How this miracle fits into Matthew’s larger theme of Jesus’ authority
• What the demons reveal when they call Jesus the “Son of God”
• Why Jesus allows the demons to enter the pigs—and what that teaches us
• How this story exposes the real enemy we face: not people or circumstances, but evil within
• Why the townspeople were afraid of Jesus and asked him to leave
• What this passage teaches us about identity, deliverance, and the power of Christ to restore

After listening, you’ll understand that no evil is too strong, no past too broken, and no heart too lost for Jesus to reach. The same voice that calmed the storm also silences the chaos within. And just like the healed men, we are invited to live in freedom and share the story of what the Lord has done.

When storms hit, our fear often reveals what we really believe about Jesus.

In this episode, we explore the familiar story of Jesus calming the storm—but this time, with fresh eyes on the fear behind the fear. The disciples panic not just because of the wind and waves, but because they wonder: does Jesus care? Can he help? Is he really who he says he is? As Jesus sleeps through the storm, their faith is tested—and so is ours.

In this week’s episode, we explore:

• Why the disciples’ fear wasn’t just about drowning, but about doubt
• What “O you of little faith” really means—and how Jesus uses it throughout Matthew
• How this miracle connects to Psalm 107 and God’s authority over creation
• The difference between immature and maturing faith
• What this story teaches us about Jesus’ identity and divine authority
• How Jesus uses real storms to teach lasting lessons

After listening, you’ll be better equipped to recognize the storms in your own life as opportunities to remember who Jesus truly is. You’ll see how faith grows not by avoiding trouble, but by learning to trust the one who commands the wind and waves with a word.

Following Jesus means more than admiration. It means surrender.

In this episode, we look at two short but striking conversations Jesus has with would-be disciples. One wants to follow him “wherever you go.” The other wants to delay following until it’s more convenient. In both cases, Jesus responds with words that are intentionally cryptic—and deeply revealing. These interactions pull us into the heart of discipleship and ask: What are we really hoping Jesus will do for us? What are we willing to leave behind to follow him?

In this week’s episode, we explore:

• Why Jesus speaks cryptically—and how that invites deeper reflection
• What “the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head” really means
• The cultural and theological context of “let the dead bury their own dead”
• How the authority of Jesus confronts our loyalty to family, comfort, and culture
• The temptation to follow Jesus for the wrong reasons—or to delay following him at all
• What true saving faith looks like and why it starts with knowing our deep need

After listening, you’ll have a clearer view of what real discipleship requires—not perfection, but a willingness to follow Jesus above all else. You’ll be invited to consider whether your faith is shaped more by what you hope to gain in this world or by a genuine desire to be made holy and live in the kingdom of God.

Jesus heals Peter’s mother-in-law—and Matthew says it fulfills Isaiah’s prophecy. But how exactly?

In this episode, we explore how Jesus’ miracles aren’t just acts of compassion or proof of divine power—they’re signposts pointing to a deeper truth. When Jesus heals the sick or casts out demons, he’s not just solving temporary problems. He’s revealing who he is and what he came to do. And Matthew wants us to see the connection between those physical healings and the greater healing promised in Isaiah 53.

In this week’s episode, we explore:

• Why Peter’s mother-in-law’s quick recovery mattered in that cultural context
• How Matthew uses the word fulfill—and why it doesn’t always mean “predicted and came true”
• The layered meaning of Isaiah 53 and how it relates to physical and spiritual healing
• Why God chose acts of healing, not spectacle, to confirm Jesus’ identity
• What these miracles say about the heart of Jesus—and the mission he came to accomplish
• How these healings still call us to respond with faith today

After listening, you’ll walk away with a clearer understanding of why Jesus’ miracles matter—not just to those he healed then, but to all of us now. You’ll see how his authority, mercy, and mission work together to point us to the cross, where the deepest healing takes place.

What kind of authority does Jesus really have—and what should we do about it?

In this episode, we explore the turning point between Jesus’ teaching in the Sermon on the Mount and his powerful acts of healing. As Matthew shifts from words to miracles, a central question emerges: Does Jesus truly speak and act with God’s authority? And how should we respond to that authority?

In this week’s episode, we explore:

• Why the crowd was “astonished” at Jesus’ teaching and what set him apart from the scribes
• How the theme of authority connects the end of the Sermon on the Mount to the miracles that follow
• What it means to accept (or reject) Jesus as one who speaks for God
• The difference between forced authority (like a police officer) and invitational authority (like a trusted doctor)
• How the miracle stories in Matthew illustrate a personal response to Jesus’ authority
• Why recognizing Jesus’ authority matters not just then—but now

By the end of this episode, you’ll understand:

Why Matthew draws attention to Jesus’ authority at this point in the gospel, how miracles serve as signs of divine validation, and what it means to trust Jesus today. You’ll be equipped to ask the right question—not just did Jesus have authority, but will I submit to it?

How did Jesus had to our understanding of what should we do or not do on the Sabbath? He taught that Sabbath is a rest that is given, not earned, and that our “job” is to enjoy it, not to live up to it.

Passages: Mark 2:23-3:6; 1 Samuel 21:1-6; Leviticus 24:5-9; Matthew 12:1-8 

Series: Sabbath: Why, how and when

Sabbath rest is yet to come —the rest we enjoy today anticipates the real Sabbath rest that awaits us in the kingdom. That future rest is granted to those who have saving faith in Jesus Christ.

Passages: Hebrews 3:7-13; Psalm 95; Exodus 17; Hebrew 4:1-16 

Series: Sabbath: Why, how and when

How do we keep the Sabbath? The simple command is not to work. We stop the activities we do that sustain our lives and instead we do the things that most foster our relationship to, understanding of and dependence on God.

Passages: Exodus 16;  Exodus 35:1-3; Numbers 15:32-36; Nehemiah 13:15-22; Psalm 46 

Series: Sabbath: Why, how and when

Sabbath is about who God is. It’s not about what we need to live healthy lives. It’s not about making sure we get our rest so that we can be productive at work, be nice to our family and stay awake during Bible Studies (though none of those things are bad things). Sabbath reminds us who God is. Because as we’ll see, on the Sabbath, we rest to remember God.

Passages: Exodus 20:8-11; Genesis 2:1-3; Exodus 31:12-17; Deuteronomy 5:12-15. 

Series: Sabbath: Why, how and when