Tag Archives: discipleship

Matthew 16:18-19; a closer look, part 2

Posted on October 28, 2017 by Don Merritt

I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Matthew 16:19 Peter was to be given “the keys of the … Continue reading →

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Matthew 16:18-19; a closer look, part 1

Posted on October 27, 2017 by Don Merritt

Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the … Continue reading →

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“Who do you say that I am?”

Posted on October 27, 2017 by Don Merritt

Matthew 16:13-20 Jesus and the disciples came to the region of Caesarea Philippi where Jesus asked them who people were saying that He was. They responded with several things He was being called. Then Jesus asked them a fateful question: … Continue reading →

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Pharisees, Sadducees and… yeast?

Posted on October 26, 2017 by Don Merritt

Matthew 16:5-12 After the scene in which the Pharisees and Sadducees set aside their contempt for one another to attempt to trick Jesus into offering a sign, Jesus and His disciples once again head off across the lake. This time, … Continue reading →

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Strange Bedfellows

Posted on October 26, 2017 by Don Merritt

The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven. He replied, “When evening comes, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’ and in the morning, ‘Today it … Continue reading →

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Feeding the Four Thousand

Posted on October 25, 2017 by Don Merritt

Matthew 15:29-39 After the incident with the Canaanite woman, Jesus moves back to the shore, and a crowd follows. He has just come back from Gentile territory, and the crowd from there is still following; this is important for us … Continue reading →

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A Child’s Bread… and the Dog

Posted on October 25, 2017 by Don Merritt

Matthew 15:21-28 After His encounter with the Pharisees from Jerusalem in the last section, and His instruction to the disciples, Jesus heads into Gentile territory to show the disciples His teaching in action. Remember that in this section, Jesus has … Continue reading →

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Jesus, Disciple and Pharisee

Posted on October 24, 2017 by Don Merritt

Matthew 15:1-20 Matthew continues to move forward in his narrative, and beginning with this passage, he shows Jesus teaching the disciples to keep their distance from the Jewish religious leaders and their teachings. The scene begins with a confrontation between … Continue reading →

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Jesus Takes a Stroll

Posted on October 24, 2017 by Don Merritt

Matthew 14:22-36 This is a familiar story; actually it serves as the ending of the story of the feeding of the 5,000, connected as it is with the previous passage. Since it is a familiar narrative, and since you have … Continue reading →

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Jesus Steps Out of the Spotlight…

Posted on October 23, 2017 by Don Merritt

…and the crowds went with Him! Matthew 14:13-21 When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. (14:13) When Jesus heard about … Continue reading →

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