Preparing for Sunday - Matthew 8-9 & Resurrection Sunday

March 28, 2013 by Bret Capranica Preparing for Sunday

Read Matthew 8-9.
Make a list of who is healed, of what they are healed, how they were healed, is anything about their faith described, and what was the response (if any is listed).
What do these chapters teach about what it means to follow Jesus?
Find all the references made to Jesus' authority. What do you learn?
List all of the titles used to describe Jesus. Who do people think Jesus is and why?

According to Matthew 8-9, what was the purpose of the supernatural displays of power from Jesus?
What effect did the miracles have on the following peopel in Matthew 8-9: The disciples, those healed, the crowds, the Pharisees?
For those whose faith was noted by Jesus (8:5-13; 9:1-8; 9:18-26, 27-31) - did they have faith before they were healed or after? What should we take away from this?
What is the purpose of the miracles of Jesus? How do you know?
Consider the greatest of the miracles of Jesus: his own resurrection from the dead. What effect did that have on people? What effect is it having today?

How are you preparing yourself to respond to Jesus this Resurrection Sunday? What about this most revealing of Jesus' miracles impacts you most and how? What practical difference is the resurrection actually making in your life on a daily basis?
Who could you bring with you to church this Sunday who needs to hear about the revealing purpose behind the miraculous nature of Jesus? Pray for them and talk to them today about coming with you this week.
Pray for our gathering this Sunday. Culturally, this is a day when we are likely to see many new faces. How could you best pray for those who will visit? How could you best pray for our congregation?
Pray for those who will be leading the service - that they will lead us with undistracted excellence in our worship of the risen Christ: Dawson Bryant, music; Rob Stouffer, Elders' prayer and Scripture reading; Bret Capranica, teaching.
Meditate on the lyrics and sing through the weekend those songs we will sing together this Lord's Day. We provide links to iTunes for you to purchase any of the songs you do not have in your music library, or links to free YouTube videos you can use to listen to the songs.