Pastor Blaine continues preaching through Matthew 17 where Jesus addresses the disciples’ faith and foretells his death and resurrection as He directs their attention to the cross.

Matthew 17:14-27
And when they came to the crowd, a man came up to him and, kneeling before him, said, “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he has seizures and he suffers terribly. For often he falls into the fire, and often into the water. And I brought him to your disciples, and they could not heal him.” And Jesus answered, “O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him here to me.” And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him, and the boy was healed instantly. Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.”

As they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day.” And they were greatly distressed.

When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax went up to Peter and said, “Does your teacher not pay the tax?” He said, “Yes.” And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tax? From their sons or from others?” And when he said, “From others,” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free. However, not to give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for me and for yourself.”

Sermon Notes:
Main Idea: Life on the Plain Is Lived with Eyes on the Cross
I. The Christian Life Requires Authentic Faith
II. The Christian Life Requires Sacrificial Love

Discussion Questions:
1. Do you see yourself as a gospel minister? Are there areas of your life that would change if you viewed the Christian life as a life of ministry?
2. What does it look like to develop a relational faith where we live and minister out of our fellowship with Christ?
3. How does the cross shape our view of rights and freedoms?
4. What are rights and freedoms that we can surrender for the love of others?
5. Are there rights and freedoms you have that could be a stumbling clock for other's faith in Jesus?

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