Seeing - Hearing - Believing

Living Hope Presbyterian Church

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Matthew 11

Matthew 11: 1 When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities. 2 Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples 3 and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” 4 And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5 the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. 6 And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”

ESV: The Holy Bible, English Standard Version ©2011 Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.

Sermon Summary: The sermon delves into the story of John the Baptist, who, while in prison, sends his disciples to ask Jesus if he is truly the awaited Messiah. Jesus responds by pointing to the miracles and works he has performed, affirming his identity as the Christ. The sermon emphasizes the importance of not being offended by Jesus, as embracing him brings blessings, forgiveness, and eternal life. It challenges listeners to humble themselves before Christ and accept him as their king.

Key Points:

• John the Baptist questions if Jesus is the awaited Messiah.
• Jesus affirms his identity through his works and miracles.
• Embracing Jesus without offense leads to blessings, forgiveness, and eternal life.

Bible Verses Mentioned:

• Matthew 11:2-6
• Various references to Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection accounts in the Bible.

Humor and Anecdotes:

• No specific humor or anecdotes were shared in the sermon.

Key Quotes:

• “Blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”
• “To be offended by Jesus ultimately leads to death. To hell. To being cast away from the presence of the God that you want nothing to do with for all eternity.”

Themes:

• Identity of Jesus as the Messiah: The sermon focuses on Jesus’ confirmation of his identity through his works and miracles.
• Importance of Faith and Humility: Embracing Jesus without offense requires repentance, humility, and faith in his redemptive work.
• Eternal Life and Blessings: Accepting Jesus as king brings forgiveness, blessings, and the promise of eternal life.

Discussion Questions:

1. How do you personally respond to the concept of not being offended by Jesus? What challenges or struggles do you face in fully embracing him?
2. In what ways can we witness to others about the blessings and eternal life found in Christ, especially in a world where offense towards Christianity is prevalent?
3. Reflect on a time when you experienced the impact of Jesus’ works in your life. How did that shape your faith and understanding of who Jesus is?

Metaphors and Stories:

• The sermon uses the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge incident as a metaphor for seeking eyewitness testimony and understanding the impact of events. It parallels this with John seeking confirmation of Jesus’ identity through his disciples witnessing his works.
• References to biblical accounts of witnesses to Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection serve as stories that emphasize the importance of being witnesses to Christ’s work and sharing that testimony with others.