Stranger Things
Sermon Notes
As we continue in our "In Living Color" series, we are in Matthew 8 and see a leper who seeks healing from Jesus, and we see the similarities between his leprosy and our sin. Christ alone can cure us and invites us to come to the end of ourselves and accept Jesus' compassion.
The Curse That Infects Us Is Sin
The curse of sin is compared to leprosy, a disease that infects us from the inside out, leading to brokenness in our lives and relationships.
Sin isolates us from God and others, cutting off our ability to be honest, open, and caring towards people and separating us from a meaningful relationship with God.
Sin desensitizes us to its effects over time, numbing us to the destructive consequences and distorting our appearance with unattractive qualities like pride, selfishness, and greed. It grows and destroys, leading to death if left unchecked.
Christ Alone Can Cure Us
Jesus reveals our solution by teaching the Sermon on the Mount, which highlights the impossibility of attaining righteousness through our own efforts.
The Sermon on the Mount emphasizes that we cannot fix or save ourselves; we need Christ alone to cure us.
Accepting our inability and coming to the end of ourselves leads us to the realization that only Jesus can heal, save, and transform our lives.
Christ Has Compassion Toward Us
Christ's compassion is seen in his response to the leper, as he is moved with pity and stretches out his hand to touch and heal him.
Jesus' act of touching the leper demonstrates his willingness to go beyond what is required for healing, emphasizing his compassion towards those who have been neglected and isolated.
Our Savior's compassion extends to our sickness and sin, as he reaches out to us in love, inviting us to come to him with our shame, past, and insecurities and offering to cleanse and restore us.
Discussion Questions
How does the story of the leper in Matthew 8 demonstrate the compassion of Jesus? In what ways does Jesus show compassion towards the man?
The leper took a risk by approaching Jesus and asking for healing. What does this reveal about the man's desperation and faith? How does this relate to our own need for Jesus?
Sin is described as a disease that infects us from the inside out, similar to leprosy. How do the five ways sin is compared to leprosy help us understand the destructive nature of sin in our lives?
The Sermon on the Mount presented an impossible standard for righteousness. Why do you think Jesus taught such a high standard? How does it point us to our need for Christ's intervention and salvation?
How does the leper's encounter with Jesus serve as an illustration of our need to come to the end of ourselves and rely on Christ alone for healing and salvation? What can we learn from his example?