Grace Community Bible Church Sermons

Pastor Rob Davis: Matt. 14:13-21

In Matthew 14:13-21 Jesus demonstrates part of His character by engaging in three acts of compassion towards the crowds and His disciples.

1. Christ demonstrates compassion to the crowds.
   1. Jesus needs a break (v. 13a).
   2. The crowds need Jesus (v. 13b).
   3. Jesus heals the sick in the crowd (v. 14).
2. Christ demonstrates compassion to the disciples.
   1. The disciples recognize the need but minister by sight, not by faith (v. 15).
   2. Jesus encourages the disciples to minister by faith (v. 16).
   3. The disciples again minister by sight, not by faith (v. 17).
   4. Jesus demonstrates the core principle of ministry by faith (v. 18).
3. Christ demonstrates compassion to everyone.
   1. Jesus abundantly provides for the disciples’ ministry by faith (v. 19).
   2. Jesus abundantly provides for the crowd’s (and disciples’) physical needs (vv. 20-21).

Pastor Rob Davis: Matt. 14:1-12

In Matthew 14:1-12 we learn about 4 mistakes made by the weak man Herod Antipas the tetrarch.

1. Because he is weak Herod fears everyone.
1. A ghost (vv. 1-2)
2. Herodias (v. 3)
3. John the Baptist (v. 4)
4. The crowd (v. 5)
2. Because he is weak Herod makes a drunken oath.
1. A birthday leads to a dance (v. 6).
2. A dance leads to an oath (v. 7).
3. An oath leads to a demand (v. 8).
3. Because he is weak Herod makes a disastrous decision (vv. 9-11).
4. Because he is weak Herod acquiesces to stronger men (v. 12).

Pastor Rob Davis: Matt. 13:53-58

In Matthew 13:53-58, as Jesus leaves Capernaum and returns to Nazareth (v. 53), we observe 4 marks of the tenacity of unbelief.

1. Unbelief is tenacious in its denial of Jesus’ authority (v. 54).
2. Unbelief is tenacious in its denial of Jesus’ person & work (vv. 55-56).
3. Unbelief is tenacious in its taking offense at Jesus’ character (v. 57).
4. Unbelief is tenacious even when its results become evident (v. 58).

Pastor Rob Davis: Matt. 13:47-52

In Matthew 13:47-52 Jesus teaches two more facets of the kingdom of heaven.

1. The kingdom of heaven will include a judgment at the end of this age.
1. The judgment will include everyone (v. 47).
2. The judgment will distinguish between the righteous and the wicked (vv. 48-49).
3. The judgment will result in the wicked being cast into hell (v. 50).
2. The kingdom of heaven must include preaching & disciple-making during this age.
1. We must preach and make disciples because we have been given understanding of the kingdom, especially of the judgment and hell (v. 51).
2. We must preach Christ and His kingdom from both the old covenant and the new covenant as we make disciples (v. 52).