Football season has arrived! It's a time for fans to tune in on weekends and cheer for their alma mater or favorite team. But for some, football goes way beyond appointment viewing. Because there are fans, and then there are "the faithful." They're at every game, home and away, wearing team colors. They know the starters, the bench players, and the recruits. They show up early, leave late, and replay game highlights. Their faith in the team seems amazing.
In week two of the Outsiders In series, we'll see a man approach Jesus, who wore a different type of uniform. He asks an expected question backed by unexpected conviction, giving us a glimpse of what having true faith really means.
An Outsider’s Faith
September 18, 2022 • Jon Morales • Matthew 8:5–13
More from
Outsiders In
Harvest Time
November 27, 2022 • Jon Morales • Matthew 9:27–34
"Harassed and helpless." Does this describe you? And are these sentiments magnified by the sense that no one notices or cares? When Jesus saw the crowds in Matthew 9, this was precisely what he perceived — a mass of humanity, distressed and overwhelmed. But he didn't turn a blind eye or begin avoidance maneuvers. He saw them — just as he sees you — and his compassion turns to action. As we conclude our Outsiders In series, Jesus invites us to move with him toward the harassed and helpless today.
Fame & Opposition
November 20, 2022 • Adam Mashni • Matthew 9:27–34
Desperation is a great motivator! We’ll try almost anything if we’re running out of options. This week, desperate people come to Jesus, sometimes bringing their friends. As Jesus heals and drives out demons, his fame grows. People are amazed, and some even believe, but not everyone is happy about it. These varied responses lead to critical questions about what belief accomplishes in us.
Why Women Flock to Jesus
November 13, 2022 • Jon Morales • Matthew 9:18–26
In this week’s passage from the book of Matthew, we witness Jesus heal two women. The younger, the daughter of a synagogue leader, had died. The older suffered from a chronic condition lasting years. Having heard such stories many times before, we may be overly familiar with Jesus’ power to resurrect the dead and heal the sick. But when we observe the cultural context in which these healings took place, a powerful lesson emerges that both women and men need to receive.