Emmanuel330: WEEK 36 - New Call: Get Up! Follow Me! (請按此處收聼廣東話Cantonese podcast click here)

Today's Reading: Matthew 9:9-13

**For a simple and good way of Daily Devotion method please click this link: Subject Shifting Devotion.pdf.

Please click this link to Matthew 9:9-13

English(ESV): http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew 9&version=NIV
Chinese: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew 9&version=CUV

Bible Study

In yesterday's passage, we see how Jesus commanded the paralytic to get up and walk and he got up and walked. That is a demonstration of "resurrection" using the language in connection with resurrection.

Do you think today's passage about Matthew is another example of resurrection? Sure it is.

Bishop N.T. Wright says (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N._T._Wright):

Think for a moment what life would have been like for Matthew, day after day and year after year. Suppose it was you. You would sit in your hot little booth, waiting for travellers to pay the toll as they passed from one province into the next. They wouldn't enjoy it and nor would you. Then think what it would be like having a young prophet with a spring in his step and God's kingdom in his heart coming past one day and simply asking you to follow him. Yes: it would feel exactly like a healing miracle. Actually, verse 9 hints at something even more; it would be like a resurrection. 'He arose,' says the passage literally, using a regular 'resurrection' word, 'and followed him.'

N.T. Wright. Matthew for Everyone, Part 1. Louisville,KY:Westminster John Knox Press, 2004, p.102.

So, if Matthew was being resurrected, was he a paralytic? Not physical, but spiritual of course. Are you a paralytic? How can you be resurrected by Jesus through His message today?

'Get up! Follow me!" What does it means to you today? What Jesus is trying to tell you now?

Let's have a time to be still and give the Holy Spirit space to speak through the passage of scripture we have just read. Offer this time up to Jesus as you listen to him, while listening to "Gabriel's Oboe"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmax47l2hLU

Spiritual Journal

The topic I received from Jesus today is :

New call: Get up! Follow me!

What I got from Jesus today is a kind of deep self-examination and a call to leave what you are now doing so that you can follow Him.

You may be doing the same thing as Matthew was doing. Boring, greedy and worldly. Definitely not doing Kingdom ministry. So, the call is for Matthew to get up from his post doing those boring, greedy and worldly job to follow Jesus doing exciting, faithful Kingdom ministry.

Are you willing to get up and follow Jesus now?

Are you willing to help more people to get up and follow Jesus?

Dear Lord Jesus,

Lead us to be willing to get up and follow you now. And, be able to help more people to get up and follow you doing your Kingdom ministry. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Questions for group discussion

New Call: Get Up! Follow Me!

新的呼召: 起身! 跟我!

Passage: Matthew 9:9-13

Questions for group leaders

1. Read Matthew 9:1-8 again now. What have you noticed in today's passage as compare to last week's passage? Anything in similar situation? How?

2. If Matthew was being resurrected, was he a paralytic? Not physical, but spiritual of course?

3. Are you a paralytic? How can you be resurrected by Jesus through His message today?

4. 'Get up! Follow me!' What does it means to you today? What Jesus is trying to tell you now?

5. Are you willing to get up and follow Jesus now? Are you willing to help more people to get up and follow Jesus?

6. What is your highlight in today’s session?

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