Matthew 9:14-26
Reflect
The disciplines of the day, including fasting, marked those who were sincere in their devotion to God. In this case, the Pharisees and John’s disciples, by all appearances, were incredibly devoted. By contrast, the disciples of Jesus looked undisciplined and radical. They did not fit the mold of a “good Jew.” While Jesus makes it clear that there is a time and season for fasting, it was not at that moment. He also did not come to uphold the structures and forms of people’s traditions and expectations. Unless the form is flexible, it will not contain the new wine; a fresh outpouring of the Spirit.
In the 1960s, a social science theory was developed known as the Diffusion of Innovation Theory. It sought to understand the characteristics of how a population adopts and welcomes new ideas. The five categories are: Innovators, Early Adopters, Early Majority, Late Majority, and Laggards. In general, most of the population lands in the Early or Late Majority. Loosely using this theory, are you a person who is hungry to see a move of God and ready to make necessary sacrifices or course adjustments?
Apply
Are you excited or hesitant to switch things up in your disciplines and faith walk? Or, are you longing for the days gone by when God seemed more active, but now feels distant? Where would you be in this passage today? A disciple of John, a Pharisee, or a disciple of Jesus?
Pastor Melissa
Pray
- Pray through the prayer section in our program.
- Pray for our Congregational Life Pastor, Mike Bartusek and his family.
- Pray for Dave Schneider, our Youth and Worship Pastor and Erin Gibbard, Youth Ministry Associate.
- Pray for Karen Alksne, our Congregational Life Ministry Associate.