Word of Life Study Series

Send us a Text Message. Welcome to the Gospel Series- The Discourses of Jesus: www.wordinspire.org Discourse: “On Relationships” Reference: Matthew 12:46-50; Mark 3:31-35; Luke 8:19-21 Theme: Looking beyond the Natural Point of View to Eternal Realities Context: While Jesus was Still Talking to the Crowd, Mary and her Sons wanted to see Him Matthew 12:46-40 While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.” He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” Support the Show.

Send us a Text Message. Welcome to the Gospel Series- The Discourses of Jesus: www.wordinspire.org Discourse: “The Sign of Jonah” Reference: Matthew 12:38-42; Luke 11:29-32 Theme: The Greatest Sign for Mankind is the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the Dead Context: Jesus was at a Synagogue on the Sabbath Teaching the People Matthew 12:38-42 Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, “Teacher, we want to see a miraculous sign from you.” He answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now one greater than Jonah is here. The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, and now one greater than Solomon is here.” Support the Show.

Send us a Text Message. Welcome to the Gospel Series- The Discourses of Jesus: www.wordinspire.org Discourse: “Jesus and Beelzebub” Reference: Matthew 12:22-37; Mark 3:20-30; Luke 11:14-28 Theme: It was the Holy Spirit Manifesting through Jesus in Power as He does through us Today Context: Jesus Cast a demon out of a Man that had made him both Blind and Mute Mark 3:22-30 And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, “He is possessed by Beelzebub! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons.” So Jesus called them and spoke to them in parables: “How can Satan drive out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come. In fact, no one can enter a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can rob his house. I tell you the truth, all the sins and blasphemies of men will be forgiven them. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin.” He said this because they were saying, “He has an evil spirit.” Support the Show.

Send us a Text Message. Welcome to the Gospel Series- The Discourses of Jesus: www.wordinspire.org Discourse: “Rest for the Weary” Reference: Matthew 11:28-30 Theme: The Good News of the Gospel is that Jesus Obtained what we could not by ourselves - Life Context: Jesus was Teaching and Preaching in the Towns of Galilee Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Support the Show.

Send us a Text Message. Welcome to the Gospel Series- The Discourses of Jesus: www.wordinspire.org Discourse: “Lord of the Sabbath” Reference: Matthew 12:1-14; Mark 2:23-28; Luke 6:1-11; 14:1-6 Theme: The Value of a Person Supersedes Religious Traditions Context: Jesus and His Disciples were going through some Grain Fields and Eating as they went Mark 2:23-28 One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain. The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?” He answered, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.” Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.” Support the Show.

Send us a Text Message. Welcome to the Gospel Series- The Discourses of Jesus: www.wordinspire.org Discourse: “Woe to Unrepentant Cities” Reference: Matthew 11:20-24; Luke 10:10-16 Theme: Greater Knowledge of Truth Brings Greater Expectation to Heed and Obey it Context: Jesus was Teaching and Preaching in the Towns of Galilee Matthew 11:20-24 Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. “Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths. If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.” Support the Show.

Send us a Text Message. Welcome to the Gospel Series- The Discourses of Jesus: www.wordinspire.org Discourse: “Revelation Revealed to the Humble” Reference: Matthew 11:25-27; Luke 10:21 Theme: Coming Humbly before God Opens the Way for Revelation from Heaven Context: Jesus was Teaching and Preaching in the Towns of Galilee Matthew 11:25-27 At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.” All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Support the Show.

Send us a Text Message. Welcome to the Gospel Series- The Discourses of Jesus: www.wordinspire.org Discourse: “Jesus and John the Baptist” Reference: Matthew 11:1-19; Luke 7:18-35; 16:16 Theme: John the Baptist was a Crucial Element for Jesus Fulfilling His Mission on the Earth Context: While His Disciples were sent two-by-two Ahead of Him John’s Disciples ask Him a Question Matthew 11:1-3 After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee. When John heard in prison what Christ was doing, he sent his disciples to ask him, “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?” Support the Show.

Send us a Text Message. Welcome to the Gospel Series- The Discourses of Jesus: www.wordinspire.org Discourse: “Disowning the Lord” Reference: Matthew 10:32-42; Luke 12:8-12, 49-53 Theme: Remaining Faithful to the Lord, without Yielding to the Fear of Man- Especially from Family Context: His Disciples are sent two-by-two Ahead of Him and Prepared to meet Persecution Matthew 10:32-42 “Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven. Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law— a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’ Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives the one who sent me. Anyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and anyone who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward. And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward.” Support the Show.

Send us a Text Message. Welcome to the Gospel Series- The Discourses of Jesus: www.wordinspire.org Discourse: “Jesus Sends out the Disciples” Reference: Matthew 10:1-31; Luke 9:1-6 Theme: Jesus Sends out His Disciples two by two to Prepare those Places for His Coming Context: The Lord is Giving His Disciples Instructions Concerning Ministry Luke 9:1-6 When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. He told them: “Take nothing for the journey — no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra tunic. Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town. If people do not welcome you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave their town, as a testimony against them.” So they set out and went from village to village, preaching the gospel and healing people everywhere. Support the Show.

Send us a Text Message. Welcome to the Gospel Series- The Discourses of Jesus: www.wordinspire.org Discourse: “The Cost of Following Jesus” Reference: Matthew 8:18-22; Luke 9:57-62 Theme: The Concerns of this Life must not Interfere and Distract us from the Call of God Context: Jesus was Performing Many Miracles and was becoming Popular, Attracting a lot of Attention Luke 9:57-62 As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus replied, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” He said to another man, “Follow me.” But the man replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family.” Jesus replied, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” Support the Show.

Send us a Text Message. Welcome to the Gospel Series- The Discourses of Jesus: www.wordinspire.org Discourse: “A Tree is Known by its Fruit” Reference: Matthew 7:15-23; 12:33-35; Luke 6:43-45 Theme: Cutting through all the Smoke Screens to Real and Authentic Christianity Context: Jesus Getting Near to the End of His Sermon on the Mount to all the People Matthew 7:15-23 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” Support the Show.

Send us a Text Message. Welcome to the Gospel Series- The Discourses of Jesus: www.wordinspire.org Discourse: “Wise and Foolish Builders” Reference: Matthew 7:24-27; Luke 6:46-49 Theme: We are Deceiving ourselves if we don’t put God’s Word into Practice - Destruction Context: Jesus Closes His Sermon on the Mount with a Beautiful Illustration to Obey His Words Luke 6:46-49 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.” Support the Show.

Send us a Text Message. Welcome to the Gospel Series- The Discourses of Jesus: www.wordinspire.org Discourse: “Ask, Seek and Knock” Reference: Matthew 7:7-12; Luke 11:9-13 Theme: Jesus Revealing the Father’s Goodness and Principles of the Coming Kingdom Context: A Continuation of His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus Addressing a Multitude of People Matthew 7:7-12 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” Support the Show.

Send us a Text Message. Welcome to the Gospel Series- The Discourses of Jesus: www.wordinspire.org Discourse: “Narrow and Wide Gates” Reference: Matthew 7:13-14; Luke 13:22-30 Theme: There is only One Way to Heaven – through Faith in Jesus Christ Context: For the Benefit of Religious People who Trust in their own Righteousness Matthew 7:13-14 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Support the Show.

Send us a Text Message. Welcome to the Gospel Series- The Discourses of Jesus: www.wordinspire.org Discourse: “Do Not Worry” Reference: Matthew 6:25-34; Luke 12:22-34 Theme: Maintain the Rhythm of Life by Keeping our Priorities on God’s Kingdom as Number One Context: A Continuation of His Sermon on the Mount Concerning the Kingdom of God Matthew 6:25-34 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Support the Show.

Send us a Text Message. Welcome to the Gospel Series- The Discourses of Jesus: www.wordinspire.org Discourse: “Judging Others” Reference: Matthew 7:1-6; Luke 6:37-42 Theme: We Reap what we Sow, so let’s Treat Others in the Manner we want to be Treated Context: A Continuation of His Sermon on the Mount, Addressing the Hypocrisy of Human Nature Matthew 7:1-6 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.” Support the Show.

Send us a Text Message. Welcome to the Gospel Series- The Discourses of Jesus: www.wordinspire.org Discourse: “Fasting unto the Lord” Reference: Matthew 6:16-18 Theme: Whatever we do Unto the Lord is meant to be done Discreetly and in Secret Context: Humility and Devotion versus Religious Exhibitions of Hypocritical Pride Matthew 6:5-15 “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” Support the Show.

Send us a Text Message. Welcome to the Gospel Series- The Discourses of Jesus: www.wordinspire.org Discourse: “Storing Treasures in Heaven” Reference: Matthew 6:19-24 Theme: The Smart thing to do is to invest our Whole Lives into God’s Kingdom Context: True Authentic and Transparent Consecration to the Plan and Purposes of God in our Lives Matthew 6:19-24 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.” Support the Show.

Send us a Text Message. Welcome to the Gospel Series- The Discourses of Jesus: www.wordinspire.org Discourse: “Give to the Needy” Reference: Matthew 6:1-4 Theme: We need to be Discreet when Ministering to the Needs of Others Context: Keeping the Law Lends itself Towards Pride, the Grace of God is a Gift- God gets the Glory Matthew 6:1-4 “Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” Support the Show.