Matthew Chapters 17-18

1) How much faith in God do you have?  How much faith is necessary to see God work in powerful ways? (see 17:14-20)

2) The disciples showed they didn’t fully get life in the Kingdom by the question they asked Jesus in 18:1.  What does Jesus’ answer mean (see 18:2-4)?  What did they need to change from?  What did they need to change to?  What does this mean for you?

3) How motivated are you to reconcile with others (see 18:15)?  How willing are you to forgive (see 18:21)?  What relationship are you in that needs forgiveness and reconciliation?

Even though the disciples had previously been given the authority to drive out evil spirits (see 10:1), they were unable to do so.  But consider this: “It’s not the amount of faith that brings the impossible within reach, but the power of God, which is available to even the smallest faith.”  The disciples apparently had less than mustard seed size faith.  But they only needed enough faith to believe in God; not to move a mountain.  It would be God’s power that would do that.

Jesus’ followers wanted to see where they lined up in His Kingdom.  Jesus told them they had to change their whole perspective and come to God as a child.  Rather than confidently bragging about themselves, they needed to humbly and dependently rely upon God.

Reconciliation and forgiveness are the ideas that Jesus shares at the end of Chapter 18.  Living these out is critical in the way we interact with those around us.  In fact, these items are so important that we stand in judgment before God if we fail to live this way (see 18:35).