Dee Martin’s Reviews > Matthew > Status Update

Some thought-provoking interpretation of the parable of the wedding banquet. "Thematic to Matthew's entire gospel is the insistence that God's gracious invitation needs to be met by our committed response."

Chapter 5 - The Storm At Sea - Talks about a dry-land, fair-weather faith. The disciples in the boat viewed the storm as the center of the situation. In reality Jesus was the center.

4 “This beatitude assures that God is on our side, and that our persistence, even in the face of two steps forward and one step backward, is undergirded by grace.”
“A major wall exists in today’s churches between middle-class congregations and the poor. There are plenty of ministries to hard living people, but fewer ministries with them.”

3 Jesus tempted with 3 temptations of the world. The first is temptation to rely on self instead of God’s promise to provide. The second is enticement to rely on God, but to negotiate terms with God. The third is enticement to be God.

quotes/notes
1 “Righteousness is an inward faithfulness and obedience to the spirit of the law of God: love of God and love of neighbor”
2 “The Spirit seems to act in two capacities: to test and challenge those who are in their comfort zone, and to confirm instances of active faithfulness”