Matthew 1:18-25 ; Matthew 3 ; Matthew 4

Scripture -  "From there he (Jesus) went all over Galilee. He used synagogues for meeting places and taught people the truth of God. God's kingdom was his theme—that beginning right now they were under God's government, a good government! He also healed people of their diseases and of the bad effects of their bad lives. Word got around the entire Roman province of Syria. People brought anybody with an ailment, whether mental, emotional, or physical. Jesus healed them, one and all. More and more people came, the momentum gathering. Besides those from Galilee, crowds came from the "Ten Towns" across the lake, others up from Jerusalem and Judea, still others from across the Jordan."  Matthew 4:23-25

Observation - Here we see Jesus' three-fold ministry: teaching, preaching, and healing.  The glory of God and the power of God are seen in all three and this glory and power began to draw people to Jesus.  "More and more people came, the momentum gathering."  Momentum in the life of the church is very important.  And as much as we might try to manufacture momentum, it happens when we let the glory and power of the Lord shine through us.

Application - Is momentum in the church lacking, stalled, erratic?  How is the glory and power of God being reflected in what the church is doing?  If that power and glory are not being reflected in a way that is exciting others and intriguing those "outside" the church, what needs to be done to reconnect with the "source" so the church's actions - its teaching, preaching, and healing ministries - build momentum.  A momentum that bring more and more people into God's kingdom.