Westside Community Church

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HOW DRAGONS DIE

StevenJBarker

HOW DRAGONS DIE

Dragons & Dandelions - Part 4 | April 21, 2024

Stephen Radie | sradie@westsidemail.com

JESUS IS THE ULTIMATE DRAGONSLAYER

1 Jesus climbed into a boat and went back across the lake to his own town. 2 Some people brought to him a paralyzed man on a mat. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “Be encouraged, my child! Your sins are forgiven.”     -Matthew 9:1-2

  • QUIT IGNORING YOUR DRAGONS

  • QUIT CARRYING YOUR DRAGON

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.    -Proverbs 3:5

3 But some of the teachers of religious law said to themselves, “That’s blasphemy! Does he think he’s God?” 4 Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you have such evil thoughts in your hearts?  5 Is it easier to say ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up and walk’ 6 So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!” 7 And the man jumped up and went home!  8 Fear swept through the crowd as they saw this happen. And they praised God for giving humans such authority.    -Matthew 9:3-8

  • QUIT FEARING YOUR DRAGON

For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.    -2 Timothy 1:7

  • QUIT FEEDING YOUR DRAGON

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.    -Philippians 4:6

  • QUIT HIDING YOUR DRAGON 

9 As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Matthew got up and followed him. 10 Later, Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. 11 But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with such scum?” 12 When Jesus heard this, he said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.”    -Matthew 9:9-12

For Discussion at Home or Group:

  • What Dragons are you facing now, or what Dragons have you faced recently?

  • How are you responding, or how did you respond to that Dragon?  Was it motivated more by fear than faith?

  • How has God slayed Dragons in your life in the past?  How should this past intervention give you present faith?

  • Who do you know that is currently facing Dragons?  How can you encourage them this week?

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