Three persons find themselves in Jesus’ presence—a tax collector, a bleeding woman and a dead girl. The Lord invites the first one to follow him. Like the abandoned nets of the three disciples, Peter, James, and John, Matthew drops the nets binding him to the unholy task of exacting taxes for Rome. The woman pursues Jesus, bound by a severe hemorrhage threatening her life. If only she can touch the hem of Jesus’s cloak, she will be healed. Finally, there is the young girl bound by death.

Relate with all three. Are you in a work that binds you? Are you bleeding emotionally? Is there a little child within you that has died? As a beach ball pressed beneath the surface of the water, so are each of the three until the touch of Jesus releases them to rise to the surface of the saving waters, dancing with joy and freedom in the breeze of eternal life that blows across their faces.

Matt. 9:9–13; 18–26

What are “Bible Breaths”? Learn More…
Example: Clearing my way to Jesus

Sundays are dedicated to the Gospels from the Revised Common Lectionary.
During the Seasons of Pentecost and Kingdomtide, we read the Gospel of Matthew.

For all the Firestarters I recommend the ebook.  You will have the entire program of well over a thousand of these introductions with you on your phone or tablet. Check the menu options at the site for more information.