Gateway Church of Visalia
From Emptiness to Purpose
From Emptiness to Purpose Matthew 5:17-20 Pastor Ed Ainsworth May 1st & 4th, 2025
Locations & Times
GateWay Church
1100 S Sowell St, Visalia, CA 93277, USA
Thursday 6:45 PM
Sunday 8:30 AM
Sunday 10:00 AM
Sunday 10:30 AM
Introduction
Matthew 11:1-11 NKJV
Now it came to pass, when Jesus finished commanding His twelve disciples, that He departed from there to teach and to preach in their cities.
2 And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples 3 and said to Him, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?”
4 Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: 5 The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. 6 And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”
7 As they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 8 But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. 9 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. 10 For this is he of whom it is written:
‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face,
Who will prepare Your way before You.’
11 “Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
Now it came to pass, when Jesus finished commanding His twelve disciples, that He departed from there to teach and to preach in their cities.
2 And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples 3 and said to Him, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?”
4 Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: 5 The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. 6 And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”
7 As they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 8 But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. 9 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. 10 For this is he of whom it is written:
‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face,
Who will prepare Your way before You.’
11 “Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
Experience
Frustration
Expectation
Frustration
Expectation
Today is not a rental, so own it!
#1 You are doing better than you think you are.
#2 You matter more than you think you do.
#3 It is less about you than you think it is.
#4 There is more in store for you than you think there is.
From Emptiness to Purpose.
Pastor Ed Ainsworth, Matt. 11:1-11
May 1st & 4th, 2025
Prayer Requests:
Group Discussion: How do our gifts and purpose work together to accomplish God’s will on the earth?
Read Aloud: Matt. 11:1-11
1. Can you relate to John in this passage? How so?
2. Out of the four takeaways below, which one impacted you the most?
#1 You are doing better than you think you are.
#2 You matter more than you think you do.
#3 It is less about you than you think it is.
#4 There is more in store for you than you think
there is.
3. Jesus had the power to save John, but that’s not what He did. How does our faith in God grow in our disappointments?
Pastor Ed Ainsworth, Matt. 11:1-11
May 1st & 4th, 2025
Prayer Requests:
Group Discussion: How do our gifts and purpose work together to accomplish God’s will on the earth?
Read Aloud: Matt. 11:1-11
1. Can you relate to John in this passage? How so?
2. Out of the four takeaways below, which one impacted you the most?
#1 You are doing better than you think you are.
#2 You matter more than you think you do.
#3 It is less about you than you think it is.
#4 There is more in store for you than you think
there is.
3. Jesus had the power to save John, but that’s not what He did. How does our faith in God grow in our disappointments?