What is the church for? We'll remember and consider anew this Sunday Jesus' "Great Commission" for his church. What is our role in Christ's mission, both as individuals and as a church, and how do we accomplish this task we've been given?
It can be common to view the church like one of many other non-profit organizations trying to do good in our world. However, Scripture makes clear that the church is wholly different. It's a powerful institution given spiritual authority as an embassy of God's heavenly kingdom. This Sunday we'll consider what kind of authority the church has, and why every Christian should submit to one.
This series is based loosely on the book, Authority by Jonathan Leeman.
The Bible is much more than just another religious book. It is an interpretation of all of history. This Sunday we conclude our sermon series in the Gospel of Matthew with an overview series on the whole book. We'll that Matthew is ultimately pointing to King Jesus as the focus and goal of all of history--that all of our individual stories are ultimately about him and for him.
After more than two years, we come to the conclusion of Matthew's Gospel. Jesus stands resurrected, victorious over sin and death. And yet, in some ways the kingdom work has only started. We'll see the church's marching orders from our King!
This Easter Sunday we consider the two diverging responses to the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Like with many public events and people, there are many perspectives about the significance of Christ's death. However, the only interpretation that matters is God's. In the events surrounding the the death of his Son, we'll see God's take on this event--what is really going on--through the cries and miracles and ministers surrounding this death like no other.
This Sunday we come to the climactic crowning of the Savior King. And yet Matthew's description of Jesus' crucifixion is surprising in many ways. Surrounded by mocking from Romans and Jews alike, we're reminded that the very thing they're mocking Jesus about is being truly fulfilled in their midst.
How do you cope with guilt? We all do the wrong thing sometimes. And when we do, we're very good at avoiding, minimizing, or trying to atone somehow to make the feeling go away. But how does God call us to deal with our guilt? In our passage this Sunday, we see a number of people trying to deal with the responsibility they have for Jesus' death. And yet in the midst of the guilty characters all around him, stands the innocent One who came to wash all our guilty stains away.
Jesus famously said that in this world believers will have trouble (John 16:33). We will all face pressure and even persecution because of our faith. The question is, in the face of opposition, will we shrink or stand? In our passage, Jesus is put on trial before the high priest. And yet there are really two trials going on. We'll see what we can learn from the strength of Jesus' faith in contrast with the weakness of Peter.
One pastor said that you’re either in a time of trouble now, you just got out of some trouble, or trouble is right around the corner. And if you haven’t had much trouble in your life yet, just keep on living. Indeed, sorrow is, or will be, a part of all of our lives. In our passage this Sunday, we'll learn how to remain faithful in times of trouble from the Lord Jesus, who endures great sorrow through his submission to the Father and ultimately secures our salvation.
You might wonder why we celebrate the Lord's Supper each week. Indeed, it doesn't seem like much of a "supper" at all. What is the point of eating a miniature square of bread and drinking from a tiny cup anyway? We'll see in this Sunday's passage why, surrounded by betrayal and abandonment, this solemn celebration is essential to our faith.
This week we return to the Gospel of Matthew. We pick up Matthew's account at the conclusion. After an introduction and five alternating narrative and teaching sections, Jesus now readies to lay his life down the cross. And it's in this account that we meet two people whose actions represent a stark contrast of values. They each place a value on Jesus and raise the question for us: How do we value Jesus? And do our actions reflect his infinite worth?
In Matthew 24 and 25 so far, we've learned the importance of being ready for Christ's second coming. But as we conclude our Advent series in Jesus' Olivet Discourse this Sunday, we see a picture of the Lord's return and his final judgment. What is the basis for this judgment—the difference between eternal punishment and eternal life? The answer might surprise you.
We continue this week in our Advent sermon series in Jesus' Olivet Discourse. It's all about being prepared for his second advent--Christ's glorious second coming. This week, Jesus teaches us not to wait passively for his return but to be found faithful with the treasure he has given us. How can we be sure that we are found to be "good and faithful servants"--using the treasurer of the gospel and our spiritual gifts wisely as we await his return?
This week is the second Sunday of Advent, a season where we look back a Christ's first coming and look ahead to his second coming. We're continuing in Jesus' sermon on the Mount of Olives and will hear the crucial importance of being prepared for his arrival. How can we be wisely ready so we aren't left out of his coming kingdom?
Have you ever wondered what the end of the world will be like? In our passage this week, the disciples ask Jesus this very question. This Sunday is the beginning of Advent, when we remember the first coming of Jesus and look ahead to his second coming, as well. During this season, we'll continue in the Gospel of Matthew, hearing from Jesus' Olivet Discourse about his future return to earth—something every Christian should look forward to.
In this Sunday’s passage, our “gentle and lowly” Savior gets angry. Very angry. This is no out-of-control explosion, but an intentional declaration of God’s judgment on Jerusalem’s religious leaders. So what caused him to get so angry? Religious hypocrisy. We’ll see not only why this particularly provokes Jesus’ anger but also how to spot it, especially in our own lives.
In the past few weeks as we've worked through Matthew 22, we've seen the religious leaders pepper Jesus with controversial questions about political and theological issues. But now as we conclude the chapter, Jesus finally asks a question of his own. And his question is the most important of all: Who is the Messiah? We'll see that what you believe about Jesus is foundational to how you answer every other question in your life.
What is the greatest commandment in all of Scripture? Put differently, what is the most important thing that God wants from us? In our passage this Sunday, Jesus says that God cares about not just what we believe or do, but most of all, what--or who--we love. He wants our hearts.
Belief in life after death is fundamental to Christianity. Yet there are many non-Christians around us who think that this life is all there is. And even for Christians, it's easy to fall into living only for this life, or to misunderstand the next life God has prepared for us. As Jesus continues his confrontation with the Jewish religious leaders, we'll learn why it's crucial for us to believe and anticipate the resurrection of the dead.
