We begin our new spring/summer sermon series in the concluding portion of Genesis. We'll recap the overall message of Genesis as we prepare this season to hear and grow from God's word through the story of Joseph.
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.
We begin Part 5 of Matthew (chapters 19-26), what we're calling the Clash of Kingdoms. But as we'll see this Sunday, this kingdom clash occurs not only between Jesus and the religious leaders, but also between Jesus and the disciples' (and our) misconceptions about what his kingdom will be like. Chapter 19 starts with Jesus' perspective on marriage. This passage includes Christianity's foundational teaching on marriage, and it was not only counter-cultural in Jesus' day but also in ours.
This weekend is Vision Sunday, when we reflect and recommit to our mission as a church. It is fitting that we'll hear Jesus' conclusion to his Discourse on the Church in Matthew 18, where he paints a glorious vision for a radically forgiven--and radically forgiving--kingdom community.
Now we come to the final week of our relationships series. Jesus actually has a lot to say about singleness in Matthew 19. We'll explore questions like: Is singleness a second-class status? What if my singleness isn't my choice? How do I find fulfillment in the midst of singleness? I hope you'll join us.
Jesus' teaching on marriage in Matthew 19 naturally raises the question of how we're supposed to go about getting married. Yet there is nothing in Matthew 19, or really anywhere in the Bible, that directly addresses our modern phenomenon of dating. However, there are some passages that tell stories of people who intentionally move from singleness to marriage. Today we're going to look at 2 of these stories--one that turns out well and the other not-so-well--and try to discern some biblical principles for dating today. And even if you never plan to date or are already married, there is something in these stories for you.
Our culture is fascinated with sex. From politics, to movies, to our personal lives, we think about it, read about it, sing about it, and, of course, do it. In Jesus' teaching on marriage in Matthew 19, sexual activity is the only grounds for divorce. It raises the question: Why is sex so significant to Jesus? Last week, we saw that God is the creator/inventor of marriage. And this Sunday, we're going to explore why God created not just marriage, but sex, too.
We’ve all probably asked for, and given, some kind of relationship advice before. But have you ever asked God for relationship advice? Jesus actually has a lot to say about this! So over the next four weeks, we're going to take a break from our Genesis series and explore Christ's teaching on marriage, sex, dating, and singleness in Matthew 19. We begin this week with marriage. Not just how to have a good marriage, but how all of us--married or not--should think about marriage from a biblical perspective.
