People say that if you want to avoid controversy and conflict then you shouldn't talk about religion or politics. Well, Jesus does both in this Sunday's passage. In these eight little verses, we'll see how we as Christians should view government, how we should engage in politics, and how the kingdom of God relates to the state.
When was the last formal invitation you received in the mail? Perhaps it was for a wedding or a work party. Jesus tells us in this Sunday's passage that the greatest invitation we will ever receive is a call into his kingdom. Why is it so crucial that we RSVP, and, as this parable tells us, make sure we're dressed appropriately for the occasion?
How do you know if your faith is genuine? In our passage this Sunday, Jesus confronts the hypocritical Jewish religious leaders head-on as he teaches us how to distinguish between fruitful faith and false faith.
Jesus is the most influential person to ever live. And yet he is likely the most misunderstood, as well. People have claimed the name of Jesus to support all kinds of causes, movements, and theologies--often contradictory ones. The truth is, it is easy to make Jesus into our own image. The way to fight against this tendency is to see how Jesus reveals himself in his word. Our passage this Sunday shows us the paradoxical nature of Christ and his mission as Jesus is both a strong ruler and humble savior.
How do you define success in your life? Many of us came to Boston with plans and ambitions for our future. Yet in this week's passage, Jesus turns the idea of "success" completely on its head. What kind of success should Christ followers aspire to? And why is Jesus' way to greatness better than that of the world around us?
"It's not fair." We usually say it when we don't get something we feel like we deserve, or when we're comparing ourselves to someone else. Have you ever said this to God? In our passage this week, Jesus shocks the disciples with the "unfair" economy of his kingdom. Yes, God richly rewards his followers (19:29), but these eternal rewards aren't earned. They are received by a radically generous God who distributes them according to his will, not our own.
This week is Stewardship Sunday. It's the annual time at Ruggles when we talk about money—its blessings, its dangers, and the importance of generosity. This week, we'll see the power of possessions in light of Christ's surprising, upside-down kingdom—where "many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first."
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.
This week we're diving back into Jesus' Discourse on the Church. As he said previously, we shouldn't cause our fellow "little ones" to stumble, but what should we do when our fellow believers wander away on their own? We'll see Jesus' vision for his people caring for one another in this foundational passage for what is called church discipline.
How do you measure greatness? Maybe you're watching athletes competing in the Olympics or you're looking up to leaders in your vocational field. But who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? Jesus says it's the one who is most like a child. We'll see on Sunday what Jesus means by this and how we can aspire to be great in his kingdom.
When was the last time you made a mistake and looked foolish? This passage shows the disciples doing just that, again! In this week's text, Jesus performs two extraordinary miracles. And yet, the miracles are almost an afterthought as Jesus focuses on training his still-weak and confused disciples. Through the disciples' mistakes, we'll see the dangers of our own discipleship so we can avoid too little faith and too much offense.
Why do people climb mountains? For some it's to get a new perspective. When you climb a tall mountain you see the world down below differently, but you also see yourself differently as it makes you feel small. In our passage this Sunday, Jesus takes three of his disciples up a mountain, because they needed a new perspective--on the world, on themselves, and on Him. And of course, this is a new perspective that we need, too.
Our culture surrounds us with messages of self-love and self-fulfillment, yet in our passage this Sunday, Jesus calls us to self-denial. After declaring the mission of the church to storm the gates of death, we'll see how the church is to do this. Surprisingly, we are to bring life by following Christ in death.
This has been one of the most volatile years for the church, and our church, in a long time. The global pandemic, a racial justice movement, a contentious presidential election, and more have contributed to confusion and discouragement over the nature and mission of the church. In God's providence, this is the perfect time for us to jump back into the Gospel of Matthew and receive Jesus' triumphant, and comforting, promise: "I will build my church."
Have you ever been led astray? In our passage this Sunday, Jesus warns us about the false teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees. But what exactly is this false teaching? Why is it so destructive? Why does he compare it to bread baking? And finally, how should we guard ourselves against it and walk in truth?
What did you expect? In this week's passage, we see God's heart for the nations and for outsiders. Through a curious interaction between Jesus and a desperate mother and a repeated feeding miracle, we'll see that great faith can reside in unexpected places, and people.
Is your heart really in it? That's what this Sunday is all about. It's so easy for us to just go through the motions in our spiritual lives! This week we have the privilege to sit under our brother Daniel Mboweni's preaching. He will show us from Matthew 15 the eternal importance of devoting not just our religious habits, but our hearts to the Lord.
This last year has been an unexpected storm for all of us. When we're surprised by the circumstances in our lives, how can we survive--or even thrive? Matthew is the only Gospel writer to include Peter's attempt to walk on the stormy water with Jesus. So we'll explore how we might find faith not only to step out of the boat but to stay above the water as well.
It seems that our nation is more divided than ever. It has become second nature to vilify those who are different from us or in disagreement with us. But in Sunday's passage recording Jesus' feeding of the five thousand, we see the Lord show a supernatural compassion for an undeserving people. And one group of the undeserving is the disciples themselves! We'll learn how we're not just objects of Christ's compassion but also instruments of it, too, for others.
