We've been reminded vividly this week about the reality of evil in our world, even in the church. In God's providence, our passage for this Sunday--the Parable of the Wheat and Weeds--addresses this very reality: If Christ's kingdom has come then why is there still so much evil in the world? And what should we as the church do about it?
Do you have family or friends who don't believe the gospel? I'm sure you do. Or perhaps you're seeking but struggling to believe the gospel yourself. Have you ever wondered, if the Good News is so "good" then why do so many people reject it? Why does it seem so hard to believe? Well we come to the teaching portion ("discourse") in Part 3 of the Gospel of Matthew, where Jesus explains why so many people aren't seeing the "good" in his good news. From his famous parable of the soils, we'll hear Christ's defense of his message and see both the root and the fruit of true belief in him.
Wouldn't it be nice if God always gave us a clear sign when we asked? Then we would always know the right job to take, the right place to live, the right person to marry, and the perfect time to speak up. Yet in this week's passage, Jesus says asking for a sign is only a sign of unbelief, not belief. Through the continued opposition he endures in Matthew 12, Jesus will show us where we should look for faith, assurance, and wisdom.
Have you ever said something you wish you could take back? As the opposition to Christ and his kingdom continues in Part 3 of Matthew, Jesus' response to the Pharisees reveals a timeless principle about the connection between our words and our hearts.
Part 3 of the Gospel of Matthew is heavily combative, particularly between Jesus and the Pharisees, but there is a break in the action in Sunday's passage. It shows us ultimately that Jesus' ministry isn't primarily a boxing match. It's a servant ministry, a quiet ministry, a ministry to bruised reeds and smoldering wicks. And this, of course, has massive implications for our own church's ministry, too.
The Bible is full of commands--there are at least 1500 of them! But Sunday's passage shows that there is a right and wrong way to view and follow God's good law. As we continue to see opposition build to Christ and his kingdom, we'll hear Jesus declare the purpose and priority of God's law for believers--as he points to his unique authority as God and King.
In this Sunday's passage, we hear perhaps Jesus' harshest condemnation and his most compassionate invitation--set right next to each other. In light of the people's rejection of Christ's kingdom, we'll learn the primary factor that distinguishes those who resist Christ and those who find rest in Christ.
Have you ever been disappointed with God? How do we respond when our expectations of God, the church, and our lives don't line up with the reality? This week we're diving back into the Gospel of Matthew. After Matthew introduces the promised King (ch. 1-3) and Jesus announces the kingdom (ch. 4-7) and brings the arrival of the kingdom (ch. 8-10), but now in Part 3 (ch. 11-13) we'll see the reality of opposition and rejection of Christ's kingdom.
We conclude our Memento Mori sermon series this week exploring the problem of loss and grief. We've seen how death affects our identity and our purpose but how do we respond knowing that everything in our life--including our very lives--is temporary? How do we look at death not flippantly on the one hand or hopelessly on the other, but biblically?
We're diving back into our sermon series on the subject of death. Two weeks ago, we explored death and our identity from Psalm 90--that death both humbles us and lifts us up. When we remember our death, we recognize our dependence on our Creator but also see our need for eternal life through our Savior. This week, we'll address the problem of futility. If we're going to die and be forgotten, do our lives really matter?
We're taking a one-week pause in our Memento Mori sermon series to welcome Pastor Ron Bouthillette. He's going to preach a New Year's message on our foundational identity in Christ.
We'll begin the New Year with a short sermon series on the subject of death. This isn't your typical optimistic New Year's theme, but the truth is, the reality of death gives us perspective on life. And God's word has a ton to say about this! My hope for you is that we will enter this new year prepared to die and, therefore, prepared to live.
As we continue in our study of the book of Ruth, we come now to the moment Naomi and Ruth had been waiting for. Boaz will officially become Ruth's redeemer. In this account, the emphasis is placed on the cost that Boaz must bear in order to save Ruth--which, of course, reminds us of the great cost that Jesus' paid to redeem us. Indeed, Christ's wooden manger will lead to his wooden cross.
At Christmastime, we remember the midnight hour when Jesus was born in Bethlehem and when the angels made their dramatic announcement to the shepherds, as the famous Christmas carol (and our sermon title) recounts. But a thousand years earlier there was another momentous midnight event. Though it is much quieter than the angels' announcement, it is no less significant. Boaz agrees to be Ruth's redeemer, which ultimately allows Christ to be ours.
As we continue our Advent series in ancient Bethlehem and the book of Ruth, we come to some good news and hope that the two widows' dire circumstances may change. How did this come about? By unmerited grace. This chapter is both a comforting encouragement of God's grace for us, and a powerful call to be God's instrument of grace for others.
We'll spend this Advent season in Bethlehem, though not with the traditional manger scene that you're thinking of. We'll instead explore an earlier tale of light and hope amid darkness and despair in the now-famous Little Town--a story that made Mary and Joseph's journey possible a thousand years later.
Unfortunately, we had technical issues recording the sermon, but a loose manuscript may be found here.
Two weeks ago we saw that Jesus calls, commissions, and empowers kingdom workers like us to share his good news. But this Sunday's passage is a reality check. On this mission, there will be significant and surprising opposition. Yet in the midst of this persecution, we'll see that Jesus offers us incredible comfort.
This week is Missions Sunday! We welcome Jim Harrell to preach to us from God's word about the mission of serving other churches in need. Jim is an elder at Christ Community Church in Taunton, MA and the founder of Overseed, an organization committed to church revitalization in New England. We'll also hear a testimony from Pastor Hunter Guthrie of First Baptist Church of Medfield, MA.
This Sunday, Jesus invites and instructs his disciples--and us--in his kingdom mission. We'll see that being a Christian is not just a calling to Christ but it's a calling to love and share the gospel with the world around us.
We have the privilege to welcome Dillon Cauley, Pastoral Resident at Beacon Community Church in Belmont, MA. Dillon will preach the word to us as we continue in our sermon series in the Gospel of Matthew.
