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.
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.
We have the privilege to welcome Pastor Shawn Woo, Lead Pastor of Trinity Church Cambridge, to preach from Psalm 46. How fitting that in a time when COVID-19 continues to impact our lives and a storm descends upon our region, the Lord would offer us this famous Psalmthat describes our God as our mighty fortress in times of trouble.
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.
Have you ever felt like giving up? This Sunday, David Skinner, member of Mosaic Church, will encourage us with Paul's powerful exhortation in Philippians 3.
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.
This Sunday we have the privilege to hear Dr. Jim Harrell preach to us from Luke 11. Jim serves as the President of the Overseed Church Revitalization Network, as an elder at Christ Community Church in Taunton, MA, and as a personal mentor to Pastor Josh.
