Sermons on Matthew
Finding God In Endings
Ecclesiastics 7v8 Endings are inevitable. They multiply, the longer you live. How does our culture handle endings? We are conditioned often to see endings as a sign of failure, rather than opportunities for something new. We hate endings – we want to avoid them at all cost. -Endings are scary. -Endings remind of us of other times we have experienced loss or change in the past. -Endings make us we lose the illusion of absolute control we pretend to have.…
Advent 4: Love
Advent 4: Love The Loneliest Place On Earth Where is the loneliest place on earth at Christmas? The loveliest place in the Christmas story has to be the humble stable where Jesus was born. What makes it the loveliest place on earth is who lives there. (Luke 2v8-12) Now, step outside the little stable and look 6 miles north, into the heart of the city of Jerusalem. In the middle of the city is a beautiful palace. But what makes…
God Is With Us
This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. Matthew 1:18–19 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a…
Advent 1: HOPE
In Our World, Hope Is A Big Deal! “Everything that is done in the world is done by hope.” -Martin Luther Hope Is A Big Deal In The Kingdom Of Heaven! Hope is bigger than hoping for Heaven when you die, and that is no small hope! Jesus offers us hope—a promise of the coming light to conquer the darkness. (Mark 13) We are to live with a sense of expectancy and readiness, knowing that Heaven’s Gift will be…
Judgey Part 2: Not Holy Enough
Week 1 Recap: Not SMART enough. Christians shouldn’t be judgey because we don’t know all the story – only God does. Be curious – Not judgmental. Take time to LISTEN. Judgey Part 2: Not Holy Enough We think we are justified in our judgements, just because people happen to sin differently than we do. To think that there are sins that you are incapable of doing, and then to judge others for them, is a dangerous place to sit. We…
5 Things God Never Said – Part 3 “If You Miss an Opportunity to Share Christ With Someone, It’s Your Fault If That Person Goes To Hell.”
Week 1 & 2 Review. #1 “If you don’t know the date you were saved, then you are not saved.” We can be sure of our faith because we have the internal witness of the Holy Spirit and the external testimony of a changed life. #2 “If you want to be saved, just invite Jesus into your heart.” Scripture says clearly that we are saved by faith. We must BELIEVE. (Romans 10 v9-10) Part 3. “If You Miss…
Corinthian Commands Part 4: Be Strong!
“Be on your guard; Stand firm in the faith; Be men of courage; Be strong. Do everything in love.” 1Corinthians 16 v13,14 We Cannot Rely On Our Own Strength! Isaiah 40 v30; Psalm 20 v7,8; 1 Corinthians 1 v8-9 Even strong people – survivors and overcomers- encounter things they cannot face alone. Hope In The Lord = Strong In The Lord Ephesians 6 v10; Psalm 20 v6; Isaiah 40 v31. “There are no hopeless situations; there are only people who…
If God is in control, why do we pray?
Dear Abby, AMEN. “I struggle with praying for what I want because I know, in the end, God’s plan will prevail anyways… he knows better than me because he’s sovereign… Isn’t it pointless for me to pray for what I want?” Determinism, Fatalism & Providence. The Creator of the universe INVITES US to ask him to do things that we think would be good for the glory of His name, and for the good of the world. God does…
THE LIES OF BUSYNESS Part 4: “I Don’t Have Time To Rest!”
Loosen Your Bow! A permanently bent bow may break. You and I are just like that. We all need time to rest. God’s Word, and God’s World, Both Include Rest. GEN 2:3. God “rested from all His work”. Mark 2:27 “Then Jesus said to them, ‘The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people, and not people to meet the requirements of the Sabbath’” Why Rest? Rest is worship. (GEN 2:2, Mark 6:31, PS 46:10) Rest is…
The Lies of Busyness Part 1: My Busyness Pleases God
THE LIES OF BUSYNESS Part 1: My Busyness Pleases God How Are You? BUSY! Our World Worships Busyness Ps 39:6 Man is a mere phantom as he goes to and fro: He bustles about, but only in vain; he heaps up wealth, not knowing who will get it. The last thing I want is for most of my life to be pointless in the scope of eternity, but the truth is that much of my busy rushing is pretty pointless.…
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