A messages from the series “The Gospel of Matthew: Will You Follow King Jesus?.”

A messages from the series “The Gospel of Matthew: Will You Follow King Jesus?.” Through this 30,000 foot view of chapters 8 & 9 in Matthew, we see three sets of three examples that show that Jesus desires to teach, preach and heal. And through these examples we are challenged to ask ourselves if we are living our lives as though Jesus is really…real.

A messages from the series “The Gospel of Matthew: Will You Follow King Jesus?.” On this Graduation Sunday we read about the culmination of the sermon on the mount where Jesus summarizes everything by inviting everyone to enter into Kingdom living through Him, the narrow gate. It is not enough to know of Him and participate in the things that look like Him, rather Jesus calls us to actually do what what He is teaching and be known by the fruit that comes from it.

A messages from the series “The Gospel of Matthew: Will You Follow King Jesus?.” It is important to remember that the Sermon on the Mount was one big sermon and not several small ones. Thus the themes that started with the Beatitudes are still in play. In this section of Scripture, Jesus is showing us that our right-standing before God cannot just be external. We must each be right in our hearts and motives.

A messages from the series “The Gospel of Matthew: Will You Follow King Jesus?.” The term “disciple” means “the student of a teacher.” But in the Hebrew culture, you didn’t just spend an hour or two with your teacher. You molded your entire life to look like your teacher. The apostle and disciple Matthew recorded in his Gospel a teaching from Jesus that lays out a step-by-step plan for what it means to follow and be a disciple of Jesus Christ.

A messages from the series “The Gospel of Matthew: Will You Follow King Jesus?.” The scriptures speak a lot to humility. It is often equated with weakness but truly humble people are self secure, with their self esteem neither too high or too low. Balanced is a good way to describe humble people. They know their limits. They are submissive to God, His Word and the Holy Spirit. No one exemplifies this better than Jesus, but also his predecessor, John the Baptist. Listen in as we learn about these two humble men of God.

A messages from the series “The Gospel of Matthew: Will You Follow King Jesus?.” The Gospel of Matthew was written primarily to a Jewish audience to pursuade them that Jesus is the long awaited messiah of the Isrealites. Through the beginning of the book, which traces Jesus’ lineage, through the story of Jesus’ birth and early years, Matthew includes much supporting scripture and themes that mirror the Isrealites history. Though it was written to Jews, it’s also relevant to us today, causing us to wrestle with who we think He is and whether or not we will find our ultimate hope and fulfillment in King Jesus.

A messages from the series “Surrender: Psalms for the Easter Season.” When there is so much grief and loss in our world brought on by tragedies seemingly at every corner, it can be hard to believe in good news. But God, who is light itself, has banished the darkness by offering us a new life in His son Jesus Christ. We need to stop pretending that we can do anything outside of a life in Christ and surrender lives, our very selves, to Him. Will you believe in Jesus’ death and resurrection? Will you surrender your disbelief in the Good News God offers, confess your need and receive new life? It is yours for the taking.

A messages from the series “Surrender: Psalms for the Easter Season.” This Palm Sunday highlights the many who were praising Jesus as he entered Jerusalem, laying palms before him him. They were praising him as their Messiah King but were they wanting him or what he could do for them? Our hearts are our motivation center. Whatever our hearts, or our affections, are set on is what is most important to us and ultimately determines who we are. Sadly, our hearts are generally more inclined to ourselves…our comfort, our beliefs, our time. But Jesus offers so much more for us that will ultimately be infinitely more satisfying to us than what we can offer ourselves.

A messages from the series “Surrender: Psalms for the Easter Season.” We all have a belief system around who Jesus is. When Jesus came to earth he tried explaining that the Messiah everyone was expecting would be so much more than simply a human king. He would be divine and would rule not just Israel but the whole world.