On the heels of informing His men of His coming crucifixion and their need to follow Him there, the Messiah takes up the mission of encouraging His men. They've no reason to fear or doubt, and God the Father will cameo the scene to assure them.
You can't blame the...read >>
The King & His Kingdom had arrived. And with that, things were changing. Light was swallowing up all the shadows of the past. What was once thought to set God's people apart—the law—now meets its Maker. And as He spoke and declared the meaning of...read >>
Where is your confidence before our holy God? Perhaps you've been baptized? Maybe you were raised in the Church and have been a member for years, have gone on mission trips, have evangelized many friends, are even consider by many as a godly saint... or at least...read >>
In an effort to accuse Jesus, the religious leaders find themselves condemned again by their own self-righteousness. "Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath?" What sort of question is that?
As we saw last week, God commanded rest for His people, a day of...read >>
At this point, Jesus had definitely met some opposition from the Jewish religious leaders, but His Words are about to stir some serious death threats.
Even today there is much division surrounding the Sabbath. But Matthew's mission is to reveal Jesus the Messiah....read >>
Having spent more than a year in The Sermon On The Mount, what is our state of union? Has the Son's faithful, clarifying exposition of His Father's Law stoked our spiritual pride: "We know more than them." Or, has the Righteous Words of the Son of Man...read >>
The Golden Rule: one of the most well-known sayings in religion. It's so simple, easy enough for a child to understand.
But, as we've been learning from Jesus, seeing is one thing, understanding more challenging still. But doing? truly living according to what...read >>
Ever wonder how much of your faith is really just token righteousness, just doing stuff "because that's what my parents did." "If I go to church, I go over to First-So-And-So because that's what I've always done." "You'll find us there every...read >>
If you were asked, "What's the purpose of God's grace?" what would your answer be? Do you know why God looks upon the Church with His undeserved favor? The answer from today's text might surprise you.read >>
So far in His sermon, Jesus had declared the character & resulting conduct of His disciples: those who follow Him. Having their character so transformed (the Beatitudes), though their conduct in the world would result in persecution, as the Light of the World...read >>
We'll never convince the world of their need for Jesus without knowing & living the reality of our need for Him ourselves.
There are so many, many promises in Jesus' sermon on the hillside. However, few Christians today actually experience them? Why...read >>
How long have you lingered under the crushing weight of guilt?
Does there remain any unconfessed failures or grievances against others that our enemy clouds out Christ with?
If God loves you—and you know He does—He will lovingly, but often painfully,...read >>
There are so many pointers to Jesus in today's passage on the life of Joseph.
Joseph proves to be an amazing man of faith & godliness, one we should most certainly "follow as I follow Christ." The Lord exalts him to a position of authority in Egypt,...read >>
How do God's commandments strike you? Do they elicit frustration or faithfulness? gritted teeth or grateful obedience?
The way we hear & feel about God's instruction tells a lot of our perception about Him, our confidence in Him, and our worship of Him.
We...read >>
A fulfilled promise made bold witnesses of future glory.read >>
"We're all God's children"...at least according to most. But according to Jesus, not exactly. But the best news is, you can be: "He who has the Son has Life."
Today, in the Gospel of John, the Word becomes flesh!
God becoming man is ludicrous, insane,...read >>
