Chatham Christian Church

In the 5th chapter of Matthew, Jesus says, “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works.” Then in the 6th chapter, He says, “Beware of practicing your righteousness before men.” Which is it? Are we to let men see our good works, our righteousness, or not?

Have you ever excused your behavior with the words, “No one's perfect?” If you have, listen again to the words of Jesus. “Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

You have heard that it was said, "You shall not commit adultery," but I say to you...

What would you think of someone who audaciously declared, "You have heard…but I say" ...effectively challenging what you had been taught?

John's message, and Jesus' initial message, was the same. “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” As we move into chapter 5 of Matthew's gospel, John is in prison, and Jesus is ready to introduce that kingdom to His disciples.

We can almost hear Matthew say, "Then came Jesus..." bringing light, leadership, and love.

Jesus already knew the general direction His ministry would have to take, and He knew where it would have to end. He had known that from the foundation of the world. But now that He was a man, could He do it? Did He have the resolve needed to follow the necessary course?

John's job would be to get us ready. And he did so by showing how to be pleasing to our heavenly Father through confession, repentance, and baptism.

Matthew's gospel is the Royal Gospel, written primarily for a Jewish audience, and the events he recorded surrounding Jesus' birth and childhood make it evident that He was indeed the promised king.

Mary was a virgin when Jesus was born, something that was not only unusual, but humanly impossible. And it's something that is doubted by skeptics, and unbelievers, even today.

To Matthew's readers this genealogy was very important, and very interesting. And it was vital to Matthew's presentation of Jesus as the Christ, the Messiah, the King of Kings. This is the royal gospel, written to the Jews, to show them that Jesus is the king they were expecting, the one foretold in Scripture.

Having concluded his main argument in the 12th chapter, our author now tries to get in the last word on just about every aspect of the Christian life.

Jesus is central to the plan of salvation. And now that Jesus, the promised Messiah, has come, a new covenant between God and man is in effect. The old is invalid, so there's nothing to go back to.

It takes discipline to make a disciple.

We're going to look at several victors in faith, and some who weren't, on the surface anyway, so victorious. And then focus on the One who perfects our faith and brings ultimate victory to all who are faithful.

Obviously not everyone agrees on the value of walls, and sometimes they do what we expect them to do, and sometimes they don't. Sometimes they keep us safe and secure, but sometimes walls fail. This morning we're going to explore three walls, walls that stand, walls that crumble, and walls to build upon.

The Bible confirms that if we have faith in God there is no need to live in fear. And as we discovered when we began our study of faith in the Faith Chapter, faith is best understood by looking at the lives of those who lived by faith.

How long do you hang on to a promise?

God blessed Abraham by fulfilling His promises to him through his son, his grandson, and eventually through God's own Son, who was born of Abraham's seed. Who knows what God will do through our children, and their children, if we'll have the faith of Sarah and Abraham.

The Apostle Paul said we walk by faith, not by sight. But most of us would rather walk by sight.

We're going to look at that definition and the first three examples the author of Hebrews used to illustrate three fundamental elements of faith: a future element, a present element, and a past element.

The author of Hebrews explained in great clarity the value of what they had in Christ. And he warned them what would happen if they insulted His grace and walked away from the gift they had been given.

What's the difference between a big sin and a little sin in God's eyes?

You've been given the opportunity to enter the very presence of God, but have you done so? If not, it's time to put your faith into action, and our author calls us to action as he continues in Hebrews 10:19-21.

This morning we bring the doctrinal section of the book of Hebrews to a close.

Christianity has been called a slaughterhouse religion. Blood, blood, blood; we're always talking about blood. Or even worse, singing about it.

Why are we here this morning?

No matter how good a sermon might be, if it leaves your hearers asking, “So what?” you've failed as a preacher... every sermon should have a point to get. The author of Hebrews was apparently concerned about that as well.

After reprimanding his readers for having become dull of hearing and choosing to stay with the milk of God's Word instead of going on to the meat, and warning them of the consequences of such, the author of Hebrews now lays before us some very meaty passages.

We're ready to begin the seventh chapter of Hebrews this morning, but instead, I'm going to do what our author just did. I'm going to take a little side trip.

Do we really have assurance that we're in a saved relationship with our heavenly Father?

What if all you want is to be a good person, to live a good life, mind your own business, pay your religious dues, and go to heaven when you die? Can't you just settle for that? Maybe you can. But you should be aware of the danger of not going on to maturity.

If we're to go on to maturity in Christ and be what He wants us to be in the world, we've got to go beyond the ABCs.

I'm your preacher, but who's your priest?

We'll not fail to enter His rest if we've diligently examined His word, discovered our deepest need, and come to realize that the only way to find rest is by drawing near and holding fast to Jesus.

If we would enter the eternal home that's being prepared for us, it's essential that we hold fast to Jesus, learn from the past, and hold fast today.

“How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?” That's the question the writer of Hebrews asked us last week.

The author of Hebrews... right in the middle of his teaching on Christ's superiority to angels, he pauses. And says in effect "Listen to what I am saying; it's important!"

Jesus is in every way superior to angels.

Jesus is God's final word.

This morning we draw our study of Paul's letter to Titus, a pastoral, personal letter to a young preacher, to a close.

We can be uncontentious, and gentle, and considerate of others if we'll remember how God has been, and continues to be, with us. Pastors and teachers can help us do that, but they're not the only ones who need to be involved in a ministry of reminding. We all do.

In one verse Paul made it clear that if Titus wanted people to take note of him, as a minister of Jesus Christ, he'd have to speak, exhort, and reprove with all authority.

If every other prophecy of the Messiah was literally fulfilled right down to the smallest detail, then why doubt this one, the prophecy about the resurrection?

Today we're going to bring both sacred seasons (Christmas and Easter) together by focusing on the reason the grace of God appeared.

Today Paul uses a new phrase, and changes his target audience, but the message stays pretty much the same as last week. He speaks of adorning the doctrine of God.

Our slogan is “Where God's Word is Taught…and Lived”. And I think that's a good slogan for Chatham Christian Church.

Christians do still notice impurity in the world and should do their best to avoid it. But when they find themselves caught up in impure thoughts, and even impure actions, they simply acknowledge their weaknesses and repent of their sins.

By its very nature as the purveyor of God's truth there can be no freedom to teach things in the church that are not true. And those who intentionally do so must be silenced.

What prompted Paul to write this particular letter to Titus? As we read on, we discover the reason was tied to Paul's leaving Titus in Crete.

This morning we begin a study of Paul's letter to Titus, one of his last letters, a letter that is one of three referred to as Pastoral Epistles, letters written to young pastors, namely Timothy and Titus.