Sovereign Grace Baptist Church

Devoted to Prayer The opening chapter of Luke's account of the Acts of the Apostles lays the groundword for the work of the Spirit of God through the Church. Jesus commanded the disciples to go to Jerusalem where the promise of the Holy Spirit would come (vv 1-5). Then the twelve expected Jesus to restore the kingdom to Israel (v 6). Jesus then ascended back to the Father in Heaven (vv 7-11). Our LORD was faithful to the Father’s intent for the Son and passed that call to faithfulness to the Church. Today’s passage will show us the faithfulness that the early Church had to one another as they united in prayerful faithfulness to Christ. "All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers" Luke tells us what the apostles and the 'others with them' did during the ten days in Jerusalem as Jesus instructed. They were all together. They were devoted. They were praying. It’s a beautiful kind of fellowship; it’s a sweet kind of fellowship.

So the work of redemption was completed on the cross as far as the sacrifice of Christ is concerned. However, the work of gathering the redeemed goes on, and it continued in that first generation of the church through the apostles, and then through the church as the apostles established the church. This is the history of the good news in the fallen world. The spel and the establishment of churches passed to Jesus' disciples.  They become the first wave of evangelists and preachers that went out to gather the redeemed and to establish the church. So this is the history of the church, and this history goes on until the last person in the plan of God is redeemed and the kingdom of God is fulfilled. A massive undertaking, Jesus commanded his disciples to take the gospel of repentance and salvation to every person on the planet.  That would be beyond our wildest imagination. Just the massive nature of such a task is daunting to even think about, let alone to be assumed, by powerless people ... educationally, academically, religiously. These are the ones Jesus chose for the job. Disobedient, fickle, yet loyal, disciples. They were inadequate for the task of the Great Commission. Yet Jesus chose them. He chose them to receive the gift of the Helper, the promise, the Holy Spirit, so that the task of kingdom building through heart transformations of sinners could be accomplished. Jesus had a 40-day period between His resurrection and His asor them to finish what He started ... to go out and preach the gospel and plant churches in such a way that it extended throughout all of human history and across the globe. These disciples had to 'wait' until the Father in Heaven sent 'the promise' before they were to go and tell the world the good news. Without this 'Helper' ... their words and actions would be ineffective. The promise was that HIS Spirit would dwell with HIS people ... no longer in a separated holy of holies in the temple ... but HE would dwell within them ... in their hearts ... changing their very souls.

Sovereign Grace Baptist Church is located in Cookeville, TN. Our desire is to honor Christ by loving the fallen world as Christ loved us. We learn how to love the world from God's Word by studying, growing, and applying God's Word in our lives and in our worship. We firmly believe that hearing God's Word is the path to understanding and experiencing salvation in Christ alone. Sovereign Grace Baptist Church 2523 Hwy 111 North Cookeville, TN 38506 sovereigngracebaptist.org

Jesus' 40 days with his disciples began in Galilee and ended near Jerusalem. Whereas Jesus' commission to the disciples in Matthew 28:16-20 was in Galilee, further discipleship occurred near Jerusalem. This passage in Luke's account was an appearance of Jesus to his disciples following his encounter with two disciples on the road to Emmaus, seven miles from Jerusalem. Jesus ‘opened their minds to understand the Scriptures' concerning himself. Part of the forty days of discipleship was to illuminate the understanding of who Jesus was but also understanding of the purpose of the gospel. True understanding of the Scriptures was granted so that the disciples understood how all of redemptive history fit together. This was a gift of God to the disciples. Furthermore, that illumination seemed to be an act of Jesus while he was present. But Jesus also taught his disciples that he would leave so that the Helper would come. This “Helper” would be the source of illumination concerning Christ and the Scriptures. The “Helper” would also be the source of illumination of the sinner about his sin when the faithful disciples proclaimed the promise of salvation in the name of Jesus Christ. Jesus taught the important lesson of the proclamation of the gospel by citing some of the old testament prophets. A key lesson Jesus taught in his discipleship of the eleven (and others ... up to 500) was the understanding of the Scriptures. It is in this lesson in Jerusalem before his ascension that the lesson from the prophets defined what the proclamation would be from these disciples. They were witnesses to the gospel. Here is the gospel according to Jesus and the common prophecies of Isaiah and other minor prophets

Sovereign Grace Baptist Church is located in Cookeville, TN. Our desire is to honor Christ by loving the fallen world as Christ loved us. We learn how to love the world from God's Word by studying, growing, and applying God's Word in our lives and in our worship. We firmly believe that hearing God's Word is the path to understanding and experiencing salvation in Christ alone. Sovereign Grace Baptist Church 2523 Hwy 111 North Cookeville, TN 38506 sovereigngracebaptist.org

All action has some purpose. The preaching/proclaiming of the gospel is action. Therefore preaching/proclaiming the gospel must have purpose. But let's pause and consider what has purpose in this statement: "preach the gospel". Is it the act of preaching that has purpose? Is it the gospel that has purpose? Preaching as an action can have any number of subjects to proclaim. Marketing executives can preach the value of a product or service. A politician can preach a political agenda. An evangelist preaches the gospel. Matthew closes his gospel with what the church now calls The Great Commission. It is a lesson from Jesus to HIS disciples to make disciples, baptizing them, teaching them. This passage has been affectionately dubbed, "The railroad terminal through which all of Matthew runs." This is not a lesson in individualism. This is a lesson in dependent unity. Jesus speaks to 'them' and commands 'them' to make disciples of 'them' by baptizing 'them' and teaching 'them'. The only sense of singularity here is in the assurance that Jesus is with 'them'. "I AM with you always". This is a lesson in discipleship in that HIS church will not be alone in this commission. It is a lesson for the faithful now to trust in Christ as we proclaim the gospel, HE makes disciples. It is a lesson clearly intended to encourage and affirm that though we doubt and fear this commission, we are not alone. Christ is with us even as we stand in fear and joy of this great calling to make disciples. In Christ Alone we do this. In Christ Alone we can.

Sovereign Grace Baptist Church is located in Cookeville, TN. Our desire is to honor Christ by loving the fallen world as Christ loved us. We learn how to love the world from God's Word by studying, growing, and applying God's Word in our lives and in our worship. We firmly believe that hearing God's Word is the path to understanding and experiencing salvation in Christ alone. Sovereign Grace Baptist Church 2523 Hwy 111 North Cookeville, TN 38506 sovereigngracebaptist.org

The journey through the gospel of Matthew has been a true joy for me. I have loved every moment. We have lived out together the joy of chapter-by-chapter, line-by-line, bible study, and biblical expository preaching. We conclude the exposition of Matthew in the final chapter. This chapter shares the joy, the fear, the excitement, and the doubts of the witnesses to Jesus' resurrection. God's Word blesses us and grants us the privilege of reading the resurrection account through Matthew's eyes. Matthew shows us a common theme throughout his gospel in the relationship between Jesus and his disciples. From the first calling of Peter & Andrew (brothers) along with James and John (also brothers) [Matthew 4:18–22]. Jesus called and the disciples followed. This theme reached a climax in the hours after Jesus' resurrection. The women at the tomb ran with joy. The remaining eleven of the original twelve disciples hid in fear. Jesus led. He called. Then the disciples (both men and women) followed to Galilee where they met Jesus. Then Jesus taught them. Then the Apostles waited.. At this point of the resurrection narrative, the inner circle of twelve were not yet granted the apostolic office. They were disciples, students, of Jesus although the twelve (by then only eleven) hid in Jerusalem. The fear of facing their own crucifixions was mingled with intense grief. But the lesson in this passage concerning the resurrected Jesus interacting with the faithful women who came to his empty tomb will show us the tension between Jesus' lead in calling his disciples to 'go' and their obedience to 'wait.' Go and wait. This is a tension even now in the life of the Christian. This is how the Christian follows. Jesus calls all of his beloved to 'go' and tell the truth of the resurrection that leads to repentance and forgiveness of sin. But then he calls us to 'wait' ... wait and follow rather than running ahead of the lead of our LORD. Let's dig into Matthew 28:5-10 today and glean the intent of our LORD in calling his faithful to "go and follow."

Sovereign Grace Baptist Church is located in Cookeville, TN. Our desire is to honor Christ by loving the fallen world as Christ loved us. We learn how to love the world from God's Word by studying, growing, and applying God's Word in our lives and in our worship. We firmly believe that hearing God's Word is the path to understanding and experiencing salvation in Christ alone. Sovereign Grace Baptist Church 2523 Hwy 111 North Cookeville, TN 38506 sovereigngracebaptist.org

Ideas have power. We used to call misdirected ideas propaganda in times of war. Now in the era of the war of ideas, we call our enemy's ideas 'fake news' or 'misinformation.' At no other time will the power of ideas be more important than after the death of a loved one. How that person is remembered matters. Memories are powerful. "The power of the memory is great, O Lord. It is awe-inspiring in its profound and incalculable complexity. Yet is it my mind: it is myself." [Augustine on memory in 'Confessions’ 10.17.26] True friends honor the memory of the lost one. Likewise, enemies and cold hearted acquaintances may try to confuse the memory. Matthew's gospel alone tells us the unique response of evil members of the Sanhedrin who plot to silence the power of Jesus' message of resurrection and salvation. They wanted to ensure that NO ONE would remember Jesus or his memory. Even evil men understand the power of a memory. God providentially used their vain attempt to stop any memory of Jesus' message of salvation to promote it far and wide throughout history. Let's dig into Matthew 27:62-66, the account of those who sought to hinder the truth of the gospel message.

Sovereign Grace Baptist Church is located in Cookeville, TN. Our desire is to honor Christ by loving the fallen world as Christ loved us. We learn how to love the world from God's Word by studying, growing, and applying God's Word in our lives and in our worship. We firmly believe that hearing God's Word is the path to understanding and experiencing salvation in Christ alone. Sovereign Grace Baptist Church 2523 Hwy 111 North Cookeville, TN 38506 sovereigngracebaptist.org

Sovereign Grace Baptist Church is located in Cookeville, TN. Our desire is to honor Christ by loving the fallen world as Christ loved us. We learn how to love the world from God's Word by studying, growing, and applying God's Word in our lives and in our worship. We firmly believe that hearing God's Word is the path to understanding and experiencing salvation in Christ alone. Sovereign Grace Baptist Church 2523 Hwy 111 North Cookeville, TN 38506 sovereigngracebaptist.org

Sovereign Grace Baptist Church is located in Cookeville, TN. Our desire is to honor Christ by loving the fallen world as Christ loved us. We learn how to love the world from God's Word by studying, growing, and applying God's Word in our lives and in our worship. We firmly believe that hearing God's Word is the path to understanding and experiencing salvation in Christ alone. Sovereign Grace Baptist Church 2523 Hwy 111 North Cookeville, TN 38506 sovereigngracebaptist.org

Sovereign Grace Baptist Church is located in Cookeville, TN. Our desire is to honor Christ by loving the fallen world as Christ loved us. We learn how to love the world from God's Word by studying, growing, and applying God's Word in our lives and in our worship. We firmly believe that hearing God's Word is the path to understanding and experiencing salvation in Christ alone. Sovereign Grace Baptist Church 2523 Hwy 111 North Cookeville, TN 38506 sovereigngracebaptist.org

Sovereign Grace Baptist Church is located in Cookeville, TN. Our desire is to honor Christ by loving the fallen world as Christ loved us. We learn how to love the world from God's Word by studying, growing, and applying God's Word in our lives and in our worship. We firmly believe that hearing God's Word is the path to understanding and experiencing salvation in Christ alone. Sovereign Grace Baptist Church 2523 Hwy 111 North Cookeville, TN 38506 sovereigngracebaptist.org

While Jesus’ substitutionary suffering and crucifixion means that he took upon himself what suffering and judgment was rightly due us; the gospel narratives of the crucifixion also challenges the Christian to share Christ's suffering. Via Dolorosa literally means “The Way of Sorrows”, marking the Stations of the Cross, the route that Jesus supposedly took from Pontius Pilate’s palace where he was sentenced to death, to the site of his crucifixion on the hill at Golgotha, beyond the city walls. Tourists & pilgrims have traveled that road for centuries reflecting on Christ’s procession through the streets of Jerusalem since the time of the Medieval Church. They want to experience Christ’s suffering and pain by walking in the supposedly same steps on the same streets that Christ stumbled through on his way to Golgotha and our salvation. Walking through a tourist area of Jerusalem can be a reflective exercise on who might have shared the same streets throughout history. But honest reflection of the soul and one’s response to Christ’s suffering can only happen in meditation on Scripture through prayer. A close & prayerful reflection on Matthew’s account of Jesus’ stumbling journey to his crucifixion reveals fulfillment of prophecy and two responses to Jesus and his suffering. One can either: 1. Share Christ’s Suffering: Simon of Cyrene 2. Save Yourself from Christ’s Suffering: the Mob, the Sanhedrin, and two Robbers [Insurrectionists] Let’s dig into Matthew’s account of Jesus’ journey from the Praetorium to Golgotha. While details on the steps taken by Jesus can be found in Luke’s and John’s gospels, Matthew wants his readers to reflect on the different reactions of a Gentile against the religious people of God.

Difficult times do not last forever. Likewise, times of oppression do come to an end. Israel was defeated and humilated by enemy nations. Yet Zechariah is given promises by God to the people that the LORD will conquer those who conquered and oppressed Israel. This promise looks to a day when pease is restored to Israel who was troubled by war. The high point of these chapters [The LORD's promise] looks beyond the immediate future to the some day arrival of the Messiah King. [9:9 & 10:2-4]

Violence and abuse are symptoms of a fallen humanity. We fight for what we want and will often harm others to show our power over them. A key truth to gospel salvation is that Jesus submitted himself to sinful abuse as providentially directed by the Father’s grace. This seems to us illogical. How can divine grace providentially direct violence and abuse for the purposes of undeserved forgiveness? If we follow the gospel accounts of Jesus’s Great Suffering, we will see God’s grace poured out upon sinful and guilty humanity through the shift of HIS divine wrath upon HIS Son. Whereas sinful men express sin in violence, anger, and abuse; God who is holy has a wrath against sin that is as personal as his love. The Jewish trial of Jesus before the Sanhedrin ended with abuse: “Then they [The Sanhedrin] spit in his face and struck him. And some slapped him, saying, ‘Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who is it that struck you?’” [Matthew 26:67–68] The Roman trial of Jesus before Pilate ended with scourging and mockery: “Then he [Pilate] released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered him to be crucified.” [Matthew 27:26] The details of Jesus’ abusive suffering in Matthew’s account shows us the Love of God through the propitiation of Christ’s blood. The Jewish people of God mocked HIM. The Roman gentiles mocked HIM and violently abused HIM. The body of Christ was beaten and his blood shed as the sacrifice necessary for God’s grace and favor. Jesus Christ, the Son, abolished God’s wrath against us and ensured God’s forever after favor. Jesus’s blood ‘propitiated’ God’s wrath and guaranteed the Father’s favorable outlook over sinful humanity. This happens through the propitiation by the blood of Christ shed on the cross but also in the bloody mess of his suffering. Let’s dig into Matthew 27:27–31 to glean wisdom on how to respond to the public humiliation and suffering of our Savior.

Sovereign Grace Baptist Church is located in Cookeville, TN. Our desire is to honor Christ by loving the fallen world as Christ loved us. We learn how to love the world from God's Word by studying, growing, and applying God's Word in our lives and in our worship. We firmly believe that hearing God's Word is the path to understanding and experiencing salvation in Christ alone. Sovereign Grace Baptist Church 2523 Hwy 111 North Cookeville, TN 38506 sovereigngracebaptist.org

The Church can be too political. There are forces among God’s elect that see the dominance of the Church in earthly rule as God’s design for His kingdom. Kingdom now theology falls far short of the Christ intent of the Kingdom of Heaven. Kingdom Now proponents believe that God lost control over the world to Satan when Adam and Eve sinned. Since then, the theology goes, God has been trying to reestablish control over the world by seeking a special group of believers—known as "covenant people," or "overcomers," who would bring all earthly kingdoms under God’s authority. The Church fails miserably when calls for theocracy overpower the TRUE teaching of Jesus as the Christ concerning HIS kingdom of heaven now. Matthew’s gospel focuses on the role of Jesus as the fulfillment of kingdom prophecy. “The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” [Matthew 3:2]. The kingdom of heaven is referenced fifty times in Matthew’s gospel, and within those mentions Jesus spoke of the kingdom forty-four times. At his birth, the Magi looked for the king of the Jews [Matthew 2:2]. And at his trial before Pilate, the governor asked Jesus if he was the king of the Jews [Matthew 27:1]. A battle of kingdoms has played out since the Edenic Fall while two kingdoms between Heaven and Hell wage war. Human history is the battlefield. The kingdom of men fights on the side of the Satanic kingdom but in the end, kings and kingdoms will all pass away under the reign and rule of Jesus Christ who is granted the throne of heaven. As all great battles must fight the greatest of all battles before the war ends, so too will the kings of men fight against the king of heaven who won the great spiritual battle on the cross. Jesus shows his great strength against the kings of men as he suffered greatly along his journey to the cross. Let’s dig into Matthew 27:11–26 to see the battle waged between the religious leaders allied with Rome and the kingdom of heaven where Jesus reigns.

Sometimes a priceless heirloom breaks never to be the same again. Imagine children roughhousing and knocking over a priceless vase. Imagine dropping a cherished dish, a piece of fine china, that shatters never to be replaced. The fall of both the chief priests and the betrayer Judas fulfilled the prophecies of Jeremiah and the prophet Zechariah concerning broken pottery and a potter’s field. The prophets speak of an unrepairable relationship between the LORD and his people … between God the Creator and humanity he created. Although the LORD is always seeking a repentant heart from his people, the broken covenant can reach a place of disrepair. It is a sad outcome for the hardest of hearts toward salvation when one’s soul cannot be saved. It is a sad outcome for the one who is willingly persuaded by Satan and rejects the hand of salvation from Christ alone. While Peter wept in private before the Lord [Matthew 26:75] the chief priests and Judas regretted their actions. Yet the difference between Peter’s broken repentance and Judas’s hardened regret is stark. Judas regretted his actions. The chief priests and elders regretted the money paid for innocent blood. The gospels tell us that Judas, and these chief priests, acted in maniacal betrayal toward the Messiah who was the only hope of salvation. These men have been the example to the church ever since as a warning that human nature can and often will reject salvation when plotting for one’s own glory and pride. Blood is the cost of broken covenants. Blood money for selling Jesus into crucifixion. The Field of Blood where Judas hung himself. Jesus’ Blood alone was the perfect sacrifice to atone for sin. Let’s dig into Matthew 27:1-10 together to see how Jesus’ Great Suffering also spoke of the painful suffering for those who betray HIS name and reject HIS salvation.

Sovereign Grace Baptist Church is located in Cookeville, TN. Our desire is to honor Christ by loving the fallen world as Christ loved us. We learn how to love the world from God's Word by studying, growing, and applying God's Word in our lives and in our worship. We firmly believe that hearing God's Word is the path to understanding and experiencing salvation in Christ alone. Sovereign Grace Baptist Church 2523 Hwy 111 North Cookeville, TN 38506 sovereigngracebaptist.org

It has often been said of the Apostle Peter that no disciple was placed higher than Peter, and almost no disciple fell lower. No one protested loyalty more insistently, yet almost no one denied Jesus more inexcusably. Jesus especially set apart Peter for the important task of establishing the Church. Peter would be the “rock” on which Jesus himself would build the church as the embassy, the ambassadors, of the kingdom of heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and in this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. [Matt 16:18-19] All four gospels share Peter’s denial with varying degrees of detail. But the historically orthodox Christian interpretation of these passages remind us all that we too may fail and deny Jesus if threatened. Peter’s pride was on trial that night. His loyalty to Jesus was tested. Let us remember that Jesus warned Peter that Satan had asked to ‘sift him like wheat.’ “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” [Luke 22:31–32] Then Peter stood boldly before Jesus declaring his allegiance, even to death. Yet just a few hours later, Peter fears for his life and denies being a disciple of Jesus and sat by the fire with those seeking Jesus’ death. Let’s dig into Matthew 26:69–75 & 27:1–2 together and witness Peter’s trial of the soul on that cold and fateful night in Caiaphas’ courtyard.

Sovereign Grace Baptist Church is located in Cookeville, TN. Our desire is to honor Christ by loving the fallen world as Christ loved us. We learn how to love the world from God's Word by studying, growing, and applying God's Word in our lives and in our worship. We firmly believe that hearing God's Word is the path to understanding and experiencing salvation in Christ alone. Sovereign Grace Baptist Church 2523 Hwy 111 North Cookeville, TN 38506 sovereigngracebaptist.org

One of the strangest realities of the human condition is that we will hear what we want to hear and see what we want to see resulting in truth being defined by our own perceptions. This is the problem in politics. This is the problem in child rearing. This is the problem in marriage relationships. This is the problem in relationships within the church. This is the problem with a sinner’s faith in Jesus Christ as the only savior. This next passage in Matthew’s gospel recounts the actions of a late night ‘pre-trial’ in order to convict the innocent Jesus in an official trial before the Roman authorities. The plot to kill the only savior of sinners was predicted long ago and now it is here. The only way for Satan to win any battle is with deception. I think the Church can learn much here about how wicked men can distort the truth to their own perception. I think the Church can learn much about how to stand up against such distortions when accused wrongly for the gospel. Let’s dig into Matthew 26:57–68 together.

Sovereign Grace Baptist Church is located in Cookeville, TN. Our desire is to honor Christ by loving the fallen world as Christ loved us. We learn how to love the world from God's Word by studying, growing, and applying God's Word in our lives and in our worship. We firmly believe that hearing God's Word is the path to understanding and experiencing salvation in Christ alone. Sovereign Grace Baptist Church 2523 Hwy 111 North Cookeville, TN 38506 sovereigngracebaptist.org

One of the greatest sufferings for the human mind is isolation. While physical torture is certainly great suffering, isolation is the greatest spiritual suffering. Penitentiaries will put the harshest criminals in solitary confinement. Secular psychologists argue that being alone will cause great harm to the individual psyche. From a biblical perspective, the psyche is also argued to be the soul. Even the great philosopher Aristotle argued that the psyche [ψυχή] is the soul. Furthermore, English translators of Scripture often translate ‘psyche’ as ‘soul.’ So biblically, we can see that isolation from God the Father is the greatest torment of the soul but can also be a turning point back to God the Father. We can further see Biblically that the soul is life and Jesus’ soul, his very ψυχή was tormented and his body tortured during his Great Suffering and Crucifixion. While Jesus suffered tragedy in his final 24 hours of pain and trial, the greatest suffering that he endured was the temporary separation from the Father. It was this cosmic reality of separation and isolation that was Jesus’ torment more than any other physical pain. Just as the disciples would enter a season of temptation to be sifted like wheat by Satan [Matthew 26:30–35 & Luke 22:31–34], Jesus the Son would be sifted, tortured, falsely tried, and endure the agony of crucifixion. His tormented soul swam in torturous physical abuse while facing the terror of isolation from God the Father. For the Father in Heaven to turn HIS face away from HIS Son was the greatest of all suffering. “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?! Which means ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?!” [Matt. 27:46 & Mark 15:34] Let’s dig into Matthew 26:36–46 together and glean from our LORD on how to pray in great times of depression, anxiety, agony, and fear

“I know who I am. If I just believe in myself, I can accomplish miracles!” This is the message of confidence that sells billions of dollars in self-help books and seminars annually in the United States. The market for this message is big as insecure Americans seek out services and ‘professionals’ to improve their lives. This industry claims to have answers for all spiritual, financial, and health questions. The market is primarily female, but men are getting more involved. The market ranges in categories from curriculums on self-improvement, personal coaching, books, holistic institutes, and motivational speakers. The profits are growing from $13.4 billion in 2022 to $14 billion dollars in 2023.1 The market could easily top $15 billion dollars by 2025. The holistic medicine message is most dangerous in the Church right now since its message claims to be based in spirituality to heal the mind and body. Some in our own congregation have rejected pastoral care in favor of holistic medicine ‘professionals’ claiming to not need the church or spiritual support from church leadership or lay persons. The results are not Christ honoring. The great danger in self-improvement messages is the over-confidence that they produce. Confidence in one’s identity in Christ is always healthy. But confidence in one’s own ability leads to a sinful crash. Improper self-confidence, like that of Peter the night of Jesus’ arrest, is the first step to a fall. We are all prone to be overconfident. Those soon to fall are the most confident, and most foul, in themselves. Those are least safe, who think themselves most secure. Satan is active to lead the prideful mind astray. The over-confident are most off guard. God leaves them to themselves, to humble them. This passage of Jesus’ prophecy of Peter’s (and the disciples’ denial of their LORD) follows a biblical pattern found in the Old Testament Prophets of denial, suffering, and restoration. Let us dig into Matthew 26:30–35 and glean from God’s Word a warning to turn from one’s own pride and turn to Christ our LORD.

Sovereign Grace Baptist Church is located in Cookeville, TN. Our desire is to honor Christ by loving the fallen world as Christ loved us. We learn how to love the world from God's Word by studying, growing, and applying God's Word in our lives and in our worship. We firmly believe that hearing God's Word is the path to understanding and experiencing salvation in Christ alone. Sovereign Grace Baptist Church 2523 Hwy 111 North Cookeville, TN 38506 sovereigngracebaptist.org

Certain people are sometimes not welcome at the table during a meal. We often will send a misbehaving child to his room as a lesson that gathering with the family at the table is a privilege, not an entitlement. The previous verses of Matthew 26:20-25 revealed that our LORD, Jesus, challenged his twelve in preparing to partake in the gift of his body and blood for their salvation. Eleven of the twelve showed honor and humility before their ‘Lord’. But one, a self-entitled disciple, revealed his heart of betrayal toward the ‘Rabbi’, the ‘Teacher’ during the Passover meal. Matthew 26:26-39 is the next passage by Matthew that shows the purpose and intent of the Lord’s Supper that was a part of that Passover Meal as a new form of the meal that only eleven of the twelve disciples received. The symbols of the bread and wine were intended to remind the faithful disciples of the sacrifice of their LORD and a reminder of who were welcome at the table of Christ’s sacrifice for them. He gave all that he was for their redemption. Yet not all of the twelve were present at this portion of the Passover meal. Jesus purposefully invited the faithful who humbly obeyed their LORD to receive the gift of himself for them. One betrayer, the one who symbolically and literally represents now all of humanity’s refusal of the Savior is no longer at the table. It was at this point of the scene in the Upper Room that Jesus taught his remaining eleven disciples the depth of HIS love for them. They received the greatest gift of the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper in a Communion of fellowship with the LORD. Judas, the betrayer, was sent away to ‘do what he must do quickly’ [John 13:27]. Luke’s account indicates that Satan entered Judas prior to the ‘day of Unleavened Bread’ prior to the Passover [Luke 22:3]. John’s account tells us that ‘the devil had already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot to betray’ Jesus prior to the supper. [John 13:3] There are four traditional views of the meaning and purpose of the Lord’s Supper. I hope today to briefly help us understand what we receive at the Lord’s Table each time we gather as a congregation. Let us read Matthew 26:26-29 together to discern the meaning of this most important gift of the Lord’s Supper that Christ has given to us.

Sovereign Grace Baptist Church is located in Cookeville, TN. Our desire is to honor Christ by loving the fallen world as Christ loved us. We learn how to love the world from God's Word by studying, growing, and applying God's Word in our lives and in our worship. We firmly believe that hearing God's Word is the path to understanding and experiencing salvation in Christ alone. Sovereign Grace Baptist Church 2523 Hwy 111 North Cookeville, TN 38506 sovereigngracebaptist.org

Many have just experienced family gatherings these past weeks of the Holiday Season centered around a table, a shared meal. Some have enjoyed the blessing of family. Others have tolerated the presence of family. Regardless, the shared meal during a celebration can bring either great joy or tragic suffering. We continue in our exegesis of Matthew’s gospel through the final few days of Jesus’s life and earthly ministry. He is in Jerusalem and directs the gathering of his twelve in an upper room of a house to honor the Passover tradition with the prescribed meal. It is here that all the twelve are called out as denyers, but one is specifically called out as a betrayer. The harsh pain of a betrayal often follows a shared meal because the betrayer fawns loyalty to the one he or she despises. You and I may not see the betrayal coming. But Jesus carries his divine trait of omniscience even in his human essence. Our Lord’s insights are powerful as he navigates the Passover evening with his twelve. I believe we can all see ourselves in this passage about the twelve who will all deny our Lord. Yet one of these twelve is a betrayer who willingly becomes the instrument of Satan by which our Lord’s crucifixion will take place. Which one are we? Are we the doubtful disciple who humbly desires to obey Jesus? Or are we no different than Judas in betraying our Lord? This passage shows how the willing sin of men can be directed by God’s providence to accomplish HIS holy purposes without God the Father being blamed for men’s willing betrayal. Let’s read Matthew 26:17-25 and discover together the depths of treachery that led to our Lord’s crucifixion.

Sovereign Grace Baptist Church is located in Cookeville, TN. Our desire is to honor Christ by loving the fallen world as Christ loved us. We learn how to love the world from God's Word by studying, growing, and applying God's Word in our lives and in our worship. We firmly believe that hearing God's Word is the path to understanding and experiencing salvation in Christ alone. Sovereign Grace Baptist Church 2523 Hwy 111 North Cookeville, TN 38506 sovereigngracebaptist.org

This fourth Sunday of Advent is the last Sunday morning before we celebrate the birth of our Savior on December 25th. The brokenness of God’s fallen creation at last sees hope in the miraculous incarnation of God’s Son. Today’s text will give us a glimpse into the mysterious yet revealed truth of the Incarnation of God himself as he steps into humanity – resulting in the birth of the Son of God who is holy. Let’s read today’s passage [Luke 1:26-38] … the divine message of God through the angel Gabriel to Mary the Virgin mother of our Lord.

"Return to me, says the LORD of hosts, and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts." -- Zechariah 1:3

Joy to the World is one of the more popular Christmas songs of the English language tradition. This hymn brings remembrance of the rich theology … biblical theology … of the incarnation to the hearer. All the earth responds in a new song of JOY at the arrival of God in the flesh. In contrast, secular Christmas music that fills our airways and streaming services does not have In contrast, secular Christmas music that fills our airways and streaming services does not have the JOY that the rich hymns of the Christian faith convey. One favorite secular song from the 20th century Christmas tradition is the Jazz filled theme to the Charlie Brown Christmas. This song contains no lyrics but the jovial rhythm and head-bobbing beat convey a celebration … a time long gone with innocence and childhood fun. Other songs like “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” just do not seem to reflect the biblical witness of salvation … the good news of salvation and peace. But the ideas conveyed in the hymn, Joy to the World, express in simple ways the fulfillment of the covenant promises of God to his fallen creation. At the pinnacle of this fulfillment is God entering into humanity … taking upon himself what is not of himself … the sin and human dilemma of struggles and battles with thorns and thistles that came as the result of the first man and first woman’s sin. We will sing this wonderful hymn as our closing hymn of worship tonight. So in preparation for the corporate singing of this wonderful classic from Isaac Watts, let’s take a look at the biblical source for the proclamation of singing “JOY to the World”

Sovereign Grace Baptist Church is located in Cookeville, TN. Our desire is to honor Christ by loving the fallen world as Christ loved us. We learn how to love the world from God's Word by studying, growing, and applying God's Word in our lives and in our worship. We firmly believe that hearing God's Word is the path to understanding and experiencing salvation in Christ alone. Sovereign Grace Baptist Church 2523 Hwy 111 North Cookeville, TN 38506 sovereigngracebaptist.org

Today is the second Sunday of Advent, the theme of PEACE. The biblical theme of Christ as peace is much different than the secular adaptations of Christmas peace between men. The biblical theme of peace is instead peace brought about by the atoning sacrifice of Christ, not between men but between fallen man [the created] and God [the Creator]. ___________________ Thus the Peace that is ushered in at Christ's birth has two applications: First, peace between God and hostile enmity from fallen humanity. Second, peace between Gentiles and Christians ... hostile enmity between fallen men. The unifying peace that the Son of God preached and exhorted was the peace that required mercy and grace. The unifying peace that the Son of God preached and exhorted was the peace that resulted in reconciliation with the Heavenly Father. A passage from the Advent reading today clarifies what is Heavenly Peace. "Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven." [Ps 85:10—11] KJV

Sovereign Grace Baptist Church is located in Cookeville, TN. Our desire is to honor Christ by loving the fallen world as Christ loved us. We learn how to love the world from God's Word by studying, growing, and applying God's Word in our lives and in our worship. We firmly believe that hearing God's Word is the path to understanding and experiencing salvation in Christ alone. Sovereign Grace Baptist Church 2523 Hwy 111 North Cookeville, TN 38506 sovereigngracebaptist.org

Sovereign Grace Baptist Church is located in Cookeville, TN. Our desire is to honor Christ by loving the fallen world as Christ loved us. We learn how to love the world from God's Word by studying, growing, and applying God's Word in our lives and in our worship. We firmly believe that hearing God's Word is the path to understanding and experiencing salvation in Christ alone. Sovereign Grace Baptist Church 2523 Hwy 111 North Cookeville, TN 38506 sovereigngracebaptist.org

"I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus, that in everything you were enriched in Him, in all speech and all knowledge, even as the testimony concerning Christ was confirmed in you, so that you are not lacking in any gift, awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord." [1 Corinthians 1:4-9]

The Suffering Passion story of Jesus involves great betrayal but also great adoration and blessing. The first verses of Matthew 26 set the stage for the final days of Jesus’ ministry and life. Jesus himself declared what would happen. Evil men would plot and deliver him over to death. Their actions were seemingly the way to control Jesus and HIS Message because the doctrines that Jesus taught were thought to be dangerous and subversive. ● The Jewish leaders were enraged by what they saw as disrespect toward the Mosaic Law. ● The Roman authorities were threatened by Jesus’ claim to be the King of the Jews. Jesus appeared to be a revolutionary, a dangerous teacher who spread ideas that threatened their power. They were determined to get rid of Jesus just as they did with many other self-proclaimed ‘messiahs.’ The Apostle Paul’s mentor and teacher of the Law, Gamaliel, stood up in the council at a trial against Peter and the other Apostles and declared that several ‘messiahs’ had gathered followers before but were often shown to be charlatans [Acts 5:33-42]. His conclusion was to permit the preaching of Jesus and the gospel because if it was truly from God, it would prosper. If it was not of God, the truth would reveal the Apostles as charlatans. The Evangelical Theologian John Scott wrote this about why Christ suffered and died: “Ostensibly he died as a law-breaker, but in reality as the victim of small minds and as a martyr to his own greatness.” [The Cross of Christ, 1986, 2006; p. 51] His own twelve Apostles, the Pharisees, the Roman governor, and Judas Iscariot all played a role in denying and betraying Jesus. Their small mindedness missed the larger truth of Jesus’ suffering and crucifixion.

Sovereign Grace Baptist Church is located in Cookeville, TN. Our desire is to honor Christ by loving the fallen world as Christ loved us. We learn how to love the world from God's Word by studying, growing, and applying God's Word in our lives and in our worship. We firmly believe that hearing God's Word is the path to understanding and experiencing salvation in Christ alone. Sovereign Grace Baptist Church 2523 Hwy 111 North Cookeville, TN 38506 sovereigngracebaptist.org

The Suffering Story of Jesus is the Church’s Story too because the Church has always suffered most for preaching the gospel and is passionate for doing so. The final lesson from Jesus was his lived out suffering and crucifixion and resurrection. The final three chapters of Matthew’s gospel teach us our final lessons in Christian discipleship. We learn our weakness. We learn of Jesus’ fidelity in death. And we learn the power of Jesus’ resurrection and mission. Betrayal is a repeated themes in Matthew 26. It seems that everyone was guilty of handing over Jesus to death. Everyone betrays him.

Sovereign Grace Baptist Church is located in Cookeville, TN. Our desire is to honor Christ by loving the fallen world as Christ loved us. We learn how to love the world from God's Word by studying, growing, and applying God's Word in our lives and in our worship. We firmly believe that hearing God's Word is the path to understanding and experiencing salvation in Christ alone. Sovereign Grace Baptist Church 2523 Hwy 111 North Cookeville, TN 38506 sovereigngracebaptist.org

This parable of Jesus is one of the most profound teachings of our LORD concerning judgment and HIS expectations for the elect and their service in his kingdom. Yet this parable has less parabolic language and more direct language than other parables. Whereas the previous three parables from Matthew 24:45 [Wise & Foolish Servants] and Matthew 25:1 [The Wise & Foolish Virgins] and Matthew 25:14 [Parable of the Talents] dealt with Jesus's expectations for HIS elect as they wait and long for his return ... the Parable of the Sheep & the Goats focuses on the direct and final judgment of ALL people ... not just Christ's elect. Just as the previous parables compare two types of people in the kingdom of heaven, this parable compares two types of people who live throughout all of history. This parable will compare the humble and blessed Sheep who love our LORD against the wickedly prideful Goats who are cursed and do not love our LORD. "And these [cursed goats] will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous [blessed sheep] into eternal life." [Matt 25:46] Let's dig into this profound passage together [Matthew 25:31-46]

Sovereign Grace Baptist Church is located in Cookeville, TN. Our desire is to honor Christ by loving the fallen world as Christ loved us. We learn how to love the world from God's Word by studying, growing, and applying God's Word in our lives and in our worship. We firmly believe that hearing God's Word is the path to understanding and experiencing salvation in Christ alone. Sovereign Grace Baptist Church 2523 Hwy 111 North Cookeville, TN 38506 sovereigngracebaptist.org

What is the purpose of a gift received? All of us have received something from someone else that we did not expect or did not seek. But this person knew us well enough to know what we needed and offered an undeserved gift. This is grace. Yet what is the purpose of that gift? What is our duty in possessing that gift? Does our spirit and gratitude align with the gift giver's purpose in granting the gift? If we simply toss that gift aside or worse yet, 'regift' it to another person later ... what does that say about how we value that gift? or value the person who granted that gift? What does ignoring the purpose of the gift say about our spirit toward the gift and the giver? The parable of the talents in the Olivet Discourse is a lesson from Jesus concerning the expectations of the master for the servants of the kingdom of heaven. But what is expected seems to be less what they 'do' with his property and more to do with their love for him. Disciples of Jesus Christ are called to faithful service out of humble love for the master; not slothful self service with no affection for the giver of good news. Let's dig into Matthew 24:14—30, the Parable of the Talents, to gleen how Christ will judge the faithful and the slothful on that great day of HIS coming. The faithful servants who truly love the LORD will escape wrathful judgment. Yet the wicked, slothful servants will succumb to God's righteous judgment.

Sovereign Grace Baptist Church is located in Cookeville, TN. Our desire is to honor Christ by loving the fallen world as Christ loved us. We learn how to love the world from God's Word by studying, growing, and applying God's Word in our lives and in our worship. We firmly believe that hearing God's Word is the path to understanding and experiencing salvation in Christ alone. Sovereign Grace Baptist Church 2523 Hwy 111 North Cookeville, TN 38506 sovereigngracebaptist.org

The time to be prepared for any event is always now. Whether that future event is a blessed thing like marriage and children, or preparing for a career through education and experience, or even preparing for a doomed day like a wartime invasion, the time for preparation is now. Yet so many in our culture live day to day, paycheck to paycheck, maxing out debt, with no stockpile of food or the savings to weather a harsh future destined to eventually come. The same lax attitude plagues the Church in that Christ promised in his Olivet Discourse that HE would leave for a time but would return “on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” [Matthew 24:30–31]. We have seen that the Olivet Discourse of Matthew 24 & 25 is our LORD’s own instruction and sermon concerning his parousia, his second coming. Most of chapter 24 contained Jesus’ instruction about the signs of his coming to watch for. Now, the transition from 24:36–50 concerning the day and hour and the days of Noah into the illustration of the wise and foolish slaves takes us to the series of parables in chapter 25. The Olivet Discourse now goes from watching for signs of HIS second coming to warning of preparation for when the parousia occurs. Let’s dig into the first parable of Matthew 25, The Parable of the Ten Virgins.

Sovereign Grace Baptist Church is located in Cookeville, TN. Our desire is to honor Christ by loving the fallen world as Christ loved us. We learn how to love the world from God's Word by studying, growing, and applying God's Word in our lives and in our worship. We firmly believe that hearing God's Word is the path to understanding and experiencing salvation in Christ alone. Sovereign Grace Baptist Church 2523 Hwy 111 North Cookeville, TN 38506 sovereigngracebaptist.org