Podcast appearances and mentions of jesus matthew

The God Who Knows Us Better Than We Know Ourselves is a powerful devotional that explores Peter’s journey from boldness to denial—and Jesus’ divine insight into his heart. It reminds us that even when we believe we’re ready, God’s timing is intentional. Jesus sees not only who we are now, but also who we are becoming. If you’re feeling stuck in a season of waiting or wondering why God hasn’t “put you in the game,” this episode will bring clarity, encouragement, and comfort. ✨ Highlights: Luke 22:31–34 sets the scene: Jesus warns Peter about Satan’s plans—and reveals Peter’s future denial. Peter, full of confidence, says he’s ready for prison or death… but Jesus knows the truth. The devotional reflects on how our zeal doesn’t always match our maturity—and how Jesus intercedes and lovingly guides us. Just like Peter, we may overestimate our readiness, but God sees the full picture of our hearts, trials, and future impact. Encouragement for believers who feel overlooked or underused: God plays the long game, and His plans are rooted in both mercy and foresight.

Birth of a King G'day and welcome to Partake! We are now on day 11 of our series "Glimpses", looking at the story of the Bible in 30 days, from the time of creation through to the time of the fullness of redemption! We looked together at the Covenants in the Old Testament as a set of stairs from Creation through to what we call the New Covenant. Now, we have started looking at the documents which record the life of Jesus Christ, who as Christians, claim to fulfil those Covenants we talked about. His birth is the most celebrated around the world and He transcends cultures, peoples and languages. Jesus Christ is the most unique person in all of recorded history. He is also the most divisive person to be found at any time and anywhere. Almost everyone has an opinion about him, even if that opinion is based on ignorance, silence or misinformation. Climbing the staircase! Like climbing a staircase, step by step, we looked at together through the Covenants and we caught glimpses of God sending a saviour or messiah for the world. We discovered that God was planning the time when He would step into history as this saviour person, who we believe to be the man, Jesus Christ. We looked at the Covenants that God made with people, which all looked forward to this saviour, messiah and king. These covenants were to Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses and David. This King was to be their hope - their saviour. Jesus' genealogy as recorded in the Gospels takes his physical line back to Abraham via David. Abraham as we saw was the father of Israel and David the King with a promise from God to have a king on the throne forever. Jesus grew into maturity as any young Jewish boy did. Life Events You can read about the events leading up to the birth of Jesus Christ in the following passages from the Bible: Matthew 1:1-17; Luke 1:26-38; Luke 2:1-18; John 1v1-18 Documented in history and affirmed by most secular and non-Christian sources. Here are the events surrounding the birth of Jesus Christ and his early childhood from the Gospel record: His Pre-existence - John 1:1-5 His Genealogy - Matthew 1:1-17, Luke 3:23-38 Angel Gabriel visits Mary - Luke 1:26-38 Angel appears to Joseph in a dream - Matthew 1:18-25 His Birth in Bethlehem - Matthew 1:25, Luke 2:1-7 Shepherds visit him at the manger - Luke 2:8-20 His circumcision and presentation in the Temple according to the Covenant Law of Moses - - Luke 2:21-38 Wise men present gifts in house - Matthew 2:1-12 Joseph's family including Jesus escape to Egypt with Jesus - Matthew 2:13-15 Herod's wrath on Bethlehem's children - Matthew 2:16-18 Herod dies in Spring of 4 BC - Matthew 2:19 Joseph's family including Jesus settles in Nazareth - Luke 2:39 Events in his childhood - Luke 2:40-52 Luke 2v1-7, 21-24. Please do make a note of the names of history recorded by Luke to date the birth of the man, Jesus: Now it happened in those days, that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to enroll themselves, everyone to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David; to enroll himself with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him as wife, being pregnant. It happened, while they were there, that the day had come that she should give birth. She brought forth her firstborn son, and she wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a feeding trough, because there was no room for them in the inn. When eight days were fulfilled for the circumcision of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. When the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were fulfilled, they brought him up to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord"), and to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, "A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons." Birth of Jesus Christ That Jesus was a human male is not really disputed. However, the birth of Jesus Christ is extraordinary at every level. He was born of a woman, which in itself tells us that at least in a prenatal state, he was nurtured and formed as any other male baby was and is. On the physical level, Jesus was born as any person is, but as regards his conception, He was conceived like no other person - conceived by the Holy Spirit (Luke 1v35). This was so that Jesus would not be given the sinful nature past that all humans have. Jesus was fully human and fully divine. Other documents, outside of the Bible from that time period also attest to Jesus and his existence. What's in a name? When Jesus was born, his name imbued the very reason he was born. His conception and birth were extraordinary at every level. So important is our understanding of the birth of Jesus that no fewer than 4 angels come to give us a full picture of the event. Do you think that his parents, Joseph & Mary ever gazed upon him, and thought "How misnamed he is!" They did not, because they knew the very purpose for which he was born. Did Jesus ever think of how misnamed he was? Certainly not! His name means one who saves, or a rescuer. The entirety of his birth, life and death were centred on this very role. His role was to save all those who would follow Him. Further up the staircase! As we look through the remainder of this series we will discover together how and why He was born to be this messiah, saviour and king we caught glimpses of in the Old Testament. We will see that Jesus confirms God's promises, that he reveals God as a Father and that he gave us an example of how to live life to the full. We shall also see how his life was the catalyst for a religious revolution. He was not merely a man who received some special power. He was not some strange creation that was half man and half God, with his human nature somehow absorbed into the divine. He was, as we shall see in this series, much more than those ideas! In our next study we will look at Jesus' Mission and Identity. Thank you! Right mouse click or tap here here to download as a MP3 audio file

"Judge not, that you be not judged." This is a commandment from Jesus that we will hear and consider today. What does Jesus mean? How can we follow this commandment and do it in a way that is pleasing to Him and to our Father? Jesus will tell us, and we always want to do this His way.

The post Sermon On The Mount Series: Footsteps Of Jesus (Matthew 5: 1-12) appeared first on First Baptist Church of Olney.

As we stand here and listen to the Savior of the world, we are still amazed at His gracious words and the authority with which He delivers them. Danny and Robert will listen to Him closely with the full intention of learning More About Jesus.

Tom Logue - June 29th 2025 The mountain was full of need—and every need found healing at the feet of Jesus. This week in our The King & His Kingdom series, we slowed down with just three verses: Matthew 15:29–31. The crowd came up the mountain carrying the blind, the lame, the mute, the broken—and laid them at Jesus' feet. He welcomed them. He healed them. And the result? Worship. This message invites us to do the same: to bring ourselves and those we love—our wounds, weariness, and weakness—to the feet of Jesus. His presence is not a place for the polished, but for the desperate. And His response is always full of compassion. Learn more about our church: https://restoredtemecula.church Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/restoredtemecula and Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/restoredtemecula #TheFeetOfJesus #Matthew15 #JesusHeals #BringThemToJesus #TheKingAndHisKingdom #RestoredTemecula #ChristianSermon #HealingAndWorship #FaithInAction #BiblicalTeaching Share this message with someone who needs to hear it! Chapters (00:00:15) - Welcome to Restored Templeecula Church(00:00:49) - God's Presence in the Church(00:01:50) - King and His Kingdom(00:02:50) - Prayer for the Holy Spirit(00:04:42) - Jesus the Healer and the Crowd(00:08:58) - Jesus Healing a Crowd of Lawbreakers(00:13:31) - One Man's Transformation in God's Love(00:18:46) - Whenever God heals, it's undeserved(00:22:38) - Beautiful Things Happen at the Feet of Jesus(00:26:08) - At the Feet of Jesus(00:29:42) - Get yourself to the Feet of Jesus(00:33:47) - Laying at the Feet of Jesus(00:38:48) - Come to the Feet of Jesus

In Matthew 28:16-20 we learned that we make disciples by Jesus' authority and because of his presence.

Closeness to Jesus – Matthew 11:25-30 – David Lovelock The post Closeness to Jesus – Matthew 11:25-30 appeared first on Welbeck Road Evangelical Church.

Wednesday, 25 June 2025   As they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? Matthew 11:7   “And these going, Jesus, He began to speak to the crowds about John: ‘What you went out into the wilderness to view? A reed wavering by wind?'” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus finished His words to the disciples of John, saying, “And blessed, he is, who if not he should stumble in Me.” Matthew next notes, “And these going.”   It is referring to the departure of John's disciples, carrying Jesus' words back to him. As they are departing, “Jesus, He began to speak to the crowds about John.”   This is specifically noted by Matthew to ensure that we can see what transpired. The words of Jesus about stumbling would have left John with a negative feeling about his ministry and his efforts. He would feel that he had failed the Lord, and prison was his just due because of it.   Likewise, any in the crowd who heard it, including the disciples, might come to an erroneous conclusion about John. They may laugh off his ministry as a failure, shun his message, look down on him for having been so weak, etc.   Any such thing may come to the minds of the people. Jesus, not wanting anyone to assume they were somehow better than John, or that his ministry was a failure, will speak about him to correct such thoughts.   And He is doing it while the disciples are departing. Thus, these would be the last words they would hear and carry to John. As such, Jesus begins with, “What you went out into the wilderness to view?”   It is a probing question. The people went out in the wilderness to see John, but what was the impetus behind it? Curiosity? Looking for enlightenment? Freedom from a day of boredom? Each person went out for his own reasons. Jesus wants them to consider their reasoning.   The word Jesus uses, theaomai, indicates to look closely at, notice, view, etc. It is the root of théatron, a spectacle in a theater, something one carefully sees and contemplates.   The fact that they had gone out into the wilderness to see John and that they were now there with Jesus meant that the connection between the two was likely the reason why they were now with Jesus. As such, Jesus next asks, “A reed wavering by wind?”   Here are two new words. The first is kalamos, a reed. This is a general word for reed which includes a reed such as the one mentioned now, and which would have grown in regularly flooded areas. This would probably include types of reeds from tall grass to stronger reeds like cane.   This can be deduced from other uses of the word where this same word describes a reed used to beat Jesus (Matthew 27:30), to put a sponge doused with vinegar on it to give Jesus a drink (Matthew 27:48), as a pen (3 John 1:13), and as a measuring rod (Revelation 21:15).   The word corresponds to the Hebrew word qaneh, a reed or a cane, which is translated at times as calamus, a sweet-smelling fragrance derived from cane.   The second new word is saleuó, to waver. It is used to describe agitation, something shaken, etc. Figuratively, it can signify being disturbed (shaken) in the mind, such as in 2 Thessalonians 2:2. In this verse, it signifies the wavering of reeds as the wind blows across them.   The intent of Jesus' question is to alleviate any perceptions by the people that maybe Jesus felt John may have been a vacillator or unsure of his teachings. He did not want such a thought to arise in their minds. This is all the more likely because people in general, including Israel as seen in the Bible, are just like this.   It is a common trait among people to waver and vacillate. Single reeds do not normally pop up. Rather, they come up in clumps or even thick lines. The wind will blow over them and they will all waver. Thus, it would be a common trait possessed by the people that they may have now thought John possessed as well. Jesus will correct this thinking.   Life application: Of this verse, Bengel states, “The world praises to the face, reviles behind the back.” The people went out to see John. They probably felt his words were sound and reasonable. In fact, that idea is seen in the comparable passage to this one in Luke 7:29. After hearing Jesus' words about John, they “justified God, having been baptized with the baptism of John.”   But would they have done so if Jesus hadn't corrected their thinking first? People tend to hear things and then respond according to what the speaker is saying without really thinking things through, especially when gathered in crowds. If Jesus had said, “John was a great guy, but he really let the ball drop,” the people would have agreed and reviled John from that point forward.   Instead of justifying God, they would justify themselves. “Yeah, we left John for Jesus because John was a failure!” This is how fickle humans can be. A great example of this is when Paul and Barnabas spoke to the people in Lystra. In one breath, they were calling them gods. In the next, they were preparing to stone them.    It happened again to Paul on Malta, where the people called him a murderer and a few minutes later a god. Jesus is setting the stage to explain the importance of John's ministry while at the same time getting the people to see that they need to be careful in quick, rash judgments about things.   As we read the Bible, we should allow it to mold us to be people who are steady, clear-thinking, and willing to justify God rather than ourselves. We are the ones who are easily swayed. God's purposes and plans are unchanging and unwavering. How He presents them (such as in various dispensations) is what we need to learn so that we don't come to faulty conclusions about what He is doing.   Glorious God, help our minds to be clear and unvacillating as we consider Your word. When we see things that seem contradictory, we can know it is not so because You are God, unchanging and reliable. Therefore, the perception is faulty on our part. As this is so, help us to contemplate and understand what we are unclear about. Help us in this, O God. Amen.  

As we have made our way through chapter five and into chapter six, we will hear Jesus talk to us about giving, praying, and fasting. His godly commandments and heavenly perspective are so helpful to us as we strive to be faithful children of God. Jesus has told us repeatedly, that God is our Father in heaven. What an amazing blessing!

Pastor Perry of FBC Powell, TN, graciously taught us from Matthew about who Jesus is, why it matters, and how we should respond!

Everyone – everyone who believes in Jesus is called to be His ambassador. An Ambassador of Christ. That involves a change of heart, it involves a change in our actions and it involves – well, going. Ambassadors don't stay, they go. That's why being Christ's Ambassadors ain't easy sometimes.   Christ on the Inside Now, one of the things that you and I know is that we are what we eat. If what I do is I pig out on chocolates – man, I love chocolate, but we know that too much of it is bad for us; and fatty foods and sweet, sugary drinks and lots of cakes and sweets, all that stuff – if I pig out on that then who I am on the inside is going to change. I'm going to put on weight, my emotions will take a downswing, because that's what happens with too much sugar, I'll become lethargic and tired and I won't be able to cope. My heart will have to work so much harder to get blood around the larger body and my coronary arteries will get all clogged up, my blood sugar will go up ... and on and on the list goes. The impact is that I have less of a life to live now because I'm always tired, not feeling well and my life expectancy will be cut short. On the other hand, if I get a great mix of healthy cereals and grains and those brightly coloured vegetables and lean meat and all that stuff, which actually tastes pretty fantastic, the complete opposite will happen. What happens on the inside has a huge impact on what happens on the outside. Who we are on the inside – whether it be physically or emotionally or spiritually - has a huge impact on who we are on the outside. And the upshot of all that is that we simply can't be one thing on the inside and try to be something else on the outside – it just doesn't work. Last week, again this week on the programme and indeed, over the next couple of weeks we are having a bit of a chat about living our lives here on this earth as ambassadors for Christ, because that is what anyone who believes in Jesus is called to be. We are citizens of heaven, not of this earth and as Paul, the Apostle writes, in Second Corinthians chapter 5, verse 20: We are ambassadors for Christ; since God is making his appeal through us, we entreat you on behalf of Christ, to be reconciled to God. As I said, you just can't be one thing on the inside and then pretend to be another thing on the outside. You can't be Swedish on the inside and pretend to be the Indian ambassador on the outside. We can't be the devil on the inside and pretend to be an angel of light on the outside. Well, I suppose we can for a while but I suspect it's incredibly hard work, carrying on a deception like that and it doesn't take long for who we are to make its way to the outside. Jesus Himself said – Matthew chapter 15, verse 19: For out of the heart come evil intentions, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness and slander. So, if we are going to be ambassadors of Christ, then we first have to be citizens of heaven on the inside, just as the Indian ambassador has to be Indian and not Swedish on the inside. Interesting how God talked about this through His prophet Ezekiel, to His people. He talked to them about what was going on in their hearts. Have a listen – Ezekiel chapter 18, verse 31: “Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed against me and get yourselves,” listen to this, “a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, O house of Israel?" A new heart! I think we know what God means but that's not much of an expression that we would use today. But the expression that we would use is "a change of heart". You and I know what that means: unless something happens deep inside our hearts – on the inside - we can't change on the outside. But you know there have been issues, transgressions, sins in my life that, try as I might, I couldn't change my heart by myself. I'm guessing you have had that experience too – we all have! And that's why God made this promise too, through His prophet Ezekiel, to His people – Ezekiel chapter 36, verse 26: A new heart I will give you, a new spirit I will put within you and I will remove from your body the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. In fact, perhaps what you want to be is an ambassador of Christ but there's something right now going on in your heart; something you would love to change but you can't for yourself that you need God to do for you. So why don't we pray about that right now: Father God,this Word of yours, You are putting Your finger right on one of the deepest problems in my life. You and I both know what it is and You know that I have struggled to change my heart - I've tried my hardest, but I just can't. And so I come to You in faith and pray for Your will – Ezekiel chapter 36, verse 26 – for a new heart – a change of heart. Take out the heart of stone, O God, and replace it with a heart of flesh. Take out of me any spirit that is causing me to sin and fill me with Your Spirit. I come to You in faith. I believe that what I have asked You, You will give me because I am asking You in the name of Jesus. Amen. Now, I encourage you, if you have prayed that prayer will me, to believe, simply to believe, that God will give you the good thing that you have asked Him for and He will. That's what He says He will do and He never, ever, ever fails on His Word – ever! When the Apostle Paul was sharing the Good News about Jesus with the folk in Athens, he quoted a poem about a Greek god and applied it to Jesus. This is what he said – Acts chapter 17, verse 28: For in him we live and move and have our being. You know, for me that says it all! It's about being totally immersed in Christ; about being drenched in Jesus – that's actually the literal meaning of the word "baptised or baptism". The original Greek word was "baptidso". So when a boat was lost in a storm and it went under and it sank, it was said to have been "baptidso"d. When a fabric was dyed a new colour and it was plunged into the dye and completely drenched and it came out a new colour, it was said to have been "baptidso"d. That's exactly what the Apostle Paul writes to his friends in Rome. Romans chapter 6, verses 3 and 4: Don't you know that all of us who have been baptised into Christ were baptised into his death? Therefore, we have been buried with him by baptism into death so that just as Christ was raised again from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. It means death to the old life and the living of a new life; literally, to be "born again" – a whole new heart and filled with a new spirit; the Spirit of God this time; the Holy Spirit. It means that goodness replaces evil – not so much because we work hard at it but because God's given us a change of heart and now what happens is we actually want to honour God; we want to live a life that brings glory to Him – and that's the new life. We are going to talk more about that next. It's the new life that wins people over to Christ. It's the new life that shines like a light and brings flavour to people's lives like salt. But just as a well that is dry can't bring forth water, so a life that is empty of Christ; His very Spirit; His presence within us, so a life like that can't be an ambassador of Christ. If there are things that you have been struggling with on the inside; things that are holding you back from taking up your commission as Christ's ambassador in your little petunia patch, then here's what I encourage you to do – get with God, get in prayer, open His Word, ask Him to fill you to overflowing with His Holy Spirit. Ask Him again and again and again to give you a new heart. And just as we prayed before; just as I said before, He surely will – because He wants to – because when we bear much fruit in our lives it brings Him great glory. A new heart; a change of heart; filled with a new spirit, His Spirit.   Christ on the Outside So let me ask you a question: if you are someone who believes in Jesus and you drive a car, do you have a Jesus bumper sticker or one of those fish stickers on your bumper bar? Maybe ... maybe not! I mean, even if you don't, that's okay, I don't either, but if you had to put one on your car, let me ask you, does your behaviour on the road as a driver match up to what the sticker advertises? I mean, are you a courteous driver who obeys all the road rules or do you break the speed limit and honk your horn at people and yell at them from the inside of your car? I guess if you're the former it would be okay to have a fish sticker or a Jesus sticker on your car because your behaviour is a good advertisement for God - in effect, because what you advertise on the sticker and how you behave match up, it works. On the other hand though, can you imagine a rude, impatient driver, who's constantly breaking the road rules, identifying themselves as a Christian, using some sticker they put on their car. It's not a very good ad for God, is it? It turns out that who we say we are; who we hold ourselves out to be and who we actually are in what we say and what we do – if those two don't match up – well, there's a name for that: we call those people "hypocrites". We have been talking about living our lives as ambassadors of Christ – “for we are ambassadors for Christ since God is making his appeal through us.” 2nd Corinthians chapter 5, verse 20. In other words, God, just as He used the Apostle Paul, wants to involve us in the business of making His appeal to the rest of the world. Now what we have seen over the course of the last couple of weeks is that we don't all have to be "Pauls" in order to do that. Diplomacy, which is the role of an ambassador, mostly happens in one on one relationships where trust is built so that governments have relationships in place to resolve difficult issues. That's the point of diplomacy and it's the role of an ambassador. See, I think sometimes we are misled into thinking: Aw, WOW, oh – an ambassador for Christ, well, that must be the pastors role not me!' because it sounds like a flashy, up front title. And earlier we saw that in order to be an ambassador of for, say India, we had to be Indian, if we're Swedish no one is going to believe we are the Indian ambassador, right? Who we are on the inside really counts. That's why God promises something new – Ezekiel chapter 36, verse 26: A new heart I will give you; a new spirit I will put within you and I will remove from your body the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. See, we can't change who we are on the outside until we have a change of heart on the inside. I've tried it, you've tried it – it doesn't work! If something first happens in our hearts though, to change us on the inside, then all of a sudden changing on the outside becomes mush easier. That's what we talked about earlier. Right now we are going to follow on with the natural continuation of that. We are going to take a look at how important it is that who we are on the outside is consistent with who we are on the inside. And that's why I kicked off with that story about the bumper sticker. It's kind of obvious isn't it? Now I'm not suggesting that you or I are ever going to live a perfect life. I pretty much make mistakes every day and probably you do too and no one ... no one expects us to be perfect. But either how we live declares that our heart and our life has been changed by God or it doesn't and if it doesn't, without putting too fine a point on it, we're being hypocrites. That's something that Jesus identified in the religious leaders of His day. They pretended to be ‘oh so holy' on the outside, but on the inside – well have a listen to what Jesus said to them – Matthew chapter 23, verses 25 and 26: Woe to you, you scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the plate, but inside you are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisees! First clean the inside of the cup, so that the outside may also be clean. Now, I'm kind of comforted by that; I like it that Jesus is concerned both about our hearts – who we are on the inside – and our hands – what we do on the outside. If someone came to me and said, ‘You know Berni, I've heard what you have been saying – I've decided I want to be an ambassador of Christ. What do you think is the most important thing in that role?' Well, this is how I'd answer. The first thing is your heart and your relationship with God' being completely sold out to Jesus and if you don't have that, well, you can't pretend it. And the second thing is: how you behave; how you live it out, because if you say that you are one thing and you do completely the opposite, people will pick you as a phoney in a split second and then, instead of shining God's light into the world, you just turn people off. Let me give you an example. My country, Australia, has a very strong relationship with the United States of America – has had for a good many years. Now, imagine that the U.S. Government, all of a sudden, appoints a brand new ambassador and sends him across the pond to Australia. And within a few months, we discover this ambassador, he's a lecherous drunk, who can't keep his hands off other women – whether or not he happens to be any good at his trade of diplomacy – and scandal after scandal, involving this new ambassador hits the news and the press. How do you imagine such a person would influence the view that Australians have, not only of the U.S. Government but of the American people? It would be devastating wouldn't it? Not only would this so called "ambassador" hurt the people around him but he'd bring his whole Nation; his whole people into ill repute. And that's why the lives we lead as Christians are so important. Come on – let's get real!! Does hypocrisy display the glory of God? No! It brings Him and His people as a whole, into disrepute. "Oh, those Christians – they're just a bunch of hypocrites!" And God ... God doesn't like hypocrites, my friend. Listen again to Jesus – Matthew chapter 23, verse 25: Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the plate but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. People talk about ‘missional living' – living out our lives as missionaries or ambassadors in this world. You know what I think the biggest thing that you and I can do to live "missionally" is to live a holy life. What's a holy life? It's a life where the cup and the plate are clean on the inside as well as the outside. Peter, the Apostle, sums it up like this in his Letter, First Peter, chapter 1, verse 14: Like obedient children, don't be conformed to the desires you formally had in ignorance. Instead, as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in all your conduct, for it is written “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” My friend, there is something wonderful; utterly sublime, when we roll up our sleeves with God and get to cleaning the inside as well as the outside. And here's the thing: people notice – people sit up and take notice and think to themselves, "There's something different about that person – something good; something I trust; something I want." And there ... right there, we have an ambassador of Christ!   Taking His Love to the Sinners When I used to run an I.T. consulting firm with my business partners, we used to joke that life would be so much easier if we didn't have clients. It's true, it's just not very profitable, I guess. And the same is true when it comes to sinners – you know, those people who drink too much, or they swear too much, or they are just rude or belligerent or a pain in the neck - the most natural thing in the world for someone who loves Jesus, is to kind of recoil from them – to retreat into the holy huddle of Christian friends. I would like to finish off today with a short story about Jesus approach to sinners. It comes from Luke chapter 5 – if you have a Bible, come on, open it up with me – let's go there – it's a confronting and edgy story – gets right in your face, just the way Jesus meant it to be. Come on, let's have a listen. Luke chapter 5, verses 27 to 32: After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, “Follow me.” And Levi got up, left everything, and followed Jesus. Then Levi gave a great banquet for Jesus in his house; and there was a large crowd of tax collectors and others sitting at the table with them. The Pharisees and the scribes, well, were complaining to his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” But Jesus answered, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I have come to call not the righteous but the sinners to repentance. Now, here's the thing: the Romans occupied Israel in the first century – this godless empire occupied God's people; God's Promised Land and ruled over them. And the way they collected taxes was effectively, to tender it out to individuals; people like Levi; people who were Jews! They would bid for the right to collect the taxes on behalf of the Romans and the highest bidder would win. And so in order to make a profit, the tax collector would then find all sorts of ways of extorting additional taxes from the people. Now, Levi was sitting in a tax booth, collecting taxes from people who used the road to ship their goods and so forth – a bit like a modern day toll road. And what made it worse, not only did he extort taxes; not only did he cheat and lie but he was working for the Romans – Levi, a Jew, ripping off his fellow Israelites! So, this was not the sort of guy you would want to talk to or have as a friend or approach for any reason whatsoever. But Jesus ... Jesus approached him; Jesus called him, the way a Rabbi calls disciples. Jesus went to this sinner, Levi, this abhorrent, disgusting traitor – as far as all the other Jews were concerned – and not only did He say to Levi, “Follow me,” He went to dinner; a banquet at Levi's house with a whole bunch of other tax collectors. Now the religious people, the Pharisees, instead of saying, "Man, what a great idea – taking the love of God right into the middle of the sinners – loving them, listening to them, healing them, maybe even bringing them to repentance," instead of that, the Pharisees, they found some theological, religious reasons for criticising Jesus. Now, let me ask you this – brutal; right to your face: when it comes to sinners, are you more like Jesus or more like the scribes and Pharisees? Come on! It's a question we need to ask. The thing about an ambassador is that he doesn't stay at home in his own country where he knows everyone; his friends are and he's comfortable – he gets on a plane, with his family, sets up his home right in the middle of this other foreign country that he has been posted to as an ambassador. Get it! You and I, if we truly are Christ's followers, you and I are called to "go". Not to sit at home in our holy huddles were we are comfortable. Don't get me wrong: having Christian friends is great, going to church is great but we're called to live on the mission field – we are called to go to the sinners the way Jesus did. And while sometimes that means going to another part of the world, true, most times it just means touching the colleague at work, inviting over the neighbours next door for a barbecue because you have heard them screaming at each other and their marriage is falling apart and what they need in their lives is Jesus. What they need to know is that He loves them. What they need to have is a personal encounter with the Saviour who came for them. Not just for us, for them – the Saviour who died for them - the Saviour who rose again to give them a new life and an eternal life. What they need – the "Levis" in our world – they need Jesus. So, I am going to ask you again, when it comes to the ‘Levis' in your world, are you Christ to them or are you a Pharisee? Do you go to them with the love of Jesus or do you sit at home with your friends and complain about them? My friend, these people who are hurting, who are dying, who are going to a Christ-less eternity, my friend, they need an ambassador – they need an ambassador of Christ who looks just like you and just like me.

Matthew 26:14-25

Why is Jesus so reactive to his students' difficulty with understanding his vocation? He seems grumpy at times.How does Jesus plan to escalate his confrontation with the Roman Empire and their local enablers?How is Jesus' strong words against harming children a fierce rebuke to queerphobic parents?and more!Our guest cohost is Avery Arden (they/zir). Avery is a genderqueer autistic minister in Atlanta whose work proclaims the holiness and agency of trans and disabled people. Drawing from both Catholic and Reform traditions, their theology is incarnational, Trinitarian, and rooted in breaking binaries. And of course, you've heard Avery many times on The Word in Black and Red.Avery's Linktree - https://linktr.ee/queerlychristianAvery's Website – https://queerlychristian.wixsite.com/websiteBlessed are the Binary Breakers Podcast – Apple...Read LIT online: https://www.litbible.net/matthew-14 and https://www.litbible.net/matthew-15More about the Liberation & Inclusion Translation: https://www.litbible.net/translation-commitmentsSupport LIT & FIT: https://donorbox.org/found-in-translation-1...Opportunity Walks by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Today, we will listen to the Lord deliver some very hard sayings that we all need to hear. "Do not swear falsely, turn the other cheek, go the second mile, love your enemies and pray for them, and be perfect like your Father in heaven is perfect." Let's see what we can learn from the Lord today.

Worship Guide

The post Baptism and Temptation of Jesus (Matthew 3:13-4:11) appeared first on First Baptist Church of Olney.

Introduction to Prophecy, part 5: The Olivet Discourse of Jesus (Matthew 24): Jesus answers His disciples' questions about the sign of His coming and the end of the age.

In this small section of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus will begin His teaching with the phrase, "You have heard that it was said...". In this episode, Danny and Robert will watch Jesus clear the air on what God truly desires from His people and what these clarifications mean for us.

In this teaching, we're reminded that God often moves in ways we least expect—not always in fire, wind, or earthquakes, but in whispers. Drawing from the life of John the Baptist and the story of Elijah, we explore how the quiet workings of God are often the most powerful and transformative.Here's what this episode uncovers:

In Matthew 27:45-54 we learned that the death of Jesus is the death of death.

You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. In this study, we will hear Jesus tell us that we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. When we fulfill this awesome responsibility, men will see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven. Praise God!

Pastor John Bingham- Parables of Jesus- Matthew 5:14-16

The fate of Jerusalem has been inextricably intertwined with that of Rome ever since they joined in unholy alliance to reject and crucify the Lord of glory (Acts 2:23; 1 Corinthians 2:8). That uneasy partnership was shattered with Jerusalem's destruction by Rome's legions in AD 70, foretold both by Daniel (9:26) and Jesus (Matthew 24:2). The Roman Empire must be revived, for one day its armies will belong to Daniel's "prince that shall come"—i.e., Antichrist––and will seek to destroy Jerusalem again.The woman in Revelation 17 can only be Rome/Vatican City. No other city built on seven hills wields such authority, exchanging ambassadors with nations. Nor does any other city claim to represent Christ, and thus no other could stand accused of spiritual fornication due to unholy alliances with earth's rulers. Neither can any other city rival the blood of both Jews and Christians which pagan Rome and later the Vatican have shed. Thomas Hobbes perceptively said, "The Papacy is...the ghost of the deceased Roman Empire, sitting crowned upon the grave thereof."

A mountaintop moment, a glowing Savior, a thundering voice from heaven. In the Transfiguration, God says it loud and clear: Look. Listen. Follow. It's all about Jesus.

 Ep.366 – Run With Horses Podcast – Stewarding Your Time Podcast: rwh.podbean.com Website: www.runwithhorses.net Youtube:  https://youtube.com/@rwhpodcast Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/RWHpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rwh_podcast Twitter:  https://twitter.com/RWH_podcast Author pages with links to all books on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0BCSDDVLB – James Norman Smith https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0BMGW51FW – Susan Jane Smith **(24:00)** If you are like me you have a long list fo things you would like to see accomplished this week. Time always seems in short supply with way more to do than time to do it. in the middle of the busyness, what is God doing? How can we keep Him first in the middle of the rat race. That our topic today! Welcome to Run With Horses! My name is Norman and my goal is to help you thrive as a follower of Jesus. The spiritual life is simple in many ways, but potentially the most difficult part of your life. God invites you to grow, to live intentionally and to join in His mission. It's very cool that we can do that together! Thank you for joining me today! “If you're new here, you can check out past episodes at runwithhorses.net. As always, I appreciate your feedback, questions, and reviews!” **(23:00 – 0:00)* *  PART 1 Run With Horses is on the radio! If you are enjoying Run With Horses, would you let someone know? Contact the radio station or leave a review on your favorite app. We want to hear from you! ### 1. Stewardship of our Time: “Redeeming the Time” Passage: Ephesians 5:15–17 (NKJV) “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” Principle: Every minute is a gift. We must “buy back” each hour from distractions by aligning our schedules with God's priorities—especially the Great Commission. ### 2. Wisdom in Planning: “The Plans of the Diligent” Passage: Proverbs 21:5 (NKJV) “The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty, but those of everyone who is hasty, to poverty.” Principle: Thoughtful, prayerful planning prevents wasted time and creates margin for gospel opportunities (e.g., inviting neighbors, mentoring new believers). ### 3. Counting Our Days: “Teach Us to Number Our Days” Passage: Psalm 90:12 (NKJV) “So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Principle: An eternal-perspective reminder that life is brief. When we internalize our limited hours, we'll prioritize what lasts—making disciples. ### 4. Purposeful Living: “Doing All to the Glory of God” Passage: 1 Corinthians 10:31 (NKJV) “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” Principle: Every task—work, rest, family time, evangelism—should be offered as worship. That reshapes even “routine” minutes into Kingdom service. ### 5. Prioritizing Prayer & Communion: “Jesus Prayed Early” Passage: Mark 1:35 (NKJV) “Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.” Principle: Jesus structured His day around communion with the Father—our ultimate source of wisdom for time management and disciple-making. ### 6. Eternal Urgency: “For What Is Your Life?” Passage: James 4:14 (NKJV) “Whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.” Principle: The fleetingness of life compels urgent obedience to the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19–20). ### 7. Single-Mindfulness: “Deny Yourself” Passage: Luke 9:23–24 (NKJV) “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. 24 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.” Principle: Self-discipline in scheduling (saying “no” to lesser things) frees us to “lose” our lives in service—especially in making disciples. ### 8. Balance Work & Rest: “Six Days You Shall Labor…” Passage: Exodus 20:8–10,12 (NKJV) “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy…6 for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth…12 ‘Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long…'” Principle: Biblical sabbath—and honoring family—establish healthy rhythms that prevent burnout and protect time for disciple-care. ###9. Investing in Others: “Do Not Steal” (as Stealing Time) Passage: Ephesians 4:28 (NKJV) “Let him who stole steal no longer… but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.” Principle: Our work (and your time!) isn't just for self—but for generosity. Freeing up “spare” hours to invest in new believers. ### 10. The Great Commission as First Priority Passage: Matthew 28:19–20 (NKJV) “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always…” Principle: Every time-management decision must be filtered through: “Will this help me obey Jesus's command to make disciples?” **(00:00) END PART 1** **(27:00 – 5:00) BEGIN PART 2** ### Part 2: Practical Advice for Using Time to Be and Make Disciples ### 1. Begin with a Paradigm Shift: Time is Kingdom Currency  • Time is not just something we “spend”; it's something we invest. Just like money, time can be stewarded for temporary or eternal purposes.  • Regularly ask: “Is this activity helping me know Jesus more deeply or helping someone else follow Him better?” “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time…” (Ephesians 5:15–16) ### 2. Build Life Around Jesus's Priorities, Not Just Adding Him In  • Many busy Christians are trying to fit Jesus into their schedule instead of building their schedule around Him.  • Suggest starting with these 3 buckets and planning around them:  • Time with God (Being a disciple) – prayer, Scripture, Sabbath, silence.  • Time with others (Making disciples) – intentional meals, mentoring, small groups.  • Time on mission (Living sent) – workplace witness, neighborhood engagement, volunteering. ### 3. Combine Your Calling With Your Calendar Help them redeem ordinary rhythms by integrating disciple-making into:  • Meals – “Who can you eat with this week that needs encouragement or the gospel?”  • Commutes – Use it for prayer, audio Bibles, check-in calls with mentees.  • Family time – Lead short devotionals, model hospitality, include kids in ministry moments.  • Work breaks – Strategic encouragement or follow-up with someone God's placed nearby. “Disciple-making doesn't always need new time blocks—it often needs intentionality in existing ones.” ### 4. Create a Disciple-Making Weekly Rhythm Encourage a simple rhythm:  • Daily: Time with God, open eyes to opportunities.  • Weekly: 1 relational touchpoint (e.g., coffee, call, prayer walk).  • Monthly: One deeper investment (e.g., mentoring conversation, service together).  • Quarterly: Retreat or reevaluation—Am I growing? Is anyone growing because of me? ### 5. Say No to Say Yes Help them see that every “yes” is a “no” to something else.  • Challenge: “What are you doing that someone else could do, so you can do what only you can do?”  • Sometimes the most spiritual thing they can do is decline a good thing for the sake of the best thing (Luke 10:41–42 – “Martha, Martha…”). ### 6. Use Tools with Intentionality  • Calendar: Block time for people, not just tasks.  • Alarms/reminders: Prompt prayer, Scripture, check-ins.  • Apps: Bible apps, group chats for discipleship groups, accountability tools.  • Notebooks or journals: Record prayers, disciple progress, insights from Scripture. ### 7. Don't Go Alone—Form a Band of Disciple-Makers  • Encourage small discipleship bands of 2–4 people with shared goals and check-ins.  • Ask: “Who's helping you follow Jesus better? Who are you helping?”  • This builds encouragement, accountability, and shared momentum. ### 8. Encouragement: Grace Over Guilt, Progress Over Perfection  • Remind them that they are not earning God's favor by being busy for Him.  • Jesus is not measuring productivity; He's forming people.  • Celebrate small, faithful steps. Even 5 minutes of prayer for someone is eternally significant.  • God multiplies what we surrender, even if it's small (loaves and fish principle). “You may feel behind, but Jesus is not. He's patient, and He delights in every act of love in His name.” ### Challenge  • “Imagine if every one of us made just one disciple this year.”  • write one name they'll pray for or pursue this month.  • You don't need more time—you need more focus and faith. **(5:00 – 1:00)**  Doctrine Today Jesus and His Present Ministry The Holy Spirit's Role in Disciple Making. Dispensational Baptist view of the End Times Understanding Theology is Important The Gospel and Ongoing Disciple Making Church Role in Discerning God's Will Barriers to Disciple Making Spiritual Warfare Jesus – Incarnation God's Sovereignty Sin and the Call to Make Disciples I. Introduction: The Clear Call of Jesus  • Matthew 28:18–20 (NKJV) “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…”  • The Great Commission is not a suggestion, but a command.  • Discipleship is not optional for the believer—it's our identity and mission.  • Briefly affirm your audience's desire to follow Jesus more faithfully. II. The Nature and Consequence of Sin  • Romans 3:23 (NKJV) “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”  • Isaiah 59:2 (NKJV) “But your iniquities have separated you from your God…”  • Hebrews 12:1 (NKJV) “Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us…” Key Points:  • Sin is not just moral failure—it's a barrier to intimacy with God and others.  • Sin entangles and weighs down believers, keeping us from active obedience.  • Our mission to make disciples is spiritual warfare—sin compromises our witness, our clarity, and our power. III. Sin's Direct Impact on Discipleship A. It Weakens Our Witness  • 1 Peter 2:11–12 (NKJV) “…abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable… that they may, by your good works… glorify God.”  • Our credibility is tied to our character. Ongoing, unrepentant sin dulls our message. B. It Diminishes Our Passion  • Revelation 2:4–5 (NKJV) “…you have left your first love. Remember… repent and do the first works.”  • Sin numbs the heart. A lukewarm heart does not multiply disciples—it replicates complacency. C. It Breaks Fellowship and Unity  • John 13:34–35 (NKJV) “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”  • Sin disrupts love and unity, weakening the Church's witness and the environment in which disciples are formed. IV. Repentance and Restoration for Disciple Makers  • 1 John 1:9 (NKJV) “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us…”  • Psalm 51:10–13 (NKJV) “Create in me a clean heart… Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners shall be converted to You.”  • Repentance is not the end of ministry—it's often the beginning of renewed fruitfulness.  • David sinned greatly, but through repentance, his voice became a song of redemption that still disciples us today. V. Living Holy to Make Disciples Effectively  • 2 Timothy 2:21 (NKJV) “Therefore if anyone cleanses himself… he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master…”  • Holiness is not perfection, but readiness—an availability for God's use.  • Personal holiness fuels spiritual authority and fruitfulness in disciple-making. VI. Conclusion: Renew the Mission  • Luke 9:23 (NKJV) “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”  • Philippians 2:15–16 (NKJV) “…shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life…”  • The world needs disciples. The church needs disciple-makers. Jesus is still calling.  • Let us repent where we've fallen, recommit where we've grown weary, and re-engage the mission with holy fire. **(1:00)**  Busyness can suck that life out of you. One reason is that other activities intrude on the work that God is doing in you and through you. Be proactive and put God first in every activity, every day. It's not always easy but it's always right. – “Thank you for listening today!  -If you enjoyed the show you can listen to all the past shows wherever you listen to podcasts. A good place to start is at runwithhorses.net. You can also write me at norman@runwithhorses.net or leave a comment on the Run With Horses Podcast facebook page. Don't be discouraged by the challenges you face. Keep your eyes on Jesus and embrace the opportunity to grow through the trial. Until next time, keep your eyes on Jesus and never stop running." **(00:00)**

Welcome to the new series, More About Jesus! in this first episode, Danny Simmons and Robert Moore will begin studying the longest discourse that we have recorded in all four gospels. It is referred to as "The Sermon on the Mount" and it is found in Matthew 5-7. Let's listen to the teaching of the Son of God together.

Temptations are a universal human experience, not sinful in themselves but only when we yield to them. Teacher - Tom Harrigan

Matthew 23:36-39

Matthew 16 asks us if we will follow Jesus with our lives. He is the Son of God and the only one worthy of our faith. When we stand on him, we are guaranteed to prevail.

Listen, read, watch, or see further resources: https://clarence-cc.squarespace.com/podcast-feed

Sermon By: Pastor Roman Folia (The Gospel of Matthew pt 28)

Pastor/Elder Steve Brown preaches from Matthew 5:31-32

Jesus came to die for our sins, reveal His and our identity, and then how to live as good citizens for gospel witness.

Sermon By: Pastor Roman Folia (The Gospel of Matthew pt. 27)

Northwest Bible Church – May 11, 2025 – Matthew – Alan Conner Matthew 1:18-21 The Conception of Jesus Intro A. THE BETROTHAL OF JOSEPH AND MARY (Matthew 1:18a). 1.  A legally binding arrangement.   2.  The consequences of adultery.    B. THE ASSUMED BETRAYAL OF MARY (Matthew 1:18b-19). 1. Mary was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:18b).    2. Joseph was a righteous man (Matthew 1:19). C. THE BENEFICIENT ANGEL OF THE LORD (Matthew 1:20-21).    1. The timing of the angel's appearance.    2.  The message of the angel (Matthew 1:20-21).   a. A word of context (Matthew 1:20).  “Joseph son of David.”  b.  A word of comfort (Matthew 1:20). “Do not be afraid.  .  .”    c.  A word of correction (Matthew 1:20b).   “the Child .  .  .  is of the Holy Spirit.”    d.  A word of command (Matthew 1:20-21).   Take her as your wife (Matthew 1:20); and “call His name Jesus” (Matthew 1:21).   e.  A word of clarification (Matthew 1:21).     “He will save His people from their sins.”       (1) The MISSION of Jesus's salvation.    (2) The MAGNITUDE of Jesus' salvation.   Conclusion

Sunday Morning WorshipFinding Religion, Missing Jesus - Matthew 16:1-12Dr. Paul ThompsonMay 4, 2025Notes | https://calvarydothan.com/wp-content/uploads/2025_05_04_1.pdf

Join us every Sunday at 10am at River of Life church in Guilderland, NY Find us online at facebook.com/riveralbany or riveralbany.com. Podcasts of the Sunday message can be found on iTunes, Spotify, Amazon, YT music, or Soundcloud.

Topics: The Great Commission, Matthew 28:18-20, Pressure to Fulfill the Great Commission, Christ's Vine and Branch Relationship (John 15:5), Fruit Production Without Pressure (Galatians 5:22-23), Shaking Pressure-Filled Evangelism Teaching, Great Commission Contorted by Anti-Cross Theology, Mixing Old and New Covenants, Not Viewing Bible Through Finished Work of Jesus, Anxiety from Improper Great Commission Delivery, Saints Set Apart by God's Spirit (Hebrews 2:11), Holy Ones Sanctified From the World (Hebrews 10:10), Opening Eyes From Darkness to Light (Acts 26:18), Turning From Satan's Power to God (Acts 26:18), Receiving Forgiveness Through Faith in Jesus (Acts 26:18), A Place Among Those Sanctified by Faith (Acts 26:18), Set Apart From Sin and Death, Not Sinners Saved by Grace, Saints Crucified With Christ, Believers Always Addressed as Saints, Saints Who Forget Their Holy Identity, Sinning Not Our God-Given Identity, God's Permanent Home in Brand New Creations, Paul Describing His Past Life as Unbeliever (1 Timothy 1), Telling the Truth About God's Work in Saints, Great Commission as Expression of Saints, Organic Ambition of the Body of Believers, Fulfilling Command by Allowing God to Live Through Us, Confusing Jesus' Directives With Moses' Commandments, Jesus' Two New Covenant Commands: Believe and Love (1 John 3:23), Moses' Law Ended at the Cross for Believers (Romans 10:4), Law Exposing Unbeliever's Need for Grace (Romans 5:20), Discerning New Covenant Commands for Believers, All Authority in Heaven and Earth Given to Jesus (Matthew 28:18), Go Make Disciples of All Nations (Matthew 28:19), Teaching Them to Observe Jesus' Commands, Jesus' Promise to Be With Them Always (Matthew 28:20)Support the showSign up for Matt's free daily devotional! https://mattmcmillen.com/newsletter

Listen, read, watch, or see further resources: https://clarence-cc.squarespace.com/podcast-feed

Northwest Bible Church – May 4, 2025 – Matthew – Alan Conner Matthew 1:1-17  The Family Tree of Jesus Intro A. THE NAMES AND TITLES FOR JESUS (Matthew 1:1). 1. Jesus Christ -   2. Son of DAVID -  2 Sam. 7:12-13 3. Son of ABRAHAM -  Gen. 12:3; 17:5.   B. A WALK THROUGH THE GENEALOGY (Matthew 1:2-16). 1. First section (Matthew 1:2-6). a. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Judah.     (1) Tamar (Matthew 1:3) -   (2) Rahab (Matthew 1:5) –  (3) Ruth (Matthew 1:5) –  (4) Bathsheba (Matthew 1:6) - b. Boaz, Obed, Jesse, David.   2. Second section (Matthew 1:6-11).     a. David; Solomon; Rehoboam –  b. Abijah;   Asa;  Jehoshaphat  c. Jehoram;  Uzziah;  Jotham;  Ahaz;   Hezekiah   d. Manasseh;  Amon;  Josiah;  Jeconiah  3. Third section (Matthew 1:12-16).   Babylonian exile.   a. Zerubbabel –  b. Matthew 1:13-15.    9 names are unknown.   c. Jacob, Joseph, the husband of Mary by whom Jesus was born.  B. THE THEMES FROM THE GENEALOGY. 1. Why the emphasis on “fourteen” (Matthew 1:17)?    2. Full of sinners to highlight the grace of God.   3. Jesus is qualified to be the Messiah as a son of David.  God is faithful! 4. Lays foundation for the virgin birth of Jesus (Matthew 1:16). 5. The three phases of history.  OUT OF DARKNESS, LIGHT! Conclusion

Message from Pastor Kory Cunningham on April 13, 2025

Send us a textTrinity Grace Church Worship Service - April 13, 2025: Rev. Michael Novak

Matthew 16:21-23

Matthew 16:8-17

“When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples, ‘As you know, Passover begins in two days, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.’” (Matthew 26:1–2 NLT) At the same time Jesus was breaking the news of His imminent death to His disciples, the leading priests and elders plotting His death were trying to work around a snag in their plans. Jesus was still popular with the Jewish people. (Their meeting was taking place only three days after Jesus’ triumphant arrival on Palm Sunday.) Complicating things even further was the fact that Passover was one of the holiest celebrations on the Jewish calendar. Executing someone many people believed to be the Messiah during Passover was a good way to start a riot. And a riot was the last thing the Jewish religious leaders wanted. Their goal was to maintain the status quo. The Romans were extremely tolerant of Jewish worship practices. Roman leaders understood that respecting the religious traditions and customs of conquered territories promoted stability in the empire. As long as things remained peaceful and orderly—and taxes were paid, of course—the Romans were content to let the Jewish priests and elders lead as they saw fit. Jesus threatened not only the status quo with Rome but also the leadership of the priests and elders. Throughout His ministry, He challenged their authority and exposed their hypocrisy. As He neared the end of His earthly ministry, Jesus became bolder in His challenges. He was forcing their hand so that they had no choice but to kill Him. Their task was made easier by the help of someone in Jesus’ inner circle. “Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, went to the leading priests and asked, ‘How much will you pay me to betray Jesus to you?’ And they gave him thirty pieces of silver. From that time on, Judas began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus” (Matthew 26:14–16 NLT). The Bible doesn’t say why Judas betrayed Jesus—only that “Satan entered into” him. What we do know is that Judas regretted his decision. When he heard that Jesus had been condemned to death, he hanged himself. The blood money he received was used to buy a potter’s field. Judas’ betrayal may seem like the ultimate surprise plot twist—the blindside that no one saw coming. But there’s one problem with that interpretation: His betrayal was prophesied centuries before it happened. David wrote, “Even my best friend, the one I trusted completely, the one who shared my food, has turned against me” (Psalm 41:9 NLT). The prophet Zechariah wrote, “And I said to them, ‘If you like, give me my wages, whatever I am worth; but only if you want to.’ So they counted out for my wages thirty pieces of silver. And the Lord said to me, ‘Throw it to the potter’—this magnificent sum at which they valued me! So I took the thirty coins and threw them to the potter in the Temple of the Lord” (Zechariah 11:12–13 NLT). Everything that led to Jesus’ death on the cross was carefully orchestrated by God. It was all part of His perfect plan of salvation. And it was driven by His amazing love for us. Reflection question: Why is it sometimes hard to see God’s plan at work? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.