Podcasts about Matthew 2

Matthew - The King has Come "Flee To Egypt" (Matthew 2:13-23) Sermon Notes June 1, 2025 Russell Howard • Lead Pastor   Presented by McGregor Podcast 2025 Visit Our Website at McGregorPodcast.com

In this episode, we journey through Matthew 2:12–23, a story that is often overshadowed by the more familiar scenes of the Christmas narrative. While we celebrate the joy of Christ's birth, this passage reveals the raw and unsettling reality of His early days: warnings in dreams, midnight escapes to Egypt, and the tragic massacre of the innocents. Through Joseph's quiet obedience and the Magi's faithfulness, we witness God's hand preserving the promise. This is not a sanitized story; it's a powerful reminder that faith is often forged in discomfort, obedience in the shadows, and hope in the midst of mourning. Join us as we reflect on what it means to follow God when the path is unclear—and how our everyday obedience can protect what He's birthing in our lives.

Matthew 2:1-16 William McKee 01/06/25am by Cloughmills RP Church

In this powerful expositional teaching, Pastor Brandon dives deep into Matthew 2 and uncovers the profound Hebrew roots behind the visit of the Magi. Far from a typical Christmas message, this lesson reveals the rich prophetic and historical context of Jesus' birth, showing how His arrival was anything but mythical—it was calculated, confirmed, and foretold. Discover: The true timeline of Jesus' birth (6–7 BC) Why the Magi believed in the Messiah and made the two-year journey How Balaam's prophecy and Daniel's influence shaped their faith What the star really was (hint: it wasn't a planet or asteroid) The sinister character of Herod—and how his reaction mirrors today's culture This message isn't just about ancient history—it's a wake-up call for our times. Just like the first century, our generation is either hostile, indifferent, or hungry for the true King. Which are you?

In this powerful expositional teaching, Pastor Brandon dives deep into Matthew 2 and uncovers the profound Hebrew roots behind the visit of the Magi. Far from a typical Christmas message, this lesson reveals the rich prophetic and historical context of Jesus' birth, showing how His arrival was anything but mythical—it was calculated, confirmed, and foretold. Discover: The true timeline of Jesus' birth (6–7 BC) Why the Magi believed in the Messiah and made the two-year journey How Balaam's prophecy and Daniel's influence shaped their faith What the star really was (hint: it wasn't a planet or asteroid) The sinister character of Herod—and how his reaction mirrors today's culture This message isn't just about ancient history—it's a wake-up call for our times. Just like the first century, our generation is either hostile, indifferent, or hungry for the true King. Which are you?

What are you hungry for?Tune in this week as Pastor Westley continues our series "A Study Through Matthew."If you would like to partner with BLVD Church and what we are doing in the community, you can make an investment of support at https://blvd.church/give

Matthew - The King has Come "Wise Men From The East" (Matthew 2:1-12) Sermon Notes May 25, 2025 Russell Howard • Lead Pastor   Presented by McGregor Podcast 2025 Visit Our Website at McGregorPodcast.com

Matthew 2:13-23 – God's Plan to Protect His Son | Kingdom Come Bible Study by Tim Hatch

The Gospel of Matthew is a wonderful book, the first text in the New Testament, which gives us an exciting shift from the prophecies of the Old Testament to the fulfillment of those very prophecies in the person of Jesus. You are sure to be equipped and inspired as Jesus Himself shares about the hope we have, gives practical lessons for how to live life the way God intended, shows the love of God through miracles and healings, and makes a way for you to be reconciled to God for all eternity.  Join Jerry as he dives into Matthew and walks us through the life, ministry and profound teachings of Jesus. There's no better day than today to take your daily reading to another level with The New Testament Daily with Jerry Dirmann—so grab your Bible and let's get started!   Thank you for joining us today! For more resources like this, or to support the ministry of Solid Lives, visit one of the links below:  « FREE MEDIA LIBRARY » To listen to or download more teachings from Jerry and others from Solid Lives ministries, visit our new media library at: https://app.jesusdisciple.com/jesus-way/media-library « THE NEW TESTAMENT DAILY PODCAST » https://thenewtestamentdailywithjerrydirmann.buzzsprout.com « SOLID LIVES » Find out more about the ministries of Jerry Dirmann and Solid Lives at https://www.solidlives.com/  « SUPPORT » You can help us get free resources like this out to more people. Visit https://pushpay.com/g/jdglobal   Thank you for joining us today! For more resources like this, or to support the ministry of Solid Lives, visit one of the links below: FREE MEDIA LIBRARY » Download or listen at https://SolidLivesMedia.com/ ABOUT SOLID LIVES » Find out more at https://www.solidlives.com/ SUPPORT » Help us get the word out at https://solidlives.com/give/

There's a famous optical illusion drawing that, depending on how a person perceives the image, shows an elderly woman or a young lady with her head turned away from us.You can see it here – and what's fascinating is while one person may see a young lady and another an older person, the image itself is unchanged – only our perception and interpretation of the image.We're going to be continuing our study in the Gospel of Matthew this Sunday, and we'll be reading about some very different reactions and responses to the news that the Messiah King had been born in Israel. It was perceived as either good or bad news, depending on what a person may have felt was at stake in the arrival of a new King.We'll be reading Matthew 2:1-23.The text introduces us to some characters that we'll have to try and get familiar with.We'll meet King Herod (or Herod the Great) who was the Roman puppet ruler over Israel at that time. We'll also meet the Magi, or Wise Men as our modern translations call them. They are apparently court astrologers who travel from the East because they observed astronomical phenomena that they interpreted as the portent of the arrival of an important King.We'll also hear from the religious scribes, the keepers of the Torah. All of these people react to the news of the birth of Messiah – and all of them react differently. What do the Magi state as their intentions? What does Herod say he wants to do compared with what he does? Who is this text portraying in a positive way, and who is negatively represented? What might we infer from that?We're going to pay attention the the tension and conflict that emerges as Jesus comes on the scene and consider what that tells us about the world we live in, as well as the condition of our own hearts.It will be both a challenge and an encouragement! Hope you can join us this Sunday at 10 AM!Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow.

Matthew 2:1-12 – Worshiping the Newborn King | Kingdom Come Bible Study by Tim Hatch

Daily Dose of Hope May 20, 2025 Day 2 of Week 8   Scripture – Matthew 2   Prayer:  Dear God, You are amazing!  How awesome it is that you who created all things are also so intimately involved in our lives.  We give you glory and praise for who you are.  We are so thankful for your love.  We want to know you more.  We want and need to hear your voice.  Help us set aside our scattered thoughts and focus on you.  In these next few moments of silence, Lord, hear our prayers...  In Your Name, Amen. Welcome back, friends, to the Daily Dose of Hope, a devotional and podcast connected to the Bible reading plan at New Hope Church in Brandon, FL.  Today, we are digging into Matthew 2.  This is pretty familiar Scripture to many of us.  Let's try to see it with fresh eyes. The text begins with foreign Magi visiting King Herod.  These men are an interesting and mysterious group. We don't really know much about the magi who come seeking Jesus from eastern lands.  Some translations call them wise men or kings.  Matthew doesn't include a lot of details.  We have no idea how many there actually were (despite the popular carol, Scripture does not say there were just three of them).  Like the shepherds, the magi seem an unlikely group to seek out and worship Jesus. They were pagans, gentiles, involved in the occult, and yet they knew there was something more.  They were searching for something more.  So these magi embark on a long journey, carrying expensive gifts worthy of a king, eager to pay homage. Their efforts lead them to an encounter far beyond their expectations. Unlike an earthly king who would have been found in a palace, the magi are led to what we can probably assume is a modest home of a Jewish family and it's there that they find Jesus with his mother and Scripture says they bow down and worship him.  Maybe it wasn't what they expected but they see God's hand in it nonetheless and worship the one they know to be the Messiah, the savior of the world.  They were outsiders but they recognized the Messiah when so many insiders failed to do so. Up until now, it all sounds great, right?  But there is another character in this story.  His name is Herod the Great. The Herod family ruled over the holy land both before and after the time of Christ, they were somewhat like puppet kings, put in place by the Romans to keep order.  And they don't have a great reputation at all.  They were, for the most part, insecure and power-hungry. One reason I don't think it's accurate to refer to the magi as wise men is because they did one thing that was really unwise.  They go straight to King Herod, “So where is the NEW king? Where is the one who has been named king of the Jews?”  Keep in mind, Herod the Great considered himself to be king of the Jews.  The man is insecure and vicious so he tries to trick the magi into divulging Jesus' location.  But no amount of earthly power can get Herod what he wants.  The magi are warned in a dream to not return to Herod.  And this angers him more.  Herod was both feared and hated. The Jewish historian Josephus painted a picture of Herod as a suspicious and cruel client king, with a history of killing anyone whom he saw as a threat, including three sons and his wife. So even though the magi remind Herod of Micah's prophecy that the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2), his response was not to pay homage but to destroy the newborn king.  In Matthew 2:16, we read that Herod decides to take matters into his own hands and kill all the baby boys who might be in the age range of Jesus, When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi.  Truly dark and horrific.  The extent to which human beings will go to gain power surely demonstrates the brokenness of our world.  Then and now.  But through all of this, Jesus is saved.  The baby's family is warned in a dream and they head down to Egypt for a period of time to keep the boy safe from Herod before they come back to Israel and settle in Nazareth.  Because God's purposes will prevail.  God had promised long, long ago to send a Savior for his people and there is nothing that could get in the way.  Listen to this prophecy from in Isaiah 9:6-7, spoken 700 years before the birth of Jesus, For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end.  He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.  It's like God was saying “I'm going to send someone who will restore the people of Israel to me.  This person will be a light to the Gentiles, and will bring my salvation to the ends of the earth AND it will be obvious once more that your God reigns.”  No power-hungry king could mess that up as hard as he tried.  No earthly power could thwart God's plan of redemption for his people.  It's true that bad things to happen.  God allows human beings free will and that is too often used for evil.  But that doesn't mean God isn't involved, it doesn't mean he isn't invested, God can and has orchestrated, changed, and/or stopped the plans of all kinds of people to get done what needs to get done.  God has been working, in his time, over the course of thousands of years, to achieve his bigger purpose. And what was the bigger purpose?  God's mission from the beginning was to redeem his world.  He did this through Jesus.  That little baby that the wise men knelt down and worshiped, that child that Herod felt so threatened by --- that child would grow to become the Savior of the world.  He would bring sight to the blind, freedom for the oppressed, he would proclaim good news to the poor.  He would preach the Kingdom of God and show the world a different way of living, ultimately giving up his own life voluntarily on a Roman cross.  In doing so, he became the final sacrifice for sin, providing a way for you and me and all people to be redeemed.  Because of Jesus' sacrifice, our sins can be forgiven and we can walk hand in hand with a holy God.  Because of Jesus, nothing separates us from God.  And then, three days after he died, he was resurrected, defeating evil and death and demonstrating to the world who HE is.  He is, after all, God.  Jesus is the Lord. Jesus is LORD of all.  Paul writes this in Colossians 1:15-20, The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.  Jesus is above all things.  Jesus is Lord. And over the course of 2000 years, rulers and kings and dictators and autocrats have tried to wipe out his influence.  They have misused his teachings, they have twisted the Gospel.  Like Herod, they have done all kinds of things to either try to eliminate the influence of Jesus or to use the Gospel for their own deceitful purposes.  And at times, it's been ugly and violent and really sad.  But this is TRUTH:  God will ensure that his purposes prevail.  Yes, in our sinful and broken world, all kinds of horrors will occur.  Vladimir Putin will think he's invincible.  Kim Jong Un will declare himself supreme ruler.  American politicians will think themselves unshakable.  You and I will experience heartbreak, loss, and illness.  And yet, Jesus is still Lord of all.  God is still working in our lives, God is still present with us in the middle of the mess, and Jesus is still in the business of transforming lives.  Friends, Jesus is on the throne, King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  The rulers of the world may oppose him but they are ultimately answerable to him.  Because he will come again. I'll stop there for now.  But I do have to ask this question:  Is Jesus Lord of your life?  More tomorrow. Blessings, Pastor Vicki    

This Sunday, we will be continuing our study in the book of Matthew. Last week, we studied the genealogy of Jesus and learned just how messy family can be. Thankfully, God never seems shocked by the mess, and he certainly is never stopped by it.On Sunday, we will read the account of Mary's pregnancy from Joseph's perspective. This is not typically the version we read on Christmas morning, but that doesn't mean it lacks wisdom and insight.There are several references to the Old Testament in this scripture that we will study together. One mention is the Holy Spirit bringing new life. What other stories from the Old Testament mention the Holy Spirit bringing new life?There are actually a few references of this happening in scripture, and noting their connection will help us grasp how the Bible is a unified story that leads to Jesus. I'm looking forward to showing the various ways these stories work together. I hope you can join us this Sunday as we look at the deeper meaning found in the scripture.Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow.

In this podcast, we're going to talk about how to deal with feeling distant from God. Sometimes, God feels far away, and that can be really difficult. However, there are some keys to spiritual growth that will help you find hope and peace when God feels far away. We'll talk about how to deal with troublesome emotions and how to find a way to connect with God again. It's definitely worth listening to this podcast if you're feeling lost and isolated.Send us a text

We've made the Magi part of our Christmas nativity scene, but what if their story was never meant to be crammed into December 25th?In this episode, we explore the powerful and often overlooked truth of Matthew 2—the journey of the Magi, the spiritual sleepiness of religious insiders, and the faithful legacy of Daniel that may have led pagan astrologers to worship the Messiah.You'll discover:Why compressing the biblical timeline distorts deep theologyHow Daniel's influence centuries earlier could have shaped the Magi's searchWhat the gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh really meanHow God speaks to seekers—even through the starsWhy worship isn't a moment but a lifestyle of surrenderThis isn't just a story of distant kings and exotic treasures. It's a call to build beyond your sight, listen for God in your own language, and bring your best to the One who is worthy.Key Axiom: “When we compress the timeline, we dilute the theology.”If you've ever felt unnoticed in your obedience, stuck in a system, or uncertain if your faithfulness matters—this message will remind you: God is always working beyond what you can see.Subscribe, share, and let this episode challenge your assumptions and reignite your worship.

Messianic Confirmation: God's Terms, Not Man's - Matthew 2:19-23

The Live recording of the 10 am Service at Steadfast Church in Carlsbad, California with Pastor Chris Fik April 27, 2025. Music Credit: HolyName "Creed (Rev Gang)"

What does it mean to truly prioritize your faith? Jesse Cope dives deep into this question, challenging listeners to honestly evaluate whether their actions align with their professed beliefs. Drawing from an Easter sermon, he shares a powerful quote from Oswald Chambers: "Faith that is sure of itself is not faith. Only faith in God is faith." This thought-provoking perspective invites us to embrace the authentic nature of faith—not as certainty without doubt, but as trust despite uncertainty.The episode explores the principle that genuine passion inevitably leads to performance. When we're truly passionate about our faith, marriage, or any pursuit, we actively demonstrate it through consistent action. Jesse poses a compelling question: "If we were put on trial for being passionate about God, would there be enough evidence to convict us?" This imagery serves as a mirror for self-examination, prompting listeners to consider whether their daily choices reflect their stated priorities.A fascinating examination of George Washington's prayer journal reveals the first president's profound humility and complete reliance on Christ for redemption. This historical insight directly challenges modern narratives suggesting America's founders intended to create a secular nation. How could men who integrated faith into every aspect of their personal lives deliberately exclude those principles from the foundations of government? The contradiction is striking and thought-provoking.The podcast concludes with a powerful metaphor comparing Christians to soldiers behind enemy lines, tasked with rescuing as many souls as possible. Even saving one person makes the mission worthwhile, and God always makes room for more. This encouraging perspective reminds us that our purpose extends beyond ourselves to the spiritual wellbeing of others.Join the American Soul Podcast community by subscribing, sharing with friends who might benefit from these discussions, and keeping Jesse and the podcast in your prayers as they continue to explore the intersection of faith, history, and contemporary American life.Support the showThe American Soul Podcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribe

POWER FOR TODAY is intended to equip the believers with the supernatural dimension of God, through the teaching of the unadulterated word of God

EPISODE 1142 It's Tuesday, April 22 and Steve Deur and Matt Swier discuss Matthew 2. For the full VP Bible Reading Plan, head to https://www.victorypoint.org/resources. For more on the context of today's passage check out the resources at https://bibleproject.com/explore/book-overviews. To find out more about VictoryPoint Church go to victorypoint.org.

20 Proverbs 28-29; 26 Ezekiel 6-12; 19 Psalms 69-71; 40 Matthew 2-6

Threatened or Thanksgiving: Our Response to King Jesus (Matthew 2:1-12) by The Chapel Sandusky Campus

Threatened or Thanksgiving: Our Response to King Jesus (Matthew 2:1-12) by The Chapel Port Clinton Campus

Threatened or Thanksgiving: Our Response to King Jesus (Matthew 2:1-12) by The Chapel Norwalk Campus

The Testimony of Divine Protection - Part 2 - Matthew 2:13-15

The Live recording of the 10am Service at Steadfast Church in Carlsbad, California with Pastor Chris Fik April 6, 2025.

The Testimony of Divine Protection - Part 1 - Matthew 2:13-15

SUBSCRIBE and get the latest messages: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVIzzCy3Z9Zsk0GwAH-yJ7g?sub_confirmation=1Watch this:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5De6-FwIKq4&t=1sTo support this ministry and help us continue to reach people click here: http://kingschurchkc.com/giveWe exist to help ALL people know God, find family, discover purpose, and make a difference.——Stay ConnectedWebsite: www.kingschurchkc.comKings Church Facebook: Facebook.com/kingschurchkcKings Church Instagram: Instagram.com/kingschurchkc#kingschurch #faith #Christianity #kansascity #onlinechurch #churchonline #hope #churchesinkansascity

SUBSCRIBE and get the latest messages: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVIzzCy3Z9Zsk0GwAH-yJ7g?sub_confirmation=1Watch this:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5De6-FwIKq4&t=1sTo support this ministry and help us continue to reach people click here: http://kingschurchkc.com/giveWe exist to help ALL people know God, find family, discover purpose, and make a difference.——Stay ConnectedWebsite: www.kingschurchkc.comKings Church Facebook: Facebook.com/kingschurchkcKings Church Instagram: Instagram.com/kingschurchkc#kingschurch #faith #Christianity #kansascity #onlinechurch #churchonline #hope #churchesinkansascity SSG5WNRPWYTTR3R1

Sunday Sermon- March 23 2025- Matthew 2:12-23 "God's protection in times of uncertainty and crisis"

Come Worship The King - Matthew 2:1-12

Pastor David Smith leads a study on Matthew 2:19-23. Join the pastors and people of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Des Peres, MO, for weekly Bible study on Sunday mornings. Learn more about St. Paul's Des Peres at stpaulsdesperes.org. Submit comments or questions to: listener@kfuo.org.

This week's study covers Matthew 2:7-18. Join the pastors and people of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Des Peres, MO, for weekly Bible study on Sunday mornings. Learn more about St. Paul's Des Peres at stpaulsdesperes.org. Submit comments or questions to: listener@kfuo.org.

The Gospel of Matthew | Week 3 | Matthew 2 by Refuge Community Church

Sermon by Vaughn Winslett Join us as Pastor Vaughn Winslett explores the profound significance of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem, as recorded in Matthew 2. This small town in Judea, foretold by the prophets, became the birthplace of the Savior, fulfilling ancient promises and changing the course of history. Tune in now and be blessed by […]

20 Proverbs 19-20; 2 Chronicles 12-19; 19 Psalms 44-49; 40 Matthew 2-6

Matthew 2

Hello Friends! I love to hear from you! Please send me a text message by clicking on this link! Blessings to You!In this episode, Jori discusses with her listeners Matthew's writing about Jesus living in Nazareth so that what was spoken through the prophets would be fulfilled: "He shall be called a Nazarene.", and some of the explanations for this. Scripture References:Matthew 2:23; John 2:13-22; John 3:16; Matthew 9:9; Matthew 5-7; Matthew 1:1-17; Matthew 1-2; Micah 5:2; Hosea 11:1; Jeremiah 31:15; Isaiah 11:1; John 1:44-46; Matthew 4:12-16; Psalm 22:6-8; Isaiah 49:7; Isaiah 53:3  Scripture translation used is the Legacy Standard Bible.  “Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.comFIND DR. JORI ON OTHER PLATFORMS https://linktr.ee/drjorishafferCHECK OUT THE DWELL AUDIO BIBLE APP:Click this link for my unique referral code.  I use this frequently. Such a wonderful audio bible app. https://dwellapp.io/aff?ref=jorishafferBIBLE STUDY TOOLS DR. JORI USES:Note: These contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links.LSB Single Column Biblehttps://amzn.to/4g9C47oESV MacArthur Study Biblehttps://amzn.to/3C1cpQwInk Joy Penshttps://amzn.to/3EaZ8oRMr. Pen HighLightershttps://amzn.to/3PE20x8Mr. Pen Bible Journaling Kithttps://amzn.to/40pib6o  JOIN DR. JORI IN DEVOTIONAL JOURNALING IN 2025Check out this 9 min YouTube Video outlining her journaling strategy! Don't Forget to subscribe to the YouTube Channel! https://youtu.be/lqe9TO7RSz4 BOOKS OF BIBLE COLOR CHARTI made this chart as a helpful tool for grouping the collections of books or letters  in the Holy Bible.  The colors in the different sections are the ones that I use in my journals.  Books of Bible Chart (color) (4).pdf - Google Drive    LOOKING TO RETAIN MORE OF WHAT YOUR PASTOR IS TEACHING?              CHECK OUT DR. JORI'S SERMON REFLECTION JOURNALS! Sermon Notes, Reflections and Applications Journal/Notebooks by Dr. Jori. Click the links below to be directed to amazon.com for purchase. Or search “Dr. Jori Shaffer” on Amazon to bring these up.  https://amzn.to/418LfRshttps://amzn.to/41862EyHere is a brief YouTube video that tells about the Journal/Notebooks as well:https://youtu.be/aXpQNYUEzds   Email: awordforthisday@gmail.comPodcast website:  https://awordforthisday.buzzsprout.com Support the show

Lord, Open My Lips is a daily devotional produced by Fr. Josh Fink and John Caddell in association with All Souls Church in Lexington, South Carolina. New devotionals are available every day. More information can be found at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠allsoulslex.org/dailyprayer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Original music is composed and recorded by John Caddell. Our liturgy is based on "Family Prayer" from the Book of Common Prayer (2019), created by the Anglican Church in North America and published by the Anglican Liturgical Press. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Send us a textGood morning! Thank you for taking a few minutes to listen. If you are interested in the Daily Bible Devotional, you can find it at the links below:Amazon - (paperback, hardcover, and Kindle)Spiritbuilding.com - (premium quality paperback)Youtube Video Introducing the ContentFeel free to reach out with any questions: emersonk78@me.comMatthew 2 Matthew documents the events immediately following Jesus' birth. From the worshipping magi to the conniving Herod to the angel sending the family to Egypt, everything culminates in the murderous rampage of the king killing all the young boys in Bethlehem. Following Herod's death, an angel directs Jesus' family back to Nazareth. The significance of this chapter is found in the prophecies. Micah states a Ruler will come from Bethlehem. Hosea tells of God's Son coming from Egypt. Jeremiah teaches there will be weeping at the loss of children. An unnamed prophet predicts that the Messiah will be called a Nazarene. Matthew is aligning the story of Jesus with the prophets of old. This would carry tremendous weight for the Jew and should demonstrate God's design and control to us as well.  God controls how things come together for the good of His will and His people. Before Jesus was born, God knew all things. He used prophets to confirm His power to us. Life was not easy for those whom God chose to be a part of this incredible story. Circumstances were hard for Joseph and Mary, and certainly for families who lost their children to Herod's wrath. But God was working on something beautiful and eternal. You are eternally blessed as the result of so much suffering and loss. God allowed this to save and bless you. Be thankful for those who labored in faith to bring about our Lord's victory and stand prepared to struggle in His honor.  Compassionate Father, thank You for the word of the prophets, confirming our faith in Jesus Christ. Thank You for the examples of sacrifice throughout the life of Jesus that have graciously invited us into the redemptive story with Him. Will you give us the wisdom to see how much you endured to establish spiritual life and hope? Help us to be grateful for Your willingness to keep working on us, even amid the efforts of evil men. And may we return thanks by being worshipful and obedient like the magi in the days of Jesus' birth. Thought Questions: -       How does it strengthen your faith to see the story of Christ being revealed through Old Testament prophecies? What do they prove? -       What do you learn about faithfulness from the hardships of Joseph and Mary? What should you expect in your life of devotion to God? -       How can you see God's power and goodness when babies were allowed to die at Herod's hand? How does it cast your eyes more toward eternity?

Matthew 2:13-23

Matthew 2:1-12

Have you ever desperately wondered: “Where did my joy go? And how do I get it back?” If yes, you're in good company, friend.Today's prayer of REST is based on Matthew 2:10: "When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy." This season, we're asking God to restore to us the joy of our salvation, and each week we'll base our prayers on a different Bible passage that speaks of joy. Together, we'll ask the Lord to do a new work in our hearts as we: Recite God's GoodnessExpress Our NeedinessSeek His Stillness, and Trust His FaithfulnessThroughout these guided prayers episodes and their corresponding “Behind-the-Scenes Conversations” with Asheritah and Hannah, you'll discover God's promise of delight to His children and learn how to claim His joy as your birthright—the promised fruit from God's Spirit as we invite Him to do His good work in us.This season of Praying for Joy is based on my brand new book – Delighting in Jesus: Rhythms to Restore Joy When You Feel Burdened, Broken, or Burned-Out, which is now available wherever books are sold. (Thanks for your support: https://amzn.to/3Zb5HAi) Until we meet again, may you find much joy in Jesus, the One who delights in you! 

Happy Christmas Eve everyone! Today, Emma Dotter talks with Ben Krejci about the foreshadowing of salvation being for both the Jew and the Gentile seen in the wise men's visit to the baby Jesus as seen in Matthew 2:7-12.  We hope you will join us for Christmas at Watermark! Information at the link: https://www.watermark.org/christmas

What do we do when the story of Christmas has become repetitive and familiar to us? Today our very own Emma Dotter and Lauren Atkinson discuss Matthew 2:1-6 and the anticipation of the Wise Men. Our response to the story of Christmas should mirror them as they respond rightly to the incarnation of the Christ.  Scriptures Referenced: Genesis 1:1-27