We begin our study of Matthew’s gospel with the very first verses, where he introduces us to Jesus. He wants to convey the importance of who Jesus is and command our attention for this man. He does this in a way that doesn’t always make a lot of sense to us thousands of years later- with a genealogy. What do ancestors have to do with who Jesus is? Why does Matthew start here? He wants us to see: A King is Coming!
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What was Jesus message while he was with us here on earth? What did he want you to know? One of his disciples, Matthew, summarized his message by saying he came proclaiming “The Kingdom of Heaven.” So what does that mean and how does that shape our lives? As we launch our new series, we consider the Kingdom of Heaven.
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Pain, suffering, frustration, loneliness, emptiness, messiness: These are all things every person is intimately familiar with in this life. Yet, somehow we think our lives should be free of these things- that these shouldn’t be a part of our experience. Joseph’s story teaches that pain and suffering are part of life. And it isn’t the outside circumstances that dictate our lives, but our God’s sovereignty and our faith that triumph over all.
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The story of Joseph is one full of twists, turns, and plenty of awkward moments. His story begins with dreams and visions that push his brothers to betray and abandon him. However, the one they abandon will become the only one that can save them. Their story is our story, and we would do well to listen and apply.
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We continue our look at the flawed patriarch Jacob. This time he gets a taste of his own medicine as he gets deceived. In this story we see the pain of sin and emptiness of chasing after lesser things. We also see the grace of God that extends to those that feel the most unloved and forgotten
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We take a break from the book of Genesis for a week as Al Lang teaches us. He looks at the ministry of Jesus and the awkwardness that is created when he works in people’s lives. Jesus changes us but that change never promises to be easy.
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Jacob is one of the patriarch’s of our faith, yet his story is full of lies and deception. Why is it that God would work through such a flawed man? Jacob Lemons leads us as we begin our study of this prominent figure in the book of Genesis.
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(Due to significant technical difficulties, the podcast from 9/14-9/28 (The Awkwardness of Conviction, The Awkwardness of Affection, and the Awkwardness of Failure) is unavailable. We hope to have remedied this problem).
Sometimes life can get awkward because God places you in unthinkable situations. This is where Abraham found himself when God asked him to sacrifice his son Isaac. This story is horrific to modern ears, but what was God doing? Why would he ask this of Abraham? Would he ask us to do the same thing? In the end, it’s all about who you trust.
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Too often the Christian life is painted as though it should be perfect and free from pain. The reality is that life is messy and failures are part of our story. Fortunately, God’s word is full of stories that teach us that God is always at work, especially in the mess of life. When things are messiest and most painful is often doing the biggest work.
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On a very special child dedication Sunday, we consider the blessing of children. God’s purpose for children in our lives is one of tremendous blessing and strategic importance.
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Poetry is meant to move us- to stir something deep within us. In Psalm 19, we see 3 verses that build and evoke something powerful in our hearts…but it doesn’t end with swell of emotion, but instead an inward assessment in light of God’s goodness shown to us through his creation and his word.
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In 1900, the first Hershey’s bar was produced and it was produced for one reason: to be experienced and enjoyed. In Psalm 34, David challenges and pleads with us to taste the goodness of grace. Information, duty, and deeds too often replace the essential experience of grace. Do you know about God or have you feasted at his table? (Note: there is a video clip used as part of this sermon. You can find that clip here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEN4hcZutO0)
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Sometimes the thing we want is far from the thing that we need. So often we want God to exist for us, but we need a God that has higher goals than that. Thankfully, that’s the God we have- one that is concerned with his glory, but is still good, merciful, and sovereign. Psalm 135 gives a picture of the God that is, which is exactly the God we need.
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David’s life was full of drama and difficulty. Psalm 142 was written at the height of fear and despair, but his trust in God was solid. We can learn from David’s faith and see what it means to follow God in all of life, even when we aren’t sure what that looks like.
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Psalm 2 serves as an introduction to the books of Psalms and as a warning to all those that would oppose Israel’s God. It’s message is clear: Honor and submit to the Lord’s anointed and things will go well for you. Rebel against him and their are dire consequences. Written for the King of Israel, but meant to make us look to the King of Kings.
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