The Gospel According to Matthew - Week 17
Awake Us Now
This week’s text is Matthew 12:3-37. Jesus continues to be challenged by the Pharisees' anger, bitterness and scheming as Jesus continues to show who He is. He shows us how a heart-change is needed!
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Dig Deeper - Week 13: Of First Importance...
Awake Us Now
Pastor takes us through an exploration of one of the earliest Christian statements of faith. 1 Corinthians 15:3-5 Paul said, “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve.” Of FIRST Importance is that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures. Jesus is the sacrificial victim who pays for the sins of the world. Only an innocent victim can pay for...
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The Gospel According to Matthew - Week 16
Awake Us Now
This week’s text is Matthew 11:13-12:4, with a continued study of John the Baptist as fulfilling the prophecy of “Elijah who was to come” as he points to Jesus as the fulfillment of the prophesied Savior. The class continues exploring Jesus’ identity through the teachings on repentance and forgiveness found in Jesus, as we learn that it is through Him alone that we can come to know the Father.
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The Gospel According to Matthew - Week 15
Awake Us Now
In Matthew 10:29 - 11:15 we learn we are ambassadors for Christ with the Holy Spirit dwelling within us. The Holy Spirit enables us to be effective witnesses wherever we go. We are called to live for Christ, and that has phenomenal consequences both for us and for others. In chapter 11, Matthew shows us Jesus’ identity.
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Questions - Week 25: What if the Shroud is Genuine?
Awake Us Now
This is a controversial topic. The Shroud of Turin is the most studied, most scientifically tested artifact in history. It has been subjected to literally hundreds of thousands of hours of intensive study by people of multiple disciplines. What do we know for certain…. The Foundation: 1 Corinthians 15:1-5 “Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.For what I...
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Daniel: When Kingdoms Collide (3) - God Reveals
Awake Us Now
Jesus never promised His followers an easy journey. What He does promise is a great destination, and He assures us of the presence of His Holy Spirit to uphold, to guide, and to reveal, so that His people may be equipped to lead the nations back to Him!
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The Gospel According to Matthew - Week 14
Awake Us Now
Pastor continues his verse by verse study of the book of Matthew. Today’s teaching is on Matthew 10:7-31. This section of Scripture is filled with some challenging instruction from Jesus that is filled with Divine Wisdom.
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The Gospel According to Matthew - Week 13
Awake Us Now
Pastor continues his verse by verse study of the book of Matthew. Today’s teaching is on Matthew 9:18 - 10:10. This week’s study shows us Jesus as the Son of David, the Messiah. We also explore Jesus’ encouragement to spread the Gospel message to all, both Jew and Gentile.
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The Gospel According to Matthew - Week 12
Awake Us Now
This week Matthew’s writings reveal the authority of Jesus; even the winds and the waves obey Him! This authority, His authority, identifies Him as the Living God.
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Dig Deeper - Week 12: What Did They See?
Awake Us Now
Dig Deeper - Week 12 - What did they see? Today we take a look at what John and Peter saw when the got to Jesus’ grave. John 20:3-7 ESV tells us, “So Peter went out with the other disciples, and they were going toward the tomb. Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen...
info_outlineScripture: Luke 1:26-38, Isaiah 7:14, Isaiah 9:6-7, Daniel 7:14, 1 Samuel 16:7
In today’s Scripture, we look at an incredible and great announcement from the angel Gabriel to Mary that she would be the mother of the Son of God, Jesus. In this season of Advent we also look with anticipation to the incredible and great announcement of Christ’s return. This will not be a quiet visit to just one person, this will be an announcement the whole world will see and hear!
As we look at today’s reading, the question for us is how will we react to the announcement of the Savior’s birth? We can learn from Mary…
The angel Gabriel came to Mary, saying, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you!” (Hold onto that word favored - we’re coming back to that!) She was pretty shocked, but the angel said to not be afraid and he announces to her that she will conceive (even though she is a virgin) and have a son. She is to name Him Jesus and he will be the Son of the Most High - His kingdom will never end. This child being announced is the long awaited Messiah! He is the fulfillment of the prophetic word all through the Old Testament.
Call Him Jesus
1. Jesus = God Saves
2. Son of the Most High - God with us
3. Reign on David’s throne
4. Kingdom will never end!!
As the story continues, Mary asks how this could be as she is a virgin. The angel tells her that the Holy Spirit will come on her and the power of the Most High will over come her and that the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God. The angel concludes with, “No word from God will ever fail!!”
What a great line! Sometimes that seems hard to believe, especially if we are going through a difficult time, but we have a clear word from God that His word never fails, that in the end all who trust in Jesus will share in His victory! In the end WE WIN! GOD KEEPS HIS WORD - no word from God will ever fail!
But there’s a word here that speaks directly to us today as we walk by faith in our Savior - “Why was Mary CHOSEN (favored) to be the Mother of Jesus?
Highly Favored
1. 1 Samuel 16:7 we learn that “The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the HEART.” God is concerned about the heart and that’s the heart of the reason He chose Mary to be the mother of Jesus. We want to have her heart. People look from the outside in, God looks from the inside out.
2. Devout (see Luke 1:46-47) - She knew God and His faithfulness
3. Humble (see Luke 1:48) The Lord noticed her humble state - she understood she deserved nothing from God, but she also knew God is good and everything good comes from Him.
4. Obedient (see Luke 1:38) Her reply to the announcement was, “I am the Lord’s servant. May your word to me be fulfilled.” She was willing to go along with the divine plan. She takes this Great Announcement as God’s truth! Our Savior is coming to earth!
We want the Lord to look at our hearts and we want Him to see hearts that are faithful before Him: devout, humble and obedient.
Our reaction to this Great Announcement is to respond in joy and thanksgiving and praise to the goodness and grace of God in Christ. This is a “WOW” gift!
What an incredible announcement and living in response to it is an incredible way to live!!
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