The Gospel According to Matthew - Week 9
Awake Us Now
Prayer is an amazing gift from God! We have His plea to talk with Him. Genuine prayer; not showy prayer, but rather simply experiencing the presence of our Living God, the Father. Other topics covered are Jesus’ teaching on fasting and possessions. Based on Matthew 6:5-24.
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The Gospel According to Matthew - Week 8
Awake Us Now
Pastor points out the Old Testament’s words, “Thus says the LORD,” and compares them to the words of Jesus in the New Testament that say, “But I tell you.” What does this tell us about who Jesus is? Pastor explores the “But I tell yous” as found in Matthew chapter 5 and we learn what Jesus calls us to. That call is to a changed heart, which can only happen when we come to faith in Jesus. God’s call is personal! He wants to change each one of us by the shed blood of Jesus, the Son of God.
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The Gospel According to Matthew - Week 7
Awake Us Now
In Week 7, we hear more of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. Jesus calls us salt and light. What does He mean when He uses these words to describe how we are to be? As historians have looked at world history, more and more of them are coming to the realization Christianity changed everything. Jesus has had a greater impact on the human condition than anyone in all of history. What Jesus produces in people, changes them!
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Dig Deeper - Week 11: Two Pictures of the Messiah
Awake Us Now
We will look at the two pictures of the Messiah found in the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament). 2 Pictures of Messiah Reigning King Humble Substitute This double picture is what led some of the great Hebrew rabbis to suggest there might be two Messiahs that would come at different times and in different manners. And that then became the dominant tradition: Messiah will raise the dead Messiah will be victorious Messiah will reign in Jerusalem Messiah will bring peace If we look at the New Testament the early followers of Jesus believed this same thing about the Messiah....
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The Gospel According to Matthew - Week 6
Awake Us Now
We finish Matthew 4 on following Jesus, and begin the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5 that opens with the Beatitudes.
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The Gospel According to Matthew - Week 5
Awake Us Now
Week 5 of our Matthew study digs into chapter 4 on the Temptation of Jesus, His three temptations and the reality of an unseen spiritual world.
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Questions - Week 23: How Are Minds Opened Today?
Awake Us Now
This message focuses on the question: “How are minds opened today?”, which is part of our ongoing series: “What’s the answer?” Pastor explores how people’s lives are changed and what changes their attitudes about God, about Jesus, the resurrection, and about the power of God’s Word. Pastor takes us through Luke 24:36-47, an encounter with Jesus that His disciples have with Him after His resurrection. Jesus tells them: “This is what I told you while I was still with you; Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets...
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Daniel: When Kingdoms Collide (1) - Daniel's God
Awake Us Now
The Book of Daniel is the story of the collision of two kingdoms, a spiritual war that is still being fought in the heavens and on the earth. In the end, the Kingdom of God wins!
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The Gospel According to Matthew - Week 4
Awake Us Now
Week 4 of our Matthew study is all about John the Baptist and his message of repentance, a message that can be difficult for the religious to accept.
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The Gospel According to Matthew - Week 3
Awake Us Now
In our study of Matthew this week we look at chapters 2 and 3, with an emphasis on deliverance through Jesus the Messiah and the fulfillment of the New Covenant through Him as well.
info_outlineUp To Jerusalem - Teaching 11
Scripture Luke 22:31-34, John 13:31-37, 1 Corinthians 11:23-25, John 14:1-31, Hebrews 7:25
Up to Jerusalem is a story filled with tragedy and yet a story that is above all, a story of victory and hope and defeat of the devil!
Pastor’s teaching on Jesus’ Last Supper continues with a look at 1 Corinthians 11:23-25 which documents the changes Jesus instituted in the Passover meal. As He breaks the 3rd piece of matzah Jesus says, “This is My body given for you.” He’s making it clear that what they have been celebrating for centuries is being fulfilled at that very moment. The fulfillment of the meal that had been celebrated for centuries - was changed because Jesus is the fulfillment - He is the Messiah. Then He takes the cup and says, “This is the New Covenant of My blood, poured out for you.” This is the promised new covenant!
There are three primary beliefs regarding the Lord’s Supper:
1. Transubstantiation - bread and wine change into the body and blood of Christ
2. Real Presence - in a supernatural way Jesus is present in the bread and wine
3. Symbolic Presence - bread and wine are a symbol of Jesus’ body and blood
Doctrine is critical and important, but Jesus makes it very clear on this night that what matters above all else is that we live out the truth of the New Covenant. That truth of the New Covenant is lived out by walking in the footsteps of our Savior’s self sacrifice, in absolute love, and love for our enemies not just our friends and followers of Jesus. Though we may differ in how to interpret the Lord’s Supper and what is received - what needs to bind us together is our common allegiance to the Lord Jesus Christ, and our desire to carry out His will and His purpose. His will and purpose is that we be one in Him - one in Him to win the world back to Him.
As we look at what Jesus will suffer this night, we see that He endured so much for us but His suffering resulted in His glorification and this gives our struggles, sufferings and persecutions purpose. We know that because Jesus loves us so much He was willing to endure the cross that ended in victory over the grave - we know He has the power to take our suffering and turn it around for final victory for us as well. We too will triumph!
As the meal continues Jesus gives them a new command, “Love one another as I love you.” The depth of God’s love is revealed in the gift of Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross - this is love - and we are to love to that depth.
Then Jesus tells Peter He is praying for him - and we know Jesus prays for us too. It says in Hebrews 7:25 “He (Jesus) always lives to intercede (pray) for them (those who come to God through Him).” We also know the Holy Spirit prays for us too. Romans 8:26-27 “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.”
What incredible comfort that is - full of strength and encouragement - to know we have the best prayer partners in the universe!
As the story continues Jesus tells Peter he will deny Him three times. Pastor shares some interesting information around the meaning of “rooster crows.”
Our time together ends with Thomas asking, “How do we know the way to God?” The answer for every person on the planet is found in Jesus’ answer, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
Under the blood of Jesus we have EVERYTHING!!
Pastor Dodge concludes with encouragement to read John chapters 14-17 as these are the important words of Jesus the evening of His arrest and in these words He shows us what should mean the most to us: love, the Holy Spirit, prayer, trusting God and bearing fruit for Jesus. Jesus encourages us with these words, “Do not let your hearts be troubled.” All of His words are for us still today!
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Up to Jerusalem is a study of the final weeks of Jesus' ministry concluding with His resurrection and ascension, using the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John together with material from ancient sources and recent discoveries. Up to Jerusalem is part four of our Two Year Study of the Gospels. Up To Jerusalem is the story of the plan of God to redeem the world, and the story of a Savior willing to obey the Father’s plan. As we study Jesus’ final days, we will be impacted as we discover the Love of God for each one of us.
This study is great for large group, small group or home group study and can be started at any time.