Good News for You - The Presentation of the King Part II (Matthew 3:1-17)
Real Talk
Getting away from religion is little more than a facade God brings about revival and introduces our Redeemer. Take a moment to see what God does in places that we consider harsh and inhospitable. It will help us not to waste our wilderness. Listen in!
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Good News for You - The Presentation of the King Part I
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Should it matter that over two thousand years ago a camel-wearing young man was preaching and baptizing folk in the wilderness of Judea? Is it relevant that John the Baptist came on the scene in fulfillment of prophecies (1) calling people to turn back to God and (2) promising that the kingdom was at hand? It does matter, my friend?
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What We Believe Part 1 of 3
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Why It Matters that There Is One God Does the evangelical belief that there is one God really matter? Is it a doctrine that does anything or just a dogma used to justify separatist behavior and condescending views of other cultures.The monotheism of our faith is more than a mindset; it is missional. With the revelation of His oneness comes responsibility. The same God who said that He alone is God has also said in both covenants that those who have this truth are His witnesses (Isaiah 43:10, 12; Acts 1:8). With the belief that there is one God is the call to love Him above all (Deuteronomy...
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No Ways Tired (Acts 18:1-11)
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Something got you feeling afraid? Starting to consider quitting? That is not new in the Christian walk. Take a moment to look at Paul's experience in Corinth. Listen in!
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Real Talk - Old Rugged Cross
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Revealing the Real Reasons (Galatians 6:11–13, NKJV) 12 As many as desire to make a good showing in the flesh, these would compel you to be circumcised, only that they may not suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. 13 For not even those who are circumcised keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. The Judaizers wanted the Galatians to believe the lie of legitimizing their salvation through the works of the law. A lot of the pressure from the legalists can be summarized as a push to be circumcised (Galatians 5:2-6; 6:12). With large letters...
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Real Talk - Our Jerichos (Joshua 5:1-15, Craig Corely)
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Real Talk - Irreconcilable Differences (Acts 15:36-41)
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Real Talk with Roderick To The End of the Earth: Irreconcilable Differences (Acts 15:36-41) Introduction Some days have passed (Μετὰ δέ τινας ἡμέρας) since the conflict concerning circumcision was resolved with a word from Jerusalem (Acts 15:30-31). The contention was settled with a letter from leadership delivered by four men: Barsabas, Silas, Barnabas, and Paul. The former two, Barsabas and Silas, are leading men from among the disciples of the church in Jerusalem (Acts 15:22); they were selected by the Jerusalem apostles, elders, and brethren to accompany the letter. The...
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Real Talk - Fulfill the Law of Christ (Galatians 6:1-5)
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Real Talk with Roderick Fulfill the Law of Christ (Galatians 6:1-5) Introduction Galatians has a readily discernible approach to arguing against legalism and for faith-based living. Paul goes from simple truths about Christianity to the consequences of those truths in the conduct of Jesus followers. He goes from orthodoxy to orthopraxis, from principles of the Way to the practice of wayfaring, from learning about the Lord to living life in His service. He is not trying to merely refute false teachers he is also working with each word of the epistle to promote Christ-centered, Spirit-led...
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Real Talk - Giving to God (Galatians 6:6-10)
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Galatians 6:6–10 (NKJV) — 6 Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches. 7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. 9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.
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Real Talk - The Disciple Making Pathway (Bob Rowley)
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Dr. Bob Rowley brought a stirring message to Three Rivers Community Church. He challenged us to think seriously about church in terms of the call to make disciples. It was a message that looks beyond church as a ritual and more as the most relevant thing we can do to promote a better world, honor the Lord, and love others. Listen in!
info_outlineGetting away from religious business God brings about revival and introduces our Redeemer. Take a moment to see what God does in places that we consider harsh and inhospitable. It will help us not to waste our wilderness. Listen in!
Matthew turns his attention from the narrative about how Jesus entered the world to how He entered ministry. To give his readers a good view of the good news about how Jesus ministry began the former tax collector tells about the work of the forerunner - John the Baptist. The mention of those days (ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις - v1) is, broadly speaking, a reference to the period of time when Jesus was living in Nazareth (Matthew 2:23). During that time Archelaus had come to reign over Judea instead of his father Herod (Matthew 2:22). Jesus earthly father, Joseph, was warned by God in dream about the danger posed by the son of Herod. So Joseph, in returning from Egypt to the land of Israel (Matthew 2:19-21), chose to keep some distance between his family and crazy dictators; the carpenter took up residence in Nazareth. More specifically those days were in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar (Luke 3:1). During this time “the word of God came to John the son of Zacharias” in the wilderness (Luke 3:2; John 1:31-33).
When John the Baptist arrives on the scene (παραγίνεται) he is preaching and baptizing in the wilderness. What is he preaching? He is saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” It was an in-your-face message to the people who are supposed to already know God. Hmmm. Where was he preaching? In the wilderness. Interesting.
In the message (Repent) and location (wilderness of Judea) we have no small amount of significance. By preaching and baptizing in the wilderness John’s ministry fulfills a prophesied location requirement for the ministry of the Messiah’s herald - it would be in a place that is underdeveloped and uninhabited. Isaiah, 700 years earlier, had prophesied that the coming of the Lord would be preceded by someone calling people to repentance. Indeed, says Isaiah, the preaching will happen not in the relative comfort of an urban environment but in an uncomfortable and remote region regarded as wilderness or desert. Why is John in the boonies with a call to get right? It was not John’s idea. Matthew says it was sign ordained by God (v 3):
For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying:
The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
“Prepare the way of the Lord;
Make straight in the desert A highway for our God.
(Isaiah 40:3, NKJV)
His call to repentance is preparing the way of the Lord. That fact that he is doing it away from the city and synagogue shows that the call is away from a broken religious system that was chiefly concerned with appearances.