Jesus

Deep Things of God – Part One

 “But God because of the great love he has for us has made us alive in Christ.” Those are Paul’s words as they are written in the second chapter of Ephesians (v. 4). In this verse, and in many others like it, there is a great contrast highlighted in the words “but God.” Those two words also occur in the fifth chapter of Romans. There, Paul says that for the love of a good man, someone might be bold enough to die.

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Deep Things of God – Part Two

 In 1 Corinthians Paul is talking about how people suppress the knowledge of God in nature. He says the result is what he quotes from the Old Testament: “No eye has seen, nor ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.” Is that because there is nothing to be seen? No, it is there to be seen.

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Deep Things of God – Part Three

 Some years ago, I received a letter from a pastor out in western Canada who was asking a number of questions about what he perceived to be contradictions in the pages of the Word of God. I could not tell from his letter whether this was a genuine question or whether he was one of those people who already have their mind made up and was just giving, in the form of questions, the reason why he would not believe that the Bible is the Word of God. But I took his questions seriously and I answered them at some length.

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Deep Things of God – Part Four

 Yesterday I recounted the story of a man who refused to accept Scripture as the authoritative word of God. The reason I tell that story is this: Some six years after receiving that letter, I did a men’s luncheon series on Scripture: what it is, how we received it, how we understand it, and such questions. In one of the sessions I was to give an address on dealing with Bible difficulties. One of the illustrations I prepared for this question about Bible difficulties quoted this man from western Canada.

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Deep Things of God – Part Five

 All week we have been examining 1 Corinthians 2:6-16. Have you discovered the main point that Paul is making? He stresses that the basis of all communication, the basis on which regeneration takes place, and the point at which we have illumination by the Spirit is the Word of God, the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments.

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Fools for Christ’s Sake – Part One

 Paul described the church at Corinth as being enriched with all spiritual gifts and with a great deal of theological knowledge and other good things but also as being divided over loyalty to one leader or another within the church. There were people who said, “We follow Paul.” There were others who said, “We follow Peter,” and still others who said, “We follow Christ.”

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Fools for Christ’s Sake – Part Two

 Yesterday we looked at the meaning of the Greek word translated in our Bibles as “servant.” Another word Paul uses here conveys the idea of stewardship. We read the translation “those entrusted,” and it actually means “a steward.” We get our word economy from the Greek word Paul uses. The steward was the one who managed the household economy; that is, he took care of the business for whoever owned the house.

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Fools for Christ’s Sake – Part Three

 In yesterday’s lesson we saw that faithfulness is to be the standard of God’s stewards. In the passage that we are studying, Paul mentions a number of areas in which we are to be faithful. One is handling the mysteries of God rightly, the secret things of God. When Paul speaks of mysteries, he is not speaking of mysteries as the Greeks would have understood them.

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Fools for Christ’s Sake – Part Five

 Yesterday we saw that the Corinthian church seemed to be thriving – at least in worldly terms. But we find, given his tone, that Paul is being sarcastic. He is saying, “You already have what you want. You have become rich. You have become kings and you have done it all without us. Good for you! I wish that you really had become kings so that we might become kings with you.”

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The Book of Matthew

The Parable of the Lost Sheep – Part Three

Matthew 18:10-14Theme: Shepherding.In this week’s lessons we see God reclaiming the lost. LessonWe concluded yesterday’s lesson with the question, “Why should we focus on angels when it is God who is our Savior?” The parable tells us many important things about God.

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The Book of Matthew

The Feeding of the Five Thousand – Part One

Theme: Withdrawal of the King
This week we see how God can use us, despite our empty hands.
 
SCRIPTURE
Matthew 14:13-21
 
Now when Jesus heard this, fhe withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns.

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The Book of Matthew

The Feeding of the Five Thousand – Part Two

Theme: Withdrawal of the King
This week we see how God can use us, despite our empty hands.
 
SCRIPTURE 
Matthew 14:13-14
 
Now when Jesus heard this, fhe withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns.

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The Book of Matthew

The Feeding of the Five Thousand – Part Three

Theme: Withdrawal of the King
This week we see how God can use us, despite our empty hands.
 
SCRIPTURE
Matthew 14:15
 
Now when it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; hsend the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves.

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The Book of Matthew

The Feeding of the Five Thousand – Part Four

Theme: Withdrawal of the King
This week we see how God can use us, despite our empty hands.
 
SCRIPTURE
Matthew 14:16-17
 
But Jesus said, “They need not go away; iyou give them something to eat.” They said to him, “We have only five loaves here and two fish.”

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The Book of Matthew

The Feeding of the Five Thousand – Part Five

Theme: Withdrawal of the King
This week we see how God can use us, despite our empty hands.
 
SCRIPTURE
Matthew 14:18-21
 
And he said, “Bring them here to me.” Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing.

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The Book of Matthew

Kosher Hearts – Part One

Theme: True Religion 
This week we see the pitfall that is self-righteousness
 
SCRIPTURE
Matthew 15:1-11
 

Then Pharisees and fscribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders?

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The Book of Matthew

Kosher Hearts – Part Two

Theme: True Religion 
This week we see the pitfall that is self-righteousness
 
SCRIPTURE
Matthew 15:1-7
 
Then Pharisees and fscribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders?

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The Book of Matthew

Kosher Hearts – Part Four

Theme: True Religion 
This week we see the pitfall that is self-righteousness
 
SCRIPTURE
Matthew 15 : 12-20
 
Then the disciples came and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?” He answered, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will

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The Book of Matthew

Kosher Hearts – Part Five

Theme: True Religion 
This week we see the pitfall that is self-righteousness
 
SCRIPTURE
Matthew 15: 18-20
 
But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.

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The Book of Matthew

Little Children and a Young Man – Part Two

Theme: Riches and Blessing
This week’s lesson teaches us how sacrifice brings blessing.
 
SCRIPTURE

Matthew 19:16-22
 
And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” And he said to him, “Why do you ask me

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The Book of Matthew

Little Children and a Young Man – Part Three

Theme: Riches and Blessing
This week’s lesson teaches us how sacrifice brings blessing.
 
SCRIPTURE
Matthew 19:23-28
 

And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven.

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The Book of Matthew

Little Children and a Young Man – Part Four

Theme: Riches and Blessing
This week’s lesson teaches us how sacrifice brings blessing.
 
SCRIPTURE
Matthew 19:28-30

 
“Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes

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The Book of Matthew

Little Children and a Young Man – Part Five

Theme: Riches and Blessing
This week’s lesson teaches us how sacrifice brings blessing.
 
SCRIPTURE
Matthew 19:28-30
 

Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will

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The Book of Matthew

The Triumphal Entry – Part One

Theme: Jesus as King 
This week’s lesson raises and answers the question, “Is Jesus really God and King?”
 
SCRIPTURE
Matthew 21:1-11
 
Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village in

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The Book of Matthew

The Triumphal Entry – Part Two

Theme: Jesus as King 
This week’s lesson raises and answers the question, “Is Jesus really God and King?”
 
SCRIPTURE
Matthew 21:1-5
 
Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village in

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The Book of Matthew

The Triumphal Entry – Part Three

Theme: Jesus as King 
This week’s lesson raises and answers the question, “Is Jesus really God and King?”
 
SCRIPTURE
Matthew 21 :6-11
 
The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them.

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The Book of Matthew

The Triumphal Entry – Part Four

Theme: Jesus as King 
This week’s lesson raises and answers the question, “Is Jesus really God and King?”
 
SCRIPTURE
Matthew 21:10-11
 
And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Na

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The Book of Matthew

The Triumphal Entry – Part Five

Theme: Jesus as King 
This week’s lesson raises and answers the question, “Is Jesus really God and King?”
 
SCRIPTURE
Matthew 21:10-11
 
And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Na

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The Book of Matthew

Come to the Banquet – Part One

From time to time in our study of the parables I have noted that a particular parable is difficult to interpret, and have mentioned several ways the details of the story could be taken. That problem does not exist with the parable of the wedding banquet, however.

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The Book of Matthew

Come to the Banquet – Part Two

The unique element in the parable before us is the willful refusal of those who were invited. It was not that they could not come. Rather they would not. The reason for their refusal is not spelled out, but it is suggested in the way the servants were treated.

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The Book of Matthew

Come to the Banquet – Part Three

Some who are invited to the gospel banquet do not openly express their hatred of the one who gives it, but they make excuses. As the parable says, they go off “one to his field, another to his business” (v.5). Jesus elaborates that point in Luke’s version of the parable. There he says, “But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me’

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The Book of Matthew

Come to the Banquet – Part Four

Half the parable (Matthew 22:1-7) is about those who despised the king and would not come to the banquet. But there is a second half (vv. 8-14), which tells of those who did come. The king instructed, “Go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find” (v. 9). In Luke that is elaborated to show how those persons were drawn from the lower ranks of life.

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The Book of Matthew

Come to the Banquet – Part Five

At the point at which the king welcomes his replacement guests, the parable seems to be over. But it is not, and I am glad, because the Lord goes on to give a much-needed warning in the account of the man who came to the feast without a wedding garment.

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The Book of Matthew

Three Attempts to Trap Jesus – Part One

Theme: Jesus, the Final Authority, the Bible, His Perfect Word
This weeks lesson teaches us that no one can fool Jesus because he is God.
 
SCRIPTURE
Matthew 22:15-22
 
Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle him in his words.

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The Book of Matthew

Three Attempts to Trap Jesus – Part Two

Theme: Jesus, the Final Authority, the Bible, His Perfect Word
This weeks lesson teaches us that no one can fool Jesus because he is God.
 
SCRIPTURE
Matthew 22:15-22
 
Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle him in his words.

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The Book of Matthew

Three Attempts to Trap Jesus – Part Three

Theme: Jesus, the Final Authority, the Bible, His Perfect Word
This weeks lesson teaches us that no one can fool Jesus because he is God.
 
SCRIPTURE
Matthew 22:23-33
 
The same day Sadducees came to him, who say that there is no resurrection, and they asked him a question, saying, “Teacher, Moses said, ‘If a man dies having no children, his brother must marry the widow and raise up offspring for his brother.’ Now there were seven brothers among us.

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The Book of Matthew

Three Attempts to Trap Jesus – Part Four

Theme: Jesus, the Final Authority, the Bible, His Perfect Word
This weeks lesson teaches us that no one can fool Jesus because he is God.
 
SCRIPTURE
Matthew 22:29-33
 
But Jesus answered them, “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God.

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The Book of Matthew

Three Attempts to Trap Jesus – Part Five

Theme: Jesus, the Final Authority, the Bible, His Perfect Word
This weeks lesson teaches us that no one can fool Jesus because he is God.
 
SCRIPTURE
Matthew 22:34-40
 
But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together.

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He Spoke With Authority

Monday: He Spoke with Authority

Everyone knows the difference between a person who speaks out of a vast and accurate knowledge of his subject and one who merely repeats what he has heard from others. The one is the voice of authority; the other is the voice of a parrot. The first is the sound of the fountain bubbling forth freshly from the ground; the second is the empty sound of the cistern.

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He Spoke With Authority

Tuesday: He Spoke with Authority

Christ’s most startling revelation was Himself. As early as the Beatitudes, in His words about persecution, Jesus assumed that the persecution His hearers would experience would be persecution “for His sake,” not for His teaching’s sake but because of their relationship to Him. In the next section of the Sermon on the Mount Jesus set Himself up as the authoritative expounder of the law. He repeatedly said, “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old, Thou shalt do so and so. But I say unto you…” thereby placing Himself above the rabbis and scribes and doing so without the slightest apology, reserve, or qualification.

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He Spoke With Authority

Wednesday: The Works of Jesus

But Jesus did not only speak with authority. He also acted with authority. And thus, His works serve to substantiate His claims. What were His works? By the time of the preaching of this Sermon, according to Matthew (4:23-25), Jesus had already healed various types of sickness among the people and had cast out demons. They were yet to see lepers cured, the eyes of the blind opened, the dead raised to life, the storms stilled, water turned to wine, thousands fed from just a few shreds of lunch, and heaven opened. These works were meant to accredit Him by revealing the source of His teaching. We cannot study them candidly without coming to the conclusion reached by Nicodemus: “Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God; for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him” (John 3:2).

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He Spoke With Authority

Thursday: The Resurrection

The final and in many ways the conclusive bulwark of the authority of Jesus Christ is His resurrection from the dead. At the time of the preaching of this Sermon, of course, Jesus had not yet died, let alone been raised from the dead. But we remember that He was ending His Sermon with an encouragement for His hearers to keep on as His disciples until they came to that point. And, whatever the case may have been for them, for us the resurrection is paramount. Did Jesus rise from the dead? If He did, then His authority is established. His teaching is established. His deity is established. And Christianity rests upon an impregnable foundation.

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He Spoke With Authority

Friday: Commitment

What is the most important message of this Sermon? Certainly, it is the person of Jesus of Nazareth Himself, the Son of God, who spoke as no man had ever spoken before or since, who lived as He preached, and who then died and rose again that He might offer us a full and perfect salvation. Do you believe that? Have you committed your life to His care?

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