St Matthew has been bring his story, his argument about Jesus as God’s appointed King ever more detailed in terms of Jesus power and authority. After demonstrating Jesus authority over sickness, disease, nature and demons, St Matthew now turn to address or expose the root cause of all these symptoms, and to show that King Jesus also has authority to solve this root problem.
Teaching from Parables
Why did Jesus use parables, stories, to teach truths? Why did the gospel writers include some and exclude others. And why did they place the parables where they did in their narrative? Pastor Mike addresses some of these questions in his sermon.
The Lord is My Salvation
One thing special about the Old Testament Psalms is we learn how real the writers were with God. In today’s sermon Jerry Croyts spoke on Psalm 3, and it this Psalm we learn that complaining to God is significantly different than complaining about God. Many of the Psalms also point us to Jesus, and teach us how our confidence can be in him.
Passing the Test
What do you need to do to “pass the test”? Well, JIm Scullion addresses this question from the letter of St John, chapter 2.
God’s Love: Our Response
Pastor Mike Frison had the congregation turn our thinking to Psalm 116. In this Psalm the psalmist reviews the goodness of God in providing, saving, rescuing, directing, etc. his servant. The psalmist’s response is to give God honor; to pay his vows; offer public praise.
Sowing & Serving
Its in St Paul’s letter to the Galatians that he talks about reaping what you sow. A familiar text. What may be less familiar is the connection St Paul makes between that sowing and serving.
The Lord Reigns
Bible readers often consider Psalms on their own, as individual songs or poems or laments. In today’s sermon, Pastor Jerry Croyts concludes a two-part talk on Psalm 1 and 2. As he explains, these two Psalms most likely were written as one and were only divided into two by later editors. In Psalm 2, the author suggests we consider three conversations: one between the “kings of the earth”, a second is the contemplations of God in heaven, and then the psalmist himself is offering some thoughts to the reader.
Finally . . . Pray and Obey
When St Paul uses the word ‘finally’ in 2 Thessalonians 3 he actually means it! This is not always the case with St Paul. And so how does he summarize his letter to the Thessalonian believers? Pray and Obey. List as Jim Scullion walks us through the end of his series on the two letters to the Thessalonian believers.