Manna on the Mountain

Send us Fan Mail Matthew 9:1-8 is the text for this sermon entitled, "Jesus Heals a Paralytic." The lesson opens with reading the all three gospel accounts of the paralyzed man brought to Jesus by his friends who lowered him through the roof so he could be healed.  Curtis explores the rich detail of the event and what we can learn about (1) the nature of faith, (2) the charges against Je...

Send us Fan Mail Matthew 9:9-13 is the text for this sermon entitled, "Jesus Calls Matthew." The calling of Matthew, the tax collector, as one of his own disciples in a most intriguing insight into Jesus’ mindset about discipleship. E33This is also a model for the church.  Jesus quotes from Hosea 6:6 and tells everyone to go and learn what it means. At its very core, the gospel message i...

Send us Fan Mail Matthew 8:23-27 is the text for this sermon entitled, "Jesus Calms the Storm." In this passage, crowds still figure into Jesus’ active ministry.  One of the most poignant and powerful stories in the gospels about the relationship between fear and discipleship. Jesus may have been weary and set out across the Sear of Galilee, where he settled into the boat and fell asleep...

Send us Fan Mail Matthew 8:18-22 is the text for this sermon entitled, "Following Jesus." This section of Matthew recounts two potential disciples who approached Jesus with declarations that they each intended to become his disciples. Jesus, who could read a person's heart, responds with insightful reactions to what he saw in their hearts. He pointed out that there wouldn't be...

Send us Fan Mail Matthew 8:1-17 is the text for this sermon entitled, "Leper, Centurion, & Mother-in-Law." Chapters 8 and 9 of Matthew show us Jesus' "Framework for Ministry." At the end of chapter 9, the author summarizes these two chapters by spelling out that framework. This lesson introduces that framework and covers the first three instances of Jesus' ministr...

Send us Fan Mail Matthew 7:24-29 is the text for this sermon entitled, "Doing Jesus' Teachings." Remember the old Vacation Bible School (VBS) Song, "The Wise Man Built His House Upon a Rock"? Here are the words to the song: Verse 1 The wise man built his house upon the rock.  The wise man built his house upon the rock.  The wise man built his house upon the rock,  And the...

Send us Fan Mail Matthew 7:15-23 is the text for this sermon entitled, "Good Fruit or Bad Fruit." This part of the sermon on the Mount warns against false prophets and prophesying. One of the greatest litmus tests for determining if someone is a false prophet is by their fruits. Since the days of the Old Testament, there have always been false prophets. Sometimes false prophets look pret...

Send us Fan Mail Note (this episode is out of order to accommodate a routine request and the series number will be updated later). Matthew 11:28-30 is the text for this sermon entitled, "Jesus, Our Helper." What happens when a foot slips? There's no warning, so we aren't prepared for it! And usually, someone is watching. the Bible talks about a foot slipping in But afterwards,...

Send us Fan Mail Matthew 7:7-14 is the text for this sermon entitled, "Ask-Do-Enter." This section of the Sermon on the Mount focuses on Prayer Life, Community Life, and Kingdom Life. Following Jesus into all aspects of our life--we have the image that he is at our side. Jesus teaches more about prayer, and then He lays down a universal principle for interacting with others. He also emph...

Send us Fan Mail Matthew 6:25-34 is the text for this sermon entitled, "Worry and Anxiety." The verb "merimnaó" is used in the New Testament to describe a state of anxiety or worry, often in the context of being overly concerned about the necessities of life or future uncertainties. It can also imply a sense of distraction or being pulled in different directions due to concerns...

Send us Fan Mail Matthew 7:1-5 is the text for this sermon entitled, "Jesus' Teaching Against Judging." We hate to be judged. Have you ever been misjudged, or have you ever misjudged another to your chagrin or embarrassment? Remember, Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount is addressing the most important topics regarding “kingdom living” and what it means to be a disciple. It makes me wo...

Send us Fan Mail Matthew 6:19-25 is the text for this sermon entitled, "Treasures in Heaven." Jesus taught about values using the metaphor of storing our treasures not on earth, but in heaven. “On earth” refers to the sphere on which we live and encompasses all the places where people can store physical treasures, thinking they are secure. These treasures are meant to be understood as te...

Send us Fan Mail Matthew 6:9-13 is the text for this sermon entitled, "Lord's Prayer (Pt. 3)." "Daily bread" defined as encompassing both physical and spiritual sustenance. 1. Physical Bread: Our daily needs for food, shelter, and safety. 2. Spiritual Bread: The Word of God and spiritual nourishment from prayer and fellowship. Biblical examples of God’s provision, includin...

Send us Fan Mail Matthew 6:9-13 is the text for this sermon entitled, "Lord's Prayer (Pt. 4) Forgiveness." This portion of Jesus' prayer example teaches us why forgiveness is so important and the reciprocal nature of forgiveness. Curtis reviews what forgiveness IS and what it is NOT, as well as discussing the word "trespass" by exploring the Old and New Testament mean...

Send us Fan Mail Matthew 6:9-13 is the text for this sermon entitled, "The Lord's Prayer (Pt. 2)." We all long for a better world. God’s kingdom breaks into the kingdoms of the world in a transformative way. The kingdom is not the same thing as the church. They do overlap, but they are not equal. Think of it like this…The kingdom of God is the ruling/reigning of God from his soverei...

Send us Fan Mail Matthew 6:9-13 is the text for this sermon entitled, "The Lord's Prayer (Part 1)." Jesus had just condemned the hypocritical way of praying. He had also talked about the concerns about prayer and how to pray. In today’s passage, Jesus now provides a model or framework on how to pray. In Christian history, there has been much discussion on whether this is only an out...

Send us Fan Mail Matthew 6:16-18 is the text for this sermon entitled, "Jesus' Teaching on Fasting." To understand Fasting, we start with a definition: fasting is to deny physical eating or pleasure to draw closer to God. Three Biblical examples are David, Esther, and Jesus.  The purpose of fasting is to seek God's guidance (Acts 13:2-3) and to express repentance and sorrow for...

Send us Fan Mail Matthew 6:5-8 is the text for this sermon entitled, "Jesus' Teaching on Praying." We are not to pray like the hypocrites, a word for actor that comes from ancient Greek theater. Jesus listed two places where those seeking attention would go to pray: synagogues and street corners. And Jesus instructs Christians to pray in secret, spending alone-time in communication...

Send us Fan Mail Matthew 6:1-4 is the text for this sermon entitled, "Jesus' Teaching on Giving." A. Jesus addresses 3 acts of piety/righteousness that can be exaggerated for show. These are giving alms, praying, and fasting (or other acts of devotion).  B. The wrong motivation is repeated three times: to be seen by men, and to be praised by others. C. If you approach your faith thi...

Send us Fan Mail Matthew 5:43-48 is the text for this sermon entitled, "Be Perfect As God Is Perfect." Continuing his sermon on the mount, Jesus turns the audience toward a hard truth. God expects them to be better than the examples they had at that time--most Pharisees were NOT good examples of God's expectations for His people. They were harsh and exacting, particularly when it ca...

Send us Fan Mail Matthew 5:9 is the text for this sermon entitled, "Seventh Beatitude: The Peacemakers." This beatitude connects with our self-identity as sons of God! The term "peacemakers" is only used here in the entire Bible. Peace-making is intentional in nature and goes to the core of both covenant thinking and a ministry of reconciliation. The apostle Paul expresses it t...

Send us Fan Mail Matthew 5:10-12 is the text for this sermon entitled, "The Eighth Beatitude: The Persecuted." This blessing is a reminder that the Christian life is not an easy one. Primary reference to the context of this persecution is within God’s covenant people: religious leaders against the prophets; religious leaders against Jesus; religious leaders against Jesus’ followers. This...

Send us Fan Mail Matthew 5:13-16 is the text for this sermon entitled, "Salt and Light." This portion of Jesus' sermon on the mount introduces the metaphors of salt and light. This passage follows just after the Beatitudes, a crucial placement to turn the attention of the audience outward toward the world exuding the influence of Christians. Like his parables, the reference to simpl...

Send us Fan Mail Matthew 1:18-2:12 is the text for this sermon entitled, "The Birth of Christ." As Christmas approaches, Curtis brings us the old story of Joseph, Mary, and the birth of the Son of God into our world. When we began the study of Matthew, we skipped over this passage to save it for this week when so many around the world think back to the coming of Emmanuel, "God with...

Send us Fan Mail Matthew 5:17-20 is the text for this sermon entitled, "Fulfillment of the Law & Prophets." A. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus underscores why he came. B. Jesus indicates his relationship to the Law and the Prophets C. His coming did not threaten the practice of the law and prophetic messages. D. Significant insight regarding Jesus’ roll of fulfillment. E. He clearly...