Growing and Witnessing

Vengeance is mine, says the Lord. He will repay everyone according to his deeds. He is the one who has our backs. We don't need to worry about repaying evil for evil. We are to be good to all and let God handle his business.

Chapter 21 emphasizes how vital worship is in the life of a Christian, highlighting the responsibilities of both the church and individual believers in engaging with the means of grace.

Our Lord reigns, and that comforts our hearts amid turmoil. We don't lose hope when nations rise against our God. Rather, we trust him, engage the political system of our day, pray, and serve while walking holily before our God.

Chapter 20 of the Confession emphasizes the freedom believers have in Christ and the responsibilities that come with that freedom, particularly regarding adherence to God’s authority and lawful governance.

It is good to thank our Lord for his goodness and grace in our lives. Cultivating a heart of gratitude is a challenge that takes time throughout our Christian lives.

Matthew 16 asks us if we will follow Jesus with our lives. He is the Son of God and the only one worthy of our faith. When we stand on him, we are guaranteed to prevail.

Why is our counter-cultural gospel such good news? It gives us true freedom in a performance-driven world order.

Is God working out his eternal plan in time and space? Yes, and Jesus' kingdom parables in Matthew 13 explain that his plan involves the proclamation of the gospel to all and the delay of his judgment on the wicked to preserve the lives of his beloved children.

How do you deal with disappointment and the doubt that comes with it? You're going to struggle with it just like John the Baptist did. He took his doubt to Jesus and received gracious rest for his soul. Will you do the same?

Whenever Jesus sent his disciples out as his witnesses, he informed them that persecution would come their way. This is true for all of us as well. Jesus prepares us through his Spirit, like he prepared his disciples years ago. Be ready to stand for Christ amid the wolves of this world.

Is Jesus still riding in majesty? Yes. He will reign for all eternity after he took his crown upon his head in his resurrection. We follow him in his grace.

Should we participate in our King's mission of seeking and saving the lost? Yes. But, "Will we?" is the question. We must learn to see people as Jesus sees them, feel for people as Jesus feels for them, and think about people and their eternity as Jesus thinks about them.

Who can follow Jesus? Anyone who trusts the Lord Jesus Christ follows him with their lives. It's really that simple. Background doesn't matter. Gifts don't matter. Skills don't matter. Experience doesn't matter. Only faith matters.

Jesus has complete dominion. The questions are: Will you trust him with your life? And, do you submit to him?

Entrance into the kingdom of Christ is by faith. It must be a faith that is bold and humble in the Lord of Glory, who is more than able to heal his people immediately and entirely by restoring them to Himself in his grace.

What is the general biblical principle that governs our interactions with one another? The golden rule. In Matthew 7, Jesus explains how doing unto others the way we want them to do unto us plays out in our daily lives.

Should we worry about tomorrow? No. God has already planned what will happen and determined it will be for his glory. Every day anxiety does nothing but trouble our hearts.

Like our acts of righteousness, our piety must come from the heart and be purposefully done for the glory of God. Religious devotion is given to God alone. Any notoriety from them should reflect our desire to glorify the God who saved us by his grace.

Jesus said we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. We are to be true to who God says we are in character and committed to the truth of God's Word.

Who are you before God is the question Jesus asked his disciples at the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount. Are you poor in spirit? Do you mourn your sin? Are you meek? Do you hunger and thirst for righteousness? Are you merciful? Do you promote peace? Are you pure in heart? Are you willing to endure persecution for righteousness' sake?

Matthew 4:12-25 is the first of three turning points in Mathtew's gospel. The other two are found in chapters 16 and 28, respectively. In this first one, Jesus begins his public ministry and life. He reveals himself publicly to the residents of the Galilean countryside by preaching his first sermon, calling his first disciples, and healing the sick and infirmed. Our study of these verses leaves us...

Was Jesus tempted for me? Yes, he was. He stepped into the wilderness to free us from the wilderness prison we created for ourselves in our sins. Because he overcame when we failed, we can come into the eternal garden he has prepared for us. 

Why was Jesus baptized? According to him, it was to fulfill righteousness, but what does that mean? Jesus wasn't a sinner who needed to repent. He was perfect. We'll explain the answer in this message of Matthew 3.

Who is the Messiah? Matthew tells us that he is the one who willingly became a Nazarene for all of us to deliver us from bondage to sin into the light of his marvelous grace by forgiving our sins and wiping every tear from our eyes. He turns our mourning into dancing.

Would he do things differently if he was born today? Would his approach to ministry and salvation be different? No. He's the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. The question is, would you follow him?