Pastor Matt's Podcasts

In this sermon, we deal with the topic of the rape of Dinah. Although it is a difficult passage to read, it's lessons are very clear, we need to understand the issues involved with the young people of the covenant get too close to the pagan culture. There are many unintended consequences when this happens. It is essential that we keep the church separate from the world.

In this sermon on the resurrection, we study the power of the resurrection of Christ. Recently there have been those who are preaching the gospel without the resurrection, but this is futile, faithless, empty, powerless gospel. We are called the preach and receive the full gospel of Christ, a gospel without the resurrection is no gospel at all.

In this episode we examine the reconciliation between Jacob and Esau. Laban and Jacob could not reconcile but Jacob and Esau were able to. What was the difference between these two relationships? As covenant members of the church of Christ, it is important how we handle our relationships with non-believers. This sermon gives additional insight to the church's relationship to the world.

In this sermon, we look at Jacob's journey back to Canaan. There are two places of resistance he experiences on his journey: first, God resists him and second, is the resistance of Esau. As we encounter resistance in our own Christian walk, it is important for us to understand the purpose of the resistance and get the lesson God is teaching us.

In this sermon, we deal with the issue of Laban's false accusations against Jacob, and Jacob's response. When a Laban refuses to admit his sin, then a rebuke is necessary. If no reconciliation can be made, then a Mizpah must be declared. This is an excellent word for those who feel manipulated, taken advantage of, and stolen from. What is the biblical way to get out of such a relationship?

In this sermon we study the terms of the new agreement between Jacob and Laban and its outcome. God will bless the uprightness of His people. Laban's envy and unethical behavior against God's chosen is dealt with once the previous agreement is complete.

In this sermon, we compare the courtship of Isaac and Rebekah to the courtship of Jacob and Rachel. Without guidance in the covenant, a person will eventually begin to compromise with the social norms of the culture. This is where the problems begin.

In this episode, we look at what Jacob's obedience to his father and his mother, and Esau's disobedience. However, Esau's envy governed his life, he couldn't help but be watchful of how his parents treated his brother and what they commanded him to do, so he attempted to replicate it. This is a counterfeit way to do things, what the seed of the serpent attempts to do on a continual basis. The genu...

In this episode, we examine the story of Isaac's blessing on Jacob rather than Esau. What were the motives behind Isaac, Rebekah, Esau and Jacob? These verses reveal the threat of the covenant line of promise coming to an end if Esau were to recieve the blessing. Esau sold his birthright, married two Canaanite women and thus hybridized the promised seed. Jacob was the true heir of promise. What we...

Envy is a pagan sin that does not belong in the church. Unfortunately many of us have to deal with this sin, it is not a matter of if you have to deal with it, but when you have to deal with it. The story of Isaac and the Philistines gives us a pattern to follow when dealing with peopl who subscribe to the economics of envy.

When there was a famine in the land of Canaan, the Promised Land, Isaac chose to go to Egypt. Although God stopped him from completing his journey, Isaac still suffered from some of the consequences leaving the Promised Land. It is important that we understand this, that we realize this, so that when God allows a time of famine in the are we are called, we remain faithful to the call.

In this sermon, we examine the difference between Esau and Jacob in how they viewed the birthright. One viewed with contempt, the other struggled to apprehend it. If we view this as our own birthright, being heirs and joint heirs of Jesus as members of His church, it will give us an indication of our own respect or disdain for salvation. How do we view our salvation through Christ?

When Abraham died, scripture tells us that he lived a full life, or a satisfied life. What are the key elements to living a satified life when you have gone through so many challenges, testings, etc. Abraham gives us a distinct pattern for us to follow.

The courtship and marriage of Isaac and Rebekah sets a high standard for courtship relationships even today. Although every relationship is different, this story sets out a pattern that young people may follow for their marriage relationship. In this podcast, Pastor Matt systematically goes through Genesis 24 and lists the biblical principles of a godly courtship. Enjoy...

Abraham purchased a field and cave in Hebron in order to bury his wife Sarah. This is an important passage to us in the free foothold Abraham establishes in the Promised Land.

Abraham's journey to the land of Moriah with Isaac gives us a clear understanding of the purposes of God's testing us. We are to identify with Christ, and with His resurrected power. The parallels between Christ's crucifiction and the planned sacrifice of Isaac gives us many of the insights into the purpose of God's tests for us.

In this sermon we examine the birth of Isaac, the expulsion of Hagar and Ishmael and the covenant with Abimelech. We have much to learn about the grace of God, His tender mercies that are everlasting.

In this sermon, we examine Abraham and Sarah traveling South. They are carrying the promised seed in a pagan land. The seed is in peril once again when Abimelech takes Sarah for his wife, but God warned Abiblimech in a dread that he would be a dead man. Listen as this sermon illustrates our own Christian walk in a pagan society and what God calls us to do and be.

The story of Lot gives us an understanding of what the cost of loving the world would be. Lot lingered in Sodom, he was forced to leave by the hand of the angels, his wife looked back and turned into a pillar of salt, and his daughters conceived two boys through incest with him. His life became like the town he desired to live in, insignificant.

Understanding God's ways gives the Christian great insight into the consequences of man's actions. When God told Abraham that He would destroy Sodom, Abraham appealed to God based on the righteous that may have still been in Sodom. Abraham knew God's word and God's ways enough to pray the prayer of a righteous man. When we read the headlines in the newspapers today, do we know God's word enough to...

Abraham and Lot both had visits from angels, the reception these angels received were very different. The Bible has laws of hospitality, which are very important for us to understand today. The laws of hospitality were obeyed by both Abraham and Lot; however, the city of Sodom violated those laws. In this sermon, we examine the differences between the laws of Christian hospitality and that of a wi...

In this sermon we examine the expansion of the covenant with Abraham. Abraham and Sarah seemed to be satisfied with Ishmael as the promised seed; however, God expanded their vision to give them Isaac. When a person enters the covenant that God provides, then their purpose expands with the kingdom of God.

In this sermon we study God's covenant with the generations. If we aren't thinking generationally, we are not thinking covenantally. Single generation thinking is a "starting over" process with each succeeding generation. Thinking generationally, on the other hand, plans, prepares and invests for future generations. One is man's way while the other is God's way.

In this sermon we examine the differences between the word of God and the word of man. God spoke once again to Abraham when Ishmael was 13 years old. It had been a long time between God's revealed word. God's word has some very important distinctive, different than that of the word of man

In this sermon we look at Sarah's desire to get the promised seed through unbiblical means. Whenever we attempt to attain God's will through unbiblical ways it ruins relationships, first with God and then with one another. Many times people want to know God's will, but fail to apprehend God's way. This episode of Abraham's life will give hope and encouragement to many.