Southwest Harbor Congregational Church

We take a look at the differences in the gospel of the pharisees and the gospel of Jesus. We see that the ministry of Christ is radically different than the ministry of the pharisees in that Jesus seeks to please God and is gentle while the pharisees, and often ourselves, are harsh and seek to please people.

Jesus reproves the pharisees for asking for a sign. He tells them that they will only receive the the sign of Jonah "For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth."

How Jesus makes corrections to a legalistic approach to the Sabbath. Telling of how we are to be merciful.

Jesus shows a holy frustration with the people he has preached to and compares them to children that aren't satisfied with anything. He pronounces judgment on the cities that remain indifferent to him in spite of all his works. Even so he offers to take on our burdens and give us an easy yoke.

Paul gives us a wonderful view of the gospel and through that, encourages us to remain steadfast for Christ, even during times of tribulation. We are admonished here also to 'keep the main thing the main thing' and not to think ourselves superior or beyond the gospel but to press into it in faith.

We find here a passage that shows John the Baptist in a doubtful state. There is some encouragement here seeing that even the strongest of Christians experience times of doubting. However, we are not to stay in the dungeon of doubting but are to remember our highest hope, setting our expectations in proper orientation, looking to Christ and his promises.

Facing one of the most shaking portions of scripture we hear Christ tell that we are to fear God over man, for God is capable of destroying both body and soul. Yet after such a fearful verse encouragement is given showing that God values his people and cares for them.

With our call to proclaim Christ we see similarity to what the disciples are faced with as we are to expect suffering on behalf of the Gospel.

Our call to share the gospel, how it is similar and how it is different from the Apostles ministry.

The necessity of humility in the method of salvation. The need to come before Jesus with a humble heart.

Jesus preaches on the harvest and the laborers, including the necessity of faith in salvation.

Jacob Hansen delivers a message on the clarity of the Gospel as presented through the revealed word of God.

Jesus instructs Martha that she is missing out by being too busy preparing a meal and that Mary has "the better portion" sitting and listening at His feet.

Jesus heals a few groups of people. Looking at the first group we find two people characterised by a desperation and need of Christ, showing how in our own lives we ought to have a desperate need for our Savior.

Jesus proclaims Himself to be the long awaited bridegroom. Challenging the traditionalism of the day through his disciples not fasting while He is with them.

Matthew shows us that Jesus comes to us, the sinner, and calls us to follow Him. We find that when we think we are righteous, like the pharisees, we actually distance ourselves from God. "For I came not to call the righteous, but the sinners."

Jesus, through an ironic twist, shows Himself to have the power to forgive sins through accomplishing what seems to be harder in healing paralytic man.

Jesus goes by a way no other man could go and is recognised as the Son of God by the demons He casts out. Another unveiling account showing Christ as the God-Man, the incarnation.

Our introduction to Satan in the garden, how he sowed deception and tempted Eve.

Jesus shows his power by calming the winds and the sea. We see here that Jesus is more powerful than anything we fear.

Jesus says some hard teachings showing us that it's not all about the numbers. He challenges us to reprioritize our lives and expect to be humbled.

The powerful coming of God's kingdom and his reaching out to those that, beforehand, were excluded from the family of god and those that have little standing. Jesus also showed his divinity through the healing of many.

A broad overview of the book of Numbers illustrating how relevant it is to our lives. Looking at the sinfulness of God's people in the wilderness and how we are so much like them.

A juxtaposition of how infinite God is and how frail we are. Looking into the justice and mercy of God, how He so freely forgives us our offences in spite of justly being condemned.

Jesus instructs us to be wise and to examine intently the teachers around us and to be grounded in His word to be able to discern good teachers from bad teachers.