The Epic Life - Bob Hallman

Introduction Allude We left off in Matthew 15, where Jesus was up in Gennesaret, being confronted by the Pharisees and Scribes for not requiring His disciples to practice ritualistic hand washing – an extra-biblical tradition of the elders not found in the Bible! If that weren’t enough to upset Israel’s religious leaders, now Jesus redirects His ministry and attention toward the surrounding pagan...

Introduction Allude We left off in Matthew 15, where Jesus was up in Gennesaret, being confronted by the Pharisees and Scribes for not requiring His disciples to practice ritualistic hand washing – an extra-biblical tradition of the elders not found in the Bible! If that weren’t enough to upset Israel’s religious leaders, now Jesus redirects His ministry and attention toward the surrounding pagan...

Introduction  Virtually every religion outside of Christianity has extra-biblical traditions and teachings (sources that accompany and, many times, supersede the authority of the Bible) that guide and instruct their beliefs: The Mormons have the Bible PLUS the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price. The Jehovah Witnesses have their own translation of the Bible called the N...

Introduction  Virtually every religion outside of Christianity has extra-biblical traditions and teachings (sources that accompany and, many times, supersede the authority of the Bible) that guide and instruct their beliefs: The Mormons have the Bible PLUS the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price. The Jehovah Witnesses have their own translation of the Bible called the N...

Introduction  -  Context: Jesus has been presented and authenticated as the Messiah of God The Jews have rejected Jesus and have demonized Him But Jesus never stopped teaching and healing the crowds He discovered that Herod has brutally beheaded his cousin and forerunner, John the Baptist and is devastated by the news His first attempt to be alone was interrupted by the physical needs for food by...

Introduction  -  Context: Jesus has been presented and authenticated as the Messiah of God The Jews have rejected Jesus and have demonized Him But Jesus never stopped teaching and healing the crowds He discovered that Herod has brutally beheaded his cousin and forerunner, John the Baptist and is devastated by the news His first attempt to be alone was interrupted by the physical needs for food by...

Introduction In Matthew 14:1-21, we find Jesus facing the very personal, senseless, painful and brutal death of His cousin and Messianic forerunner, John the Baptist!  No one would blame Jesus for being consumed with grief, taking some time off from ministry, meeting His own needs for a while and turning the ministry over to someone else!  But He doesn’t do that.  Instead, He continues to serve!!...

Introduction In Matthew 14:1-21, we find Jesus facing the very personal, senseless, painful and brutal death of His cousin and Messianic forerunner, John the Baptist!  No one would blame Jesus for being consumed with grief, taking some time off from ministry, meeting His own needs for a while and turning the ministry over to someone else!  But He doesn’t do that.  Instead, He continues to serve!!...

I  The Hidden Treasure The kingdom of heaven is like …: [Verse 44a] Treasure hidden in a field, which a man found Treasure =  Thesauros = “A deposit, i.e. wealth” Hidden = Krupto = “To conceal by covering” The man’s joyful response: [Verse 44b] He hid it He sold all that he had He bought that field Interpretation and application A common interpretation is that the man who finds the treasure/pearl...

I  The Hidden Treasure The kingdom of heaven is like …: [Verse 44a] Treasure hidden in a field, which a man found Treasure =  Thesauros = “A deposit, i.e. wealth” Hidden = Krupto = “To conceal by covering” The man’s joyful response: [Verse 44b] He hid it He sold all that he had He bought that field Interpretation and application A common interpretation is that the man who finds the treasure/pearl...

Introduction Israel’s leaders’ response to the gospel in Matthew 11-12: Refused to accept the testimony about Christ John the Baptist The Father (at Jesus’ baptism) The OT prophesies Christ Himself The Holy Spirit’s authenticating miracles 2. Rejected Jesus Christ as the Messiah!3. Committed the unpardonable sin – Matt 12:31-32 Defined: “The national rejection by Israel of the Messiah, while he wa...

Introduction Israel’s leaders’ response to the gospel in Matthew 11-12: Refused to accept the testimony about Christ John the Baptist The Father (at Jesus’ baptism) The OT prophesies Christ Himself The Holy Spirit’s authenticating miracles 2. Rejected Jesus Christ as the Messiah!3. Committed the unpardonable sin – Matt 12:31-32 Defined: “The national rejection by Israel of the Messiah, while he wa...

Introduction Summary of Israel’s leaders’ response to the gospel in Matthew 11-12: Refused to accept the testimony about Christ:  John the Baptist, The Father (at Jesus’ baptism), The OT prophesies, Christ Himself, The Holy Spirit’s authenticating miracles Rejected Jesus Christ as the Messiah! Committed the unpardonable sin – Matt 12:31-32 Defined: “The unpardonable sin is the national rejection b...

Introduction Summary of Israel’s leaders’ response to the gospel in Matthew 11-12: Refused to accept the testimony about Christ:  John the Baptist, The Father (at Jesus’ baptism), The OT prophesies, Christ Himself, The Holy Spirit’s authenticating miracles Rejected Jesus Christ as the Messiah! Committed the unpardonable sin – Matt 12:31-32 Defined: “The unpardonable sin is the national rejection b...

Introduction Last week we left off in Matthew 12:23-37 with Jesus announcing that the Jewish leaders had committed the unpardonable sin, which we defined as: “The national rejection by Israel of the Messiahship of Yeshua, while he was present on earth, on the basis of His being demon possessed.” Instead of being broken and contrite over this damning statement, the Pharisees, after quickly delibera...

Review: A King, a Kingdom and a citizenry.  Matthew presents the testimony of: John the Baptist The Father (at Jesus’ baptism) The OT prophecies Christ Himself The Holy Spirit’s authenticating miracles All these were rejected by the spiritual leaders of Israel! I  The Remarkable Healing A man was brought to Jesus on the Sabbath: [Verse 22a] He was demon-possessed He was blind He was mute = Kophos...

Review: A King, a Kingdom and a citizenry.  Matthew presents the testimony of: John the Baptist The Father (at Jesus’ baptism) The OT prophecies Christ Himself The Holy Spirit’s authenticating miracles All these were rejected by the spiritual leaders of Israel! I  The Remarkable Healing A man was brought to Jesus on the Sabbath: [Verse 22a] He was demon-possessed He was blind He was mute = Kophos...

Introduction What we have here is the invitation of two very different gospels: The gospel of Jesus Christ! Matt 11:28-30  “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” The gospel of Israel’s religious lea...

Introduction What we have here is the invitation of two very different gospels: The gospel of Jesus Christ! Matt 11:28-30  “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” The gospel of Israel’s religious lea...

Introduction A look back on what we’ve learned from Matthew: A king: Jesus Christ, the attested promised Messiah A realm: The new heaven and new earth A citizenry: Men and women submit to Jesus as their King What’s at stake?  Rebuke or rest! Most people are physically, emotionally and spiritually weary. As Thoreau said, they “lead lives of quiet desperation”! In contrast, Jesus offers abundant lif...

Introduction A look back on what we’ve learned from Matthew: A king: Jesus Christ, the attested promised Messiah A realm: The new heaven and new earth A citizenry: Men and women submit to Jesus as their King What’s at stake?  Rebuke or rest! Most people are physically, emotionally and spiritually weary. As Thoreau said, they “lead lives of quiet desperation”! In contrast, Jesus offers abundant lif...

Introduction If you’ve never struggled with doubt, you’re not human! Truth be told, we all struggle from time with time with doubt! Some doubts have little to no impact on our lives: For instance, … When dog food is new and improved tasting, who tests it? If the "black box" flight recorder is never damaged during a plane crash, why isn't the whole airplane made out of that stuff? Why do people say...

Introduction If you’ve never struggled with doubt, you’re not human! Truth be told, we all struggle from time with time with doubt! Some doubts have little to no impact on our lives: For instance, … When dog food is new and improved tasting, who tests it? If the "black box" flight recorder is never damaged during a plane crash, why isn't the whole airplane made out of that stuff? On the other hand...

I A True Disciple Imitates Christ Above = Huper = “Superior to or better or greater than” We aren’t called to live lives superior to the character, life, agenda, conduct or words of Christ.  But we are expected to be like Him! The ultimate goal of every disciple is to be like his teacher! Application: Our goal is to cooperate with God’s transforming work! Truth:  The result of being like Christ is...

I A True Disciple Imitates Christ Above = Huper = “Superior to or better or greater than” We aren’t called to live lives superior to the character, life, agenda, conduct or words of Christ.  But we are expected to be like Him! The ultimate goal of every disciple is to be like his teacher! Application: Our goal is to cooperate with God’s transforming work! Truth:  The result of being like Christ is...