Grace Baptist Church - Truth with Grace: Recent Episodes
Last week, Pastor introduced the idea of a 7-story building as an illustration of our Christian life. Each floor represents a virtue we must add to our faith if we are to grow into mature Christian.--The first floor is moral excellence - our lives must change as we are now morally awake and desire to be more like Christ. To that we add knowledge - which fine tunes this sense of morality. Then, floor 3 is self-control - necessary to prevent legalism and promote humility. And floor 4 is perseverance - because it's not long into the life of Believer that trials come and try to destroy our faith.--We'll pick up here and continue on through floor 7 of Christ-centered life.
In what might be seen as a review, Peter begins his letter with his usual greeting and a reminder to the Christians in Asia Minor that they have been given great spiritual gifts by God - starting with salvation. These spiritual realities may be hard to spot when you're going through tough times, so Peter is wise to refresh the memories of the early church, and for us to do so as well.--In today's message we discover the framework for the Christian life. There are many metaphors we can use, as you'll hear, but the idea of a 7-story building is a favorite. Each floor represents a virtue we must add to our faith if we are to grow into mature Christian.--This is a Christ-centered life.
Peter is going to have a lot to say about false teachers prowling around the early church, which is important, even today, since there are certainly false teachers attacking the Christian faith - often from within.--But last week we started by exploring the opening lines of the letter - the greeting and blessing from Peter. We were reminded of God's grace to us, and His gift to us.--Today we'll pick up where we left off, with Pastor explaining how ancient letters were structured, and then marvel at God's generosity.
Pastor Pierre Rosa is preaching from the book of 2 Peter, the second letter from the Apostle Peter to the church in Asia Minor.--There's a different theme to this letter, as we'll soon discover. Peter is going to have a lot to say about false teachers prowling around the early church. That's important because now, like always, there are false teachers attacking the Christian faith - often from within.--But we'll start today with the opening lines of the letter - the greeting and blessing from Peter that still apply.
Pastor Pierre Rosa is preaching from the book of 1 Peter, and today we're wrapping up chapter five and the book as a whole.--As we read the final words of this letter to the Church, we can tell that Peter is anxious to leave a lasting impression and remind us of the character of the God we serve.--Last week by learning that God, unlike our enemy Satan, is sovereign. We also learned that He is formidable. That speaks to His power, and Pastor specifically referenced God's power to sanctify us, to save us, and to sustain us.--That sustaining power is vital for anyone who is suffering. It brings comfort and a calm assurance of God's perfect promised future.
Last week, we learned about the schemes of our enemy, the devil. He is fierce - and extremely dangerous. And he is furious - at humans in general and God's chosen and redeemed people in particular. But he is finite and as a created being, not even remotely the evil equal of God.--God in fact, is sovereign, which brings comfort to anyone who is suffering.
We've reached the final words of this letter to the Church. And while they contain some acknowledgements to conclude the message, they are packed with important information.--Peter has used this letter to cover several themes- he's talked about suffering, sanctification, submission, and service. Now he sums it all up with some final warnings and instructions.--Realizing that the first century Christians would likely turn against their human accusers and persecutors, in self-defense if nothing else, Peter reminds them that people are not the enemy. Our real adversary is Satan.
We've been learning about the way God designed the church. There are leaders and they have both a job description and a responsibility to lead the flock of God as shepherds.--And now we know the congregation has a job description too- You have specific roles - as a member of the flock of God, and they are important - just as important as those of the leaders.--The first is to submit to the shepherds, the elders God has called to lead His local church.--And perhaps the even harder responsibility we are given is to submit to our fellow saints in the church, but humility is the foundation of a health church and that's where we will pick up.
We've been learning about the way God designed the church. There are leaders and they have both a job description and a responsibility to lead the flock of God as shepherds.--But did you know the congregation has a job description too-- You probably have a basic understanding that you have a responsibility to attend services, to support the church financially, and to be nice to each other. But there are other specific roles you have - as a member of the flock of God, and they are important - just as important as those of the leaders, as we'll discover.
Peter now has some important instructions for the church as a whole. How a church is organized and how it functions matters to God and can determine if a church can truly focus on growing believers to maturity, as designed.--Peter starts with the leadership.--Last week, we learned a lot about an elder's motivation and his approach to the position. Elders are not corporate CEO's. They are not life coaches- they are not psychotherapists. Elders are called to be shepherds, and that approach really does make a difference.
Peter now has some important instructions for the church as a whole. How a church is organized and how it functions matters to God and can determine if a church can truly focus on growing believers to maturity, as designed.--He starts with the leadership.--Peter affirms that the church is led by a plurality of elders. He also makes it clear that leading a church isn't just a job. It's a calling with detailed qualification and particular gifting that come from God. The qualifications are found in Timothy and Titus, but Peter takes great pains to talk specifically about an elder's motivation and approach to the position. It really does make a difference.
Peter has introduced the topic of suffering and covered it from several angles. The point, of course, is that Believer should expect suffering - quite a lot of it, actually - and so we will benefit from as much discussion on this subject as possible.--So that's what we'll hear today- instructions for the suffering Believer.--We began last week by learning that we must embrace suffering, as part of the life of a faithful believer. Then we learned that we must exult in our suffering - not asking for it, or seeking out suffering, but seeing suffering as the way God grows and mature us.
eter has introduced the topic of suffering and covered it from several angles. The point, of course, is that Believer should expect suffering - quite a lot of it, actually - and so we will benefit from as much discussion on this subject as possible.--So that's what we'll hear today- instructions for the suffering Believer. There are folks that claim the Christian life is only about health and prosperity - I'm sure you've heard them - but once you realize they haven't got a clue what their talking about, it's helpful to get some pointers on how to react to suffering - and how to make the most of it, to grow in our faith and glorify God.
We're in the middle of a mini-series on the disciplines that should accompany suffering. There are 4 virtues we must cultivate and master to make the most of suffering.--We began with the discipline of Prayer. This is the foundation of our behavior because it anchors us to God and helps us acknowledge the sovereignty of God, making us more inclined to trust Him and follow His commands.--Then we covered the discipline of Love. And love leads to practical outcomes in the life of the Believer. And we conclude today with hospitality and service - both of which are essential for the expression of the transforming work of our salvation.
We're in the middle of a mini-series on the disciplines that should accompany suffering. There are 4 virtues we must cultivate and master to make the most of suffering.--We began with the discipline of Prayer. This is the foundation of our behavior because it anchors us to God and helps us acknowledge the sovereignty of God, making us more inclined to trust Him and follow His commands.--Then we pick up today with the discipline of Love - note- Love is a discipline and not a feeling, like the world seems to think. And love leads to practical outcomes in the life of the Believer.
Peter has made it pretty clear that suffering is part of the Christian life. Our ultimate joy and prosperity will come in glory, not here on the earth - though there will be plenty of good things God will bless us with in this life, including hope, peace, and endurance to get us through thick and thin and glorify our Savior.--But we now begin a mini-series on the disciplines that should accompany suffering. There are 4 virtues we must cultivate and master to make the most of suffering. We'll begin with the discipline of Prayer and get a start on Love, as we listen to the first part of today's message
Peter continues his teaching on suffering by revealing the hidden opportunities we have in those tough times in life we typically like to avoid. There are good reasons to avoid suffering - the hurt, the stress, the struggles we face - we're built to protect ourselves from that kind of thing, to preserve our life.--But in the hands of a good God, suffering can bring unique and fruitful opportunities for growth, and reveal both the goodness and faithfulness of God like prosperity and peace never can. Plus we have the faithful witness of those that have gone before us and the hope of heaven to help get us through, as we'll learn in today's message
It's one thing to suffer for our mistakes, our bad choices, or even our crimes. Those circumstances make sense to us. But what happens, when after doing the right things, and following God's laws and instructions, we find ourselves enduring suffering-- That's hard to comprehend. Our sense of justice cries out---In this passage, Peter unveils the paragon of suffering and takes us on a journey from the crucifixion to the throne room of heaven. On the way, we'll encounter one of the most difficult passages of Scripture, so there's drama from start to finish, as we learn more about suffering, in today's message
Peter has turned his attention to the topic of suffering. No one likes to suffer, though we often understand that is part of life and we willingly suffer for people and ideas we hold dear. But it's helpful for Believers to know what God asks of us when we suffer.--In this passage, we learn about the ABCs of suffering. We started last week with A - Active your Courage. It's where we begin and that makes sense because suffering often requires courage - the kind of courage that can only come from God. But let's continue now with the rest of the ABCs, as we'll listen to the rest of today's message
Peter has spent much of his letter to this point, talking about submission. We've covered that thoroughly and learned we have a long way to go to reach God's standard of righteous submission. Now Peter turns to the topic of suffering.--Suffering is something we all grapple with, and it's true- suffering is a part of life. But in reality, our suffering is nothing like what the early Church was about to encounter. Yet the principles are the same. God has a plan and a purpose for suffering, and He's also given us a strategy for suffering, as we'll learn in today's message
What should we, as Christians, pursue-- Self-improvement is a popular goal, and there are worthy outcomes in that, to be sure. But much of what we're after is what the Bible calls -striving after the wind,- according to Ecclesiastes 2-11.--Beginning in verse 8, Peter lists a series of traits worth treasuring. When Christians embrace these traits, with God's help, they mesmerize their society and point the way to Christ. Now, in verses 9-12, we learn about a kind of character that's worth cultivating. It's what makes it possible for joy and suffering to coexist in the life of the Believer, as we'll learn in today's message
What should we, as Christians, pursue-- Should we pursue wealth-- Personal fulfillment and satisfaction-- Perhaps peace----The Bible is clear that Christians prioritize things differently than the world in general. We are countercultural, applying principles that run contrary to our human nature. Our lives should substantiate the claim that we belong to Christ, and not ourselves.--Beginning in verse, Peter lists a series of traits worth treasuring. When Christians embrace these traits, with God's help, they mesmerize their society and point the way to Christ, as we'll learn in today's message
Having covered the wife's role in the marriage, it's only fair that Peter turns his attention to the husband, and that was the focus of this two-part message we started last week. Women are to submit to the headship role of the husband, but men have a submission mandate as well. They are to submit to the needs of their wives - with Christ's example as the standard.--How husbands can demonstrate this submission is where we left off. It starts by serving her with your presence. And now we'll cover three more ways, as we listen to the second half of today's message
Having covered the wife's role in the marriage, it's only fair that Peter turns his attention to the husband. And while there's only one verse in this chapter used to address them, Peter still has much to say in those few words.--Once again, the fact that our culture sees marriage and the marital relationship very differently, doesn't give men the right to bully their wives or dump them at the first sign of trouble. Men are to submit as well, and serve the needs of their wife.--God has designed marriage to demonstrate the power of relationship, forgiveness, grace, and - top of mind for Peter - submission, as we'll learn in the first part of part of today's message
Last week, we took on the most intimate of human relationships - marriage - and began exploring the Biblical blueprint for human flourishing. Peter started with the wives and urged them to display soul-winning behavior as an act of submission to God.--God's blueprint is worth following because He's the designer of marriage in the first place - but it's certainly not what the culture portrays as the ideal.--As we pick up from last week, Pastor addresses the natural concern of anyone being asked to submit to another human being- are there boundaries to this submission-- There are, as we'll learn in the second part of part of today's message
Peter has been challenging the New Testament church to understand the kind of submission to authority that God calls for from His followers. He's clarified our level of submission to government, and in the workplace. These have been uncomfortable standards to hear and hard standards to follow.--But now Peter turns to the most intimate of human relationships - marriage - and outlines the Biblical blueprint for human flourishing. We'll start today with the wives, which was Peters approach as well, but don't worry- we'll get to the husbands soon enough. God's blueprint is worth following because He's the designer of marriage in the first place - as we'll learn in the first part of part of today's message
'd be surprised if anyone listening to this program is confused about the evils of slavery. The fact that slavery still exists in parts of the world, though, is a testament to the true sinfulness of man and the enduring nature of certain power dynamics.--However, there are some people, that still want to claim the Bible supports the institute of slavery. They argue the passage we'll be studying today is proof that rather than condemn slaveholding, the Bible legitimizes it.--That is far from the truth - as we will see. And proving the eternal relevance of the Bible, through Peter's discussion of the slave-master relationship, we'll learn a lot about how God prioritizes things and how we are to behave towards authority -- as we'll listen to the first part of today's message
As Christians, our relationship to government can be tricky - even confusing at times. Depending on where you live, government can be a benign force for good or an oppressive, even deadly force for evil.--In the United States, we have the somewhat unique opportunity to influence our government, to speak freely, and to criticize our leaders, but there are limits and boundaries that we must observe.--How do we find these boundaries-- Well, God makes spells them out in Scripture. And though not always easy to apply, these boundaries are clear - if we pay attention - as we'll learn in the second part of today's message
Politics have almost always been a part of the human story. Authorities have risen and fallen, governments have been formed and replaced, for millennia. It should not surprise us then that God has something to do with this.--But when we try to put God in the picture, we often get it wrong. We can't imagine how He could be associated with some of the awful, evil, or even just inept governments in history.--Today we'll learn more about our relationship with authority and what God expects of His people stationed here as sojourners on the earth - as we'll listen to the first part of today's message
Peter reminds us that our testimony is an essential part of our sharing the Gospel and bringing glory to God - which is our primary reason for remaining here on the earth. But what does that mean----As we learned last week, our testimony confirms our Gospel presentation. And we learned that we fight the battle for personal righteousness on two fronts- internal and external. On the internal front, we have our own sin nature to defeat. It requires God's help to do so.--Today, after wrapping up that part, we'll learn about the external battle we face and why it matters - as we'll listen to the second part of today's message
Most of us know of someone who has either walked away from the faith or refused to accept the Gospel because of the bad behavior of Christians. That's not a valid excuse for unbelief, but it is interesting that even the harshest critics of Christianity expect high moral standards from Believers.--Peter reminds us that our testimony is an essential part of our sharing the Gospel and bringing glory to God - which is our primary reason for remaining here on the earth. We fight the battle for personal righteousness on two fronts- internal and external. It's the internal front we'll learn about today, as we'll listen to the first part of today's message
Peter's been telling first century believers about the spiritual life they've gained through their salvation. This life isn't something they've earned or created on their own- it's a work of God. In this portion of his letter, we discover our new ministry as Christians. We have things to do, we're not just left to enjoy the blessings of salvation.--We started with our four-fold status. Brothers and sisters in Christ share many things, both rights and responsibilities. But we also share a primary purpose - a reason for our existence. So if you've ever found yourself asking -why--- Peter explains that in his letter, as we'll hear in the second part of today's message
Peter is telling first century believers about the spiritual life they have gained through their salvation. This life isn't something they've earned or created on their own- it's a work of God. In this portion of his letter, we discover our new ministry as Christians. We have things to do, we're not just left to enjoy the blessings of salvation.--We'll start with our four-fold status. Brothers and sisters in Christ share many things, both rights and responsibilities, and we should live proper lives in the light of these blessings, as we'll hear in the first part of today's message
Last week we started investigating the things that changed when we accepted Christ as our savior, at least the ones Peter chooses to highlight in his letter to the churches in Asia Minor.--For example, we now share in the nature of Christ. That's truly an incredible thought, given how sin has corrupted our human nature. And our new nature, empowered by the Holy Spirit, is a life lived with hope in spite of our circumstances.--Today we'll hear more about our new nature and identity as Christian - particularly the night and day difference between belief and unbelief. One brings blessing and one brings doom, as we'll hear in today's message
Last week we started investigating the things that changed when we accepted Christ as our savior, at least the ones Peter chooses to highlight in his letter to the churches in Asia Minor.--We now share in the nature of Christ - that's pretty incredible when you think about it. We surely are not God, nor will we become gods, as some suggest, but we have some of Christ's spiritual DNA in us, now that we are in Christ and He is in us.--Today we'll hear more about our new nature as Christian - the features of the life we have now as imitators of Christ. And we'll discover the sacrifices required of true Believers, in this second half of today's message
I think most Christians would agree things changed when we accepted Christ as our savior. However, asked to give details about that change and some Believers might be hard pressed to come up with an answer.--Peter has an answer for us in his letter to the early Church.--Among other things, we gained a new identity when we were saved. And that identity is entirely grounded in our Savior. So, we need to know Him, and we need to know more about our own new nature that's we've inherited at our new birth, as we'll discover in the first part of today's message
Peter is concerned for the believers of the early church. They are about to experience intense persecution and he wants them to be ready for what is to come. So, in part, he describes a spiritual growth plan for these people.--How do you survive difficult times-- How do you participate in the spiritual transformation God promises to everyone that is born again-- And how do we convert our beliefs into behavior - and demonstrate our commitment to the God that saved us----These were all important questions for the early church and for the church of today, as we'll discover in today's message
Love is a word used everywhere and for everything. We love our dog, we love coffee, we love our family. Ignore, for now, the fact that those are radically different kinds of love. But there's no question we should love.--The question you might not have asked recently is why-- Believers are taught to love one another from the very start of their faith. In fact, we're told the world will know we are Christians by the love we show each other. But why should we love people-- And, also, how should we love people----Well, Peter explains the why and how in his letter to the church, as we'll discover in today's message
Fear can be both good and bad. Cowering in fear or living life afraid of anything and everything is no life at all. But a healthy fear - of danger, of hurting those we love, or of sinning - that's a good thing.--Peter concludes chapter one by teaching us four reasons, among many to be found in the Bible, why we should have a healthy fear of the Lord. Some have taken this phrase, fear of the Lord, as an instruction to hide from or be afraid of God. But a biblical fear of the Lord is something much better. It's the kind of healthy respect that recognizes God for who His is, as we'll discover in today's message
You know a lot of books have been written and videos produced and seminars given to help us solve basic human problems like anxiety, hurt, and bitterness. Some of those are great because they expound on the Word of God as the foundation for life. Others are just a rehash of the same human-centered, self-centered views that probably got us into trouble in the first place.--Peter offers us some practical advice for healthy living - it's all based on transformed thinking. And not thinking that matches the world's patterns, but thinking that matches God's, as we'll discover in the second half of today's message
After setting the stage and reminding believers of the great salvation and the great living hope we have in Christ, Peter switches to instruction for a bit. He wants the readers to do something very important - in response to God's work in our lives.--For some, being told what to do is a relief - to have a clear plan and follow it. For few, and you know who you are, being told what to do is the signal for a fight. But really, we should all be eagerly open to doing whatever Peter asks of us, because as Peter wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, it's really God calling us to action and He only wants the best for His children, as we'll discover in the first half of today's message
Peter has been reminding us of the very blessed state of the believer in this portion of his letter to the church. In spite of our troubles, we have an inheritance that makes this short time on earth just a moment in our eternal life of blessing from God. These demonstrations of God's care help us endure and remind of us the precious nature of our salvation.--Last week we covered the fact that prophets promised our salvation, a testimony to God's sovereignty and personal intention to give us this great gift, and the fact that Christ confirmed our redemption, by His personal promise and work done on the cross. Today we'll discover two more blessing as we listen to that second half of today's message
The blessed state -or state of blessedness- of the believer is something we eagerly accept as true. We remember, after all, that Jesus Himself told us about this in His Sermon on the Mount. But remembering those blessings, when trials surround you, isn't always our first reaction. In fact, we might see ourselves more as -the abandoned- or -the cursed- when we encounter hardship. We're excellent at self-pity.--Today, Peter does his part to remind us of just how truly blessed we are as followers of Christ. We'll suffer at times during our short stay on the earth, but we have something to look forward to that is always much better, as we'll learn from today's message
If you're struggling in life, facing hardship, disease, heartbreak, or stress, the last thing you want is someone to tell you those are really blessings in disguise. In fact, it might take some measure of self-control to not punch them in the face.--But Peter tells the early church that there is a reason we face trial and temptations and it's not all bad. We want to think bad circumstances only accompany bad people, but in life, affliction plagues us all. The good news is that God has a purpose - a good a purpose for hard times in our lives, as we'll learn from today's message
Trouble is part of life. It affects the believer and the unbeliever alike. But believers look at difficulty differently, or at least they should, according to Peter. But why----God's amazing gift of salvation is what makes all the difference. It's what changes our minds and hearts. It's what gives us a new perspective on the events we experience in our lives. And it's what gives us hope - because we have a future that is full of glory and eternal life. The practical affect of our salvation is the ability to endure difficulties and still have hope, as we'll discover in the first part of today's message
The Apostle Peter packs a lot of theology into his short letter and this portion in the beginning is no exception. He's concerned about the trials and troubles Believers are about to face, and in some cases, are already facing. So, he quickly turns his focus to the essential truths that make all the difference to Christians.--Our salvation is no small thing. It's what regenerates us -Something spiritually dead people desperately need-, it's what preserves us -saving us from death and God's righteous judgement-, and it's what will lead to our eventual glorification. Understanding our salvation matters, as we'll discover in the first part of today's message
The Apostle Peter wrote his letter to the church spread throughout Asia Minor, what now lies mostly in Turkey. Our brothers and sisters in the Lord, the Believers of the first century, faced many challenges that are really quite foreign to us. But we do share some things in common. For example, we all face troubled times.--Peter begins with a greeting that demonstrates just how rich the Word of God can be. In just a few sentences, he describes 5 glorious realities of our salvation. We covered the first three last week and today we'll discover two more as we listen to the last half of today's message
Pastor Pierre Rosa begins his preaching through the book of 1 Peter in the New Testament. In some ways, this is a book of practical application of the lessons learned from Esther.--The Apostle Peter wrote his letter to the church spread throughout Asia Minor, what now lies mostly in Turkey. Our brothers and sisters in the Lord, the Believers of the first century, faced many challenges that are really quite foreign to us. But we do share some things in common. For example, we all face troubled times.--Peter begins with a greeting that demonstrates just how rich the Word of God can be. In just a few sentences establishing his authorship and credentials, he describes 5 glorious realities of our salvation.
The story of Esther never mentions God by name. But God is there at every twist and turn. And God is using the lives of Esther and Mordecai - and Haman and King Xerxes - to demonstrate His character. How else would we see God's faithfulness if life didn't challenge the promises of God to protect and preserve His people----That means of course, that Believers should expect to face hard times - but never to face them alone. And while the difficulties of life might take our possessions, our loved ones, and even our lives at some point, God's promises and His faithfulness will never leave us
As the story of Esther is drawing to a close, we see God tying up loose ends. Esther and Mordecai are saved from death and shown great favor from the King. Haman is rewarded for his sinister plotting by losing everything, including his life. And the people of God, the Jews in Persia are given the right to defend themselves from any attack that might come from antisemitic aggressors.--There are clear lessons we might gather from this, but then again, there are some lessons that might slip by the casual observer. Today, we'll finish uncovering 5 aspects of God's Providence in these last events. They remind us that nothing escapes God's control and that we have a role in God's sovereign plans
As the story of Esther is drawing to a close, we see God tying up loose ends. Esther and Mordecai are saved from death and shown great favor from the King. Haman is rewarded for his sinister plotting by losing everything, including his life. And the people of God, the Jews in Persia are given the right to defend themselves from any attack that might come from antisemitic aggressors.--There are clear lessons we might gather from this, but then again, there are some lessons that might slip by the casual observer. Today, we'll start to uncover 5 aspects of God's Providence in these last events. They remind us that nothing escapes God's control and that we have a role in God's sovereign plans
Decisions, active or passive, affect our lives every day. The decisions you make, the decisions others make, they channel our lives towards certain outcomes. That can leave us feeling helpless at times, particularly when the bad decisions of others negatively impact our prosperity or peace.--But in the story Esther God reminds us that He is behind the scenes determining human decisions - not making them, but providentially guiding the affairs of creation. And since He is a good God, Believers can take great comfort in knowing human decisions are not arbitrary
The antagonist of the story, Haman, the man that set out to destroy the Jews through ruthless genocide, has failed in his mission and in fact, the tables have turned so much now, that he is the target of destruction. He's lost his position and after appearing to attack Queen Esther, he's going to lose his life.--God was not surprised by this turn of events. His providence allowed every action to work towards His sovereign plan. It demonstrates God's faithful and the power of His character, and it shows us just how to behave toward and support God's chosen people
The story of Esther is reaching its climax and the plot twists are reversing the fortunes of many key characters. Haman, who appeared to be rising in triumph, is now plummeting to his doom. And Mordecai and the Jews, who were to be the target of ruthless genocide are finding their vindication. But just as important, God's sovereignty is on display. His plans will not be thwarted.--This brings us comfort in several ways, but particularly in the fact that God's promises are trustworthy. Even when it appears all is lost and there's no way out, God always comes through and proves Himself to be faithful, as we'll see in today's message from Pastor Pierre.
We've already noted some unique features in this story. For example, it's surprising that God's name is never mentioned, though He's clearly at work in every detail. And prayer is not specifically mentioned, though the practice of fasting among the Jews is closely tied to prayer.--We'll learn about one other person that's not mentioned in this Old Testament book, and we'll be reminded that God's promises are sure. No one will make God a liar. And that should make every believer less anxious, even when we encounter truly anxiety inducing circumstances. God will see us through.
Nobody likes to be overlooked. It makes our indignation boil over and stirs us to demand what rightly belongs to us- We crave the position or prize we have earned - to the point that this outrage can eat us alive and make us bitter beyond belief.--Today we'll be reminded that God is the ultimate rewarded and that proper recognition for our actions will come - though not necessarily on this earth.
Understanding God's providence can really change our perspective on life. Instead of dreading the future and worrying about decisions, we can rest in the knowledge that God's will is going to prevail. We still need to make good decisions and live according to biblical principles, but no matter what besets us, we can trust God is at work in all circumstances.--Last week we learned how God tames temperaments and alleviates anxiety. We'll discover two more aspects of God behind the scenes in human determination as we listen to the second half of today's message from Pastor Pierre.
Throughout this study of Esther, we've come to understand that God is not absent, God is not unaware, God is not distracted while we go through troubles and trials. God is, in fact, very much present and deeply involved in our situations - not just at the macro level, of kings and governments, but personally involved in our lives.--Today we'll see again that our God is a tender God that both moves us to action, but also bothers to comfort us - all to accomplish His will. That gives us great assurance that we can rely on God's promises in His Word, as we'll discover as we listen to the first part of today's message from Pastor Pierre.
We left off last week talking about miracles. A lot of things get called miracles. And a lot of people demand miracles to solve their problems. But, other than salvation - where a spiritually dead person is miraculously brought to life by the Holy Spirit - miracles are very rare occurrences.--Instead, God gives us simple rules and principles to live by. And those are often His preferred method to solving our problems. But regardless of what calamity befalls us, God wants to use these trials to build our spiritual muscles, as we'll learn in the second half of today's message from Pastor Pierre.
No one likes a crisis. They cause us stress, shake our confidence, and often bring heartache and suffering. But crises have been with us since the Fall in the Garden of Eden.--Here's the good news- God uses crises to help us grow our spiritual muscles. God uses crises to equip us to help others when they encounter hardship. And God uses crises to remind us that we need Him and His help to survive in this broken world.
t's pretty clear to everyone, as a matter of conscience, that antisemitism isn't a good thing - or an acceptable position. Yet, antisemitism exists. The source of that bitterness and evil is ancient. It goes all the way back to the Garden of Eden. And the sponsor of that evil is also ancient - it's Satan himself.--What foils every plot and wrecks every attempt to annihilate the Jews is one simple promise. That promise comes from the God of the universe, who never lies and never fails to keep His promises.
The story of Esther is short and simple, but it drives home the same message- God is in control - even if we can't see Him in action. We've already watched God behind the scenes in human conduct, and human culture. Today we'll see God behind the scenes in human corruption.--At every step, the Bible uses irony to emphasize that people's small view of history is no match for God's view from the eternal present. God is not the author of evil, but He will not let evil thwart His will. In fact, He uses it to demonstrate His sovereignty.
If you've been a human for any length of time you know we like to see ourselves in the extremes. We're either the best thing since sliced bread and God is lucky to have us on His side - or we -rightly- see the flaws in our character and desires and understand how truly broken we are. From that perspective, we can range from total amazement to that God would save us and use us for His glory, to doubt even God could us someone so messed up.-But the story of Esther reminds us that God accomplishes His will in spite of our flaws and not because of them. He turns our disasters into examples of His grace. That should give us all hope.
The story of Esther worried the early church and even some more recent theologians. How could a book of the Bible not mention God by name-- And also, how can a book of the Bible - God's holy Word - contain such spicy content and negative examples----God inspired this record of real events, and He also inspired the author to write it just as he did to remind us that a silent God is not an absent God. And more importantly, God is faithful at all times, even when we can't see the final outcome. Those fact make life today worth living too.
To understand what God is doing in the story of Esther, there's a bit of prologue and a lot of history and setting that needs to be covered. God promised to protect and preserve His chosen people, but thanks to their disobedience, they are now in captivity.--What God wants us to know from this story is that He is sovereign, and He keeps His promises. And what's important for us - even today - is to know that a silent God doesn't mean an absent God. His providence will prevail in spite of our circumstances.
We start a new book of the Bible today and we're in the first part of the Bible called the Old Testament. Pastor Pierre Rosa is beginning his preaching through the book of Esther.--The story of Esther is filled with drama, but it's also filled with hope for believers, who will be reminded that God is sovereign - meaning nothing escapes His control and will. God's name isn't even mentioned in Esther, but we will see - from the very beginning - that He is at work, in the affairs of man and the affairs of state, to accomplish His purposes and prove His faithfulness.--Today's message will be filled with context and details to help set the stage for the main story line, but even in the first 9 verses, we learn much about our great God.
This is where I would usually say, -Pastor Pierre Rosa is continuing his preaching from the book of Matthew- but we reached the end of the Matthew series last week- This is a huge milestone - the product of God's boundless grace, and countless hours of study and preparation by Pastor Pierre.--So rather than just rush on to the next book of the Bible, we thought it would be good to pause a bit and savor the moment. Today, we'll look back on the many highlights of the Gospel of Matthew and talk a bit about what God taught us through this study. I think you'll enjoy the conversation.
If you've ever wondered why you're alive - why you exist - then you're human. God put this sense of eternity in our hearts and that always leads us to wonder about our place in creation. The good news is that the Bible, in fact, Jesus Himself, gives us that answer.--And our mission, as believers, is very clear.--So, as we'll see, what remains for us is to decide if we're really followers of Christ or just admirers of Christ. Are we obedient servants to the God that saved us, or just sympathetic rebels with no hope of eternal life--
The scene we just left was Jesus, buried in a tomb. Praise God that's not where the story ends. No, if He had remained there, He would have been a martyr, He might have been a wise man to admire, but He wouldn't have been the Son of God.--The apostle Paul tells us that God authenticated Jesus as His Son by resurrecting Him from the dead and that's what we'll study today - the scene of the resurrection. It changes everything about how we face today.
Easter is never celebrated with the same enthusiasm as Christmas - and that's not much of a surprise. Christmas is full of lights and candles, gifts, and if you include Jesus, He's a little baby in a manger - not bothering us or confronting our sin at all.--But Easter is the pivot point of history. It's Easter, with its suffering, death, and glorious resurrection, that makes new life possible.--Today, Pastor Pierre Rosa reminds us of his favorite phrase in the Bible- But God---The before and after picture is quite stark. All was lost, but God stepped in to save us. And that's why we should treasure Easter above all other events.
The story of Christ's death is often rushed through - so we can get to the good part- the resurrection. But if we move too quickly, we miss important lessons from these events.--Today for example, we'll stop and watch the process surrounding the burial of Christ. Far from trivial, we'll see God at work, each step of the way. And God means to show us this, if we'll just pay attention. And when we do, we'll witness a God that not only care about the big stuff, but who also cares about our little, insignificant worries and griefs as well.
We've reached the crucifixion of Jesus. This bloody and horrific scene is at the center point of history. It's where redemption occurred and humanity - cursed by sin - found hope in God's Son.--In this third and final message on this event, we witness the last moments before Christ's death. We are amazed that Jesus is still able to speak. We hear the reaction of doubters nearby. And then we see what appears to be the end of Jesus.
We've reached the crucifixion of Jesus. This bloody and horrific scene is at the center point of history. It's where redemption occurred and humanity - cursed by sin - found hope in God's Son.--In this second message on this event, we see the unmasked heart of humanity. We see the passersby - that only days earlier had hailed Jesus as their King - now ridiculing Him and mocking Him.--And we hear the men of the Sanhedrin, openly questioning His divinity and missing the whole reason Jesus was on the cross.--We'll be reminded today that we also have the example of the thieves on the cross and we all must choose which example to follow - as we listen to today's message.
The trials are now over, the betrayals, and the denials are done - we've reached the crucifixion of Jesus. This bloody and horrific scene it the center point of history. It's where redemption occurred and humanity - cursed by sin - found hope in God's Son.--But why did it have to happen-- Why did Jesus have to suffer like this-- What can we learn from these gruesome details----Well, it seems we can learn a lot, since it will take us several weeks to cover this event. But it's worth it, because it's Christ's sacrifice that makes sinners clean and able to avoid the righteous judgement of a holy God, as we'll learn from today's message
We're following Jesus through the Roman phase of the various trials before the crucifixion. Last week, Pastor examined the first five observations or stages of the trial.--This week, we pick up where we left off and learn four more parts of the trial that conclude the Roman process. They reveal God's grace in a way you might not expect. But let's not lose focus of Pilate.--Pilate is put is a difficult position, to be sure, but not one that's impossible to sort through. He continues to be an example of how every person must confront the truth about Jesus and he's an example of what NOT to do.
Matthew follows Jesus through the various trials on the night before the crucifixion, starting with the Jewish trial, which was a farce of injustice and fake indignation. Now Jesus is presented to the Romans government, so they can legally pronounce a death sentence on Jesus.--This first part of the Roman trial is led by Pilate, though he tries to drag Herod into the mix. Pilate is a man in a precarious position - trying to please everyone and still keep the peace. He's confronted with the obvious truth about Jesus and still he drops the ball. He's an example of how every person must confront the truth about Jesus and he's an example of what NOT to do.
After detailing much about the last hours of Christ before the crucifixion, Matthew takes a moment to tie up one loose end- what about Judas----Judas had been a follower of Christ, and yet he had become His betrayer. What happened to him then-- We're learn about that today, but we'll also see God's great love and mercy as He uses Judas and the religious leaders to shout the warning - Don't repeat their mistakes and think that you can reach heaven without saving faith. There's a big difference between saving and failing faith.
We're witnessing one of the more famous scenes from the passion narrative of Christ. Peter denies Christ in spite of his promise never to do so. Peter's failure was predicted by Christ and it's the kind of cowardice that should feel familiar, since most Christians have failed Jesus in this very same way.--We learned last week about the spiral of spiritual pride that starts with the Deception of Self-Confidence. Now we'll see the Defiance of the Self-Sufficient and the Desperation of the Self-Reliant, in hopes we can avoid Peter's mistakes and avoid the downward spiral of sin.
We're about to witness one of the more famous scenes from the passion narrative of Christ. It's a scene of failure and denial, that should break our hearts. One of Jesus' closest followers - a man ready to take up arms just hours earlier - now pretends he doesn't even know Jesus. Peter's failure was predicted by Christ and it's the kind of cowardice that should feel familiar, since most Christians have failed Jesus in this very same way.--We'll see the triumph and redemption that comes Peter's way later, but we shouldn't miss this opportunity to avoid Peter's mistakes and avoid the downward spiral of sin.
Matthew is describing the last few hours before the crucifixion. After Jesus was arrested, He endured a series of trials - some before Jewish authorities and some before the Romans. The Jewish trial we'll learn about today was especially tragic. These men knew the law concerning trials. They knew the rules that were set up to protect the innocent and punish the guilty. And they knew the prophecies concerning the Messiah - they claimed to be looking for the Messiah.--And yet, they skipped over the rules, bypassed justice, and rushed headlong to condemn Jesus to the cross. They will be called to account for this one day, but Believers are the beneficiaries of God's sovereign grace and His permitting this to occur.
Matthew is describing the last few hours before the crucifixion. After leaving the upper room, Jesus and the disciples go to the Garden of Gethsemane. Here, the disciples fail Him. They can't even stay awake while Jesus prays. Then Judas completes his betrayal and hands Jesus over to the authorities. And Peter fails Jesus by trying to save the Savior---And finally, all of the remaining disciples abandon Jesus. But God is not surprised, and God has a plan that makes all of this disappointment a triumph of redemption-
Matthew is describing the last few hours before the crucifixion. After leaving the upper room, Jesus and the disciples go to the Garden of Gethsemane. The name of the garden literally means -oil press- which is fitting, given that Jesus would show just how much stress He was under at this point.--What we also find here are three principles about prayer, lived out by the God who hears our prayers. And we learn about the heart of Christ - the Savior so often disappointed by His disciples but who kept loving them and kept calling them His own. We can draw great comfort from the fact that He still loves His followers that way.
Matthew is describing the last few hours before the crucifixion. After leaving the upper room, Jesus and the disciples go to the Garden of Gethsemane. The name of the garden literally means -oil press- which is fitting, given that Jesus would show just how much stress He was under at this point.--Jesus asks His disciples - His closest friends - to share this time with Him. Even now, Jesus has important lessons to teach the future leaders of His Church. And while they join Him, they do little to comfort Him - if fact, they mostly disappoint. He knew that would happen and still He showed kindness, love, and compassion - just like He does for His followers today.
Our world has never been more confused about the truth. And the pressures put on people that claim to follow Christ - who is the way, the Truth, and the life - are returning to more like what Christians experienced in the first century.--It's worth it then to listen to the reminder from Jesus, that we find in this passage from Matthew's gospel, and remember just how easy it is to become spiritually prideful and assume we will never deny Christ. The fact is, we deny Christ quite often. Even as believers, we need help to be a faithful follower.
Just three verses to cover, but so much to learn.--The subject of communion isn't talked about much. The mode and method are settled in most churches and so the matter is left alone with little discussion. We just do it without much thought.--But it's worth remembering the origin of this practice. And since Jesus Himself commissioned communion, we can be sure it matters. So why do we celebrate communion-- And what does it all mean--
We're taking a break from our normal sermon series to concentrate on Christmas. Christmas has become a colossal event, triggering billions of dollars in sales, extraordinary decorations and holiday festivities of every kind.-But the real purpose of Christmas is to celebrate the greatest gift ever given - God came to dwell with His people. We call this the incarnation of Christ, and it reveals four of God's incredible attributes -among many-.
We're on the road to the cross now. There are stops along the way, like the one we're about to study, but at each stop and at every turn, we see Christ - the King of kings and Lord of lords, set the standard for Christian living. He shows love, He's kind to His betrayer, He humbles Himself, and He follows the will of the Father. It is the grace of God on display.-The challenge for us is to decide- What will we do with Christ-- Is He Savior or just another teacher-- Is He Messiah or just another martyr-- Your decision will decide your eternity.
We've finished the didactic or teaching portions of the book of Matthew. Now, we'll watch Jesus go to the cross. And on the way, we learn so much more about our great God and Savior. -In this passage, we'll grapple with the interaction of two principles- free will, and the sovereignty of God. Standing alone, each idea is pretty easy to explain and accept. But can the two exist together-- This question has been hotly debated for centuries, but there's another - even more important question, that we'll find in today's scripture- Where is the best place in life--
In today's passage, Jesus reveals more about the final judgement, and He offers stark contrasts throughout. This judgement will not be one of degrees. There will be those who are declared righteous, because they have put their trust in Jesus for their salvation, and there will be those who are declared accursed, because they assumed they could earn their way to heaven or be saved by association with the church or other believers.-This message should be a wakeup call for everyone - believers and unbelievers alike. We all want to be ready for Christ's return, and He could come at any day.
In today's passage, we encounter the second of three parables Jesus tells to help the disciples understand what it will be like in the end times. The principles here are timeless so we should be paying attention. What we find in this story is the proper way to prioritize our lives and use our resources. -Consider how much that covers- If we take this seriously, we'll know what matters and we'll know where to invest our time, energy, and money. Of course, our human nature screams a different plan, but if we can follow the example we'll see today, we'll receive the best reward of all- God's blessing and approval.
No one wants to be left out or caught off guard. We all like to be prepared. But being prepared isn't something that happens automatically, so it's not uncommon for us to make choices that make life easier but leave us less than ready for what comes next. -As we'll learn from today's parable, when Jesus comes back to the earth, you want to be ready. You must be prepared for that day, because when He arrives, it will be too late to set things right. The Bible says it in both testaments- today is the day of salvation.
In today's passage Jesus explains the advantages of being a follower of Christ. It's not just that we have eternal life, we have peace in troubled times. And because the Bible tells us about God and what to expect in the future, we have the advantage of resting in God's promises and being ready for what lies ahead. -But Jesus also gives a stern warning to those that would disregard the Bible and the reality of the coming judgement. Those that choose to do so will face dire consequences.
Jesus has been answering the disciples' questions about the end times and we've been allowed to listen in. It matters to us because, given all we see going on around us, we can easily worry about our future, too. But the comfort Jesus gave His disciples - the future leaders of His church - is just as comforting to us. -God has a redemption plan for His creation. It's ends in judgement, but it's preceded with grace upon grace upon grace, as He patiently offers us salvation. And once we're a redeemed child of God, nothing can separate us from His love.
We've been learning from Jesus what will happen in the last days. It's not a pretty picture. After the rapture, there will be a time of temporary world-wide peace, but it will be followed by horrible persecution and judgment on the earth. -Yet, in all this we find comfort and hope - God's faithfulness remains true and constant. And His compassion remains on display, even when it's accompanied by His holy judgement. So, no matter what we're going through, we can rely on God's promises and know that we have the hope of future glory with Him.
We've been learning from Jesus what will happen in the last days - in the end times just before Christ triumphal return to the earth. It's not a pretty picture. And while there are certainly similarities to our current age and what's happening in our country, world and culture, there are even worse times ahead - unprecedented carnage, persecution and destruction. -In all this we find comfort - God's compassion remains on display, even when it's accompanied by His holy judgement, and that should encourage us to reflect His compassion and tell others about the good news of salvation.
Last week we looked at 5 signs of the end times. But there are two more that appear in Jesus' description of the end times. The disciples needed to hear this because their mission - to spread the Gospel to the whole world, was about to commence. They need to know, and we too need to know - that God has a sovereign plan, that He's in control, and that we can trust Him for the end result. That's why Believers can see what's happening around them and even be persecuted and killed for their faith and still find peace.
When you look at our world and all that's going on - culturally, politically, and spiritually - Christians have to ask, -Is this it-- Is this the end of the world--- The disciples asked that of Jesus 2,000 years ago- And things aren't really any better.--Jesus gives us a disturbing yet strangely calming explanation- God's got this under control, and we aren't to the end yet. There's more evil, and more corruption to come. And when the end does come, it will be like nothing ever seen on the earth. And so we wait and watch for the signs of His coming - five of which Pastor will cover today and two more next week.
The disciples of Jesus had a lot of questions at this point in the narrative. They grew concerned - even nervous - about what was coming next. It wasn't the kingdom they imagined.--What Jesus told them was just enough - just enough detail to assure them that there was a plan, set out by God, and that they had nothing to fear. God's sovereign plans would prevail. We're faced with similar challenges, and we too are asked to trust that God's plans are good, and they will prevail in the end.
This portion of the gospel is one long lecture to the religious leaders of Jesus' time. They think they are righteous and destined for heaven, but Jesus clarifies and mourns over their blindness and hypocrisy. They aren't leading anyone to heaven - in fact they are leading their followers to hell.--As He reaches the end of his lament, Jesus reminds us of the crucial truths surrounding God's redemption plan. They are not easy truths at all. But they are the realities that lead to hope and eternal life.
Last week we learned that one of the themes of the New Testament is becoming more like Christ - we want to be imitators of our Savior's character, love, and fidelity. Jesus had something to say about this in today's passage. He offers practical steps toward a Christ-filled life.--Of utmost importance is possessing true salvation, genuine conversion and authentic devotion. This is just one way to describe the discipleship process, but it's also true discipleship that leads to true Christlikeness. Today we get four more steps that turn woeful wannabees into Christ-like believers.
One of the themes of the New Testament is becoming more like Christ - we want to be imitators of our Savior's character, love, and fidelity. Jesus has something to say about this in today's passage. He offers three steps toward a Christ-filled life.--Of utmost importance is possessing true salvation, because it's from that foundation that you can have genuine conversion and go on to practice authentic devotion. This is just one way to describe the discipleship process, but it's also true discipleship that leads to true Christlikeness.
It's leadership training time. Jesus has lessons for anyone that desire to be an effective spiritual leader and that turns out to apply to any believer alive on the earth. Every believer reflects the spiritual light of Christ in a dark world that's desperate for truth and forgiveness. That makes us leaders.--So, to lead well, we need to discard a few things and develop a few things. And in doing so, we'll become more reflective of the great God that saved us.
It's nice to have something complex distilled down to something simple. Give it to me in a nutshell, you might say, with the idea being that the essentials have been extracted and presented in a clear and concise way.--Jesus does that for the Pharisees in today's passage. They've made life and living by the law an impossibly complex task. Then, almost without knowing it, they get God's law in a nutshell. All the complexity boiled down into a two-fold strategy for spiritual growth. It was true then and it's true today - these are words to live by.
In today's passage, the Sadducees decide that it's their turn to try to trap Jesus. They tell a strange tale of a family -it's implied this family was known to them personally- and ask Jesus to explain how they would be related after the resurrection. Given their dismissal of all things supernatural and particularly the resurrection, this was quite ironic.--Of course, Jesus noted both the irony and the trap in their questions, so instead of answering them directly, He pointed out just how dangerous biblical ignorance can be. As we'll see, it leads to terrible mistakes that jeopardize our eternal future, so this merits our close attention as well.
The religious leaders of Jesus' time - the Pharisees and the Sadducees - had failed to control Jesus or wow Him with their knowledge and position. In fact, they'd lost every verbal sparring match up to this point in the Gospels. They decided to send in their B-team along with their political rivals, the Herodians, with a loaded question- What about taxes, Jesus-- Either answer, for or against, would have set Jesus at odds with half the group.--Of course, Jesus was never surprised by their tactics and masterfully taught them - and us - valuable lessons rather than fall into their trap - lessons about government and God's sovereignty which are helpful to this very day.
Jesus tells another parable now, that sheds insight into many areas of the Kingdom of God. The parable is simple in nature, though the idea of a king and a summons-style invitation may be foreign to us.--But the story behind the story is the glimpse at God's character - His kindness, His mercy, His holiness, and His grace. These traits all demand a response - and our response will determine our eternal destiny.
When Jesus was here on the earth, He faced many challenges. One of the most heartbreaking was the fact that the people of Israel - God's chosen people - gradually rejected His teachings. If this were just another man teaching people to live upright lives, that would be one thing. But this is the Son of God, the Creator, coming to rescue His creation from the judgement they deserved. And their response was to crucify Him.--To be honest, that's our response too, until the Holy Spirit softens our hearts and convicts us of our need for Christ. But today, we'll discover four traps that leave people headed for eternal judgements. You'll want to avoid these traps at all cost.
Since the garden of Eden, people have claimed that their good works, their religious affiliation, their personal kindness, or even their spotless rap sheet will be enough to save them. And if that failed, they just claimed they didn't need saving.--But when Jesus confronts the religious leaders of the day, He makes it clear that there is only one way to be saved. Jesus declares - once and for all - what the entire Old Testament period was meant to prove- salvation is not possible outside of the Messiah. Jesus is that Messiah, and He came to the earth to demonstrate His authority to save and His exclusive ability to grant access to the Kingdom of Heaven.
Christians often express a desire to -do God's will.- It's the right response to a God that has done everything to save us- But almost as often, Christians will express the concern that they just don't know what God's will is for their life- But Scripture is clear about God's will - we just need to pay attention and stop trying to negotiate the plan with God.--Today, we'll discover just one of the ways God clearly tells us what His perfect will is for our lives. His desire is for productive, prayerful followers. And when we accept that as God's will, even the most difficult passages of life will take on new purpose and meaning.
The word Christian literally means -little Christs- but that might be misleading. Christians don't become God. What the title really means is that Christians are copies of Christ, not just followers but imitators of Christ. So true followers of Christ reflect His character with the help and sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit.--Today we'll discover four character traits of Jesus that we must reproduce is we dare to claim to be Christ-followers, because If we have no interest in these traits, then we have no interest in Jesus
If you're familiar with the church calendar, the Sunday before Easter is called Palm Sunday - named for the palm branches waved in praise and placed as an ancient form of -red carpet- before Jesus. On that day, Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem to shouts of worship and honor - and just a few days later, those same people called for His crucifixion.--There are lessons to be learned here, from the donkey, the disciples, and from the people who were devoted followers of Jesus until He failed to overthrow the Romans. And the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy should encourage us to trust in the future God predicts in His Word.
It would be wrong to ignore or hide the holy character of God - the justice of a God that knows no sin or fault and rightly judges those that reject Him. But it would be equally wrong to forget about His compassion - the empathy and love God has for His creation.--In today's passage we'll see how quick people are to ignore the plight of their fellow humans, and how tender God's heart is for those that are broken and in need. That should make all of us that are so often in need desire even more to trust and worship such a good God.
The desire for position and preference is really a thirst for safety and security. We want to be the boss so we can determine our future and hopefully avoid the hard times or difficult outcomes. But this is just man's prideful attempt to gain glory without suffering.--God's perfect plan is different. He determines that suffering comes before glory and that glory, position and honor are His to bestow on His children. That's hard to accept unless you are a believer and you've come to know just how good and trustworthy God is
Equality and inclusion are important concepts. Equal justice under the law, and inclusion of minority views and opinions are foundational principles in American society. But today, these words have taken on new meanings and they've become wedge issues that seem to be tearing us apart.--In Matthew, Jesus reveals God's perspective on equality and inclusion and reminds us that He is the only one qualified to determine who it is that will be saved. No human notion of fairness or justice counts. So we need to listen to what Jesus says or risk being excluded from the kingdom of God.
Believers make trade-offs when they accept Christ. It's a worthwhile trade and we are by far the beneficiaries in the exchange. But when times are tough and sadness or trials engulf us, it can be hard to remember what God has promised for His children.--In this portion of scripture, Jesus reminds us the power of God to redeem spiritually dead people, and His power to recompense or compensate Believers. We have rewards - not just in heaven - but here on earth as well. And that should be both a comfort and a reason for rejoicing - no matter what our circumstances.
There may be times when you wonder, just what is the difference between true biblical Christianity and all of the other religions in the world. There certainly are plenty of other religions out there.--Jesus answers that question when he meets a rich young ruler - a devoted follower of the Jewish faith - but nevertheless, a man desperately in need of salvation. Jesus contrasts his failing faith with true saving faith - and by using His standards, we can easily tell the difference between Christianity and everything else.
In this passage, Jesus is asked about marriage and divorce, and He reveals the truth about marriage and its high place in God's economy. That was all part of last week's message. Marriage is a gift from God.--This week, in part two of Pastor's message, we will hear about the limited sanctions God allows for divorce. And we'll also learn about the gift of singleness - something you might not imagine calling a gift. But God chooses our circumstances and uses them all for His glory.
In this passage, Jesus is asked about marriage and divorce. The goal of the question isn't to gain insight or knowledge but to trap Jesus between a rock and a hard place.--Of course, Jesus isn't trapped at all. Instead, He reveals the truth about marriage and its high place in God's economy. Pastor will cover the question of divorce next week, but in this message, we'll discover the gift that marriage represents and just exactly how God has designed it to be a blessing. It's so much better than our culture's version.
We've all be hurt by someone we loved. We've all be caught been surprised when someone we considered an ally turned on us or opposed us. What comes next reveals our human nature - our sin nature - because our natural tendency is to mark down the offense, to tell others about our hurt and nurture it until it's a monument to the occasion.--Jesus has a higher standard. We, after all, offended God from the start and we, after all, have been offered forgiveness for a debt we can't pay. So why can't we extend forgiveness like that to others--
The topic of Church discipline can create tremendous fear - as believers dread the possible outcomes of confronting a brother or sister in Christ. But the methodology Jesus prescribes is clear from Mathew 18- Private Exhortation -described in verse 15-, Proper Corroboration -from verse 16-, Pastoral Consultation -verse 17-, and when all else fails, Peaceful Separation.
Today's passage covers what is commonly called church discipline. I don't know why that gets people so nervous or upset, but something about discipline makes us very uncomfortable. Yet we've all been around people that lack discipline and make shipwreck of their lives. And if that person is a friend or family member, it's hard not to wish someone had stepped in and warned them of the dangers they faced by living that way.--The process of church discipline is hard, but as we'll discover, it's worth the effort to follow God's plan for His Church.
This portion of Matthew is filled with the teachings of Jesus Christ. Among the many topics He covers, Jesus took the time to explain His value system for interpersonal relationships. Today we're going to hear about the kind of care Jesus - the Good Shepherd - has for His flock, and the kind of relationship that should exist between the sheep of His flock. It's the opposite of our instincts but it's the ideal to which we should aspire.
we'll break in here for just a moment to remind you that you're listening to Truth with Grace. We're departing from our usual format today to bring you a rebroadcast of an interview Pastor Pierre recently had with Brian Thomas from the Discerning the Times podcast - a ministry of Blessings to Israel. If you're curious about the end times and if you're noticing all the crazy things going on in the world around you, you'll want to get a copy of Pastor's book - and we'll have more information on how to do that in just a moment as we return to this special program.
Pastor Pierre Rosa is continuing his preaching through the Gospel of Matthew - today we're starting Chapter 18--Humility is a tough sell. We like it when others act humbly towards us, but we often admire the proud and the powerful - the people that get their way no matter what and achieve their goals by hook or by crook---Jesus confronts his disciples when they descend into bickering about their own personal greatness. Jesus has a whole different view of what makes a person great in the Kingdom of Heaven, and it's not the order we prefer - but it is the order that matters
The scene recorded here is unique among the Gospels. But the history and background of the author tells us why he would include this when the others did not see the point. Matthew was a tax collector by trade - a para-governmental official. He saw the way governments worked and, guided by the holy spirit, knew it was important that Christians understand authority and government.--Today, we'll grapple with the biblical view of government and test our own willingness to allow God to be sovereign in our world, even when we don't understand it.
In this passage we encounter a tragic scene - a father, forced to watch his son tormented by demons for years. But there's a second tragedy here - the disciples, empowered by Jesus to drive out demons and heal the sick, but unable to succeed in this case. Why is that- And more broadly, why do we experience failure in ministry - even with a lot of good intentions and hard work---Jesus uses this as a teaching moment, as He often did, and He explains where the disciples got it wrong and how ministry is to be accomplished. Once again, we have much to learn from these few verses of God's Word.
Jesus had just told the disciples about his purpose on the earth - dying on the cross to redeem humanity. That idea was hard for them to grasp - and while it was still rattling around in their heads, Jesus took James, John and Peter up to the top of a mountain for -a foretaste of glory divine.- They would witness exactly what Jesus had just predicted- a glorified Christ.--As Jesus revealed his deity, he assured believers - then and now - that we too would share in that coming glory, but almost always after suffering. That's not our preference, but it should give us hope and a reason to remain faithful in spite of hardship and trials.
Jesus had many followers during His time on the earth. Some stayed with him from the beginning. Others came and went when His preaching got hard, or the criticism from religious leaders or even family and friends became too pointed.--The real moment of truth came when Jesus made it perfectly clear that He come to this earth to die - not to defeat the Romans. That wasn't the popular view of the Messiah's mission. Even today, some would try to remove the cross from Christianity to make it neat or cleaner or to make it fit their view of God. But crossless Christianity is no Christianity at all.
How easy to you find it to trust a promise- Well, if the promise comes from God - that's the best guarantee in the universe.--Today, we're hear Jesus promise several things about His church. In particular, He'll promise that His church will never die. That's great news for anyone who's discouraged by where they are in a church's life cycle. And it's such a relief to learn that the church is God's to build and populate. That really takes the pressure off and it helps us return to our true mission - spreading the good news of the Gospel.
This section of Matthew is important - important enough, that it's mentioned in all 4 gospels - in Mark 8, Luke 9 and John 6. The point at issue here is WHO Jesus is. It makes a huge difference, because if Jesus is just a nice man, a great teacher, or an ancient philosopher with things to say that still apply today, then we are still in need of a savior.--But if Jesus is who He says He is - then God has come to rescue us and we have hope for the future.
There are many self-help books out there that claim to have the answers for personal growth. Sadly, self-help is the clue that these authors don't understand what it takes to change the human heart.--In today's passage, Jesus offers direct insight into what might hinder our growth. First off, we have to have a transformed heart, but even then, we need clear guidance to prevent the natural barriers to real spiritual growth. God Word gives that guidance - if we'll simply pay attention.
The world has been plagued with every kind of hatred since Adam and Eve sinned. There's open, bitter hostility - that's easy to spot, but there's also a kind of dismissal - the condescending assessment that others - particularly others that don't look like us, or sound like us, or vote like us, are obviously not as good as us---God has such a different view. He sees people - all people - as His creation. And He sees their needs and cares. We'll see that today and be challenged to have the same attitude towards people that Jesus did.
Faith is another one of those terms that has gotten confused in our language. It's commonly used now to describe a fervent hope in something that's not realistic or likely. In the Bible, faith is a term that means acceptance of what God says and promises without requiring all the details. Today, we'll see an example of faith in action - when a Canaanite woman accepts the Messiah for who He is and not only doesn't require the details - she refuses to be dissaded from her goal of finding the help she needs from the only one that supply that need - Jesus Christ. She sets the example for us all.
Everybody wants to look good and sound good to those around them. There's nothing particularly wrong with that. But where things go terribly wrong is when we forget the interior life - the spiritual core of our being - is what God is most concerned with.--God has a clear diagnosis for the problems that plague humanity, and He also has a clear solution. But as we'll hear today, we typically focus on the outward appearance and ignore what really matters - heart transformation.
Traditions can be wonderful things - giving us a sense of continuity and serving as consistent reminders of what it important. Traditions mark the passing of time by being timeless and connect one generation with the next as we repeat the same celebrations, practices, or actions.--But traditions can not - they MUST not take precedence over Scripture. God's Word is the guiding rule for our faith and practice. And that's what we'll learn about today - including how we can show true devotion to God.
How you view Christ might seem like a trivial matter. Who cares what you think of Him- But if you're a believer - if you've placed your trust in Christ for your eternal salvation - then it matters a great deal. And whether you like it or not - your Christology -you're understanding of who Christ is, His nature and character- is often on display - for the whole world to see.--Just encounter trouble - a storm of life - and you'll find out right away what you think of Christ and His power of circumstances, His ability to keep His promises, and His testimony as to who He is in the Bible.
Our world is more confused about the idea of love than ever before. We can be heard to say we love chocolate, pets and people - sometimes in the same sentence and often with the same intensity. It's an abstract concept that varies widely.--But, the Bible offers us a concrete view of love. In fact, the Bible says that God IS love, and that's what we'll witness today, as Jesus demonstrates His love for people and focuses His attention on their needs, rather than His own, unlike any king ever known.
The Bible contains many portraits of leadership. Some are very good examples- others are not. That can make people uncomfortable - when they find a bad example in the Bible, but God is unapologetic about showing the flaws and the frailties of fallen humanity. They help us all understand just how broken we are, and they should help us drop the fa-ade that we have it all put together.--Today, we'll see a stark contrast between bad leadership and good, and we'll come face-to-face with the question- what kind of leader do I want to be-
Matthew has spent much of this chapter recounting some of the parables Jesus told to his followers. Now he concludes with a kind of epilogue, as it were, describing just how His teachings were received.--Sadly, there are many parallels between how the city of Nazareth responded to Jesus - even though He was born and raised there - and how our present culture responds to Christ. As we'll discover from today's message, unbelief after so much evidence leads to moral decay and corruption and eventually condemnation for eternity.
This chapter of Matthew contains several parables - all stacked together to communicate important truths about the Kingdom of Heaven. We've already looked at the Parable of the Sower, the Parable of the Weeds, the Parable of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast. Today we'll cover three more short parables - which are parallel in their meaning and explanation.--Jesus will ask us to examine just how highly we value our salvation - is it really the central feature of our transformed life- Our actions should demonstrate the truth.
This chapter of Matthew contains several parables - all stacked together to communicate important truths about the Kingdom of Heaven. We've already looked at the Parable of the Sower and the Parable of the Weeds. Today we'll cover two parables - which are parallel in their meaning and explanation.--When the days are dark and the culture war seems to be lost, it's easy to despair and wonder if the Church will survive. It may seem the borders of our influence, our headcounts, and our new converts are all in decline. And in some locations - that is surely accurate.--But in today's passage, we'll learn that God's kingdom - His church - has an unstoppable destiny and its expansion is inevitable. It should help us be patient and faithful, even as we wait for our Lord's return and the coming of His Millennial Kingdom.
You may have wondered - if you've attended a church for any length of time - why there are some people that bear fruit while others bear none- It might seem odd to you - that some people in your congregation are growing and being transformed by the Holy Spirit, while others just aren't. Today, Jesus will explain that phenomenon and He'll remind us of our primary role as workers in His field.--And it will beg the question - regardless of how good you act, are you good seed - destined for the barn, or bad seed headed for the furnace-
The parable of the Sower is not a hard story to understand. In fact, it's quite simple. But the truths it reveals are very deep. And just to be sure we get the exact meaning of the parable, Jesus offers the exact interpretation for us in this portion of Matthew.--Last week, Pastor unpacked the four realities of the kingdom of heaven. This week, we'll discover the 4 responses to the King - both of which reveal part of the Royal Mystery of God's plan for humanity.
The parable of the Sower is not a hard story to understand. In fact, it's quite simple. But the truths it reveals are very deep. And just to be sure we get the exact meaning of the parable, Jesus offers the exact interpretation for us in this portion of Matthew.--We'll break the interpretation into two parts. Today, Pastor will unpack the four realities of the kingdom of heaven and then next week we'll discover the 4 responses to the King - both of which reveal part of the Royal Mystery of God's plan for humanity.
God created humans to appreciate beauty, analogy, and stories as a way to communicate truth. Today, Jesus uses a parable - a story - to explain something important about the kingdom of heaven.--Some call this the parable of the seeds, but we'll stick with the name Jesus gave it- the parable of the sower. That's an apt name - not just because it was given by God Himself, but because today we'll learn why there are differences in response to Gospel - from the perspective of the Sower. We'll also learn who the sower is and find out - once again - just how blessed we are as Believers.
Today we'll be reminded that everybody has a family. A few of you may not know your biological family or be estranged from them, but they exist.--For most people, their family is known and it's a blessing, even if we don't think about that much. Yes, we all have a crazy uncle or sister-in-law that makes life interesting, but in the main, the family is truly a gift from God.--But there's a spiritual family that we should all want to join. The family of God is the place where we find everlasting peace, provision, and protection. And it's only believers - the adopted children of God - that will spend eternity with Him.
Today we'll be nearing the end of Chapter 12 and concluding a 4-part message series on the foes of the King - Jesus Christ.--Have you ever wondered - what is wrong with this world and why do people act the way they do- You're not alone. There are enormous social, political, environmental, and economic problems that plague our existence.--God has provided insights to our predicament in Scripture. There is a deep-rooted problem that has contaminated everything about this universe. There is also a solution, but mankind's fallen nature resists that solution - to its own peril.
In the passage we'll be studying from Chapter 12, we'll hear Jesus confront His foes and we'll learn the destiny of those opposed to Jesus.--Now, few people will bluntly state they are a foe or enemy of Jesus, but as we'll learn today, there is no middle ground. You either are his devoted follower - saved by His grace and work on the cross - or you are His enemy - destined for eternity apart from God. Your sinful heart makes saving yourself impossible.
In the passage we'll be studying from Chapter 12, we're confronted with the most important question of all time- just who is Jesus---There are always several options. But answering this question is key to determining where you will spend eternity. So, is Jesus just a man with good intentions and special abilities or is Jesus a diabolical liar, intent on deceiving the public for his own benefit- Or, is Jesus just who He claims to be - the son of God and God the Son-
In the passage we'll be studying from Chapter 12, we'll meet a group of people totally devoted to their religion - a religion based on God's law, but contaminated by human elaborations.--Sadly, these religious people were experts at their list of rules, but totally disinterested in human life and human suffering. The challenge for us is to remember that God has a matchless sense of compassion for humanity - a compassion that caused Him to act on our behalf. Our response - as followers of Christ - should be to demonstrate that same level of compassion.
Our culture has never been more confused about religion. Many people treat the matter like an all-you-can-eat buffet. They pick and choose what suites according to their current needs and desires.--And if you don't like what you find in the marketplace of religious, it's no problem. You just make up your own, borrowing your favorite ideas and practices.--Jesus was very clear on what true religion was, where it could be found, and how it was to be practiced. So, today we'll discover if you are truly religious or not.
The way people talk to each other reveals a lot - about their relationship and their priorities. So, when we get to the end of chapter 11 and we read Jesus' prayer to His Father, we should take note and learn from what transpires.--It's in these short verses, just 6 sentences, that we see the love Jesus has for the Father and for us. And we hear an invitation that should thrill our weary souls - an invitation Jesus has for you today.
Not everyone has heard about Jesus Christ. It's why we are called to share the Gospel with those around us and it's why we send missionaries around the world - to preach the good new of salvation to every people, nation and tongue. But everyone who has heard of Jesus has responded in some way.--Today, we'll learn about three responses to Jesus, ranging from fury to faith. And we'll hear, once again, that there's only one way to get to heaven. It matters because it will determine where you spend eternity.
Pastor Pierre Rosa is continuing his preaching through the Gospel of Matthew, and today we're in chapter 11.--There have been many self-proclaimed -Greats- in the history of our planet. Herod the Great, Alexander the Great, Peter the Great, Catherine the Great, and of course, we can't forget Mohamed Ali - even Jeopardy Champions - all considered the Greatest of all time. That kind of greatness is measured according to the world's standards. But what does God consider -great----Today, we'll discover a prophet plus - and a whole class of people greater than him- We'll learn that, not surprisingly, God's idea of great is quite unique from ours.
Pastor Pierre Rosa is continuing his preaching through the Gospel of Matthew, and today we're finishing up with chapter 10.--The United States was born out of a revolution against a monarchy. And we take great pride in our representative democracy, as we should. History tells us that government leaders with unlimited absolute power are danger and cause great damage. That that changes when that monarch is sinless and diving, which is the case of Jesus Christ.--Today we will learn more about the everlasting king - Jesus - the savior and God, who's benevolent monarchy brings only good to the earth.
Pastor Pierre Rosa is continuing his preaching through the Gospel of Matthew, and today we're continuing in chapter 10.--Christians - true followers of Christ - should not be content just to know they are saved, though that is essential. True Christians should long to deepen their relationship to Christ - to mature and to grow in their faith.--If that's our desire, then we should be eager to accept God's spiritual growth plan - laid out here in Matthew 10 -among other places in the Bible-. If we do, we can trust the Lord for the result. And the results are spiritual and eternal blessings that make the troubles of this life pale in comparison.
Pastor Pierre Rosa is continuing his preaching through the Gospel of Matthew, and today we're continuing in chapter 10.--When Jesus called his disciples, it's not obvious what they thought their new life was going be like. But Jesus did and He made it clear to them that His followers would encounter hardship and conflict when they proclaimed the Kingdom of Heaven.--That hardship wasn't exclusive to them - or the early church. Christians everywhere, in every age, including today, face conflict for faithfully following Christ, but there is comfort and hope as well.
Chapter 10 begins with the call of the 12 apostles - a Divine Choice. That's significant, because these were the men that would lead a world-changing spiritual revival after the resurrection. We made it through 7 of the 12, last week.--Chapter 10 also reveals a Definite Commission. Once chosen, the disciples were given a Definite Commission - specific instructions as to their message and methodology. And while not identical, we have much to learn about our own commission from what we read in Matthew 10.
We're moving from a narrative section, where Matthew put Christ's power on display, back to a didactic section of the Gospel, where Matthew records Jesus' teaching.--Chapter 10 begins with the call of the 12 apostles. That's significant, because these were the men that would lead a world-changing spiritual revival after the resurrection.--What we'll learn today is that, if we were in charge, we would never have chosen these weak and troubled individuals to lead our revival. They would hardly be good representatives of the King of kings- But Jesus has a different plan and a better way to choose His followers. We can be glad of that.
We've arrived at another transition in our study. We're moving from a narrative section, where Matthew put Christ's power on display, back to a didactic section of the Gospel, where Matthew records Jesus' teaching.--At the end of chapter 9, Matthew pauses to sum up what he's related to his readers so far, and to clarify the motivation of Jesus Christ. Why was He here on the earth---Today, we'll learn about the driving force behind Christ's mission and be challenged to imitate His purpose and plan. It will determine if we really are followers of Christ or just admirers.
Matthew has been taking great pains to show the power of Jesus Christ - the Messiah. He's demonstrated Christ's power over disease, death, nature, and demons, as well as his power to forgive and transform.--Today, we'll learn about Christ's power to restore and that, too, should be of great interest to us. Its not hard to prove that we are all broken and in desperate need of restoration. Sadly, broken people often hate to see others restored, and their hard hearts will be unmoved by God's grace, but happily, Christ's compassion still wins and will be on full display
Matthew has been taking great pains to show the power of Jesus Christ - the Messiah. He's demonstrated Christ's power over disease, nature, and demons, as well as his power to forgive and transform.--Today, we'll learn about Christ's power over death and that should be of great interest to us. After all, human beings have consistently and completely lost the battle with dying. We have reason for hope that only found in the God that has more power than this dark nemesis.
Pastor Pierre Rosa is continuing his preaching through the Gospel of Matthew, and today we're in chapter 9.--Christ's demands on the world are not small. He is not asking people to be better- He is not asking people to try harder- He's not even asking people to be nice. Jesus is asking people to follow Him and be transformed - in heart and mind.--That's the theme of the message today - Jesus' power to transform, and that should give us all hope. Because in this portion of Matthews account, Jesus transforms the lives of the worst of society and makes them His true disciples.
Pastor Pierre Rosa is continuing his preaching through the Gospel of Matthew, and today we start into chapter 9.--The chapter opens with a familiar account of Jesus' teaching being interrupted by 4 men opening a hole in the roof of the house Jesus was in and lowering their crippled friend down to him on ropes. They really knew how to make an entrance, it seems.--You might think this would be another illustration of Jesus' power over disease and sickness - and it is. But as we'll learn, this is much more about Jesus' power - as God - to forgive. And oh, how we need forgiveness
Pastor Pierre Rosa is continuing his preaching through the Gospel of Matthew, and today we will finish up chapter 8.--Matthew has turned his attention to the power that Jesus displayed. Many old testament prophecies foretold the kind of power the true Messiah would demonstrate on his arrival. Matthew is connecting the dots.--We've seen Jesus' power over disease and over nature. Now we'll see Jesus' power over demons and the spiritual realm - but as before, we'll discover that everything - material and immaterial - is subject to God's will. And that give us great reason for hope and peace.
Pastor Pierre Rosa is continuing his preaching through the Gospel of Matthew, and today we mid-way through chapter 8.--After finishing his account of the Sermon on the Mount that Jesus preached, Matthew has turned his attention to the power Jesus displayed. Many old testament prophecies foretold the kind of power the true Messiah would demonstrate on his arrival.--We've seen Jesus' power over disease. Now we'll see Jesus' power over nature - but as we'll discover today, it's not just the nature world that responds to God's will. The pressures of life, the tragedies we encounter and the everyday stressors we feel are all subject to the power of Jesus Christ.
Pastor Pierre Rosa is continuing his preaching through the Gospel of Matthew, and today we start into chapter 8.--After finishing his record of the Sermon on the Mount that Jesus preached, Matthew now turns his attention to the power He displayed. Many old testament prophecies foretold the kind of power the true Messiah would demonstrate on his arrival.--Today we'll see Jesus' power of Disease - just as the prophet Isaiah predicted. But there's much more to this story of healing than meets the eye. Jesus brings healing in a way that demonstrates His matchless character and divinity.
Pastor Pierre Rosa is continuing his preaching through the Gospel of Matthew, and today we're in chapter 7 - the conclusion of the Sermon on the Mount.--Life is full of choice. Big and small - we come to crossroads all the time. We're asked to make a decision.--Today, Jesus is asking us to make a decision too. He'll present three contrasts for us to consider, but they all represent the same thing- Will we choose to follow Jesus or not. The answer to that question will determine everything that comes after - including what comes after this life.
Today, we'll expand on this and come across what is known as the Golden Rule. That's not what the bible ever calls the command to -do unto others as you would have done to you.- But there is something very valuable in this rule for godly living.--Pastor Pierre Rosa is continuing his preaching through the Gospel of Matthew, and today we're in chapter 7. We'll wrap up the Sermon on the Mount, including the Golden Rule, and learn once more that God's standard - the divine standard - is not just good advice. It's what God demands of citizens of the kingdom.
There are a lot of Biblical quotes that have become common cultural expressions. One of the more famous of these is the famous statement- Judge not, lest you be judged.--Now that's not necessarily incorrect or even bad advice. If you are the kind of person that sits in judgement on everyone and everything around you, you should expect the same in return. But there's much more to this phrase.--Pastor Pierre Rosa is continuing his preaching through the Gospel of Matthew, and today we're in chapter 7. This is where we get that famous judgement quote - but today we'll learn the full context and meaning of what Jesus had in mind then and has in mind for us in the present day as well.
It seems logical to say that - gaining the upper hand on poverty should make us much less anxious. After all, if we don't have to scramble for food, shelter or clothing, we should be much less stressed. And if we have time and money for recreation, we should be even more relaxed and at ease.--But at last check, the United States was the richest country in the world, but nearly any standard. And - at last check - the same United States was objectively the county that's experiencing the most anxiety. So, why is that---Pastor Pierre Rosa is continuing his preaching through the Gospel of Matthew, and we're midway into chapter 6 - a continuation of the Sermon on the Mount.--It's here that Jesus gives us the correct prescription for handling anxiety.
Jesus has talked about how to give, how to pray and how to fast faithfully - with our hearts focused on only one audience- God Himself.--Today, Pastor will explore what Jesus teaches us about how we govern our greed.--Greed might seem like a petty sin - something you teach children about but not something a modern adult needs to bridle. But if we're honest, we'll find that greed is so common in our lives it's become hard to notice. Jesus asks us to make some hard choices today as so we shall.
Jesus has talked about how to give and how to pray faithfully - with our hearts focused on only one audience- God Himself.--Today, Pastor will explore what Jesus teaches us about fasting. Going without food for a period of time is a mysterious practice to most. Why we would do such a thing and for how long may differ. But if we choose to fast, we ought to do it as Jesus instructs. His opinion is the one that matters.
Jesus is talking about prayer - the how and why of prayer. This is important because then, as now, prayer had become a kind of theatre of oration. Fancy and flowery words were woven in a way to make the prayer seem more important and more spiritual than anyone listening.--But Jesus points out that the audience for our prayer is God Himself, and He sees our hearts. So our focus should be on the motivation and purpose of our prayer. Today, we'll unpack the example prayer Christ gave to His disciples and learn once again that it's all about God.
Jesus is talking about many of the practical parts of the Christian life - the day-to-day behavior of citizens of the Kingdom of God. He's covered the standards for giving, and now Jesus wants to teach us the proper way to pray.--Prayer is something that can be quite mysterious to the new believer. Sadly, our public prayers can get so flowery and formal that the average person thinks they have no ability or right to come to the Father with their needs. But Jesus tells us good news about how we should approach prayer and makes us all thankful that we have access to God - no matter how eloquent we are or how -official- we sound.
Once again, Jesus points to the heart of the matter - very literally our spiritual heart. He's not concerned about the amount of our giving as much as the reason for it. Are we giving for attention or giving because we love God and want to reflect His provision and generosity- And we'll see why that's important as we continue this message from last week.
Pastor Pierre Rosa is continuing his preaching through the Gospel of Matthew, and we're beginning our dive into chapter 6 - a continuation of the Sermon on the Mount.--We've spent several weeks now learning about how to deal with conflict. There's a lot of it around, so that makes sense.--Now, as if Jesus hasn't meddled enough in our lives, He moves on to talk about giving. This can be a touchy subject. Consciously or unconsciously, we might consider our money off limits - it's how we pay the bills and survive. But subjects of the kingdom have no area that's off limits to God and this too is something He asks us to surrender to His control.
We've spent several weeks now learning how the Pharisees taught people to deal with conflict. We've taken the time, because conflict is such a large part of our experience. We come into personal conflict pretty much every day of our lives.--So, Christians are routinely faced with the choice - to respond like the rest of humanity does when faced with conflict or to live up to a higher standard, the one God requires. Given our sinful nature, it's not as easy as it might seem.
We've spent several weeks now learning how the Pharisees taught people to deal with conflict. We've taken the time, because conflict is such a large part of our experience. We come into personal conflict pretty much every day of our lives.--So, Christians are routinely faced with the choice - to respond like the rest of humanity does when faced with conflict or to live up to a higher standard, the one God requires. Given our sinful nature, it's not as easy as it might seem.
Throughout the sermon on the mount, Jesus explains how the Pharisees had corrupted the law to create an externally-focused view of righteousness. This week, we'll continue uncovering their warped view of conflict, that led many astray.--While the Pharisees distorted the law regarding conflict, they really just reflected the human viewpoint - common even today. We are naturally vindictive, exclusive and eager to care only about those that love us. But Jesus calls His followers to a higher standard.
In this portion of the sermon, we're learning about how followers of Christ are called to handle conflict. Last week, Pastor explained how the Pharisees had corrupted the law to create an externally-focused view of righteousness. This week, we'll dive more into the lessons we can learn from Jesus.--This message was given during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic as you'll clearly understand by some of pastor's application points, but these points go well beyond the pressures of that time. Conflict occurs often and how we manage it will make the difference in how our faith is perceived by the world around us.
We've learned about how to handle the Word of God, how to handle anger, how to handle lust, and how to handle deception. Now we come to something so common in life, we'll need to spend several weeks learning how to handle this one - and that's conflict.--If you've never experienced conflict, then you're likely living alone on a desert island. Conflict occurs often and how we manage it will make the difference in how our faith is perceived by the world around us.
Last week we heard the first part of this message about how Jesus - the Majestic Savior - would have His followers handle deception. Far from the ordinary standards we prefer, God's standards are much higher and much more challenging that our world of situational ethics, half-truths and white lies permit.--But once we commit to following the savior, we are also committed to following His commands. And Jesus - who calls Himself -The Truth- wants us to reflect that truthful character as well.
Today we'll focus on deception. I don't know anyone that likes to be lied to. We find that deeply offense for a variety of reasons. But when push comes to shove, it's shocking just how easily we choose lying to get out of trouble.--Jesus knows all about this part of our human nature - our fallen nature - and He's got a lot to say about it as we'll find out in this first half of pastor's message on how to handle deception.
As we learned last week, the Church is guided by God's Incomparable Wisdom, and that means following the pattern of God's choice- Believers are - for the most part - unimpressive people with unconventional purposes.--And that's where we'll pick up today, as Pastor Pierre Rosa finishes this message by describing the privilege of God's chosen.
For about a year, we've been studying the Gospel of Matthew, and Pastor Pierre Rosa has presented Jesus Christ as the writer does - as the Majestic Savior and King.--And now, at the start of a new year, we pause for just a bit, to consider what every church should remember - that we are not a human institution. The Church is the Bride of Christ, called out from the world using standards no human would choose. In other words, if we were in charge of creating biblical Christianity, we wouldn't choose us to be its foot soldiers---But we also operate by different foundational principles. We are guided by God's Incomparable Wisdom.
In chapter 5 of the gospel of Matthew, Jesus is CORRECTING the things that were being taught by the religious leaders of the time. They took the straightforward teachings of the law and added all kinds of new details and outward indications of piety. What they missed was what was happening in the heart.--Last week we started examining how Believers should deal with lust and we ended just as Jesus was about to discuss the matter of divorce. That topic deserves careful attention. Divorce - even in the best of circumstances - is a hurtful event in life. And yet the Bible has good things to tell us, to help us and to heal us.
In chapter 5 of the gospel of Matthew, Jesus is clearing up a number of misconceptions that were being taught by the religious leaders of the time. They took the straightforward teachings of the law and added all kinds of new details and outward indications of piety. What they missed was what was happening in the heart.--Jesus reveals that the law was meant to expose the intentions of the heart and show just how sinful we really are - how desperately we need salvation. So, last week we took on the subject of anger. Today, Pastor will show us how believers should handle lust - an uncomfortable topic, but one so appropriate for today.
In chapter 5 of the gospel of Matthew, Jesus is going to clarify a number of misconceptions that were being promulgated by the religious teachers of the time. They took the straightforward teachings of the law and adding all kinds of new details and outward indications of piety. What they missed was what was happening in the heart.--Jesus reveals that the law was meant to expose the intentions of the heart and show just how sinful we really are. So, today, for example, Pastor will show how believers should handle anger - not as we often do, but as citizens of the Kingdom.
In the sermon on the mount, Jesus teaches His followers how to behave as citizens of the kingdom of God. We call those the Beatitudes. But Jesus doesn't stop there. He goes on to tell His disciples how to change the world. And now, He spends some time talking about how to properly handle scripture.--How a person views and uses the Bible is a true dividing line and a litmus test for anyone claiming to be a Christian. If the bible is just a nice collection of sayings and virtue stories, there's a problem. But if the Bible is God's inerrant Word, powerful and capable of changing the heart of sinful humanity, then there's hope.
In the sermon on the mount, Jesus teaches His followers how to behave as citizens of the kingdom of God. We call those the Beatitudes. But Jesus doesn't stop there. He goes on to tell His disciples how to change the world.--There are countless people, organizations and agencies focused on making the world a better place. But what does Jesus say is the answer to a world in decay- His message is certainly countercultural. What do you think will make the world a better place-
We're making good progress studying what are commonly known as the Beatitudes. Pastor has pointed out these are the BE attitudes, not the DO attitudes, because they represent what we are to BE if we are citizens of the Kingdom of God.
We first encounter what are commonly known as the Beatitudes. Pastor has pointed out these are the BE attitudes, not the DO attitudes, because they represent what we are to BE if we are citizens of the Kingdom of God.--As we read these simple statements about what brings true happiness, we can't help but notice the paradoxical nature of these values. They seem to describe all of the sure ways to unhappiness and grief. But God's ways are not man's ways. Humans have been looking for happiness in all of the wrong place since the days of Adam and Eve.
We've finished a narrative section of the book and now we begin a lengthy dialog and this one even has a name- Chapters 5, 6 and 7 are commonly called the Sermon on the Mount. Why- Because verse 1 of chapter 5 says Jesus went up on the mountain and that's where His disciples followed Him.--The teaching Jesus offers now is not easy to understand, particularly if you aren't a Believer. Non-believers see this only as a set of confusing paradoxes - something they often admire as a sign of great wisdom, but not something they are willing to accept. Our challenge is not only to understand these principles for citizens of the kingdom of Heaven but to live them out.
This section of the book is a call to discipleship and it's full of great challenges for us all.--As we wrap up Chapter 4 of Matthew, we at Truth with Grace begin our fourth year of sharing Pastor's messages. These past three years have also been times of great challenge, no more so than this year. But as we follow Christ and keep His priorities, He provides the strength and grace required to endure. That includes providing partners like you, so thank you---Now onward - ever onward we go - proclaiming the good news of the Gospel.
For the last couple of weeks, Pastor took some time to lay the groundwork for this passage and clear up some of the common misconceptions about Satan and his powers. In short, Satan is not the evil opposite of God, and our popular conception of him is largely false.--Today, we learn the practical strategy for overcoming temptation. Since we all suffer temptation - daily if we're honest - this is an important tool set for every Believer.
Jesus Christ is the central figure of this passage, bit before we dive into the temptation story and the example Christ gave of how we avoid temptation, we need to establish some of the important facts about Satan.--He is not who people think he is, at least not the person depicted in modern culture. We covered these matters last week, so we'll very quickly review them before talking about several observations we can make that will help us all overcome temptation.
Christ is obviously the central figure of the account - But Satan plays a role too - a role divinely ordained by God.--So, before we dive into the temptation story, we need to establish some of the important facts about Satan. He is not who people think he is, at least not the person depicted in modern culture. Today, we'll establish these preliminary facts and then begin talking about several observations we can make that will help us all overcome temptation.
Last week we met John the Baptist - the forerunner of the Messiah - and an ambassador for the Kingdom of God.--We'll pick up that message where we left off and learn a bit about the Pharisees and Sadducees - two groups that show up quite a bit in the New Testament. Their history and practices are informative for us - after all, we are prone to follow their bad patterns if we aren't careful.--But Pastor will go on to tell us about the Excellent Savior - Jesus Christ and what his ministry and might mean for us. And here's a hint- it means everything.
We're so pleased you've joined us today as we continue our exploration of the truth found in God's word and the grace of salvation.--Pastor Pierre Rosa is teaching through the first book of the New Testament - the Gospel of Matthew.
Last week, we learned about a Mean Antagonist - Herod the Great. Thanks to a warning from God, Mary and Joseph avoided Herod's vicious plot by taking the toddler Jesus to Egypt - because it was outside the jurisdiction of Herod.--But there are two other locations that are pivotal in this story- Bethlehem and Nazareth.--Bethlehem was Jesus' birthplace, of course, but also the scene of a terrible slaughter perpetrated by Herod. And that's where we'll pick up this week as we complete this message.
Last week, we learned more about the Magi visiting the Messiah as a toddler. They also visited King Herod - a terrible man of unbridled fury and a ruthless killer. Today, we'll learn more about this pretender king, and even more about the beautiful way in which God crafted the Old Testament to point to Jesus Christ as the true and coming King.--The Old Testament can easily seem like a long string of violent stories about ancient peoples, but in fact, it's a lengthy proof-text for why we need a Savior and who that Savior will be. It all becomes clear as we study the New Testament and the completion of God's plan for redemption.
Part of the Christmas story is the visitation of the wise men or Magi from the east. The Bible gives few details about them, but that hasn't stopped people from filling in the gaps. For example, we might be able to logic their number by assuming there was one wise man per gift - so three, but that's just a guess. There could have been more - maybe even many more than 3.--If we stick to the facts and focus just on what God chose to reveal in his Word, we are soon to see a wonderful story of God working through Gentiles to confirm the birth and kingship of his Son. And we also find the common reactions to how people respond to Jesus.
Last week we learned of the lineage or ancestry of Christ - as far as his human father's family was concerned. Today we'll learn more about the divinity of Christ given that he was not the biological offspring of Joseph but rather the product of the Virgin Birth.--This doctrine is fundamental to the Christian faith, because without the virgin birth of Jesus, he could not be our savior, nor could he pay the price for our sins because he would have inherited the same sin nature we all have inherited from our fathers. But, as we'll learn today, God made a way for us to be saved by a sinless Messiah, Jesus Christ.
The first four books of the new testament are often referred to as the Gospels. They tell the Good News of Jesus and the salvation he brings to a desperate humanity. Each of the Gospels provides a unique perspective and, for Matthew, the perspective was one of a Jewish man, meeting and following his long-awaited Jewish messiah, savior and king.--Today we start another long adventure through one of the divinely inspired books of the bible. God has much to say and we look forward to the journey-
After studying the book of Revelation and learning of the coming judgement of God, it's been so refreshing to see the goodness of God - the kindness of God - so boldly on display in the life of Ruth and Naomi. And the foreshadowing of Christ we see in Boaz is such an encouragement, since it's through Christ's sacrifice on the cross that we can avoid the final judgement of God.
The Bible is not a self-help text, nor a book of moral principles. It's a book about God's plan for the salvation of humanity. That means we often find object lessons and archetypes that pre-figure Christ and His work on the cross. Men of the bible like Joseph and Noah, and animals like the Passover lamb and the ram that took the place of Isaac on the altar, all offer us a glimpse of Christ and the unique work he did on the cross. Today we see one more foreshadowing character as we witness Boaz become the kinsman redeemer.
This week, we'll back track just a bit and start with the second lesson from the story and Pastor will describe a Godly plea for Redemption. Then he'll finish the Biblical principles of courtship, we're we left off last time. And finish we'll finish with a godly pledge of restoration.
Today, we'll discover more about the Redeeming Love of our God through the love story between Ruth and Boaz. This is a strange courtship from our modern perspective, but in the context of the ancient world, it's rich in symbolism and meaning.--The parallels with God's own pursuit of His people is just a rich and something we can only ponder in amazement, as we think about what it means to be the Bride of Christ.
Ruth and Naomi had so many hard life experiences, there was no obvious reason for joy. But God is the God of Restored Joy as we'll see today. Ruth's trust in the God of Israel leads her to discover the overwhelming goodness of God - a God that gives more than we deserve, more than we request and more than we expect.--And on top of all of that, God gives more than we give we well, making it so easy for believers to be truly generous people.
Today, we finish the message by looking at the life of Boaz, the portrait of a godly man. Boaz could have used his wealth and power to take advantage of Ruth and her situation or he could have ignored her plight and gone about focused on more important things. But he doesn't because he too shares some of the character traits of God.
Today, Pastor will show us the God of Renewed Comfort through the exemplary lives of Ruth and Boaz. We'll start with the portrait of a godly woman, as revealed by God through Ruth. She is an amazing lady---Adopted into the Family of God, this Moabitess is worth imitating. And how God comforts her should remind us of how he personal comforts each and every one of His children.
Here we find an inspiring story of God's incredible kindness towards people that would typically be the last to expect it. Woman were at best second-class citizens in the ancient world, yet they are the heroines of this story because God loves men and women equally.--God also loves Gentiles and uses Ruth a Moabite woman - to emphasize His desire that all should be saved. None of this should surprise us, yet to many this doesn't sound like the God of the Old Testament. But it is.
Last week we learned a difficult truth about how God works in our lives. There are times when God enlists difficulty and appoints adversity for His glory and our good. It's worth hearing some of that again so we'll pick up last week's message where Pastor provides extensive biblical support for this controversial idea.-It turns out - its only controversial because we would always prefer to avoid difficult times. God - our good, holy and sovereign God knows what works best.
The Book of Ruth was written about people living during the time of the Judges. The author isn't clear - it may have been Samuel - but whoever wrote it, his goal was to use a compelling story of loss and loyalty, redemption and restoration, to tell us more about God.
Last week, Pastor started teaching us about 10 practical ways to apply the truths we've studied over these many months. This week, he'll conclude this sermon and our study of the Book of Revelation.
As John pens the final verses of his account, we find a kind of synopsis of the book. God, through John, helpfully reminds us of how we should respond to apocalyptic literature.--Today, Pastor will begin to cover 10 practical ways to apply the truths we've studied over these many months. Then next week, we'll conclude this sermon and our study of the Book of Revelation.
When we left off last week, Pastor was telling us about the comforting realities of the New Jerusalem. As Believers, we really do have something to look forward to and the contrast with our current world couldn't be greater.--That, of course, is because this current creation is hopelessly broken. It's a mere shadow of the paradise God originally spoke into being. But when we reach eternity, paradise will be restored. No more pain, no more hunger, no more suffering, no more death - all will be made new.
Last week we spent time looking at the outside of the incredible City of God - the New Jerusalem. Today, we'll step inside and see just what a wonderful place it really is. And in all of the description - in all of the beauty - there is the comforting promise of what God has in store for His children. It will be worth it all -the hymn writer said- when we see Jesus-
The descriptions of the New Jerusalem found in John's writings have inspired many a poet and songwriter. God includes the description in His word to do just that- inspire us to press on to the glorious kingdom He's preparing for us in the future. That eternity tells us much about God and today, we'll discover something about the Crown Jewel of Eternity as well as it's Creator.
After the millennium, God has a plan for His people. This is the time most people think of as eternal life in heaven. But what does that mean- There's a popular version of heaven that suggests we're going to be floating around on the clouds, with nothing to do but pluck on a harp. Others propose that Believers will be in some sort of ghostly disembodied state where heaven is just a frame of mind.--Once again, we turn to the Bible for answers and God is faithful to provide them. What we discover is more rich, more wonderful and more worth the wait than anything we might imagine.
What happens after death is a topic of much debate. There are many that hope there's a general salvation for everyone - with a few exceptions of course - and we all spend eternity in heaven. Other sincerely believe that there is nothing after death. We just stop being.--The Bible has resolved any question about this. The Bible tells us exactly what happens after death and ultimately what happens to every human being - good or bad. It's worth knowing this advance as we'll soon see.
After the second coming of Christ, a new era of peace is inaugurated. Satan is bound and Christ is King for a thousand years. Believers have a special role during this time as we'll see. And at the end, in spite of the personal visible presence of Jesus Christ, Satan will be released and lead millennium-born unbelievers in an enormous final rebellion. They will fail and be resurrected to judgement.
Pastor Pierre Rosa is continuing his series preaching through the Book of Revelation. We're nearing the end and today we'll be finishing up chapter 19.--In this chapter we see the glorious appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ - not as a newborn baby in a manger, but as the Supreme Monarch coming to conquer the forces of sin and reclaim his throne.--Pastor will quickly cover the many details of this scene, but you'll soon discover how packed this portion of Scripture is with symbols and signs of God's character and might.
In December of 2019, the first hints of a new coronavirus appeared in China. Within weeks, the world was engulfed in the COVID-19 pandemic.--Government leaders issued orders in early March to reduce social density and protect our vulnerable populations. That meant our normal way of doing -church- was completely disrupted, much like the rest of our lives.--Today, Pastor Pierre explains how Believers respond to this kind of worldwide crisis. We are riding this crazy whirlwind just like everyone else on the planet. Will we react in the same way or will we demonstrate that God's done special in our hearts-
Today we'll look at the first half of chapter 19 and what Pastor is calling an explosion of praise. In contrast to the judgements and disasters foretold in the book of revelation, there are several times when the action stops to focus on concerts of praise expressed to God and about God. His character is worth that kind of outburst.--And it's not just musical expressions. Many of these praise events are shout and statements of truth. The challenge is for us to get in practice here on earth so we're in full voice when we get to heaven. Pastor will tell us why as we hear the greatest love story in history.
Today we'll explore the entire eighteenth chapter, and what Pastor is calling the Ultimate Regime change. In the 24 verses of chapter eighteen, God signals to His creation that His holiness demands a response to humanities long rebellion. God has been patient, but Satan and his forces, along with all the fallen humans that reject God's gift of salvation, will pay the price that is due.--This ought to change the Believer's perspective - even when we're struggling with the daily pressures and trials of life. God wants us to look out to our eternal future and up to our eternal home.
In the conclusion of his message, Pastor will explain they also have a futile scheme. This might not be a big deal if it wasn't for the fact that they all lead to destruction and an eternity separated from God.--And finally, we'll conclude today's message by discovering the mind behind the images we see here in chapter 17. It might not be who you expect.
This false religion is already alive and well in our world right now. It's masquerading as an open-minded belief system, tolerant of everything and exclusive of nothing - except the clear truth of salvation found in God's Word. There is only one way to the Father, according to Jesus Christ.--Satan and the antichrist will and already have provided alternatives to the truth as they attempt to lead the world astray. They will use the false church in the last days and then transform it into the cult of the antichrist.