Sermons on Jesus (Page 10)
A Family in Conflict | Luke 15:11-32
Who here has experienced conflict? Who here has experienced conflict in your family? Who here has experienced conflict because of the youngest child in your family? I’m raising my hand because I’m the youngest child in my family. This week Facebook reminded me to celebrate national sibling day. To commemorate this special holiday I shared this picture of my family on Facebook. It’s a picture of my three older brothers, my parents, and me. Now I love each of my…
The King Foretold | Numbers 24:17
In Numbers 24:17, Balam prophecies to the king of Moab that “in the latter days” (v. 14), a king will come who will fight against the enemies of God. Balam gives two signs, that of the star, and that of the scepter. In his third oracle, in Numbers 24:9, Balam links the scepter with the sign of the lion. These two signs, that of the star and the lion, tell us Jesus is a king who both brings hope and…
God’s Cosmic Plan | Genesis 13:1-14:24
Old Testament stories like Abram and Lot separating or the battle of the 9 kings in the plain of Jordan are interesting and exciting, but what are we as Christians supposed to get from them? This week’s message explains how these stories and the mysterious King Melkizedek from Genesis 13:1-14:24 set up a plot line that takes 2000 years to be fully revealed to us. It’s all part of God’s eternal cosmic plan that centers on Jesus, our King, our Priest.
The Challenging Tomb | Matthew 28:1-10
The message of Matthew 28:1-10 is a message God entrusted to the most unlikeliest of people, those society looked down upon. This message has the power to test us and shake our beliefs. How will you respond? Will you let God shine through you in your weakness? Those who obey get to meet Jesus, experience him in his fulness, and worship him. Fear not! Jesus is risen. Go and tell!
The Wondrous Cross | Matthew 27:32-56
How do you view the cross? For many people today the cross is simply a charm on a bracelet, but for those who lived 2,000 years ago the cross was a place of utter horror and suffering. It was normally reserved for the worst criminals, yet this is the place where Jesus willingly goes to pay for sin. In Matthew 27:32-56 we see Jesus suffer through the horror of being crucified, so that sinful people, like you and me can…
Dig Down Deep | Matthew 7:24-29
In his conclusion to the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 7:24-29, Jesus challenges his followers and the crowd to put into action what he’s been teaching. To listen and obey is like a wise man who built his house on unshakable rock. But to listen to Jesus’ words and go away unchanged is foolish. It’s like building your house on sand. Your life will not stand, in this life or the next. Dig down deep to Christ our Cornerstone.
The Road Less Traveled | Matthew 7:13-23
In Matthew 7:13-23, Jesus uses three lessons to teach his followers how to distinguish between his true followers and those that pretend or are just going through the motions. He uses the lesson of the broad path and the narrow path in verses 13-14, the lesson of the wolves and fruit trees in verses 15-20, and the lesson of calling on Jesus as Lord, but not really knowing him in verses 21-23. These verses are a challenge to really follow…
Judgmentalism | Matthew 7:1-6
In Matthew 7:1-6, Jesus challenges us not to have a judgmental heart-attitude. He warns us not to judge others unfairly but instead to treat others with the grace we’d like God to show you and me. He also calls us to examine ourselves honestly before examining others. Like the disciples, we are all blind to our own sin, but Jesus can take away any blindspot. Jesus also advises us to share the truth thoughtfully. We speak truth graciously, honestly, and thoughtfully because that’s what Jesus…
Courage, Dear Heart | Matthew 6:25-34
In Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus tells us not to live in a state of worry or anxiety. It’s a challenge to all of us as we all fear the future at some level. Long before the movie Frozen came on the scene, Jesus told his followers to “let it go.” The anxieties he calls us to let go are personal, future, and relational (F.E.A.R. = False Expectations Appearing Real). But we don’t just want to let our anxieties go and fill that space with another…
Heavenly Banking | Matthew 6:19-24
In Matthew 6:19-24 Jesus raises an issue of the heart, our money. Just like prayer and fasting help us grow in relationship with God, so does how we use our finances. Jesus teaches that we should invest in eternity today, and that we should do so for several reasons: 1) Heaven offers an imperishable reward; 2) It helps us live the right way now; and 3) It frees us to fully love and serve God. We can invest in eternity…
That’s Not Normal | Matthew 5:38-48
We’re all mistreated, or tempted to mistreat others when they’ve mistreated us. Jesus, in Matthew 5:38-48 teaches us that when we respond the normal way, with vengeance, the problem continues. Christ gives us a solution that is better than non-violence. He taught us to turn the cheek, to give to those who hurt us, and to love our enemies. He calls us to do this because he did it on his way to the cross. Grace doesn’t stop just violence, it…
Covenant Breakers | Matthew 5:27-37
In Mathew 5:27-37, Jesus focuses on some of our most intimate and personal relational sins. On the outside, we may try to avoid adultery, divorce, and breaking oaths, but on the inside, we are plagued with lust, violating covenants, and habitual lying. Our tendency is to come up with excuses, explanations, and escape clauses to soften Jesus’ standard for his disciples. But does Jesus really expect us to live in holy perfection? What hope is there for followers of Jesus,…