This morning, March 5, 2017 at Wildwood Community Church, I preached a sermon based on Matthew 4:12-25. This message was part 4 of the “Foundations” sermon series. Below you will find the sermon audio from this message to listen to or share.
To listen offline, click on the link below to download audio:
To listen online, use the media player below:
On Sunday, March 5, 2017 at Wildwood Community Church, I preached a sermon based on Matthew 4:12-25. This message was part 4 in the “Foundations” sermon series. Below you will find a set of questions related to the message for personal reflection or group discussion.
Sermon Questions:
To access these questions in pdf format, click here.
Every once in a while, my family (wife, son, and I) will go see a movie together in the theater. We always want to get there early enough to grab a bag of popcorn and settle into our seats several minutes before the movie actually begins. This not only allows us to not be in a rush, but it also makes sure we are present in the theater to watch the movie previews that precede the feature presentation. Often, we will turn to each other after each preview and give either a “thumbs up” or “thumbs down” when each trailer plays, indicating our desire to see (or avoid) the movies marketed to us.
As I read Matthew 4:12-25 this week, I feel as if I am watching a “trailer” for the Kingdom of God. Jesus begins His preaching ministry here calling people to “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” In a sense, He was saying, “Hey everyone, prepare yourself! The Kingdom of Heaven is coming soon to ‘theaters’ everywhere!”
Beyond just announcing the coming of the Kingdom, He also revealed some key scenes as to what the Kingdom will be like – blind seeing, lame walking, demonically oppressed freed, etc. As I read the events of this “Kingdom Come” trailer starring Jesus Christ, I find myself giving it two thumbs up! I cannot wait for its arrival. Can you?
We live in a world that is full of challenge, stress, and confusion. Our loved ones get sick and die. Our relationships get confused and complicated. Our actions are misinterpreted or misaligned. Our understanding is limited, and at times we are lonely, discouraged, or in danger of losing heart. As I read of the Kingdom coming, I long for its arrival, based on the promise that the “trailer” from Jesus’ ministry provides.
So what do we need to do to get ready? How do we “purchase” advance tickets for the premiere so we don’t miss out? What should we be doing in the mean time? We will look at answering these questions this Sunday at Wildwood Community Church in our 8:30, 9:45, and 11:00 worship services as we conclude our sermon series “Foundations” by looking at Matthew 4:12-25. Make plans to join us this week . . . we will celebrate the Lord’s supper together as well!
On Sunday, February 26 at Wildwood Community Church, I preached a sermon based on Matthew 4:1-11. This message was part 3 in the “Foundations” sermon series. Below you will find the sermon audio to listen to or share.
To listen offline, click the link below to download audio:
To listen online, use the media player below:
On Sunday, February 26, 2017 at Wildwood Community Church, I preached a sermon based on Matthew 4:1-11. This message was part 3 in the “Foundations” sermon series. Below are a set of questions related to the message for personal reflection or group discussion.
Sermon Questions:
Think of temptation in your life. What would it look like for you to apply these five principles in your life to help you respond to temptation with Jesus as our example?
6. What is one particular application you took away from this passage/message?
To access these questions in pdf format, click here.
What color are the leaves on trees? For many months of the year, we would say that they are green. That is the color we see when we look at trees from March to September. However, green is not the native color of leaves. Leaves are really yellow, orange, or red in their native state. They turn green in the spring and summer months because of the presence of chlorophyll. However, when the days become shorter and the temperatures drop in the fall, the true colors of leaves show through.
I was thinking about this today as I read Matthew 4:1-11. As we have seen in recent weeks in our sermon series, “Foundations,” Jesus was baptized by John in the Jordan River (at the end of Matthew 3) just before He was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan in Matthew 4.
The process of going through the water and then emerging in the wilderness is not an uncommon pattern in Scripture. In fact, when the Israelites left Egypt in the Exodus, they went into the waters of the Red Sea before entering the wilderness en route to possessing the promised land. The wilderness years of the nation of Israel revealed their true identity. They were not selected by God because of their superiority or personal righteousness, they were selected by God because of God’s grace revealed in His choice. The wilderness years revealed the sinfulness of the Israelites through their idol worship, complaining, and the like.
Now, contrast the Israelites wilderness years with Jesus’ time in the desert. After walking into the waters of the Jordan for baptism, Jesus heads into the wilderness to face the stiffest temptation possible – from Satan Himself. However, Jesus’ time in the wilderness revealed His true color as well – as the One who is truly righteous! Jesus’ white hot purity shows against the darkness of the desert in great detail. Though He was tempted in all ways, He remained obedient to His Father’s will.
Think of it this way, in the wilderness, the chlorophyll of comfort is removed, revealing our true colors. The fact that Jesus was tempted (and yet did not sin) is a GREAT encouragement to you and me. The One who is truly righteous desires to help us in our wilderness wanderings. When our true colors want to show through in times of distress, the life-giving power of the Spirit of Jesus can empower us to victory over the temptations in our life.
This Sunday at Wildwood Community Church we will be looking at Jesus’ triumph in His temptation and the hope that provides for you and me. See you Sunday in our 8:30, 9:45, or 11:00 worship service!
On Sunday, February 19, 2017 at Wildwood Community Church, I preached a sermon based on Matthew 3:13-17. This message was part 2 in the “Foundations” sermon series. Below you will find the sermon audio from this message to listen to or share.
To listen offline, click the link below to download the audio:
To listen online, use the media player below:
On Sunday, February 19, 2017 at Wildwood Community Church, I preached a sermon based on Matthew 3:13-17. This message was part 2 in the “Foundations” sermon series. Below you will find a set of questions related to that message for personal reflection or group discussion.
Sermon Questions:
To access these questions in pdf format, click here.
This weekend is the NBA All Star game. As a big time basketball fan, I will tune in with my son and watch the game with great interest. Though much of this contest is non-competitive, the immense talents of basketball’s best will be on display that night.
One thing I don’t want to miss while watching the All Star game is the introduction of the players before the game. Today, most all NBA games have elaborate WWE style intros of the home team . . . but the All Star intros always seem to take it to a new level. I will never forget Shaq’s intro back in 2009 with the Jabbawockeez (see below).
I was thinking about this style of grandiose entrance today as I reflected upon Jesus’ intro for His public ministry. In many ways, Jesus’ entry was understated and low key: taking place in the Judean wilderness, surrounded by sinners, in a river. However, there were others things that transpired at Jesus’ intro that modern pyrotechnics and production could never touch: God speaking from heaven, the Spirit of God descending in a visible way, and the Son of God Himself inviting His cousin to lead Him through a powerful symbol.
This Sunday at Wildwood Community Church we will look at Jesus’ intro to His public ministry by looking at Matthew 3:13-17. I look forward to seeing each of you in our 8:30, 9:45, or 11:00 worship service!
On Sunday, February 12, 2017 at Wildwood Community Church I preached a message based on Matthew 3:1-12. This message was part 1 of the “Foundations” sermon series. Below you will find the audio from the sermon to listen to/share.
To listen offline, click the link below to download:
To listen online, use the media player below:
