What’s up with all those names at the beginning of the New Testament? Pastor Bruce explains why they’re there, and what they tell us about how God sees us.
Matthew 2
What did the wise men know that King Herod didn’t? A look at one of the best known accounts from the Christmas season.
Matthew 3
John the Baptist was a huge star in the early first century. But he knew when it was time to step back and let Jesus have the spotlight.
Matthew 4
Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness is more than just an historical account. It also gives us clear direction on how we can overcome temptations in our own lives.
Matthew 5
The first of three chapters about the Sermon on the Mount. It’s a lot easier to act right than it is to actually change the way we approach this life. Jesus wants us to experience a change of heart, which will positively and radically change how we live each day.
Matthew 6
Continuing the Sermon on the Mount: We can get caught up in spending most of our energy focusing on ourselves. This may be in gathering possessions, or it could be as simple as wanting others to like us. Jesus offers a better way.
Matthew 7
It’s never OK to judge other people. But Jesus does encourage us to check others out and see if their talk and their walk are in sync.
Matthew 8
Jesus shows through healing and other miracles that He has authority over both the natural and the supernatural realms.
Matthew 9
Jesus’ response to the resistance He faces from the leaders and people of Israel provides a lesson for us about not putting our traditions ahead of listening to and serving Him.
Matthew 10
Jesus’ instructions to the 12 disciples as He sent them out to evangelize are just as valid and important for His followers in the 21st century.
Matthew 11
John the Baptist sends His followers to ask Jesus if He’s the promised Messiah. Did Jesus get angry with John? No! In fact, Jesus praised John.
Matthew 12
Jesus irritated the Jewish leaders by not keeping the Sabbath in the manner they thought was dictated by their law.
Matthew 13
In a chapter full of parables, Jesus describes the ways in which people can accept or reject the gospel message.
Matthew 14
In the aftermath of John the Baptist’s death, Jesus performs two of His most famous miracles. The lesson is to not let setbacks take us out of the game.
Matthew 15
While the followers of Jesus are to be set apart, we aren’t to be so apart that we lose touch with those we are to reach and to serve.
Matthew 16
Spiritual knowledge, wisdom and discernment trumps common sense and education every single time. But this requires a daily desire to yield to the leadership of the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 17
Regardless of how important we may think the task is, it deserves our very best and our complete dependence on the Holy Spirit to get it done right.
Matthew 18
When we realize how much Jesus loves us to forgive us for all we’ve done, we should be bending over backward to forgive those who have wronged us.
Matthew 19
We really shortchange our lives when we choose to live by the limits of the law. Instead, we need to love Jesus and our fellow man generously and in so doing blow right past the minimums of the law.
Matthew 20
There won’t be a pecking order in heaven, so why do we keep creating one here? A call to Christians to get rid of our cult of personality and focus on Jesus.
Matthew 21
Between those who believe in Jesus as their Savior and Lord and those who reject Him entirely are people who are OK with Him and know something about Him. It’s important to realize that these folks don’t have all of the facts and that we need to help them know Jesus completely.
Matthew 22
The Holy Spirit is going to work where He’s welcome. A challenge and and an encouragement to believers in the Western world.
Matthew 23
The “woe” chapter. Jesus hammers the Jewish leaders for putting on a good front. Our challenge is to not just go through the motions, but to allow the Lord to transform us from the inside out.
Matthew 24
In the first half of the Olivet Discourse, Jesus makes it very plain that the faithful believer will be ready at all times for His return.
Matthew 25
The marks of a true follower of Christ are that they maintain their belief to the end, and that they not only persevere but invest in the kingdom and the lives of others.
Matthew 26
The night before Jesus’ crucifixion provide us with a vivid portrait of one man’s courage and another man’s fear.
Matthew 27
While we may not want to think about it too long, the criminal Barabbas actually has more in common with us than we may realize. A contemplation about the cross.
Matthew 28
Though it’s the last chapter of the book, the starting point for every follower of Christ is belief in His resurrection and recognition of the primary mission to which we’ve been called.