“Who Is the Real Jesus?” (Matthew 16:13-23) In Bible class on Sunday mornings, we just started a study based on the book, “Will the Real Jesus Please Stand Up?” In this book, the author discusses twelve false christs that are … Continue reading
“What Epiphany Tells Us about Worship” (Matthew 2:1-12) The Festival of the Epiphany of Our Lord always falls on January 6, regardless of the day of the week. In that respect, it’s like Christmas, which always falls on December 25. … Continue reading
“The Sheep and the Goats” (Matthew 25:31-46) Are you a sheep or a goat? You will be one or the other, you know. When? When Christ comes again. Listen again to today’s Gospel reading: “When the Son of Man comes … Continue reading
“Faithful Stewards of Our Master’s Talents” (Matthew 25:14-30) Our text is the Holy Gospel for today, from Matthew 25. It’s the story known as the Parable of the Talents. A master gives his servants talents, varying amounts of money, to … Continue reading
“Render to Caesar, Render to God” (Matthew 22:15-22) Our text today is the Holy Gospel from Matthew 22, the passage that includes the famous saying, “Render unto Caesar.” But as we’ll find out, that is only half of the verse. … Continue reading
“The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant” (Matthew 18:21-35) Forgiveness doesn’t count. Oh, don’t get me wrong! I don’t mean that it doesn’t matter of that it’s not important. By no means. No, forgiveness counts for a lot in that respect. … Continue reading
“Dealing Drastically with Sin” (Matthew 18:1-20) How seriously do we take the matter of sin? Our own sin? The sin of others? I think that is the theme running through the teachings of Jesus today in the Holy Gospel from … Continue reading
“Who Is This Man?” (Matthew 16:13-20) “Who is this man?” Who is this man Jesus? This is the most important question that has ever been asked. How will you answer it? The question comes up in the Holy Gospel for … Continue reading
“Jesus and the Canaanite Woman” (Matthew 15:21-28) What kind of faith do you have, in what kind of God? That is the question that our text today will help us to answer. For what we will see in our text … Continue reading
“Come to Me, and I Will Give You Rest” (Matthew 11:25-30; Romans 7:14-25a) “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Here in this verse from today’s Gospel, Matthew 11:28, Jesus issues … Continue reading
“A Sword, a Cross, and a Life” (Matthew 10:34-42) Today Jesus tells us that he came to bring us three things: “A Sword, a Cross, and a Life.” Are you sure you want these things? Let’s find out. Our text … Continue reading
“Holy Week: In Like a Lion, Out Like a Lamb” (Matthew 21:1-11; 27:11-66) “In like a lion, out like a lamb.” Have you heard that saying before? It refers to the month of March. The idea is that March usually … Continue reading
“When the Tempter Comes Calling” (Matthew 4:1-11) What are you going to do when the tempter comes calling? Oh, be assured, he will come. The tempter came for Adam and Eve. The tempter came for ancient Israel. He even came … Continue reading
“Best Picture: The Transfiguration of Our Lord” (Matthew 17:1-9) Tonight will be the Academy Awards ceremony coming from Los Angeles. Tonight they’ll give out the award for, among other things, Best Picture of the year. I don’t know which one … Continue reading
“Be Who You Are, Children of Your Heavenly Father” (Matthew 5:38-48) The Holy Gospel for today can be a hard one to understand, much less a hard one to actually do. In it Jesus says things like “Turn the other … Continue reading
“Salt of the Earth, Light of the World” (Matthew 5:13-16) Our text today is a portion of the Holy Gospel, reading again from verses 13-16 of Matthew 5: “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost … Continue reading
“Your Blest Life Now” (Matthew 5:1-12) You’ve probably heard of a TV preacher by the name of Joel Osteen. He’s got a huge megachurch down in Houston, and he’s got a massive audience on television. He’s also written a number … Continue reading
“Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven Is at Hand” (Matthew 3:1-12) “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven Is at Hand”: That was the message of John the Baptist as he came preaching in the wilderness. “Repent, for the kingdom of … Continue reading
“‘Hosanna!’ Our Advent Prayer and Praise” (Matthew 21:1-11) Today is the First Sunday in Advent, the season leading up to Christmas. But you’ll notice that the Holy Gospel for this day is actually a reading about Palm Sunday. What gives? … Continue reading
19“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s … Continue reading
“A Growing Tree” (Ezekiel 17:22-24; Matthew 13:31-32) The image of a tree, which may have started out rather small and insignificant, but which grows and expands until it becomes a very large tree, with branches and leaves where the birds … Continue reading
“What’s the Big Deal about Epiphany?” (Matthew 2:1-12) “What’s the Big Deal about Epiphany?” I mean, what’s so special about this festival that we should have a special service for it, and on a day other than Sunday? In January, … Continue reading
“Separating the Sheep from the Goats” (Matthew 25:31-46) Judgment Day is coming! Are you ready? This is an important question, because the Day of Judgment is indeed coming, and you will be judged. Now that judgment could be positive or … Continue reading
“Christ Has Brought Us out of Darkness” (1 Thessalonians 5:1-11; Matthew 25:14-30; Zephaniah 1:7-16) Well, here we are in the middle of November. It’s cold. It’s dark outside. The trees are growing bare. The days are growing shorter. The earth … Continue reading
“Render–But Don’t Surrender–unto Caesar” (Matthew 22:15-22) “Render unto Caesar”: I think most of us have heard that expression. In fact, I would say that most Americans, whether they’re in the church or not, have heard it. “Render unto Caesar.” The … Continue reading