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Jesus is King: The King’s Healing Power.
The King’s Healing Power. Matthew’s Gospel, chapter 9, verses 18-34. A desperate father, verses 18 and 19 A desperate woman, verses 20 to 22 A dead daughter, verses 23 to 26 A desperate cry for mercy, verses 27 to 31 A demon-possessed man, verses 33 to 34 The crowd is amazed – “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel!” But the religious leaders sneer – “It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons.” Pastor…
What is the Church? What Does She do?
What is the Church? What Does She do? By Pastor Michael Hunt, President of the Fellowship of Congregational Churches, Australia. Genesis chapter 12, verse 1 to 4, 1 Peter chapter 2, verses 4 to 25.
Jesus is King: The King’s Mission
The King’s Mission. Matthew 9:14-17. An important question from John the Baptist. The Question: Matthew 9:14 “Why don’t your disciples fast?” Pharisees had decreed fasting every Monday and Thursday, rather then the yearly fast at the Day of Atonement. They made sure others knew they were fasting. Jesus said no, keep it secret. The Answer: Matthew 9:15-17 A wedding. No one mourns there. It is a time for rejoicing. Jesus said “I, the bridegroom, am present. It is a time…
Jesus is King: King Jesus, the Soul Doctor
King Jesus, the Soul Doctor. Matthew’s Gospel, chapter 9, verses 9 to 13. Jesus’ Call, Matthew 9:9 As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew. He was sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” Jesus told him. Matthew got up and followed him. Matthew 9:9 “Follow me” – A hated, despised, tax-collector gets up and follows Jesus. In his crucifixion painting Rembrandt paints himself into the narrative. “Me too!” Jesus’ Mission, Matthew 9:10-13 Later Jesus…
Jesus is King: The King’s Authority
The King’s Authority. Matthew 8:23-9:8. The world is in a mess, has been since Genesis 3’s rebellion, and no human plans can fix it. Only Jesus the King can fix it. Jesus’ authority over nature: Matthew 8:23-27 “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!” Jesus authority over demons: Matthew 8:28-34 Demons do exist. Our part is to avoid an unhealthy interest in them. Jesus…
Jesus is King: The King’s Followers
The King’s Followers. Matthew 8:18-22. What does it look like to follow Jesus? The price of following Jesus, Matthew 8:18-22 A teacher of the Law says to Jesus “I will follow you wherever you go”, but Jesus warns him there is a price. The priority of following Jesus, Matthew 8:21-22 Salvation is for free, but discipleship costs everything.
Jesus is King: The Good and Gracious King
The Good and Gracious King. Matthew’s Gospel, chapter 8, verses 1 to 17. “Jesus is the good and gracious King, not a harsh and distant King” Matthew’s aim is to show Jesus as the promised Messiah-King, down amongst us. His teaching is the opposite of the religious rulers, who said “do more!” He came with grace and forgiveness. Matthew shows us the power, the authority, of the King. No one else like him. The purpose of His healings. Not just…
Come to Me.
Come to Me. Matthew’s Gospel, chapter 11, verses 25-30. Come to me, all you who are tired and are carrying heavy loads. I will give you rest. Become my servants and learn from me. I am gentle and free of pride. You will find rest for your souls. Serving me is easy, and my load is light. Matthew 11:28-30 Not all of Jesus’ words were comfortable. But these ones are comfortable. Jesus spoke these for all people who will listen.…
Love in all the wrong places.
Love in all the wrong places. John’s first letter, 1 John, Chapter 2, verses 15-17. A Ferrari is impressive. What makes someone spend $400,000 to get from A to B? Desire, love? But not logic. I think, therefore I am. Rene Descartes, 17th century philosopher. In practice it is more often “I love, therefore I am”, which drives us. Love is a choice , verse 15. Do not love the world or anything in it. “Do not..” means we can…
When God Seems Far Off and Hidden – Psalm 10
When God seems far off and hidden. Psalm 10. A crisis of faith Psalm 10:1 The Lord is a place of safety for those who have been treated badly. He keeps them safe in times of trouble. Psalm 9, verse 9 Lord, why are you so far away? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble? … but now, Psalm 10, verse 1 God seems out of the picture. The wicked have moved to the centre. A portrait of…
Praising and pleading with God the Judge – Psalm 9
Praising, and pleading with God the Judge. Psalm 9 A new year in a broken world. Sometimes the wicked seem to win. This side of heaven life is still like that for the believer. Praise for past rescue: Psalm 9:1-12 David and his kingdom are under threat, but he looks to One far greater than any enemy. Every deliverance is a signpost to God and His ways, to His final victory. God’s justice is a source of hope and joy.…
Approaching the New Year with God.
Approaching the new Year with God. Psalm 90, a Psalm of Moses. The setting is Moses in the wilderness, with all the troubles and losses he faced there. Depressed? No, for he knows God. The Eternal God: Psalm 90:1-2 “We are a moment, You are forever”. He never ages, He is outside of time. The Sovereign God: Psalm 90:3-6 He decides the lifetime of us all, yet is outside of time Himself. He decides all the affairs of this world.…