Jesus asks the disciples if they understand the things He taught them in the Parabolic Discourse, and they say they do. Jesus then gives a one last parable that is unlike the others. All the other parables are ‘Kingdom Parables’ which explain what the Kingdom of heaven is like, but this one explains what a […]
Matthew 10:24-25 The Honor of Students and Slaves
Men were created for glory and we crave it. We, being created in the image of God, desire honor, glory, prestige, & recognition. When pursued in obedience to God such desires are not wrong, and God intends for us to share in His glory. But what is the past to that glory? Listen as Pastor […]
Talking You Out of (And Back Into) Being Baptized
Many times baptism is treated as a cute little rite of passage, but baptism is a big deal. With baptism comes covenant commitments where the candidate is brought under the protection, provision, and authority of the Church. Listen as Pastor Matt preaches a baptismal charge to four baptismal candidates encouraging them to count the costs […]
Matthew 28:18-20 Baptism as a Means of Discipleship Part 3 of 3 Jesus as King, our Future Hope
Listen as Pastor Matt explains the the Old Testament Covenants, Christ’s fulfillment of every Old Testament Promise, and the future hope to which our Baptism points; our resurrection from the dead! May the hope of reigning with Christ cause us all to persevere to the end in obedience and faith.
Matthew 28:19-20 Baptism as a Means of Discipleship Part 1: Jesus as Prophet
Mt 28:19-20 Go therefore & make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father & the Son & the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you. These verses contain only one command; Make disciples. Going, baptizing, & teaching are all participles which indicate that they […]
Matthew 7:1-6 A Basic Guide to Judging Others Part 2 of 2
Some people are far too reluctant to correct, rebuke, or admonish an erring brother; but some are far too eager to point out every little thing with which they disagree. When rightly understood Matthew 7:1-6 protects from both errors. Listen as Pastor Matt shows who’s ‘specks’ Jesus expects us to remove, what a ‘speck’ is, […]
Matthew 4:18-22 Peculiar Disciples with a Peculiar Calling
Who were Jesus’ 12 disciples? Smelly, hard-working, uneducated fisherman! That’s right, He calls fisherman not Pharisees, the common laborer instead of the learned, the overlooked instead of the overlord. God doesn’t think like us. We are finite & weak & we need strength or our goals may fail. God is infinite & powerful & He displays […]
I Corinthians 3:10-15 Our Foundation, Building, and Reward_ Brother Cody Maples
Laying the right foundation is essential if you are to build anything. But even if you have the right foundation, shoddy materials built on the right foundation won’t last. Paul uses this imagery when describing our work in making disciples. But what is the right foundation? What are the right materials? How can we be […]
I Thessalonians 2:17-19 A Father’s Love Defended
Discipleship can be well described as ‘spiritual fathering.’ The emotional investment, the time investment, the material investment, indeed the pouring out of your very life for the benefit of fellow Christ followers is as much a must for the effective disciple maker as it is for the effective father toward his children. Listen as Pastor […]
I Thessalonians 2:12 Spiritual Fathering_ Part 5 of 5_ The Will of a Disciple Maker
In this final sermon in the Spiritual Fathering series we see the end goal of discipleship. Our goal is not to produce people who know a lot about Jesus, but people who walk a lot like Jesus. Listen as Pastor Matt explains what a walk ‘worthy of the God who calls (us) into His Kingdom […]
