Passage: Matthew 3:13-4:11

Last week we looked at John the Baptist's ministry of preparing the way for the arrival of the King, Jesus by calling people to repent and baptizing them as a sign of that turning from sin toward God. So it's a little surprising, especially to John, when the King arrives and requests that he himself undergo the same baptism. Often times the baptism and temptation of Jesus at the beginning of his ministry is seen by people as an example for us to follow, and there is an element of that. But even more, it marks Jesus' own preparation for the work of redemption he's come to do for his people. In his baptism and temptation, he is a King who both stands with his people as a comrade in arms and fights for his people as a champion in battle. Here we see Jesus identifying with us as sinners, yet without sin, and facing temptation for us in victory. All in order that he might be prepared and equipped to carry out his mission of rescue and rule. Join us this Sunday as we continue our series in Matthew and consider Jesus as our comrade and champion in the battle against sin.

Passage: Matthew 3:1-12

As we enter a new year, we are continuing our sermon series in the gospel of Matthew. The focus in this next part of the series will be on Living for the King as Matthew chronicles the beginning of Jesus' ministry, announcing that the kingdom of heaven has arrived and preaching what may be the most famous of his public discourses, the Sermon on the Mount. This week we will look at ministry of John the Baptist whose calling is to herald the Kings arrival and prepare the way by calling the people to repentance for sin. The good news of the gospel is that God has provided a way to new, reconciled, restored life with him in his renewed kingdom. Receiving that kingdom means turning from our old way of sin and self to follow Jesus who is the way, the truth and the life. That turning is not just a change of direction, but a change of heart which is the calling to repentance. Join us Sunday as we prepare to enter a new year of living for our King Jesus with a fresh call to repentance.

Passage: Matthew 2:13-23

The birth of Jesus was indeed good news of great joy, but it was not received that way by everyone. The arrival of the King of kings immediately launched an assassination plot by Herod that threatened to bring a quick end to God’s plan of redemption. Indeed, the plot highlighted the depths of evil to which God’s enemy would go to stop the salvation of God’s people. But that plan would not be thwarted, and Joseph is tipped off by the angel of the Lord, who formulated an escape plan that not only provided protection for this newborn King, but pointed to the truth that he was indeed the promised deliverer. Join us this Sunday as we finish out advent series on the born identity of Jesus and learn of his escaped from an assassin.

Passage: Matthew 1:21

As we continue looking at the "born identity" of Jesus in Matthew's gospel, we come to the clearest statement of why the baby Jesus was born into this world, a purpose that is reflected in the name given to him by his heavenly Father. The Hebrew name for Jesus means "Jehovah (God) saves." And Joseph is told to give this name the son to be born to Mary. Why? "Because he will save his people from their sins." Jesus comes to save. That is the central message of the gospel and indeed of the whole scriptures. God saves and he does so through his son Jesus. And why do we need a Savior? From what do we need to be rescued? Our sin. In order to understand and embrace the rescue mission on which Jesus has been sent, we have to see our great need to be rescued. The good news of the gospel, that Jesus saves, shines brightest against the dark backdrop of our need for salvation as sinners. Join us on Sunday as we continue our Advent series and consider the powerful name and purpose of Jesus, to save sinners like you and me.

Passage: Matthew 2:1-12

Passage: Matthew 1:18-25

Immanuel, God with us. It's a name that is given by God in the prophecy of Isaiah to a newborn son as a sign to King Ahaz of God's presence and power to deliver his people. King Ahaz refuses the sign, but God does not forget his promise. And in Matthew's account of Jesus' birth we're told that this son, born to the virgin Mary, is indeed the fulfillment of that promise as God with us. Those three words, encompassed in that one name, hold a mountain of truth in them that explains the essence of Christmas. Jesus is Immanuel, God with us. Such news was difficult for Joseph, Mary's fiance, to grasp, but he believed God's promise and embraced God's plan. Join us this Sunday as we consider the profound and hope-filled implications of the incarnation: that Jesus truly is God with us.

Passage: Matthew 1:1-17

Tracing one's ancestors and family roots has become a fast growing interest and industry. Technology has made it easier, as we say in the South, to find our who your people are. Exploring your genealogy, however, comes with some risk, as you may find out there some characters in your family background you're not so excited about. As we start a study in the gospel of Matthew, we find that the opening chapter starts with a list of Jesus' ancestors going back to Abraham. Interestingly enough, its a list of folks who's lives and reputations you might think would be better left off the of the family tree of the King of kings. And yet, this is precisely Matthew's point as he records for us Jesus' coming as the promised Messiah, the One who would fulfill the covenant promises of God to Abraham and David and would usher in the kingdom of God. Far from being a simple catalogue of names of Jesus' ancestors, it is a reminder that Jesus came to earth as a man, from a long line of sinners like you and me, to redeem a people for himself, who would enter into that family tree as children of the covenant; sons and daughters of God. Join us this Sunday as we start a series through the gospel of Matthew beginning this advent season looking at the born identity of Jesus.

Passage: Colossians 1:15-23

As we come to the end of our series on being Created in the Image of God, we recognize more and more the negative impact of man's sin and rebellion in distorting and disfiguring that image and its design for human flourishing. We see the confusion, conflict and chaos of the cultural identity crisis all around us and wonder is there any hope? Who can fix this? The answer lies in the One who is the perfect image of God, the second Adam, the Lord Jesus who comes not only to reveal to us the nature and character of our Creator, but to reconcile all things to himself and to our heavenly Father, such that the image of God in us and in this world is being redeemed and restored in us. The struggles we feel are just the birth pangs of the glory being restored and revealed in the redeemed children of God, as we serve as Christ's ambassadors of reconciliation to the world. Join us Sunday as we conclude our series by looking at reconciliation in the image of God.

Passage: Judges 2:1-15

Guest Preacher: Chris Ellzey

We serve a God who is exceedingly faithful to His people, loving them with a steadfast, covenantal love that can never be broken. But what about you, and what about me? Is our relationship with God characterized by the same faithfulness? Join us this Sunday as we hear God speak to us through His Word about the importance of faithfulness in the life of the Christian, as well as how we can cultivate a deeper, daily commitment to walking faithfully with Him.

Passage: Genesis 2:4-22; Matthew 25:14-30

From the opening verses of the Bible we see God at work, bringing all things into existence in an ordered, creative, beautiful fashion, including mankind whom he made in his image. And the first thing he gave to the man and woman in the garden was a job in which they were to be his co-regents in subduing and having dominion over creation. Though work becomes cursed by sin, work is not a result of sin, but a central part of what it means to be created in God's image. How we as Christians live Monday to Saturday is as much a part of our calling, ministry and even rest in God as what we do at church on Sunday mornings? No matter what our vocation, our work is a central element of the image of God in us, and it is vital for us to understand our work in terms of kingdom stewardship. In a culture that is increasingly restless and discontent with work, the Bible reminds us that we were created for a purpose and calls us to see the high calling of our work in carrying out God's creation mandate to subdue and have dominion over the earth. Join us this Sunday as we look at work in the image of God.