Avenue T Church of Christ Sermon & Bible Class Podcast

The sermon "Jesus: In Context" by Cole Tuck, delivered on February 15, 2026, concludes a series addressing commonly misused statements of Jesus. This final message focuses on Matthew 18:20 ("For where two or three have gathered together in my name, I am there in their midst"), correcting the widespread misconception that it guarantees God's presence only in groups of two or more (e.g., small gatherings, prayer meetings, family devotionals, or justifying skipping church assembly).

 Cole passionately dismantles the popular but misguided application of Matthew 18:20, showing through careful exegesis that the verse is not about God's general presence (which is constant, as seen in Hebrews 13:5, Matthew 6:6, and 1 Corinthians 3:16) or a promise for prayer agreements. Instead, it provides divine reassurance and authority in the difficult process of church discipline, confronting and restoring (or, if necessary, withdrawing fellowship from) an unrepentant brother or sister in sin.

The passage (Matthew 18:15-20) outlines Jesus' clear, step-by-step formula for handling sin among believers:

The "two or three" phrase ties directly to the witnesses in verse 16, and Jesus assures that when believers follow this loving, obedient process, He is present—affirming the decision, binding/loosing with heavenly authority, and supporting the church in upholding holiness. Tuck emphasizes that this is not about punishment but restoration, motivated by love (Galatians 6:1; 1 Corinthians 16:14), and warns against substitutes like gossip, ignoring sin, or misusing the verse to avoid gathering with the full church. He highlights real-world misuses (e.g., small groups claiming sufficiency, excusing absence from assembly) and calls for contextual Bible study to avoid such errors. The sermon opens with a celebration of recent baptisms and closes with encouragement for fellowship, study, and obedience.

On Sunday, February 15, 2026, Cole Tuck led our morning Bible class, diving into Romans 10 (with a brief preview of Romans 11). The discussion centered on Israel's zeal for God without true knowledge, their pursuit of righteousness through works instead of faith in Christ, and the simple, accessible gospel: belief in the heart and confession with the mouth that Jesus is Lord leads to salvation (Romans 10:9-13). Paul explains why many Jews rejected this message, not due to a lack of hearing, but defiance and disobedience.

The class emphasized the chain of salvation: faith comes from hearing the word about Christ, which requires preachers (messengers) who are sent. Everyone who calls on the Lord will be saved, but this demands sharing the gospel personally, through conversations, invitations, and tools like tracts or pamphlets. Paul affirms God has not rejected Israel; a remnant is saved by grace, not works, as illustrated by Elijah's era, where 7,000 faithful remained despite widespread rebellion.

The lesson powerfully contrasts grace (God's free, unmerited gift) with works-based righteousness, warning that mixing them nullifies grace. Israel's hardening results from willful rejection, yet God extends His hands persistently. The call is urgent: Christians must evangelize their circles of influence, as God uses ordinary believers to spread the good news.

In this lesson from the "Jesus in Context" sermon series, Cole Tuck addresses the often-misunderstood promise in Matthew 7:7, "Ask, and it will be given to you", within the broader context of the Sermon on the Mount. Far from portraying God as a cosmic vending machine or supporting prosperity gospel ideas, Jesus teaches persistent, relational prayer modeled on a loving father-child dynamic. Cole highlights how people misuse this verse to demand instant gratification, justify selfish desires, or even abandon faith when prayers seem unanswered. Instead, the passage (Matthew 7:7-11) emphasizes ongoing action: keep asking, keep seeking, and keep knocking in humble dependence on God.

Jesus illustrates this with a father who gives good gifts to his children, not harmful or frivolous ones, showing that our perfect heavenly Father knows what is truly good for us, even when it means saying "no" to requests that could hurt us spiritually. The sermon draws on wider Scripture (e.g., James 4:3 on wrong motives, 1 Thessalonians 5:17 on praying without ceasing, and Jesus' own prayer in Luke 22:42, "not my will, but yours") to stress that effective prayer involves submission to God's will, repentance from sin, gratitude, persistence, and a genuine relationship rather than transaction. Ultimately, trusting God like a child trusts a loving parent leads to confident, transformative prayer aligned with His perfect plan.

In his February 1, 2026, sermon titled "The Truth Shall Set You Free," Cole Tuck masterfully unpacks John 8:31-32, challenging the cultural misuse of Jesus' words as a call to embrace subjective "personal truth" for self-fulfillment. Instead, Cole reveals it as a profound process: true disciples devote themselves to God's objective Word, discover divine truth therein, and experience genuine freedom, not from life's hardships, but from the enslaving power of sin through Christ's sacrifice. Drawing on everyday analogies like gravity, house fires, and neglected relationships, Cole warns against twisting Scripture for personal agendas, urging listeners to seek truth externally in God's revelation rather than inwardly in deceitful hearts. This message serves as a timely rebuke to self-centered ideologies, calling for authentic discipleship that leads to eternal liberation and a transformed life.

Sunday Febru

The Bible class led by Cole Tuck on Sunday, February 1, 2026, focused on Romans chapter 9, a dense and theologically weighty passage often cited in discussions of Calvinism. The lesson emphasized a non-Calvinist interpretation, arguing that the chapter addresses God's sovereign choices regarding nations (particularly Israel vs. other nations/Gentiles) and the inclusion of Gentiles in God's promises through faith, rather than individual predestination to salvation or damnation.

 In Romans 9, Paul expresses deep sorrow over many fellow Israelites rejecting Jesus as Messiah, despite their privileged heritage (vv. 1–5). He defends God's faithfulness: His word has not failed, because true "Israel" is not defined by physical descent but by God's promise and faith (vv. 6–9). Using examples like Isaac over Ishmael and Jacob over Esau, Paul shows God's choices are sovereign and not based on human works, merit, or ethnicity—but these examples refer to national roles in God's plan (e.g., through which line the Messiah would come), not individual eternal destinies.

Paul quotes Malachi 1 ("Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated") to illustrate God's preference for Israel (Jacob's nation) over Edom (Esau's nation), not personal hatred or damnation of individuals. The chapter counters Jewish objections to Gentiles' inclusion in God's people: God's mercy and hardening (e.g., Pharaoh) serve His purposes, and no one can question the Creator's rights (potter and clay analogy, vv. 19–24). Ultimately, salvation comes through faith in Christ, not lineage or works. Gentiles attained righteousness by faith, while many Israelites stumbled by pursuing it through law/works (vv. 30–33). Paul highlights a remnant saved by faith, affirming that God's plan includes all who believe, Jew or Gentile.

The lesson challenged Calvinist readings (TULIP: Total depravity, Unconditional election, Limited atonement, Irresistible grace, Perseverance of the saints) by showing the chapter's context is national election and covenant promises, not arbitrary individual salvation/damnation. It underscores God's love for all (seen in Paul's grief and desire for Israel's salvation) and the universal offer of salvation through faith.

Sunday January 18, 2026 Cole Tuck presented a wonderful sermon titled "Voices of Reason".

Sunday January 18, 2026, Cole Tuck led our morning bible class in Romans.

Sunday, January 11, 2026, Cole Tuck continued his sermon series with a wonderful sermon titled "No One Can Snatch Them From My Hand."

Sunday, January 11, 2026, Cole Tuck led our morning bible class in Romans.

Sunday, January 4, 2025, Cole Tuck continued his Jesus in Context with a powerful sermon titled Whoever Believes Will Not Perish.