Pastor Ryan helps us to understand that, in Matthew 19:1-12, Jesus offers a far better story about sex, about marriage and divorce, and about being single. On all the subjects, the world offers woefully inferior comfort and understanding on these deeply sensitive and tender subjects. In all this, we experience deep hurt and confusion, and Lord Jesus shares that only our Heavenly Father offers the healing solutions to such turmoil.

Pastor Ryan speaks on Matthew 18:15-35, where Lord Jesus is giving His first instructions on how His Church is to be THE church. We discuss one of the most difficult, critical yet landmark commands given to us: forgiveness. Here we learn that the Church is not a perfect place: conflict will exist between sinners, and we look to Jesus to show us how to confront, confess, and forgive one another. Who indeed is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?

One of BCC's own, grown-up-in-church and now studying for the ministry, delivers our message for today, based on Matthew 18, verses 1-14. Here, Jeremiah speaks on Jesus' instructions to His disciples on who the most important in the Kingdom of Heaven is: those with child-like faith in Him! We learn of the importance of not neglecting the "least of these", of not forsaking OR impeding God's call, and NOT to forget God's care, even for yourself!

Pastor Ryan uses Matthew 17's events to convey the spiritual principle of thin places (moments of high degrees of closeness with God) and thick places (times in your life filled with the woes of the world). From the Transfiguration to the exorcising of a demon-posessed boy to focusing on the ministry of the cross, Pastor Ryan explains that our Lord Jesus demonstrates the reality that mountaintop moments and valley woes are to be expected in the life of a disciple. In all of this, "listen to Jesus!"

Matthew Chapter 16 reveals several groups misunderstanding Jesus. The Pharisees misunderstood the purpose of Jesus' signs, and in turn misunderstood Him!

The disciples misunderstand the advice of the leaven; Peter misunderstands the Lordship if Jesus, and is rebuked for his idea that "comes from Satan". How about you? Do you misunderstand the cost of discipleship? Do you cling to your life when Jesus says you must lose it first?

Matthew Chap. 15 recites three significant events in the ministry of Jesus: a controversy with the Pharisees, the faith of the Canaanite woman, and the feeding of the 4,000. In all, the prevelent, over-arching theme is: "how can we be clean? How can we be made right with God?" In the chapter, some who meet Jesus do not understand, others do and demonstrate immediately: it is not in the washing of hands, it is in the heart! "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God"!

Pastor Ryan concentrates on two significant and miraculous events that Jesus enacted in Matthew Chap. 14: the feeding of the 5,000 and walking on the stormy water, both events done for the disciples' (and our) spiritual development. Fresh off of their grief-stricken news about John the Baptist, Jesus teaches all of us about the importance of rest and solitude, offering what we have to His glory, taking a risk, and always remembering Who it is that we trust: God in the Flesh, Jesus the Messiah!

Our new Worship Pastor Luke Ash brings us a rich, convicting message on Matthew 13:53 to 14:1-14.

The focus is on Herod Antipas, biblically presented as a tale of two kings, King Herod of the world vs. our King Jesus of the Kingdom of Heaven. Herod feared the people, Jesus was moved with compassion and healing for the people. Do you fear men or fear the Righteous God?

Pastor Ryan leads us through the rest of Chapter 13 in Matthew. Here Jesus shares several more Kingdom parables. From them we discern stark realities:

• The Kingdom has enemies

• The Kingdom is hidden

• The Kingdom is more valuable than

anything!

Vs. 24-50 are the focus for these Ch. 13 lessons of listening, understanding, and repenting.

We return to our series on Matthew, now commencing with the Parables of Jesus, starting in chapter 13. These Parables were not kind fables, but confronting lessons, designed to disrupt and challenge your complacency, or wrong spiritual assumptions! Today we here from our Lord pertaining to the four soils, indicating the four kinds of heart that hear God's Gospel message - are you prepared to change, and repent, so that the soil of your heart is fertile?