Our pastoral intern, Giulio Muci, delivers our sermon today, based on Matthew 12: 1-21.

Here, we discuss what it means to rest in the Lord (vs. 11:29,30), knowing that Christ is our rest, because He announces that He is even Lord of the Sabbath! (vs. 8). This passage also demonstrate just how wrong the Pharisees were in what to expect of our Messiah, Who is the very model of God's character and Spirit.

Pastor Ryan leads us through Matthew 11: 16-30, focusing on some recorded accounts of the people's response to our Savior. Here, His own family and townsfolk reject the Messiah, people of hard hearts not getting what they want. Amazing, Scripture then provides an invitation from Jesus to come to Him: Chorazin and Bethsaida rejected Jesus, but you don't have to! Ryan explains how, in receiving Jesus, we come like children, and to know His burden is light and yoke is easy.

Pastor Ryan tackles a difficult moment in every believer's life: what do you do, how do you respond, when you doubt?

Even John the Baptist pleaded for an assurance that the needed to dispel his doubting concern: "are you the One who is to come, or should we look for another?"

How are we to turn to Jesus with our doubts? Ryan leads us through Matthew 11:1-15 for Biblical solutions: we are NOT alone, disappointment can be a gift, and the work God does in your life is unique to you. Our Jesus, the Suffering Immanuel, serves as our supreme example!

We focus on Matthew 10:16-42. Jesus teaches us:

• We grow when we go (when we act in

obedience)

• When we go, we learn -

- our identity

- our Christ-likeness

- our dependence on the Spirit

So GO, and do not be afraid!

Pastor Symps leads us in a study of Matthew 9:35 - 10:15. Hear Jesus continues to reveal His authority by establishing the structure to harvest (the harvest is great, but the laborers are few!), giving compassion to His flock, seeing their helpless state of sheep without a shepherd. Jesus then proceeds to call His 12 apostles, instruct them on harvesting, and revealing where to go to harvest.

He call us to the same, and gives US of His authority!

In Matthew 9:14-34, we are treated to several accounts where Jesus' authority, clearly made clear and established in previous verses, is now resisted and challenged. Pastor Ryan explains that, yet even through this, our Jesus shows His power even over sin itself, and he is indeed Lord of Grace. The famous verse "by grace are you saved" (Ephesians. 2:9) clearly resounds through these miracle accounts! Those who insist on being self-righteous must learn that, because of Jesus' work on the cross, truly no one can boast!

Matthew 8:15-9:13 -

Pastor Ryan shares in this passage that throughout these testimonies of miracles, of Jesus calming the storm, casting out a legion of demons, healing a paralytic, and Matthew's own personal salvation testimony, through all this Jesus IS King, and Lord with all Authority. He has authority over creation, over evil, over disease, and over the human heart.

Pastor Ryan returns us to our ongoing study of the Gospel of Matthew, Ch. 8:1-17. Here, we see Jesus the Greatest Teacher coming down from mountain, and entering the "valley" of brokenness to be the Greatest Healer. We read of three outsiders, a leper, a Gentile, and a woman, who are made clean and whole by our Savior, and in so ding shows us He is Lord of the Law, of righteousness, of nature, and able to draw those who are far into the nearness of the Father, being made clean by His Son.

Today BCC is blessed to have Luke and Emily Ash provide us with song and testimony, some lessons from Scripture and some worship exhortations. Listen, reflect, worship and enjoy! (NOTE: for more information about our dear guests, please visit them at https://www.facebook.com/lukeandemilymusic/ ).

We take a short break from Matthew - Pastor Ryan shares wit us a sermon penned by author Frederick Buechner, apropos for our season devoted to the discipleship of Jesus. From Buechner's book "Magnificent Defeat", Ryan shares with us the title sermon, stylized for its exhortation to our Broadway family.

The sermon is based on the lessons learned from Jacob's wrestling with the Lord God (Genesis 32:22-31).