Christ wants his followers to be guided by holy ambition.

We will contrast

UNHOLY (SELFISH) AMBITION and

HOLY AMBITION

Continuing our series from Matthew 19-23, Triumphs, Treasons, & Turnabouts, this, our fourth sermon "First and Last" grappled with Jesus's parable of the vineyard owner and laborers.

We focused on this BIG IDEA: Christians must build all our expectations on Kingdom promises, not on worldly assumptions, lest we suffer deep frustration and terrible loss.

In this sermon, we look at three scenes that show us living a complete life is simple, but that very simplicity makes it easy to miss.

"CHILDREN" RECEIVED

JESUS REJECTED

DISCIPLES REASSURED

Jesus TURNS ABOUT the efforts of the Pharisees to commit TREASON against him by trapping him in a debate over divorce. In response, Jesus speaks authoritatively on ...

MARRIAGE

DIVORCE (and REMARRIAGE)

CELIBACY

This sermon introduces and surveys the three big themes of Matthew 19-23.

Here's the sermon in a nutshell:

Jesus’s life models for all of us, his disciples, that despite the many treasons we suffer, God is always working turnabouts for his glory, which will ultimately end in eternal triumph!

A sermon for a difficult time in America. If we properly fear the Lord as Christians, then we will not fear the wild changes (vicissitudes) of life as Citizens.

Five HELPS to have the right kind of fear:

OUR WORSHIP

GOD'S WORDS

GOD'S WILL

GOD'S WATCH

OUR WAITING

Three practical suggestions:

CHECK YOUR HEART FOR IDOLATRY

BE A GOOD CITIZEN

EVANGELIZE OUR NEIGHBORS

The mission of the church is to focus on the spiritual and not just the fleshly parts of life, which means we must do all we can to get people reconciled to God in Christ.

Looking at this truth from THREE ANGLES:

OUR MISSION IS SPIRITUAL

OUR MESSAGE IS RECONCILIATION

OUR (GOSPEL) MINISTRY IS PRIMARY

This sermon addresses the basics of the Discipline of Worship

THE HEART OF WORSHIP: IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH

THE PLACE OF WORSHIP: PUBLIC AND PRIVATE

THE DANCE OF WORSHIP: DISCIPLINE AND DELIGHT

Our Doctrine Sunday Sermon on Article 12 of the Baptist Faith and Message.

God guards our hearts and minds from error through Education. We considered

OUR ENEMIES AND THEIR STRATEGY

GOD'S GUARD FOR OUR HEARTS (AND MINDS)

The fifth and final sermon in our On the Church series from Matthew 18. Here's the Big Idea...

What qualifies a Christian to correct another is that he or she DESIRES forgiveness, NOT that he or she lives a sinless life; therefore, the (healthy) fear of hypocrisy must NOT keep us from practicing corrective discipline.

We should feel three emotions...

THE WEIGHT OF SIN

THE COMPASSION OF GRACE

THE DISTRESS OF HYPOCRISY