Proverbs 3:11-12; Hebrews 12:5-11

Our summer sermon series is called “Life in the Kingdom”. Each weekend we will explore the Gospel of Matthew, especially the portions that detail the teaching ministry of Jesus. If one was to read through the book of Matthew, one might notice how often Jesus speaks of “the kingdom of heaven”, a way of talking about the kingly reign of God. Throughout His life, Jesus encourages His listeners to live according to God’s will since we are ultimately under His authority and kingship. Throughout the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus has a lot to say about how to live in the kingdom of God. 

Today we will examine Matthew 16:13-28 when Jesus confronts His disciples and asks “Who do you say that I am?” Many people at this time believed Jesus was one of the great prophets come back to life. Peter however confessed that Jesus was “the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Peter’s answer is quick to draw praise from Jesus but soon followed by a sharp rebuke when Peter denounces Jesus’ mission to suffer and be killed by the elders and chief priests. “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”

Peter’s encounter with Jesus contains some of Scriptures most debated verses. What did Jesus mean when He said: “whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven”? What was Jesus referring to when He said: “whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it”?

Our summer sermon series is called “Life in the Kingdom”. Each weekend we will explore the Gospel of Matthew, especially the portions that detail the teaching ministry of Jesus. If one was to read through the book of Matthew, one might notice how often Jesus speaks of “the kingdom of heaven”, a way of talking about the kingly reign of God. Throughout His life, Jesus encourages His listeners to live according to God’s will since we are ultimately under His authority and kingship. Throughout the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus has a lot to say about how to live in the kingdom of God. 

Today we will examine Matthew 16:13-28 when Jesus confronts His disciples and asks “Who do you say that I am?” Many people at this time believed Jesus was one of the great prophets come back to life. Peter however confessed that Jesus was “the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Peter’s answer is quick to draw praise from Jesus but soon followed by a sharp rebuke when Peter denounces Jesus’ mission to suffer and be killed by the elders and chief priests. “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”

Peter’s encounter with Jesus contains some of Scriptures most debated verses. What did Jesus mean when He said: “whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven”? What was Jesus referring to when He said: “whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it”?

The Lost Sheep, The Workers in the Vineyard, The Good Samaritan

Verses taken from Matthew and Luke

Our summer sermon series is called “Life in the Kingdom”. Each weekend we will explore the Gospel of Matthew, especially the portions that detail the teaching ministry of Jesus. If one was to read through the book of Matthew, one might notice how often Jesus speaks of “the kingdom of heaven”, a way of talking about the kingly reign of God. Throughout His life, Jesus encourages His listeners to live according to God’s will since we are ultimately under His authority and kingship.

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus has a lot to say about life in the Kingdom of God. Throughout our summer series, we will examine specific ways Jesus encourages us to live out our lives as His disciples.

Today Jesus teaches about faith. In our Gospel reading, a woman brings her demon-possessed daughter to Jesus for healing. He uses the word “dog”, which was a term the Jews commonly applied to Gentiles because the Jews considered these pagan people no more likely than dogs to receive God’s blessing. Jesus was not degrading the woman by using the term, but rather reflecting the Jewish attitude so as to contrast it with His own. The woman did not argue but instead agreed to be considered a dog as long as she could receive God’s blessing for the sake of her daughter. Ironically, many Jews would lose God’s blessing and salvation because they rejected Jesus to keep their religious laws; Gentiles just the opposite. Jesus used this opportunity to test the woman’s faith and to show that believing in the one, true faith is open to all people.

Our summer sermon series is called “Life in the Kingdom”. Each weekend we will explore the Gospel of Matthew, especially the portions that detail the teaching ministry of Jesus. If one was to read through the book of Matthew, one might notice how often Jesus speaks of “the kingdom of heaven”, a way of talking about the kingly reign of God. Throughout His life, Jesus encourages His listeners to live according to God’s will since we are ultimately under His authority and kingship.

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus has a lot to say about life in the Kingdom of God. Throughout our summer series, we will examine specific ways Jesus encourages us to live out our lives as His disciples.

Today Jesus teaches about faith. In our Gospel reading, a woman brings her demon-possessed daughter to Jesus for healing. He uses the word “dog”, which was a term the Jews commonly applied to Gentiles because the Jews considered these pagan people no more likely than dogs to receive God’s blessing. Jesus was not degrading the woman by using the term, but rather reflecting the Jewish attitude so as to contrast it with His own. The woman did not argue but instead agreed to be considered a dog as long as she could receive God’s blessing for the sake of her daughter. Ironically, many Jews would lose God’s blessing and salvation because they rejected Jesus to keep their religious laws; Gentiles just the opposite. Jesus used this opportunity to test the woman’s faith and to show that believing in the one, true faith is open to all people.

Our summer sermon series is called “Life in the Kingdom”. Each weekend we will explore the Gospel of Matthew, especially the portions that detail the teaching ministry of Jesus. If one was to read through the book of Matthew, one might notice how often Jesus speaks of “the kingdom of heaven”, a way of talking about the kingly reign of God. Throughout His life, Jesus encourages His listeners to live according to God’s will since we are ultimately under His authority and kingship.

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus has a lot to say about life in the Kingdom of God. Throughout our summer series, we will examine specific ways Jesus encourages us to live out our lives as His disciples.

Today Jesus teaches about faith. In our Gospel reading, a woman brings her demon-possessed daughter to Jesus for healing. He uses the word “dog”, which was a term the Jews commonly applied to Gentiles because the Jews considered these pagan people no more likely than dogs to receive God’s blessing. Jesus was not degrading the woman by using the term, but rather reflecting the Jewish attitude so as to contrast it with His own. The woman did not argue but instead agreed to be considered a dog as long as she could receive God’s blessing for the sake of her daughter. Ironically, many Jews would lose God’s blessing and salvation because they rejected Jesus to keep their religious laws; Gentiles just the opposite. Jesus used this opportunity to test the woman’s faith and to show that believing in the one, true faith is open to all people.