From the Pulpit

It’s  wise to, once-in-a-while, be reminded of what we already know so as to  make sure we’re still moving in the right direction. It’s why a student  will return to their course syllabus, why a traveller will recheck their  compass, why a chef reviews their recipe, and why a contractor revisits  their blueprints. These actions are rarely taken with the intention of  learning something new but, rather, to be reminded of what’s expected,  what lays ahead, and what they’re supposed to be doing. Matthew 8:18–22  records Jesus teaching on a familiar subject: discipleship. For most of  us, following Jesus isn’t a novel concept and, so, we come to this short  paragraph less to learn something fresh and more to be reminded of  what’s expected of us, what lays ahead, and what we’re supposed to be  doing to follow well.

Key Passage: Matthew 8:18–22

Speaker: Josiah Boyd

Key Passage: Hebrews 11:1–6

Speaker: Dr. Jim Rennie

In the early days of his earthly ministry,  Jesus made many bold claims. He said he was going to make fishers of men  (4:19). He declared himself humanity’s final Judge (7:22–23) and the  ultimate fulfiller of the law (5:17), a law he asserted had been  mishandled and mis-taught by Israel’s religious leaders (5:20–48).  Yet, perhaps Jesus’s boldest claim was that he was the God-promised  King they’d been waiting centuries for and that, if they repented as a  nation, he would establish the anticipated eternal reign of peace and  prosperity. That’s big talk! But why would Israel believe him? How could  they tell if Jesus actually was who he was claiming to be and could do  what he was claiming to do? They’d need proof and, that’s exactly what  Jesus gives them in Matthew 8 and 9 as he demonstrates his authority  over people, diseases, demons, and even nature itself.

Key Passage: Matthew 7:28–8:17

Speaker: Josiah Boyd

Storms  in this life are as inescapable as they can be vicious. The rains of  depression, fearfulness, and loneliness fall. The floods of personal  sin, family tension, and relational brokenness come. The winds of  cultural tension, social pressure, and godless societies blow. And all  of it, at times, slams against the walls of our lives. In fact, so common is this experience  that it can safely be assumed that each and every one of us is, right  now, recovering from, going through, or preparing for such an affliction. Sometimes all three at once! As Jesus concludes his  so-called Sermon on the Mount, he acknowledges that while such  overwhelming trials are inevitable in this life, being overcome by them is not. As he concludes his lesson, Jesus describes what its proper application produces: An unshakable life.

Key Scripture: Matthew 7:13–27

Speaker: Josiah Boyd

We  worship a relational God. Being mysteriously Trinity—one God eternally  existing in three distinct-but-equal Persons: Father, Son, and Holy  Spirit—God has always been in perfect relationship with himself. And it’s this relational God who created humanity in his image and likeness (Gen 1:26–27).

As such, each of us has been created longing for, surrounded by, and in need of relationships. The problem is, Genesis 1 is followed by Genesis 3 and, when sin entered the world and the curse fell upon creation, everything was negatively affected, including relationships. Sin is why we annoy,  envy, hate, abuse, fear, and fight one another. Sin is why some fear intimacy, being truly known, and trusting others.

And, while we know there is a time coming when sin will be removed and we will enjoy relationships as they were meant to be enjoyed, we have to  ask, what do we do in the meantime? How can we buffer against the brokenness of our relationships?

In Matthew 7, Jesus teaches how the pursuit of true righteousness can change relationships, specifically how righteousness shapes our  interactions with God’s people, with God’s opponents, and with God himself.

Key Passage: Matthew 7:1–12

Speaker: Josiah Boyd

The Bible claims (and we believe!) that “all Scripture is inspired by God and useful”  (2 Timothy 3:16). However, the usefulness of all Scripture is not  uniformly self-evident with some passages seem more obviously applicable  and more immediately practical than others! Arriving at the second half  of Matthew 6, we find a text that requires very little explanation as  to its modern-day relevance as, in it, Jesus addresses two temptations  that each and every Christian has, is, or will  battle in their lifetime. These are temptations that threaten to  distract us and steal the joy and peace to which we have access in  Christ. What are they? They are wealth and worry. All who have a relationship with money—whether you have it, want it, lost it, or need it—and all who experience worry, stress, or anxiety need to hear Jesus’ very useful words.

Speaker: Josiah Boyd

Key Passage: Matthew 6:19–34

Today  we’re going to fight a disease together, one that often goes undetected  and has eternal side-effects. The disease is that of exhibitionism—the  desire to be seen and validated for doing or saying something. This is a  sickness that controls lives, binds consciences, distorts motives, and  spreads quickly.

While  exhibitionism is always ugly, it may be at its worst when it gets into  the church. You see, Christians are not immune. We’re all vulnerable to  the desire of wanting to be seen doing churchy things by churchy people, whether to impress or avoid disappointing. And one of the  terrible symptoms of this illness when it gets into the church is that  the desire to be seen godly becomes more important than actually being godly; that more time is spent crafting the illusion of righteousness rather than pursuing real righteousness; that we elevate what those around us think over and above what God in heaven thinks of us.

This  morning we want fight exhibitionism and, to do that we’re going to hear  from Jesus, the Good Doctor himself, and find help in both diagnosis  and treatment.

Key Scripture: Matthew 6:1–18

Speaker: Josiah

Lew walks us through the first fourteen verses of Colossians and into the context of Colossae, where a new form of heresy was sneaking into the church. Paul's message was simple: “there is no other name under heaven,  given among men, whereby you must be saved…” In short,  everything you need is in Jesus. In the first verses of this powerful letter, Paul gives a full-bodied picture of Christ, and then encourages the believers, prays for them, and reminds them of what God has done for them already, and where true wisdom and knowledge comes from.

Key Passage: Colossians 1:1-14

Speaker: Lew Worrad

In  these days characterized by repeated lockdown, constant inconvenience,  forced isolation, and a seemingly never-ending stream of bad news, do  you find yourself increasingly tired, frustrated, and burdened? Or, if  you don’t, do you know anyone who does? What, as Christians, are we supposed to do in response?

This  morning, from Psalm 61, we’re going to find some divine guidance on  what to do when we we feel weary and inadequate, helpless and fearful.  As we study this passage, we’re going to find that it’s comprised of  three prayers that you and I can and should be praying during times of  struggle.

Speaker: Josiah Boyd

Key Passage: Psalm 61:1–8

COVID-19 has forced us apart as a church and paused or changed many of the functions of our church, but we recognize the virus doesn’t exempt us from being the church. The reality and mission of the body of Christ transcends continents, eras, and even pandemics.

God has given us assignments to which we must dedicate ourselves regardless of circumstance. These  are God-given lighthouses at which we must stare and move toward,  especially when the winds are strong, the waves are high, and the fog is  thick.

Today, from a handful of chapters in the latter half of Paul’s  letter to the Romans, we’re going to be reminded of one such  assignment. More specifically, we’re going to find a root to which we  must attend and, when we do, the fruit it surely produces.

Key Passage: Romans 12:1–15:13

Speaker: Josiah Boyd