Gospel Explorations

Pastor Mark looks at the next section of Matthew 4 and discusses the beginning of Jesus' ministry in Galilee as He returns to the area following John the Baptist's arrest. Additionally, the emphasis is made on the fulfilled prophecy found in Isaiah and the message of Christ as being a continuation of John's  message: Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

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Pastor Mark discusses the last two temptations of Christ in the wilderness and emphasizes again that the Word of God is the promised solution to overcome temptation in our own lives. Be encouraged to know that God has equipped you in His Word with all that you need to live a life pleasing to Him.

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We find the temptation of Jesus immediately on the heels of His baptism. This is an important reminder to us that spiritual highs do not insulate us from future spiritual struggles. Yet, as Pastor Mark points out, the beauty of this passage is that Christ sets a pattern that we can follow to help us deal with the temptation we all face. The victory is not found in us, but in the Word. Listen and be blessed!

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Grab your Bible and join Pastor Mark as he takes a look at the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist. This is one of the few places in Scripture where all three persons of the Godhead are concurrently expressed and manifest. Jesus was baptized, not because He had been forgiven of sins, but because He was identifying with sinful man so that He could become the sin sacrifice for all. There are significant theological ramifications in these few verses that leave us walking away with the assurance that this was God's magnificent plan all working according to His wisdom.

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Pastor Mark examines John's confrontation of the religious leaders in Jesus' day and his call to them to repent for salvation apart from their familial ties to Abraham. Ultimately, the passage ends with a reminder that the wheat and chaff will be separated, and judgment awaits those who reject the Messiah.

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Join Pastor Mark as we meet John the Baptist. He's eccentric, different, and the exact person that God knew was needed to make preparations for Jesus as the Messiah. Come along for this quick introduction to John's ministry and learn how God used Him to call the nation of Israel to repentance.

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Pastor Mark wraps up Matthew chapter 2 by looking at the return of Joseph, Mary, and the Christ child to Israel from Egypt and considers the implications of settling down in the insignificant town of Nazareth.

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Pastor Mark pauses to consider Joseph's immediate obedience to flee with his family to Egypt and how God in His sovereignty provided a way of escape to thwart Herod's plans. Ultimately, yet again, more prophecies are fulfilled as Jesus and his parents eventually return to Israel and "out of Egypt" comes God's Son.

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Join Pastor Mark as he continues to work through Matthew's gospel. In this episode, he takes time to consider Herod's attempt to convince the magi to return to inform him of the Christ child and how the Lord directed them to keep moving in order to ensure the safety of Joseph, Mary, and baby Jesus.  Additionally, Pastor Mark considers some applications that come about as one considers the magi, their visit, their worship, and their obedience.

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Pastor Mark takes time to discuss the characters found in Matthew 2: Herod, the Chief Priests, scribes, and the wise men. The nuance and subtleties found in this story are remarkable, especially when one considers how the magi from the east play into the narrative. Yet again, we see the hand of the sovereign, almighty God!

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