We begin our study of parables in Matthew today. Exciting new revelations about god's kingdom will begin at the beginning of Jesus' ministry and carry us through Matthew's Gospel. how many times do you misinterpret the parables. Most people do. Find out why and how they really apply to your life and walk with Jesus.

Do you ever worry that God has given up on you? That he’s finally had enough and is ready to kick you to the curb? It’s like God is thinking: “Oh, my goodness! There he goes again! Haven’t I told him often enough not to do those things? What am I going to do with this one?” Yeah, how could God put up with a supposed Christian as lousy as I am? So I wonder if I’m going to make it with God all the way to the end.

Or maybe you think God has forgotten about you. I mean, look at all the troubles you’re having. You don’t have enough money. Your income is going down. Your expenses are going up. Your health–well, it’s one thing after another. Your life is a mess. Some of the people closest to you have deserted you. And you think: “Maybe God has deserted me, too. He doesn’t seem to care. Nothing is changing for the better. I mean, come on!”

Is religion private?  Something that exists only between you and God?  Many people have this idea, although it has nothing to do with what Scripture teaches.  It is very “American” to think so, since our society is based on individualism.  But the concept is still contrary to the teachings of the Bible.  Nowhere in Scriptures will you find that more clearly than in Romans 8

The Walking Dead is a great commentary, a spiritual commentary, on our world today. Are we to fear the Zombies? Are Zombies all around us? Fear abounds in our world today, with unanswered questions about what to do when pandemics, or zombies, lurk about. What do you do?

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Here in this verse from today’s Gospel, Matthew 11:28, Jesus issues a gracious invitation and makes a wonderful promise. “Come to me” is the invitation, and “I will give you rest” is the promise. And to whom does he address this invitation and promise? To “all who labor and are heavy laden.” What is it, then, to labor and be heavy laden, to be weary and burdened? What does Jesus mean by that?

Today Jesus tells us that he came to bring us three things: “A Sword, a Cross, and a Life.” Are you sure you want these things? Let’s find out. Our text is the Gospel for today, from Matthew chapter 10. Jesus has been instructing his disciples in this chapter, preparing them for what they’re getting themselves in for. And it’s not going to be a bed of roses. Because some of these roses are going to have thorns. Are you ready for this?

Have you ever been afraid to follow someone or something?  Afraid to follow into battle?  Afraid to follow hikers hiking along the side of a cliff?  Afraid to dive with other children into the pool for the first time? Doubting? Not wanting to commit? Today we wrap up our sermon series called Stop Being Afraid. I’m calling this sermon, “The Fear of Following.”  In Luke 5:27 Christ says to Matthew, “Follow me.” Christ doesn’t say, “Follow your feelings.” Or, “follow your dreams and your desires.” Christ doesn’t say, “Follow the crowd, the clique and the culture.” No. Christ says, “Follow me.” 

Last month I finally broke down and bought a shell. It’s a brand new, state-of-the-art shell. Tailor-made. Top-of-the-line. My shell is better than body armor and thicker than an army tank. Why did I buy a shell? To protect me from all the world’s pain. Now when I meet people who don’t know Jesus and who don’t care to know Jesus, my shell keeps me safe. And when I see hunger, poverty and racism, it all bounces off my shell. My shell is great! I don’t feel a thing! Are you living in a shell? We continue our sermon series Stop Being Afraid! with a common fear: the fear of commitment!

Guys, do you remember how you felt the first time you made plans to ask a girl for a date?  Just how you would ask, where you would meet her to ask, etc.  Maybe you even called a few times but hung up fearing if she were to reject you? And, if so, what could you do to make her accept you? Ladies, might you remember a time you wanted to tell your crush just how you felt? But didn’t… for fear of rejection.  What about the first time you went shopping on your own as a teenager.  You bought new clothes, shoes, make-up only to have your mother or father say: “No.  You can’t wear that.”  Rejected. In our sermon series Stop Being Afraid we look at the fear of being rejected.  You can be rejected for anything in our world today.

Today is Holy Trinity Sunday, the Sunday in the church year when we praise God through readings, songs, and the use of our longest creed: the Athanasian Creed, by which we confess most completely our faith in the Triune God revealed through Scripture: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Today we begin Trinity Season of the church year.  This year started with Advent and Christmas, the birth and passion of Christ.  It continued with Lent and Easter in Christ’s death and