Grace Church Sermons

In his teaching of parables, Jesus continues to reveal the nature of the Kingdom. In this week’s text, we get a look at a condensed view of what God has been doing since the beginning, as well as how it's going to all come to fruition. The question that arises is, “Where will we stand when it does?”

Chapter 13 starts a new movement in the ministry of Jesus as he begins to teach in parables. In this passage, we are introduced to the familiar parable of the sower which has something to say about who receives and understands the words of our Lord.

In this last section of chapter twelve, we read the conclusion of Jesus’ confrontation with the Pharisees. The religious leaders request a sign that Jesus does not grant. What follows is an explanation of the state of those who refuse to follow Jesus.

This week, we see the confrontation between the Pharisees and Jesus reach a new high as the religious leaders accuse Jesus of working his miracles through the power of the devil. This is met with a quick and harsh response from our Lord. This passage shows us that how we respond to Christ reveals the truth about our hearts.

This week's text serves as a bit of a bridge between two dramatic encounters involving Jesus and the Pharisees. Matthew placed it here to bring the reader's attention toward more fully understanding the overall purpose of Jesus' earthly ministry. Through it, we get a better idea of why Jesus responds so differently than how we might have expected.

Following Jesus’ words in Matthew 11:29-30 about finding true rest in him, this week’s passage brings us two separate confrontations between Jesus and the Pharisees concerning the Sabbath. In these two scenarios, Jesus addresses the accusations of the Pharisees by not merely arguing about Old Testament law but by declaring some shocking things about himself.

In this week's passage, we continue in Jesus’ discourse to the crowd who had gathered after representatives of John the Baptist were sent to him. In this part of it, we are confronted with the realities of  stubbornness of the human heart toward Jesus and what it looks like when someone does follow him.

This Sunday we jump back into the gospel of Matthew for 2025. As we start in chapter 11, it begins with a concern that is raised by an imprisoned John the Baptist. Jesus takes this interaction and uses it to teach the crowds about a wrong expectation that people often hold to in their response to him.

As we enter a new year, there are many priorities vying for our attention. The concept of Rest is rarely put at the top of one’s list of New Year’s Resolutions. We’ll look together at what Biblical rest is and why it should be important to all of us.