Matthew 2:13-23 | The Birth of Jesus Christ | Matt Jackson

This sermon brings to a close our study of the first two chapters in Matthew’s gospel, Jesus the King’s origin story. In the passage before us, Matthew 2:13–23, we will watch as God preserves His Son from the Satanic fury of a false king. And as we move through the text, we will see a common pattern in the story of redemption unfold: flight to Egypt, exile, and return to the land of promise. Listen and be encouraged by the truth that God always protects His Son and His people, and will lead us safely home to Himself in the new Exodus brought about by Jesus Christ.

Matthew 2:1-12 | The Birth of Jesus Christ | Trent Hunter

Jesus is heaven's greatest treasure for the world. He is also the greatest threat to this world's kings and kingdoms. No surprise, then, that "king Herod" and kings today plot against God's anointed and those who take refuge in him. In Matthew 2:1–2 we witness how Jesus' birth was received. No one had a better birth announcement than Jesus. No one had a more conflicted reception.

Matthew 1:18-25 | The Birth of Jesus Christ | Jim Knauss

While we might say that every birth is a miracle, something different, something truly miraculous happens in the birth of our Savior. More than just the eternal Son's entrance into his creation, the story of his conception and birth is pregnant with meaning that we must not miss. As we learn in Matthew 1:18-25, the son of Mary will be a sign of great comfort and hope for us all.

Matthew 1:1-17 | The Birth of Jesus Christ | Trent Hunter

This sermon begins a four-part preaching series through Matthew 1–2, The Birth of Jesus Christ. The story of Jesus' birth begins with his backstory, his genealogy. Genealogies are important for a variety of reasons. In the case of the Messiah, genealogies give us confidence that he really is the One. Specifically, that he is the great son of David, the one promised who would save his people from their sins. But, more than that, that we can be one of his.

1 Peter 3:18-22 | The Sign of Baptism | Trent Hunter

The sign of baptism pictures our union with Christ in his death and in his resurrection to newness of life. This is the heart of the Bible's story and our story as Christains. But it is not the beginning of the story, nor is it the end. When Peter wrote to first century churches concerning the sign of baptism in 1 Peter 3:18–22, he said baptism corresponds to the waters in the story of Noah. How exactly does baptism correspond to the waters of Noah's flood? This question will guide into the deeper things of the Bible's story so that we might go deeper into the heart of God for sinners deserving judgment.

Romans 1:21 | Trent Hunter

For Chistians, our thanksgivings are not just echoes of God's goodness to us in creation, but of God's grace to us in redemption. In sin all humans suppress the truth of God's benevolence in our unrighteousness. But because of God's grace, we have stopped that foolish project in order to acknowledge we are recipients of great gifts from a good and gracious God. Romans 1 details the descent of humankind into sin and death. That descent began with ungratefulness to God. The rest of Romans shows us the way back.

James 5:1-6 | Undivided: Grace for Change from the Book of James | Trent Hunter

James 5:1–6 brings us to James’ sharp condemnation of the worldly rich who oppress the poor. He is not writing as to be heard by them but, rather, to be heard by the church, thereby to comfort the church and warn believers against envying the rich. The rich unbelievers who harm the church have made a grave miscalculation, investing in this world's riches at the expense of eternal life.

James 4:13-17 | Undivided: Grace for Change from the Book of James | Trent Hunter

This week we come to an especially memorable passage in James’ letter, 4:13–17. Here James offers us a memorable line to speak as we make our plans: “If the Lord wills…” It's a misused phrase, sometimes to bless our own plans and at other times as a mindless mantra. But far worse, we neglect to acknowledge the Lord in our plans for the future. According to James, one of the most evil things we can do is to make careful plans for tomorrow without accounting for the Lord who holds all of our days. This is a convicting truth. But equally as comforting.

James 4:11-12 | Undivided: Grace for Change from the Book of James | Trent Hunter

We have all heard the expression, "who are you to judge your neighbor?" But perhaps not in the right context or from the right motive. This week we come to a short passage in James' letter that addresses a very great problem: the problem of defaming speech. James has helped us with our speech by showing us the destructive reach of our words through the metaphor of a fire. This week he returns to this subject to show us the reach of our speech in a different direction; the direction of heaven. By our evil words against our brothers we seek to put ourselves in the very place of God. This week in James 4:11–12, we find out how good it is that God is not like us, for the church is a people brought forth by a word of grace and truth, rather than grievance and judgment.

James 4:4-10 | Undivided: Grace for Change from the Book of James | Trent Hunter

James has addressed his readers as “brothers” and “dear brothers.” Now, in James 4:4–10, we come to the heart of the book with this dramatic accusation: “You adulteress people!” The division between believers is owing to a division within the members themselves, and this division is rooted in a division between the people and their Lord captured in this imagery of marital infidelity. This is a wake up call to repentance, to humbly return to the God who yearns jealously over his people. This is also a word concerning our God's jealousy for a loving, warm, and faithful relationship with his people, a relationship that begins with humility. What does that humility look like? James does more than tell us to humble ourselves, but he shows us what this humility looks like.