There were several miracles at the cross of Christ of which one was the sudden darkness that cloaked the sky from noon to three PM. The darkness is not detailed by Matthew but the implications are clear in the Gospels.

Jesus Christ was not only arrested and executed. Rather, Jesus was the warden of his crucifixion. The tomb was empty so that his disciples could look in and see that he had risen. The Christian life is dependent on the resurrection of Christ.

The arrest and interrogation of Christ is marked by the deceit of the human heart. The heart is so dangerous that it can contemplate murder while convincing us that we are righteous.

Key to fulfilling our responsibilities is an understanding of what we are expected to do. 1 Peter 2-9 gives the Christian four job descriptions in order to carry out the task of the church.

In an increasingly anxious world the church provides hope. The church is essential because she brings worship to God, witness to the world and nurture for the believer.

As a growing number of of people realize that the church is essential to society, the great task of the present day church is to convince Christians of how essential the church is. The church is the people, purpose, power and pleasure of God.

Defining what the church is can be a bit more complex than expected. Beginning with 1 Corinthians 3-16 we learn that the church is the presence of God in this world. It is also the proclamation of God and the provision of God to this world.

At times, we have to explain our faith to the world. In changing times we have to explain the world to the church. And yet at other times we have to explain the church to the church. With this in mind, Matthew 5-14-15 points not only to what the church is but what it is not.

The world gives us plenty of reasons to be afraid. However, the question is not whether or not we are afraid, but what do we do with our fear. Abram allowed fear to overtake him. Christ's promise in John 16-33 assures us his abiding peace in times of trouble. Overcoming fear in a sin riddled world is a primary reason for coming to church weekly.

Whatever you set out to achieve determines what you will become.-The psalmist makes clear that he wants more of what God has already laid out in his word and pleads for God to grant him open eyes.