Matthew 18.1-14.

Jesus uses a child to explain what greatness looks like in the Kingdom of Heaven. Why does he respond to the disciples' question about greatness by pointing to a child?

1 September 2024.

Matthew 17.22-27.

Following Jesus' second prediction of his death, there is an unusual episode about the temple tax, where Jesus has a decidedly novel idea for payment - finding the sum for two people's annual liability in the mouth of a fish. What's all this about? John walks us through this surprising story.

25 August 2024.

Matthew 17.14-21.

A short while after hitting the heights of the mountaintop with Jesus and his transfiguration, we are back in the valley with lack of faith and lack of power. Phil Hillsdon takes us through that experience of knowing there's more of heaven's power available for us but of just feeling inadequate. How do we grow in faith and authority?

18 August 2024.

Matthew 17.1-13.

The transfiguration on the mountain is not just a moment in the Gospel but an event in history. Jesus choosing to become man veiled his heavenly glory, but in this moment he chooses to reveal it to three of his disciples. A truly awesome event that God still wants to speak to us through today.

11 August 2024.

Matthew 16.21-28.

Following his spectacular revelation of Jesus' true identity, Peter goes from hero to zero by anxiously appealing to Jesus not to go to the cross. The Lord said that Peter was “blessed” to have had the revelation that Jesus is the Messiah and the Son of God, but now Jesus sees the work of the devil in him. What, for Peter, sounded like a calamity, is for us a glorious testament to how much the Lord loves us – that he would willingly “suffer many terrible things” to save us from a fate worse than death.

4th August 2024.

Matthew 16.13-20.

In chapter 16 of Matthew's Gospel, Jesus asks his disciples one of the most important questions anyone can face: 'Who do you say I am?' Peter's inspired response triggers Jesus setting out his great and glorious vision statement - one that is still in operation today, and one we all have a part in.

28 July 2024.

Matthew 16.1-12.

Jesus gave many warnings during his ministry but one of the most curious was to avoid the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees. What did he mean? Michael unpacks this for us and shows how it is a warning we have to take seriously in our day too.

21 July 2024.

Matthew 15.21-39.

Matthew 15 contains one of the most puzzling passages in the four Gospels; Jesus' encounter with a Canaanite woman, whose daughter is in desperate need. Jesus' response to her appears cold - even rude. What is going on? John explores this passage and then walks with us through another slightly strange story which follows it - the feeding of the 4,000. Coming so soon after feeding 5,000, it feels bizarrely (for an amazing miracle) almost like an anticlimax. But it contains a highly relevant challenge for us all.

14 July 2024.

Matthew 15.1-20.

A delegation of Pharisees and teachers of the law arrive from Jerusalem to confront Jesus about the way he is carrying on. But Jesus replies that he is simply disregarding their man-made traditions, while they are finding ever-more ingenious ways of avoiding obedience to holy scripture. Despite Jesus being crystal clear on this matter, Michael shows us how the Church down the years has, at times, been just as guilty of elevating churchy rules above God's word.

7 July 2024.

Matthew 14.22-36.

Jesus approaches his disciples, who have been rowing hard for nine hours, walking on the water. It scares the living daylights out of them but this passage is quite important for helping us understand the dynamics of fear and faith in our own hearts.

30 June 2024.