Send us a text

Matthew 12:46-50 is the text for this sermon entitled, "The Family of Jesus."

In this final paragraph of Chapter 12, Matthew describes a time when Jesus was sitting with disciples and his birth family came asking to speak with him. Someone let Jesus know that his mother and siblings needed to see him. Jesus used this interruption as a "golden moment" to teach his listeners something important about the spiritual kingdom, the family of God. 

He asks a simple question and gives a simple (though unexpected) response: my family is anyone who does the will of God, my Father. What does this answer teach us in today's modern society? 

Send us a text

Matthew 12:43-45 is the text for this sermon entitled, "The Unclean Spirit."
Introduction - What is the unclean spirit?
•The "unclean spirit" symbolizes evil and spiritual uncleanliness, with roots in Old Testament concepts of defilement. 
•Jesus' references to unclean spirits highlight the dangers of spiritual emptiness, suggesting that a heart devoid of good can invite further evil. 
•The passage emphasizes that a person cannot simply rid themselves of evil without filling their heart with goodness, as emptiness invites more significant spiritual danger.
1.  When the Unclean Spirit Leaves 
•The idea of the unclean spirit leaving refers to the moment when a person wakes up and wants God’s help to clean up their life.
•Nahum 1:11 (The oracle against Nineveh) and Matthew 15:18-19 use the same verb to describe what is gone out of the mouth proceeds from the heart! 
2.  When the Unclean Spirit Finds No Rest
•Demonic activity against the will of God (expelled by a stronger presence)
•Satan’s search for rest in "waterless places" (geographic metaphor) shows that he never stops seeking new converts and  looking for those without spiritual fulfillment.
•Verb used to describe Satan’s empty quest is the same as Simeon’s prophecy to Mary (Luke 2:35) “sword will pierce your soul.”
•Deserted, dry places – abode of demons in Old Testament (Isaiah) and Revelation 18:2  “‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great! She has become a dwelling for demons and a haunt for every impure spirit, a haunt for every unclean bird, a haunt for every unclean and detestable animal.
Consequences of Spiritual Emptiness
•Upon returning, the unclean spirit finds the heart empty, swept, and in order, but lacking the presence of God, making it vulnerable to worse conditions.
•The return of the unclean spirit with seven others signifies a more severe state of spiritual decay. The attack is now sevenfold more forceful.
•The sermon warns against superficial attempts to improve one's life without inviting God into the heart, leading to a cycle of spiritual vulnerability.
•The final state of a person can be worse than the initial condition if they do not fill their lives with God's presence.
Practical Applications
•Let us examine our lives, ensuring we fill our hearts with God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit to avoid spiritual emptiness. 
•We encourage one another to be vigilant against spiritual emptiness.
•What is in our heart and what comes out of our heart is key.
•We must not allow Satan to lead us into the dry, waterless land that dries up the soul. The gospel offers the living waters. 
•Peter pictures allowing Satan to return as a dog returning to its vomit!
•Remember verses about being filled with God’s Spirit, and Jesus’ presence in us!
   --Matthew 5:6   “… for they will be filled.“
   --Romans 15:13, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy & peace

Send us a text

Matthew 12:38-42 is the text for this sermon entitled, "Demanding a Sign."

Curtis begins this lesson with a look at two parallel gospels (Mark and Luke) that add additional details and perspectives about this event in the life of Jesus. Jewish leaders and teachers came to Jesus and demanded a sign to prove His authority (although it was their usual ploy to trap Him). Jesus response started by noting that they are well able to interpret the signs of nature (red sky at morning, sailors take warning), but they are unable to interpret the signs of the "times."  

Their demand was for proof that Jesus was the Messiah. Replying, Jesus uses Jonah’s experience of being in the huge fish’s belly 3 days and nights to pre-figure Jesus’ experience of burial in the heart of the earth, or grave for 3 days and 3 nights. He concludes by reminding the questioners of the Hebrew Bible's record of the Queen of Sheba visiting King Solomon, traveling far to ask him questions. Jesus declares that the Pharisees are not listening to Jesus, even though His wisdom is far superior to Solomon's.

Jesus’ proof for us today is the fulfillment of His promise to be raised from the dead to redeem us from sin and death!

Send us a text

Matthew 12:33-37 is the text for this sermon entitled, "Good Fruit and Good Words."

The book of Matthew records Jesus' teachings as focused on words 20-30% of the time. That underscores the importance of understanding how our words reflect our hearts and impact our lives! The idea of “fruit” is used 12x by Matthew, more than any other NT writer! 

Consider how can words be fruitful? Our words and actions are the fruit of our inner life. Only a healthy tree can bear good fruit, so we need to cultivate a good heart to produce good words and deeds.  

Words are connected to the heart (12:34-35), which is the source of speech and actions. To achieve the inner purity we must perform regular self-examination of what fills our hearts. Additionally, realize that words have consequences, both now and in time to come. We read that our words will be brought into play at the Judgment Day and we will be called on to give an account for every "empty, useless, idle, or lazy word. God asks us to steward our words. They reflect our spiritual state and disclose what we have stored up in our minds.

Words can acquit or condemn (courtroom words), so be motivated to live with an awareness of eternal accountability. How to have a fruitful tree with wonderful fruit of good words!
1. What we say is how people see us.
2. Make everything we say “good.”
3. I need to be the daily fruit inspector of my own mouth!
4. What is my heart full of right now? That is what is going to come out!
5. Remember that the Lord is going to hold me personally accountable for what I say!
6. Am I guilty of using empty/useless words?
7. Imagine that I am going to stand in court to answer my language--will I be acquitted or condemned? 

Send us a text

Matthew 12:22-32 is the text for this sermon entitled, "The Unforgivable Sin."

Jesus attributes the healing and exorcisms He performs to the power of the Holy Spirit, emphasizing the Spirit's divine role in His ministry. Interesting how his ministry of teaching and healing caused so much controversy! The power of the Spirit working in Jesus’s ministry was the fulfillment of Isaiah 61. The broader public response to this healing event was “all the people were astonished.”

This raises the question, “Could this be the Son of David?” The language is typical of Jewish messianic expectations. One purpose of Matthew is to answer this question for every inquirer of the Bible--yes! this is the Son of David, the Son of God!

Then the Pharisees accused Jesus of using the power of Beelzebul, showing rejection of the Holy Spirit's work through Jesus. During the time of Jesus, Jewish tradition and understanding of Beelzebul were shaped by a combination of biblical texts, contemporary Jewish writings, and popular beliefs. Beelzebul, also spelled Beelzebub, is a figure that appears in various ancient sources, and its perception among Jews of the Second Temple period reflects both theological and cultural factors.

The name "Beelzebul" is often linked to "Baal-Zebub," which means "Lord of the Flies" in Hebrew. Originally, Baal-Zebub was a deity worshiped in Ekron, one of the Philistine cities, associated with healing and perhaps fertility. Over time, especially in Jewish texts, the name became associated with a demonic figure or a prince of demons.

Good news--Jesus is stronger than Beelzebul! 

What is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit?--attributing the work of Jesus to the Devil. What is the unforgiveable sin?--being in such an entrenched mindset and unrepentant attitude that you reject everything that the Spirit of God has offered. Good news--sin can be forgiven, unless we do not want to be forgiven and do not care.

Send us a text

Matthew 12:15-21 is the text for this sermon entitled, "The Chosen Servant."

Jesus came to earth on a mission! Have you ever thought about writing your personal Life Mission Statement to see if it aligns with God's purpose for you? 

This passage offers a look at Jesus' life and mission as the fulfillment of a prophesy from Isaiah 42:1-4. It encapsulates His role as God's Chosen Servant, sent to the world as a humble and gentle teacher, guide--a servant to bring glory to God and reconciliation to mankind. What we learn about this “Chosen Servant” helps us understand embrace our own “chosen-ness.”   

1 - He was intentionally chosen by God, and we can be, too.
2 - The qualities of the Chosen Servant… Jesus' humility and gentleness are models for us.
3 - His mission was to bring justice to all nations - God's grace brings justice (not "social justice")
4 - The chosen servant relied on guidance from the Holy Spirit - let us seek out that same guidance.
5 - Jesus perfect fulfilled the prophesy from Isaiah 42 and provides us the perfect example.

Send us a text

Matthew 12:1-14 is the text for this sermon entitled, "Lessons from Grain and a Withered Hand."

Matthew moves from teaching section to ministry action, but still teaching
within the action! This interaction between Jesus and the Pharisees gets at the heart of the ongoing conflict and controversy between them. From two images, the grain and the withered hand, we learn a fundamental lesson about who Jesus is and what his ministry is all about.

On the surface, this episode makes it sound like Jesus does not care about what is lawful. Instead, He is going to distinquish between what is lawful and unlawful. These points collectively depict Matthew’s high Christology, portraying Jesus as both the divine Son of God and the promised Messiah who fulfills God's promises in Scripture.

Send us a text

Matthew 11: 20-24 is the text for this lesson entitled, "Woe to the Unrepentant Cities."

There is a significant difference between Jesus’ words about repentance and judgment. The purpose of today’s lesson is to understand and live by three great principles enunciated in this text: accountability, repentance, and divine judgment. Curtis also explores how the grace of God fits into this paragraph of judgment? Yes, it is there, behind every line, and in every word that Jesus uttered!

The three Galilean cities being addressed here are (1) Bethsaida, (2) Chorizin, and (3) Capernaum. They were the sites of nearly all of Jesus' early miracles and sermons. Yet they remained largely unrepentant. In face, Jesus compared them to infamous cities of the Old Testament-- Sodom, Tyre, and Sidon. 

This message from Jesus expounds on the principles of divine justice and mercy. Divine judgment is based on knowledge and response to revelation. Notice God’s patience and desire for repentance (2 Peter 3:9).
God demonstrates his mercy and divine justice according to the human heart, and on whether a person is seeking God or rebelling against God.

Send us a text

Matthew 11:1-19 is the text for this lesson entitled, "John the Baptist as Elijah."

1. John’s Faithfulness to God's Calling
John the Baptist was dedicated to his calling in a prophetic role, faithfully preparing the way for Jesus. Despite opposition, imprisonment, and eventually death, he stayed true to his mission to call people to repentance and identify the Messiah. This teaches us the importance of remaining steadfast in our own calling, trusting that God’s purpose for our lives is worth perseverance, even when challenges arise. This covenant faithfulness with our calling enables us to walk closely with the God and Savior who promise to be “with us.”
2. John taught his disciples to search for Jesus
When John, from prison, sent messengers to Jesus asking if He was the Messiah, it showed that even great men of faith can experience moments of doubt or uncertainty. Open and honest inquiry lead to Jesus. We must never be afraid to ask questions or have people ask us questions. Jesus responded by pointing to His works—miracles and compassion—as evidence of His identity. This reminds us that questioning can be a healthy part of faith; seeking answers can deepen our understanding and strengthen our trust in God's plan.
3. John’s Ministry worked with God’s authority
Jesus affirms John as a prophet and the forerunner of the Messiah. Recognizing and respecting God's servants is vital, as they carry divine authority and purpose. It also encourages us to discern God's work in others and honor the ways God is moving among His people, rather than dismissing spiritual authority out of skepticism or pride. In all of our teaching and serving, we too, must work with God’s authority.
4. John’s life and message were simple
Jesus highlights how John led an ascetic lifestyle, and yet people rejected both him and Jesus, who came eating and drinking with sinners. This contrast shows that God's message often comes through humble, simple means—people who are obedient and sincere—rather than through worldly power or material wealth. It challenges us to value humility and authenticity over appearances and status. Simplicity of lifestyle and simple obedience has always been God’s desire for his people.
5. Rejection of John’s Message
Jesus explains that the rejection of John and Himself reveals the hardness of people's hearts. Many refused to accept God's message because it challenged their pride, comfort, or expectations. This underscores the importance of cultivating open, soft, and receptive heart to God’s message. Though this section may seem somewhat pessimistic because of the Pharisees and those that rejected Jesus, it ends on this powerful note: “Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.”

Send us a text

Matthew 10:34-42 is the text for this sermon entitled, "A Sword, Cross, and Cup."

This passage offers today's Christians three powerful metaphors of discipleship. Here, Jesus continues His instructions to disciples for what is sometimes called "The Limited Commission." He speaks of (1) a sword, (2) a cross, and (3) a cup of cold water.

Curtis discusses what these metaphors convey for our own journeys of discipleship. He ends with important questions for each of us as we apply the lesson in our own walk with Jesus.