Pastor Taylor Archives

Is God a genie we can summon whenever we want proof? In this message from Matthew 12:38-50, the scribes and Pharisees demand a sign from Jesus, even after all the miracles they had already seen. Jesus’ answer cuts straight to the heart: the only sign they’ll get is the sign of Jonah.

We look at how Jesus points to his own death and resurrection, why he says he is greater than Jonah and greater than Solomon, and what the queen of Sheba’s long journey to seek the truth teaches us about how seriously we pursue God. From there we dig into one of the strangest passages in the Gospels, the story of the unclean spirit who returns to an empty house. Why is a swept and cleaned-up life not enough, and why does Jesus never call us to empty ourselves, but to be filled with truth and with Christ?

We close with Jesus’ surprising answer to the question “Who is my mother and who are my brothers?” and what it means for the church to be family.

Questions to consider:

• Are you waiting for God to prove himself to you, or are you seeking the truth like the queen of Sheba?
• Have you cleaned up your life without ever inviting Christ in?
• What are you filling your mind and heart with?
• Are you living as a brother or sister to the people in your church family?

Scripture: Matthew 12:38-50, Jonah 2:3-6, 1 Kings 10:1-9, Ephesians 6:12, Philippians 4:8, Proverbs 4:23

Was Jesus sent by God, or was he a fraud working for Satan? That’s the accusation the Pharisees made, and it’s still the argument many make today. In this message from Matthew 12:22-37, we look at what the religious leaders of Jesus’ day claimed about him, and how Jesus answered.

We walk through his response to the charge that he cast out demons by Beelzebub, why a divided kingdom can’t stand, and why Satan isn’t even in the same league as the One who binds the strong man. We take on the question many people ask about the unpardonable sin, and look at what Jesus actually says about blaspheming the Holy Spirit. Then Jesus turns the mirror around: a tree is known by its fruit, and our words reveal what’s treasured in our hearts. Even the careless things we say matter more than we think.

Along the way, we also look at why it matters to get Jesus right, especially when groups that call themselves Christian teach things about him that Scripture doesn’t.

Questions to consider:

• Who do you say Jesus is?
• What do your calendar, your spending, and your conversations say about what you worship?
• Are your words building people up or tearing them down?

Scripture: Matthew 12:22-37, Galatians 5:19-21, Matthew 5:21-22, Proverbs 18:21

What happens when religious practices become more important than knowing the God they were meant to honor?

In Matthew 12:1–21, Jesus confronts the Pharisees’ legalistic understanding of the Sabbath, exposing the difference between outward religious observance and the true heart of God. As the religious leaders condemn His disciples for plucking grain and challenge Him for healing on the Sabbath, Jesus reveals that God desires mercy rather than empty sacrifice. He declares Himself Lord of the Sabbath and demonstrates that doing good, showing compassion, and serving others reflect the very character of God.

We’ll also examine Matthew’s fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy, which reveals Jesus as God’s chosen Servant—gentle toward the broken, faithful in His mission, and the One in whom the Gentiles will place their hope.

Join us as we consider the dangers of legalism, the importance of understanding God’s Word rightly, and what it means to reflect the heart of Jesus rather than simply look religious.

Add a clear podcast invitationTighten the opening question

What happens when our experience of God doesn’t match our expectations? In Matthew 11, John the Baptist finds himself in prison, questioning whether Jesus truly is the Messiah. The man who once boldly proclaimed the coming of Christ now needs reassurance that Jesus is who He says He is.

Jesus responds not with condemnation, but with evidence. His works fulfill the promises of Scripture, demonstrating that He is the One who was to come. Through John’s questions, we are reminded that doubt is not the same as unbelief, and that honest questions can lead us to deeper understanding of God and His Word.

In this teaching, we explore how to navigate doubt without abandoning what we know to be true, why Jesus commends John despite his questions, and the incredible blessing of living in the age of the Holy Spirit. When our expectations fall short, we can return to the truth of who Jesus is and find confidence in Him.

In Matthew 10, Jesus calls His disciples to live boldly and without shame, proclaiming the gospel even when it is unpopular or comes at a cost. In this message, we examine what it means to fear God more than man, remembering both His holiness and His incredible care for us. Jesus reminds us that we are valuable to our Heavenly Father, yet He also calls us to place Him above every relationship, comfort, and earthly priority.

Following Jesus is not always easy, and faith may bring division, opposition, or sacrifice. But as representatives of Christ, we are called to faithfully live, speak, and serve in His name. Even something as simple as giving a cup of cold water matters to God. Our response to the generosity of Christ should be a life marked by courage, faithfulness, humility, and generosity toward others.

Listen as we explore what it means to confess Christ boldly, count the cost of discipleship, and live as faithful ambassadors of Jesus in a world that may not always welcome His message.

Jesus’ ministry was incredible—He healed the sick, cast out demons, taught the crowds, and proclaimed that the Kingdom of Heaven had come near. But Jesus never intended for His followers to simply sit on the sidelines and watch. In Matthew 10, He sends His disciples out to continue the work, proclaiming the good news and demonstrating the power of God.

But following Jesus was never promised to be easy or safe. The disciples were sent out as sheep among wolves, warned that they would face rejection, persecution, hatred, and even division within their own families. Yet Jesus called them to trust God completely, endure faithfully, and remain focused on Him.

In this teaching through Matthew 10:1–26, we are reminded that following Jesus means getting in the game. We have been invited to participate in God’s work, proclaim the Gospel, depend upon Him, and faithfully endure whatever opposition may come. The battle is real, but so is the promise: those who endure with their eyes fixed on Jesus will find that the fight is worth it.

Jesus’ miracles were never simply about amazement—they revealed who He is and pointed people toward salvation. In Matthew 8–9, we see Jesus heal the sick, cast out demons, forgive sins, raise the dead, and restore the broken. But Matthew 9:35–38 reveals the heart behind it all: Jesus was moved with compassion because the people were “weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.”

Jesus came as the fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan, proclaiming the Kingdom, healing the brokenhearted, freeing captives, and bringing salvation. His miracles demonstrated His authority over both the physical and spiritual realms. As the Good Shepherd, Jesus gives direction, purpose, and life to those who follow Him.

But the work doesn’t stop with Jesus. He calls His disciples to recognize that “the harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.” As followers of Christ, we are called to enter the harvest—to tell others about the mercy, forgiveness, healing, and salvation found in Jesus. The question is not simply whether we have experienced His work, but whether we are willing to join Him in His work.

In Matthew 9:27–31, two blind men cry out to Jesus, “Son of David, have mercy on us!” Their request is striking because they don’t appeal to what they have done or what they deserve—they simply recognize their desperate need for Jesus.

In this teaching, we explore what it means to come before Jesus not with our spiritual “report card,” but with humility and faith. Like these blind men, we are completely dependent on Christ. Apart from Him, we cannot produce the spiritual fruit He desires in us. Jesus is not simply an addition to make our lives better; He is our source of salvation, strength, love, joy, peace, self-control, and every other work God desires to produce in us.

We’ll also examine the relationship between faith and healing. Jesus repeatedly connects faith with miraculous works, but that does not mean that having enough faith guarantees physical healing. Our faith is ultimately not in an outcome—it is in a person. Whether Jesus chooses to heal or not, He remains worthy of our trust.

The question is simple: Are we coming to Jesus believing that He is enough, and recognizing that we desperately need Him?

What happens when circumstances leave you completely hopeless? In Matthew 9:18–26, we encounter two people facing impossible situations: a father whose daughter is dying and a woman who has suffered for twelve years. Both come to Jesus with radical faith, and both discover that Jesus is greater than their circumstances.

In this teaching, we explore the power of Jesus to heal, restore, and make people whole. The woman who was considered unclean and unworthy reaches out to Jesus and discovers that she is not only physically healed but spiritually saved. The grieving father discovers that even death is not beyond the authority of Christ. Through these miracles, Matthew points us to Jesus as the Messiah—the One who brings hope where the world sees hopelessness, makes the unclean clean, and ultimately came not merely to heal our bodies but to save us from our sins.

Join us as we look at what it means to place our faith completely in Jesus and discover that, even when the world says there is no hope, Jesus is not finished.

What if everything you've been striving for could never truly satisfy?

In this study through Ecclesiastes 1, we begin one of the Bible's most honest books as the Preacher declares, "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity." Far from teaching that life is worthless, Ecclesiastes reveals that life apart from God is like chasing vapor—real, yet impossible to grasp. Success, wealth, fame, knowledge, and achievement all promise fulfillment, but they leave us longing for more.

Together we explore the true meaning of hevel ("vapor"), the frustration of living in a fallen world, the emptiness of pursuing worldly satisfaction, and the hope that is found only in Christ. While life under the sun is full of mystery and brokenness, those who know God can rest in the One who holds every unanswered question.

Join us as we discover why the world's promises never satisfy—and why a relationship with Jesus is the only foundation that endures beyond this life.