Speaker: Rob Berreth

Scripture: Matthew 9:35-36

Episode Overview:

Jesus does not look upon harassed and helpless people with indifference. In Matthew 9:35–36, we see the heart of the Good Shepherd who sees human suffering, is moved with deep compassion, and comes to rescue. The Gospel is not good advice about what we must do to save ourselves; it is Good News about what Jesus has already done through His life, death, and resurrection. The same Jesus who proclaimed the Gospel of the Kingdom also came to heal, restore, and ultimately lay down His life for His sheep.

Key Highlights:

• The Gospel is Good News, not Good Advice—it announces what Jesus has already accomplished to rescue sinners.

• Jesus proclaimed the Gospel of the Kingdom and demonstrated the coming restoration of all things through His ministry of healing.

• Jesus sees people in their weariness, trouble, weakness, and helplessness with deep compassion.

• The image of sheep without a shepherd points to humanity’s need for a true Shepherd and exposes the failure of shepherds who burden rather than care for God’s people.

• Jesus is the Good Shepherd who seeks His sheep, cares for them, and ultimately lays down His life for them.

• At the cross, the compassion of Jesus becomes sacrificial action: He suffers for His sheep so that harassed and helpless people can be rescued.

Call to Action:

Consider where you have believed a smaller or harsher version of who Jesus is. Bring your weariness, sin, suffering, and helplessness honestly to the Good Shepherd rather than trying to rescue yourself through your own efforts. Receive the Good News of what Christ has done, and allow His compassion toward you to reshape the way you see and respond to the weary and hurting people around you.

Redeemer Church
211 Northshore Dr. Bellingham, WA 98226
www.redeemernw.org

Speaker: Rob Berreth

Scripture: Matthew 9:18-34

Episode Overview:

Life can bring circumstances that leave us hurting, helpless, and wondering where hope can be found. In Matthew 9:18-34, Jesus meets people facing death, chronic suffering, blindness, and spiritual oppression—and their response is to bring their need to Him with a hope that reaches beyond their circumstances. This passage shows us the difference between ordinary hope, which depends on circumstances and good odds, and deep hope, which rests in the person and promises of Jesus. Because Jesus is the Messiah and Savior, the miracles in this passage point beyond themselves to the day when He will finally defeat death, sickness, sorrow, darkness, and evil forever.

Key Highlights:

• Hope begins in the midst of hurt. The people Jesus encounters are not insulated from suffering; they are hurting and helpless, with no ability to solve their problems on their own.

• Bring your hurt to Jesus. The ruler, the suffering woman, the blind men, and those who brought the demon-oppressed man all demonstrate what it looks like to turn toward Jesus rather than give up.

• Deep hope is different from ordinary hope. Christian hope isn't ultimately based on circumstances, probabilities, or the likelihood that things will turn out the way we want. It rests in the character and promises of Jesus.

• God is able to intervene. Jesus still has authority over sickness, suffering, spiritual oppression, and death. At the same time, when God does not answer a prayer in the way we hoped, we can still trust Him.

• The miracles point to something greater. Jesus' works in Matthew 9 offer a glimpse of what His kingdom will ultimately bring: a world where death is defeated, sickness is gone, evil is overcome, and sorrow gives way to lasting joy.

• Our hope is secured by the Gospel. Jesus not only gives life to others; He willingly gives His own life so that resurrection and final restoration can become our hope.

• Look up and look forward. We cultivate hope by turning our eyes toward Jesus, holding onto His promises, and looking toward the future He has promised to make new.

Call to Action:

When life hurts and you feel helpless, don't let your circumstances become the final word. Bring your need honestly to Jesus. Look up by filling your mind with His Word, remembering His promises, and fixing your attention on who He is. Then look forward to the future He has promised—a day when tears, sickness, death, sorrow, and evil will finally come to an end.

You may not know whether God will answer a particular prayer with a yes, no, or not yet. But you can know the One to whom you are praying. Trust Him with what you cannot control, keep bringing your hurts to Him, and refuse to let today's darkness convince you that the darkness will have the final word. Our hope is not merely that things might get better. Our hope is Jesus, and because He saves, everything will ultimately be made right.

Speaker: Rob Berreth

Scripture: Matthew 9:14-17

Episode Overview:

Jesus confronts a deeply rooted misunderstanding about the Christian life: the idea that God’s acceptance rises and falls with our spiritual performance. In Matthew 9:14-17, He reveals that His coming brings something radically new—a life grounded not in religious achievement, but in grace. As the Bridegroom, Jesus invites His people into the joy of knowing Him rather than striving to earn what He freely gives.

This does not mean that practices like prayer, fasting, Scripture reading, worship, and serving have no place in the Christian life. When rightly understood, they become means of grace—ways of placing ourselves before God to know Him, enjoy Him, and grow in Christlikeness. The difference is found in why we do them: not to secure God's favor, but because we already belong to Christ.

Key Highlights:

• Why religious performance can never make us right with God

• What Jesus means when He identifies Himself as the Bridegroom

• The difference between “I obey, therefore I’m accepted” and “I’m accepted, therefore I obey”

• Why the gospel frees us from both pride on our good days and despair on our bad days

• How spiritual practices can deepen our joy in Christ without becoming legalism

• Why the ultimate purpose of every spiritual discipline is knowing and enjoying Jesus

Call to Action:

Take an honest look at the spiritual practices in your life. Are you using them to prove yourself to God, or are you receiving them as gifts that draw you closer to Christ? Whether you pray, read Scripture, fast, serve, or worship, come with empty hands. Rest in the grace already given to you in Jesus, and then gladly place yourself in the pathways where you can know and enjoy Him more.

Redeemer Church
211 Northshore Dr. Bellingham, WA 98226
www.redeemernw.org

Speaker: Rob Berreth

Scripture: Matthew 9:9-13

Episode Overview:

Overview:

Jesus’ call of Matthew reveals the foundation of our relationship with God: we are not accepted because of our performance, but because Jesus obeyed. Matthew was not pursuing Jesus or presenting a life worthy of His attention. He was sitting at his tax booth when Jesus came to him and said, “Follow me.” Jesus then welcomed Matthew and other sinners to His table, exposing the radically different ways people understand belonging, acceptance, and mercy.

Key Highlights:

• God makes the first move. Matthew was uninterested in Jesus, yet Jesus pursued him. Our relationship with God begins not with our effort, but with His grace and initiative.

• Jesus welcomes the undeserving. Matthew’s past and reputation did not prevent Jesus from calling him to follow.

• The gospel confronts two competing foundations: “I obey, therefore I’m accepted” versus “I’m accepted because Jesus obeyed.”

• Jesus calls His people to mercy rather than self-righteous judgment. “I desire mercy, and not sacrifice” challenges us to remember that the church is a community of sinners who have received grace.

• Communion reminds us of this foundation: we come because we cannot obey perfectly, but Jesus has obeyed, lived, died, and risen for us.

• The glory of God is displayed in Christ’s willingness to pursue and befriend sinners. Jesus makes clear that this is what He desires and why He came.

Call to Action:

Remember the foundation of your own faith. Resist the temptation to measure your standing with God—or someone else’s standing—with performance. Receive the mercy you could never earn, and then extend that same mercy to the people you are most tempted to judge, avoid, or consider unworthy of belonging. Let remembering who you were when Christ called you produce humility, gratitude, tenderness, and a willingness to welcome others as Jesus has welcomed you.

Redeemer Church
211 Northshore Dr. Bellingham, WA 98226
www.redeemernw.org

Speaker: Dane Burgess

Scripture: Matthew 9:1-8

Episode Overview:

Jesus looks beyond the need everyone can see to the deeper need that only He can fully know. When a paralyzed man is brought before Him, Jesus first speaks words of forgiveness: “Take heart, my son. Your sins are forgiven.” The healing that follows is not merely an act of compassion or a demonstration of power—it is visible proof that Jesus, the Son of Man, has authority on earth to forgive sins. Matthew invites us to consider not simply what Jesus can do, but who He is, and to find courage in the One whose authority can be trusted.

Key Highlights:

• Jesus sees deeper than we do. The paralytic’s physical condition was obvious, but Jesus addressed the deeper need of forgiveness.

• “Take heart” is more than “cheer up.” Jesus speaks courage in the middle of real suffering—not by pretending the storm is absent, but because of who He is.

• The healing proves the invisible claim. Jesus heals the man so that everyone can know that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins.

• Forgiveness is the greater miracle. Physical healing is a preview of the restoration Christ will ultimately bring, but forgiveness reconciles sinners to God.

• Jesus’ authority points to the cross. The forgiveness Jesus freely gives is not cheap; the One who forgives sins will give His own blood for the forgiveness of sins.

• The right question is, “Who is this man?” Matthew calls us beyond amazement toward faith in Jesus Christ as the One who has authority to forgive sins.

Call to Action:

Whatever storm you are carrying—whether it is visible to everyone around you or known only to you—bring it honestly to Christ. You may not know how or when every circumstance will change, but you can know who is speaking into it. Take heart because Jesus sees what you cannot see, knows what you cannot know, and has authority to forgive your sins. If you have trusted Him, consider who in your life needs a friend who will patiently bring them closer to Jesus rather than treating them like a project. And if you are still uncertain about Christ, take the invitation seriously: open Matthew and examine Jesus for yourself. The question is not merely what He can do, but who He is.

Redeemer Church
211 Northshore Dr. Bellingham, WA 98226
www.redeemernw.org

Speaker: Dane Burgess

Scripture: Matthew 8:23–34

Episode Overview:

Fear has a way of exposing how little control we really have. In Matthew 8:23–34, Jesus meets His disciples in the middle of a terrifying storm, confronts the powers of evil, and then reveals something equally important about the human heart: we can want Jesus to rescue us without wanting Him to rule us. Yet throughout the passage, one truth becomes unmistakable—Jesus is the Victor. The winds and waves obey Him. Demons recognize His authority and submit to His command. And ultimately, He will enter into death itself and emerge victorious. For those who belong to Him, the victory does not depend on the strength of our faith, the certainty of our understanding, or our ability to save ourselves. Christ has our life, and wonderfully, we belong to Him.

Key Highlights:

• Following Jesus does not mean we will never encounter storms, but it does mean we are not alone in them.

• Even when our faith feels painfully small, we can bring our fear to a Savior who is greater than what frightens us.

• Jesus has absolute authority over the powers of evil; Satan and the demons are not His equals, but defeated enemies whose final judgment is certain.

• Evil dehumanizes, isolates, and destroys, while Jesus comes to set the helpless free.

• We can easily desire Jesus' help while resisting His authority in particular areas of our lives.

• The gospel is not an invitation to become strong enough to save ourselves. A Savior, King, and Victor has come.

• Through His death and resurrection, Jesus defeated the powers of evil and broke the bondage of the fear of death.

• Our ultimate comfort is not that we understand everything or can control what happens tomorrow, but that Christ has our life.

Call to Action:

Bring your fear to Jesus rather than trying to control what you cannot control. Bring Him the sin, temptation, anxiety, resentment, shame, or other areas of your life that have gained a stronger hold than you want to admit. Don't protect the places where you most need His grace. Let Jesus come near and be King there too. You do not have to save yourself. Entrust your life to the One who has already conquered sin, evil, and death—and remember that your confidence rests not in the size of your faith, but in the greatness of your Savior.

Redeemer Church
211 Northshore Dr. Bellingham, WA 98226
www.redeemernw.org

Speaker: Luke Brandon

Scripture: Matthew 8:18-22

Episode Overview:

Jesus' words in Matthew 8:18-22 challenge the assumptions we often bring to discipleship. While many are eager to follow Him, Jesus makes it clear that following Him is not built on comfort, convenience, or delayed commitment. This message explores the cost of discipleship, the surpassing worth of Christ, and the freedom that comes when we surrender lesser priorities to follow the One who gave everything for us. Rather than calling believers to earn God's favor, Jesus invites His people into the joyful privilege of walking with Him and participating in His eternal purposes.

Key Highlights

• Why Jesus responds so unexpectedly to two would-be disciples.

• The difference between admiring Jesus and truly following Him.

• What it means that the Son of Man had "nowhere to lay His head."

• Why Jesus calls for wholehearted allegiance above every competing priority.

• How the gospel transforms discipleship from a burden into a gift.

• The surpassing joy of laying aside self and sin to follow Christ.

• Living with an eternal perspective instead of being shaped by temporary comforts and ambitions.

Call to Action

Take time to honestly consider what may be competing with your devotion to Christ. Ask the Lord to reveal where comfort, security, or "later" has become an obstacle to faithful obedience. Trust that whatever Jesus calls you to leave behind is far outweighed by the life, hope, and purpose found in following Him each day.

Redeemer Church
211 Northshore Dr. Bellingham, WA 98226
www.redeemernw.org

Speaker: Luke Brandon

Scripture: Matthew 8:1-17

Episode Overview:

Jesus' authority is not only seen in what He teaches, but in what He does. In Matthew 8:1–17, we encounter a Savior who touches the unclean, responds to humble faith, welcomes those who seem like outsiders, and bears our deepest need. Through the healing of the leper, the faith of the centurion, and the restoration of many who came to Him, we see that Christ came to do more than relieve suffering—He came to deal with the root problem of sin. Matthew points us to the promised Messiah who fulfills Isaiah's prophecy by carrying our burdens and making sinners clean through His own sacrifice.

Key Highlights:

• Jesus demonstrates absolute authority over disease, suffering, and spiritual oppression.

• The cleansing of the leper reveals Christ's willingness to draw near to those who cannot make themselves clean.

• The centurion's faith shows that true confidence rests in Jesus' authority rather than our own worthiness.

• Matthew connects Jesus' ministry to Isaiah 53, revealing that Christ bears our griefs and carries away our sin.

• Real cleansing begins from the inside out as Jesus gives new life and restores sinners to fellowship with God.

Call to Action:

Where have you been tempted to believe that your failures, shame, or repeated sins place you beyond Christ's reach? Come to Him honestly and without pretense. Trust His authority, rest in His willingness to forgive, and walk each day in the confidence that He alone can make you clean and give you a new heart.

Redeemer Church
211 Northshore Dr. Bellingham, WA 98226
www.redeemernw.org

Speaker: Rob Berreth

Scripture: Matthew 7.13-29

Episode Overview:

As Jesus brings the Sermon on the Mount to its conclusion, He calls every listener to make a decision. The choice isn't simply between being religious or irreligious—it is between trusting ourselves or trusting Christ. Matthew 7:13–29 reveals two gates, two paths, and two destinations, reminding us that real righteousness begins with humility, grows through dependence on Jesus, and produces a life shaped by His Word. Rather than offering a list of rules to earn God's favor, Jesus invites us to enter through the narrow gate of grace and walk the path of authentic discipleship.

Key Highlights:

• Why Jesus presents two gates, two ways, and two destinations.

• The difference between self-righteousness and Christ-dependent faith.

• What it means to enter through the narrow gate by grace alone.

• Why outward religious activity is not the same as knowing Christ.

• How hearing and obeying Jesus flows from a transformed heart rather than a desire to earn God's acceptance.

• The hope and assurance found in building your life on the solid foundation of Christ.

Call to Action:

Take time to honestly examine the foundation of your life. Are you relying on your own performance, or are you resting in the finished work of Christ? Ask God to deepen your dependence on Him, shape your heart through His Word, and give you the grace to faithfully follow Jesus one step at a time.

Redeemer Church
211 Northshore Dr. Bellingham, WA 98226
www.redeemernw.org

Speaker: Rob Berreth

Scripture: Matthew 7:7-12

Episode Overview:

Jesus' invitation to "ask, seek, and knock" is far more than encouragement to pray occasionally—it is a call to live every day as children who confidently depend on a perfectly good Father. In Matthew 7:7-12, we discover that the foundation of prayer is not our worthiness or persistence, but God's character and the finished work of Christ. As we learn to trust our Father's wisdom, goodness, and generosity, we are also transformed into people who extend that same generosity to others. The path from confident prayer to Christlike love is much shorter than we often imagine.

Key Highlights:

• Why Jesus repeats "ask, seek, and knock" and what it teaches us about a life of continual prayer.

• How the goodness of the Father gives us confidence to bring every need before Him.

• What it means to trust God even when His answers differ from our expectations.

• Why our confidence in prayer rests entirely on Jesus Christ and His saving work.

• How experiencing God's generosity reshapes the way we treat difficult people through the Golden Rule.

Call to Action:

Bring your needs honestly and specifically before your Father this week. Rather than carrying life's burdens in your own strength, ask Him for the wisdom, grace, strength, and provision you need each day. Then, having received His generosity, intentionally reflect His heart by treating others with the same kindness, patience, and grace He continually shows to you.

Redeemer Church
211 Northshore Dr. Bellingham, WA 98226
www.redeemernw.org