It's very hard to know how to get somewhere when you don't know where you're going.

Do you know where you're going? Do you know why you're here, what your purpose in life really is, why you exist?

Jesus makes some of His greatest promises in our passage today. His words for the weary churchmen are full of hope and glory. But, down through the years, they've also gotten really twisted and much of His meaning has been overshadowed in the process.

Join us today as we discover some of Jesus' greatest promises, some keys, some shackles and some freedom.

Today's passage:

18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” 20 Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ. -Matthew 16.18-20 (esv)

Crowds brought Him their sick for healing. Herod, on the other hand, was hostile toward Jesus. The religious leaders, the Pharisees and Sadducees, persecuted the Christ, they wanted Him dead. So many different reactions to Jesus.

In our passage today, we hear from the disciples, one in particular: Simon Bar-Jonah. On behalf of the faithful few he proclaims his faith in the Son of the Living God.

Everyone saw and heard the same Jesus. Yet not everyone responded to Him the same. Why do some want to hear Him while others want to hunt Him?

If you're able, please join us in your copy of God's Word, Matthew chapter 16, verses 13-17.

Today's passage:

13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. -Matthew 16.13-17 (esv)

The Lord loves us, and therefore He warns us.

As fallen sinners, our natural tendency is to trust ourselves, our own ideas and ways. But if followed our wrong ways would have us fooling around blindfolded in the middle of the interstate. Praise God His love intervenes and warns us to beware.

Last week, our Lord met with the faithlessness of the Pharisees and Sadducees. This week, more faithlessness, but this time on behalf of His own men. Would He handle them differently? On what basis?

Join us today, as we watch and beware!

Today's passage:

5 When the disciples reached the other side, they had forgotten to bring any bread. 6 Jesus said to them, “Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 7 And they began discussing it among themselves, saying, “We brought no bread.” 8 But Jesus, aware of this, said, “O you of little faith, why are you discussing among yourselves the fact that you have no bread? 9 Do you not yet perceive? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? 10 Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? 11 How is it that you fail to understand that I did not speak about bread? Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 12 Then they understood that he did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees. -Matthew 16.5-12 (esv)

Finally, the Messiah returns to His own, back to Jewish territory. But He wouldn't be there long before the religious were back in His face again.

What sad state. The long awaited Messiah had come for His own, and, yet, they rejected Him, in preference for their own plans and agenda.

Today's passage marks a turning point in Jesus' ministry. They want a sign from heaven, but there won't be any more offered them. From here on the Messiah focuses on His followers who would carry the torch forward, through whom the Lord would build His Church. It's a sad departure. But praise God His work wasn't finished just yet.

Join us this week in Matthew, chapter 16, verses one through four.

Today's passage:

16:1 And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. 2 He answered them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ 3 And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. 4 An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” So he left them and departed. -Matthew 16.1-4 (esv)

Compassion. What's in a word? So much in a word like that, especially in the Word of God, the Word made flesh.

God sent His only begotten Son to become one of us. He knows our limitations. He knows our weaknesses, our frailties, how fragile we are. And rather than toss aside the weak and needy in this world, the Strong Tower, Jesus the Son, looks on them with mercy and COMPASSION; He is literally moved in His gut to alleviate their sickness, sorrow and hunger.

Why, oh man, would you hesitate to come to Him?

If you're able, please join us in the last verses of chapter fifteen of the Gospel according to Matthew, verses 32 through 39.

Today's passage:

32 Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion on the crowd because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. And I am unwilling to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.” 33 And the disciples said to him, “Where are we to get enough bread in such a desolate place to feed so great a crowd?” 34 And Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” They said, “Seven, and a few small fish.” 35 And directing the crowd to sit down on the ground, 36 he took the seven loaves and the fish, and having given thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 37 And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up seven baskets full of the broken pieces left over. 38 Those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children. 39 And after sending away the crowds, he got into the boat and went to the region of Magadan. -Matthew 15.32-39 (esv)

Are you someone with a disability? Do you know someone with a disability? How about someone with a deadly disease? Do you know anyone who needs healing, who needs hope? Who doesn't?!

For some, even the topic makes them nervous, finds them fleeing the scene in fear, perhaps of contracting something or offending someone by inquiring of their condition.

What a mixed bag we are. What a broken world we live in. Even when or if we want to help, we don't know how.

Lord Jesus, help us!

Crowds rushed upon Him with their needs. They marveled at His compassion, His power and His mercy. And they worshipped the Lord God of Israel. Father, in Your grace, make Your Church like Your Son, and bring honor to Your name.

Today's passage:

29 Jesus went on from there and walked beside the Sea of Galilee. And he went up on the mountain and sat down there. 30 And great crowds came to him, bringing with them the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute, and many others, and they put them at his feet, and he healed them, 31 so that the crowd wondered, when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled healthy, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. And they glorified the God of Israel. -Matthew 15.29-31 (esv)

How is your hope in the Lord? How is your prayer life?

These things are inseparable from our faith, and our faith is based upon what we believe. So, what do you believe about God? Is He real? Does He hear your prayers? Does He respond?

What constitutes "great faith", and how would great faith shape our lives and our prayers?

If you're able, open to Matthew 15.21 in a copy of God's Word and join us today as we meet "O woman" of "great faith".

Today's passage:

21 And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. 22 And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.” 23 But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying out after us.” 24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 25 But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” 26 And he answered, “It is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs.” 27 She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table.” 28 Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly. -Matthew 15.21-28 (esv)

The King and His Kingdom had arrived. And with that, things were changing. Light was swallowing up all the shadows of the past. What was once thought to set God's people apartâ€"the lawâ€"now meets its Maker. And as He spoke and declared the meaning of His Words, some naturally stumbled over what they'd clung to in the past for their identity and spirituality.

Have you ever examined your own heart, considered what might just be comfortable traditions rather than the Truth of Christ and His Word?

If you're able, please open your copy of the Scripture and join us this week in Matthew 15, verses 10 through 20.

Today's passage:

10 And he called the people to him and said to them, “Hear and understand: 11 it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.” 12 Then the disciples came and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?” 13 He answered, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up. 14 Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.” 15 But Peter said to him, “Explain the parable to us.” 16 And he said, “Are you also still without understanding? 17 Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled? 18 But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. 20 These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.” -Matthew 15.10-20 (esv)

In today's passage the attacks on Jesus, His men and His ministry are taken to a new level. But Jesus doesn't mince words in His response to His accusers. He exposes their hypocrisy with simplicity and potency.

What has the Lord's opponents up in arms? Have one of the Lord's commandments been broken? Has someone been murdered or caught in adultery?

Join us today for the first nine verses in the fifteenth chapter of Matthew's account of the Gospel.

Today's passage:

15:1 Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, 2 “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat.” 3 He answered them, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? 4 For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ 5 But you say, ‘If anyone tells his father or his mother, “What you would have gained from me is given to God,” 6 he need not honor his father.’ So for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word of God. 7 You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said:8 “‘This people honors me with their lips,but their heart is far from me;9 in vain do they worship me,teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’” -Matthew 15.1-9 (esv)

A lot has changed in 2017 for the South Church family, the most obvious of which is the addition of the latest tool the Lord has provided: Suite 100. Rather than access to a worship space at the bowling alley for a few hours on Sunday, we now have 24/7 access to a great ministry hub on Industrial Loop. Of necessity, adjustments in ministry are being made.

But have our essentials really changed? Do you remember what those essentials are?

People perish from a lack of direction. As we begin the new year, we will take a week's break from The Gospel According to Matthew to be reminded of the vision and mission of South Church, what it is we're here for and how, by God's grace, we hope to fulfill our calling in this community.

Today's passage:

9 If I say, “I will not mention him,or speak any more in his name,”there is in my heart as it were a burning fireshut up in my bones,and I am weary with holding it in,and I cannot. -Jeremiah 20.9 (esv)