Have you ever had one of those spiritual "mountain top experiences", a time in your life when God did something so convincing, so hopeful, so timely, perhaps a merciful healing, or an 11th hour rescue of sorts... something that filled your heart with gratitude, love and confidence in Him, pledging your forever faithfulness to Him in return for His grace and mercy?

I sure hope you have. That has certainly been the experience for lots of folks down through the years. But, just as many have also had the following experience: within a few months, weeks, days or perhaps even minutes, they all failed to maintain their zealous promise to pursue the Lord without fail. In other words, in time, "the shine"--so to speak--wore off. The sparkle waned. The demands and business of life crowded back in. And it wasn't long until... well, they failed on their promises.

If that has ever described your experience, know this: you're not alone. But is there hope for such deniers of the faith?

Join us today in Matthew 26, verses 26-35.

What would you give for the price of a dead slave, gored through by an ox? According to Old Testament law: about 30 pieces of silver.... exactly how much it took for Judas to sell out Jesus.

How much would it take for you to deny the Lord and Savior? It's a painful question, especially if we're honest with ourselves.

Join us this week in Matthew chapter 26, beginning at verse 14. This sermon today is entitled, "The Lord's Passover".

The Lord Jesus has set His face like flint for Jerusalem. He's headed to the cross and He knows it. He's spent the last two chapters preparing His men for His departure, telling them of things yet to come: the destruction of the Temple, the trials and tribulations they can expect throughout the Church age, and their need to stay ready for His glorious return when He will come to judge living and the dead.

Imagine the excitement all of those men must have been feeling? Only to hear Him say next, "In two days, I will be crucified." Whoa! What a show-stopper. "Wait a minute. I thought You were gonna conquer the world? You can't do that if You're dead, Jesus."

Truth be told, there was never another plan for Him to conquer any other way than through His death.

If you're able, please turn to Matthew 26 in your copy of God's Word and join us for today's sermon entitled, The Passion Begins at Bethany.

They say a chain is only as strong as its weakest link.

I've also heard it said that our love can be measured best by those we love the least.

Do you think your love for the least would pass the test of Christian love?

Join us this week as we wrap up another chapter of Matthew's account of the Good News of Jesus Christ, beginning in verse 31 of chapter 25. Today's sermon is entitled "The Love of Sheep and Goats".

Today's passage:

31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ 44 Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ 45 Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” -Matthew 25.31-46 (esv)

Are you someone of great means? Perhaps you own a lot of property, or several vehicles, your own business, or brand? Do you manage all or any of it in a way that honors the Lord?

Perhaps you're on the other end of the scale: not a person of great means? Maybe you live in a pretty average home, or maybe you don't have a home at all? Even a car payment might be beyond your means. Well, ask yourself the same question: Are you managing all or any of what you have to the glory of Christ?

Jesus is coming again... soon! Are you ready? By the way you live and love, spend and save, can others tell that you are, indeed, making ready for Jesus' return?

Join us today in Matthew 25, beginning in verse 14.

Today's passage:

14 “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ -Matthew 25.14-30 (esv)

If you want to make your point clear, state it clearly and repeat it. Well, that is certainly the Savior's approach when it comes to preparing His disciples for the Church age.

Two weeks ago, in chapter 24 verses 42-44, Jesus took up parable #1 in encouraging His followers to stay ready for His return because it would come at an unexpected time.

In verses 45-51 last week, parable #2 informed them that in no way would their 'staying ready' be an exercise in passivity. It requires activity: gathering, praying, seeking, teaching, encouraging, serving, multiplying, etc., etc.

This week Jesus takes up yet another parable to encourage the watchfulness of His Beloved Bride: 10 bridesmaids, lamps and oil. Are you packed up and ready for the long haul?

"Everlasting Light" is the title of today's exposition of Matthew 25, verses 1-13.

Today's passage:

25:1 “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5 As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. 6 But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ 7 Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ 10 And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. 11 Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ 12 But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour. -Matthew 25.1-13 (esv)

According to our passage today, there is no neutral ground. In Christ, there are the faithful who play their role in feeding and building up the body of Christ, or the unfaithful who feed on and divide the body of Christ.

But perhaps the most concerning part of Jesus' words in today's Scripture is that both characters are described as servants belonging to THE Master, Master Jesus. In other words, of the two subjects in this parable, Master Jesus is not talking about one Christian and another who doesn't believe in Christ. It appears as though both men consider themselves churchmen, servants of the Most High, in the family of God.

Why is that so concerning? Glad you asked!

Join us today in Matthew 24, beginning with verse 45.

Today's passage:

45 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? 46 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 47 Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. 48 But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ 49 and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, 50 the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know 51 and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. -Matthew 24.45-51 (esv)

So when will the Son of Man return?

That's a question apparently not even He knows the answer to.

Wait... What? There's something the Son of God doesn't know?

Well, that's what He said.

But how can He be God, but not know something?

Glad you've joined us. If you're able, please turn in your copy of God's Word to Matthew 24, beginning in verse 36.

Today's passage:

36 “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. 37 For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, 39 and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. 42 Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. -Matthew 24.36-44 (esv)

Way back in v3 of chapter 24, the disciples asked the question that we would do well to keep before us. It is the question that Jesus spends a chapter and a half answering: "Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?"

Well, what do you think? Do you know how things are going to go between now and... The End! Do you know what the sign of the times will be?

If you're able, please turn in a copy of God's Word to Matthew 24. We'll be focusing on verses 32 through 35 today.

Today's passage:

32 “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates. 34 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. -Matthew 24.32-35 (esv)