Third Church Sermons

This Sunday, we conclude our series with the story of Jesus’ baptism from Matthew 3:13-17. This account is documented in all four gospels for good reason— it stands as one of the most important stories in the Gospels, clarifying the identity of this man Jesus. Together, we’ll explore what this identity is and what it means for us today.

This week, we’ll look to John who points to Jesus’ role in discerning truth and falsehood, true believer and hypocrite, and light and dark. The one for whom John has been waiting and preparing will come as the Righteous Judge.

It is the first week of Christmastide, and this week we look to how people reacted the first time Jesus came to earth. Specifically, we’ll look at Herod and the Magi, and their different responses to this newborn king.

In the final week of Advent, we look to the opening chapter of Matthew and imagine what it was like for the ancient people of Israel to wait for the promised Messiah. Sermon by Corey Widmer.

For our Christmas Eve message, we look to the first of chapter of Matthew and celebrate the good news that Jesus has indeed come to be with us. What our souls have waited for has happened in humble Bethlehem. Immanuel, God with us.

It’s the third week of Advent and we are looking at a parable for near the end of Jesus’ ministry: the Parable of the Ten Virgins. In this parable, Jesus compares the expected but delayed arrival of a bridegroom to his own return at the end of the age. He will come, but not when we expect, so we must always be prepared. Sermon by Nan Clarke.

This second Sunday of Advent, we continue our theme of waiting for the Messiah King with a study of two more of Jesus’ “kingdom” parables from Matthew 13. Jesus shows us again here that is a master teacher using simple, brief stories— in this passage, seed and leaven— to convey deep truths about the way the kingdom of God works. Sermon by Ed Satterfield.

We begin our Advent and Christmas series this week with a look at one of the “waiting stories” that Jesus tells in the book of Matthew. This story, from Matthew 13, actually focuses more on waiting for the second coming of Christ, and his kingdom to be fully inaugurated into this world, and tells us much about our current condition. Sermon by Corey Widmer.

Sermon Sources:

- Matthew, A Commentary, by Dale Bruner

- The Parables, by Simon J. Kistemaker

- Matthew for Everyone, by Tom Wright

- Tim Keller Sermon Archive, Logos Bible Software

In the last week of our Entrusted series, Richard Haney shares with us about our call to be stewards of this gospel. Together, we’ll look at how we are called to believe the gospel, live it, treasure it, guard its essential truth, hand it down to the next generation and pass it on to those who have not heard.

We believe that God has entrusted each of us, his children, with gifts— be it time, talent, abilities, opportunities, or treasures— and asks us to be faithful in using them to build his Kingdom as we await his final return. This week, Corey Widmer will explore the parable of the talents in Matthew 25, and what it says to us about stewarding well what the master has entrusted to us.

Sermon Sources:

- Matthew: A Commentary by Dale Bruner, Stewards in the Kingdom, by Scott Rodin, The Parables, by Simon Kistemaker, Logos Bible Software