Matthew 7:7-12 — Prayer Works
BIG IDEA: THE PROMISE OF ANSWERED PRAYER FROM OUR LOVING HEAVENLY FATHER MOTIVATES US TO KEEP PERSISTENT IN OUR PETITIONS AND INITIATE LOVE TOWARDS...
Matthew 21:12-13 – Zeal For God’s Program Should Consume Me
[Originally posted Jan. 10, 2006] Proclaiming the glory of God and discipling others to become genuine worshipers and devoted disciples of the Lord Jesus should be...
Matthew 1:1-17 — Genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham
THE HISTORIC JESUS FULFILS ALL THE GENEALOGICAL REQUIREMENTS OF THE PROMISED MESSIAH, THE SEED OF ABRAHAM, WHO WOULD SIT ON THE THRONE OF DAVID
Matthew 1:18-25 — Virgin Conception of Jesus Christ
THE VIRGIN CONCEPTION IN FULFILLMENT OF OT PROPHECY AS CONFIRMED BY ANGELIC REVELATION WAS ESSENTIAL TO CHRIST’S ULTIMATE MISSION AS JESUS AND INCARNATE PRESENCE AS IMMANUEL
Matthew 2:1-12 — Wise Men Still Seek Him — The Adoration of the Magi Vs Antagonism from King Herod
THE COMING OF THE KING OF THE JEWS PROMPTS EITHER ADORATION AND WORSHIP OR FEAR AND OPPOSITION
Matthew 2:13-23 — Divine Protection of the Messiah against the Treachery of King Herod
DIVINE PROTECTION IN RELOCATING THE MESSIAH FULFILS OT PROPHECY
Matthew 3:1-12 — The Ministry of John the Baptist, the Forerunner of Jesus
THE BAPTISM OF JOHN EMPHASIZING REPENTANCE PREPARED THE NATION FOR THE SUPERIOR BAPTISM OF JESUS AND THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN
Matthew 3:13-17 — The Commissioning of the King — Baptism, Anointing and Approval
THE COMMISSIONING OF JESUS TO PUBLIC MINISTRY INCLUDED BAPTISM TO IDENTIFY WITH SINNERS, ANOINTING WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE PUBLIC APPROVAL OF GOD THE FATHER
Matthew 4:1-11 — The Temptation of Jesus Christ
JESUS AS THE SECOND ADAM DEFEATED THE TEMPTATIONS OF SATAN BY RELYING ON THE WORD OF GOD IN THE POWER OF THE SPIRIT
Matthew 4:12-25 — Summary of Powerful Impact of Early Galilean Ministry
MANIFESTING THE LIGHT OF JESUS TO A WORLD LOST IN DARKNESS REQUIRES COMMITTED DISCIPLESHIP, EFFECTIVE SOUL WINNING AND IMPACTFUL KINGDOM WORDS AND WORKS
Matthew 5:1-12 — The Beatitudes Tied to Kingdom Distinctives
LIVING OUT KINGDOM DISTINCTIVES MEANS THAT ONE WILL ENJOY BIG-TIME BLESSINGS EVEN WHEN PERSECUTED FOR THE SAKE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
Matthew 5:13-16 — Salt and Light — Impacting the World around Us — Or Good for Nothing?
KINGDOM CITIZENS SHOULD HAVE A POWERFUL INFLUENCE ON THE WORLD
- TO COUNTERACT DECAY BY STANDING FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS … AND
- TO SHINE THE TORCH OF TRUTH AND LIFE TO THE DARKNESS AROUND US
OUT OF A MOTIVATION TO BRING GLORY TO GOD
Matthew 5:17-20 — Jesus Fulfilling the Law — Sharpening the Focus . . . Raising the Bar
WHEN IT COMES TO UNDERSTANDING THE RIGHTEOUSNESS REQUIRED BY GOD, CHRIST BOTH SHARPENS THE FOCUS AND RAISES THE BAR
Matthew 5:21-26 — Dealing with Anger as Related to Murder
UNRESOLVED ANGER EXPRESSES MALICE TOWARDS OTHERS (SIMILAR MOTIVATION TO MURDER) WHILE ACTUALLY HURTING OURSELVES
Matthew 5:27-30 — Dealing with Lust as Related to Adultery
AVOIDING ADULTERY DOESN’T GIVE YOU A PASS TO INDULGE IN LUST
Matthew 5:31-32 — Dealing with Adultery as Related to Divorce and Remarriage
WHEN A DIVORCED PERSON REMARRIES THE RESULTING UNION CONSTITUTES ADULTERY
Matthew 5:33-37 — Integrity Should Make Oaths Unnecessary in Normal Speech
OATHS ARE UNNECESSARY IN NORMAL SPEECH SINCE GOD DESIRES SIMPLE TRUTHFULNESS BASED ON PERSONAL INTEGRITY
Matthew 5:38-42 — Going the Extra Mile Instead of Retaliation for Personal Wrongs
KINGDOM ETHICS REQUIRE GIVING UP OUR RIGHTS WHEN WE ARE WRONGED INSTEAD OF RETALIATING
Matthew 5:43-48 — Love for Enemies without Partiality
THE TRANSCENDENT TEACHING OF JESUS REGARDING THE GREATER RIGHTEOUSNESS OF KINGDOM CITIZENS CLIMAXES WITH THIS COMMAND TO LOVE OUR ENEMIES WITHOUT PARTIALITY
Matthew 6:1-4 — Practice Righteousness the Right Way from the Right Motivation — Example of Giving Alms
PRACTICING RIGHTEOUSNESS FOR PUBLIC ACCLAIM FORFEITS HEAVENLY REWARD – TRUE VS HYPOCRITICAL PIETY -- EXAMPLE OF GIVING ALMS
Matthew 6:5-6 — Practice Righteousness the Right Way from the Right Motivation — Example of Praying
PRACTICING RIGHTEOUSNESS FOR PUBLIC ACCLAIM FORFEITS HEAVENLY REWARD – TRUE VS HYPOCRITICAL PIETY -- EXAMPLE OF PRAYING
Matthew 6:7-15 — The Model Prayer as Taught by Jesus
OUR PRAYERS SHOULD NOT TRY TO MANIPULATE GOD BUT SHOULD EXPRESS OUR COMPLETE DEPENDENCE IN WORSHIP AND PETITION FOR NEEDS AFTER THE PATTERN INSTRUCTED BY JESUS
Matthew 6:16-18 — Practice Righteousness the Right Way from the Right Motivation — Example of Fasting
PRACTICING RIGHTEOUSNESS FOR PUBLIC ACCLAIM FORFEITS HEAVENLY REWARD – TRUE VS HYPOCRITICAL PIETY -- EXAMPLE OF FASTING
Matthew 6:19-24 — Kingdom Perspective Towards Wealth — What Do You Treasure?
UNDIVIDED ALLEGIANCE AS CITIZENS OF THE KINGDOM MUST BE REFLECTED IN OUR VALUE SYSTEM, VISION AND VOLITION (LOYALTIES)
Matthew 6:25-34 – Kingdom Perspective Towards Worry — Can You Trust God to Provide?
SEEK GOD’S PRIORITIES AND TRUST HIS PROVISION RATHER THAN WORRYING
Matthew 7:1-6 — Prohibition against Censorious Judging Balanced by the Need to Exercise Discernment
DON’T BE OVERLY CRITICAL OF OTHERS BUT DON’T BE NAÏVE REGARDING VICIOUS OPPONENTS OF GOD’S TRUTH
Matthew 7:7-11 — Our Heavenly Father Answers Prayer
GOOD THINGS COME TO US FROM OUR GOOD HEAVENLY FATHER IN RESPONSE TO PERSISTENT PRAYER
Matthew 7:12 — Golden Rule of Relationships
KINGDOM ETHICS SUMMED UP IN THE GOLDEN RULE CONSISTENT WITH THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS = LOVING OTHERS
Matthew 7:13-29 — Challenges to Implement Kingdom Righteousness
COMMIT TO OBEYING THE TEACHING OF JESUS
Matthew 8:1-17 — 3 Healing Miracles to Confirm His Authority — Featuring the Power of Jesus and the Universal Scope of His Ministry
DESPERATE SITUATIONS SHOULD PROMPT EVEN THE OUTCASTS OF SOCIETY TO REACH OUT TO JESUS FOR THE POWER OF HIS HEALING TOUCH
Matthew 8:18-22 — The Demands of Discipleship
DISCIPLESHIP DEMANDS RADICAL COMMITMENT
Matthew 8:23 – 9:8 — 3 Miracles Showing the Authority of Jesus
THE MANIFESTATION OF THE AUTHORITY OF JESUS STIRS UP REACTIONS OF BOTH AWE AND REJECTION
Matthew 9:9-13 — Calling All Sinners
THE MISSION OF MAKING DISCIPLES REQUIRES CONSORTING WITH SINNERS WITH HEART OF COMPASSION
Matthew 9:14-17 — The Question of Fasting Contrasts the Old with the New
BIG IDEA: JESUS BRINGS THE INWARD RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE MESSIANIC AGE THAT CANNOT MESH WITH FORMER EXTERNAL SYSTEMS OF RELIGIOUS RITUAL INTRODUCTION: Richard Gardner:...
Matthew 9:18-34 — Impressive Healing Miracles Earn Jesus a Mixed Reputation
WHILE JESUS DEMONSTRATES COMPASSION IN HEALING AND VALUES EVEN WEAK FAITH, THE RESPONSE TO HIM BEGINS TO REFLECT POLARIZATION
Matthew 9:35 – 10:4 — Mission of Jesus Delegated to the Apostles
THE MISSION OF JESUS REPRODUCES ITSELF BY THE VISION CASTING, AND THE CALLING AND COMMISSIONING OF GOSPEL WORKERS
Matthew 10:5-15 — Instructions for the Jewish Prioritized Mission
BIG IDEA: FAITHFULNESS TO THE PATTERN OF CHRIST, DEPENDENCE ON GOD AND PROPER RESPONSE TO REJECTION OR RECEPTION MUST CHARACTERIZE EVANGELICAL MISSIONS INTRODUCTION:...
Matthew 10:16-23 — Persecution in the Evangelistic Mission — Wolves, Sheep, Snakes and Doves
IN THE PROCLAMATION OF THE GOSPEL EXPECT PERSECUTION THAT WILL INTENSIFY IN THE END TIMES (FROM WOLVES OF FALSE RELIGION, GOVERNMENT, FAMILY AND SOCIETY) – SO BE SNAKES AND DOVES