Miracles in the Galilee (Matt 14:13-36)
February 16, 2025
Herod and John the Baptist (Matt 14:1-12)
February 9, 2025
At the beginning of this narrative section, Matthew takes a moment to relate what happened to John the Baptist. This gives us a unique insight into the historical context of Jesus’s ministry. You can download the lyrics sheet for the songs here.
Rejection (Matt 13:53–58)
February 2, 2025
The Parables Discourse is bookended by confrontations with Jesus’s family (12:46–50) and then with the people from his hometown (13:53–58). It is here that we begin to see how Jesus’s radical notions are upsetting the status quo. This begins the winding road to his betrayal, trial, and crucifixion.
Parables of the Kingdom (Matt 13:31–52)
January 26, 2025
Matthew gives us several short parables that Jesus gave concerning the kingdom. Although short, they contain so much of how Jesus viewed the Kingdom of Heaven—who composed it, what it was for, and where things were going. This message will wrap up our consideration of this section, and we will begin next week moving toward… Read More »
Weeds (Matt 13:24–30, 36–43)
January 19, 2025
In this week’s passage (Matt 13:24–30, 36–43), Jesus tells another parable about farming. He answers questions about the final judgment and who will be found righteous before God.
The Seed (Matt 13:1–9, 18–24)
January 12, 2025
This week’s message looks at the familiar parable of the Sower and the Seed. Jesus employs an image familiar to his Galilean audience to teach how people tend to perceive the promise of the Kingdom.
The Parables (Matt 13:10–16; 34–35)
January 5, 2025
This week, we return to our study of Matthew’s Gospel. Chapter 13 is the “Parable Discourse” where Jesus presents the central themes of his preaching on the Kingdom of Heaven. After this chapter, the gospel turns and marches toward Jesus’s rejection, crucifixion and resurrection.