All Sermons in The Gospel of Matthew

(Text and Audio) Title: Narrative Transition The other day I sent a text to someone who is about 15 years younger than I am and I signed off by writing, “Sounds good homie.” How many of you have ever heard me casually say, or text, or email the phrase, “homie”?   What does it mean?…

(Text Only) Title: From Disciple to Apostle Any Star Wars nerds here today?  Anyone seen the movies.  The original trilogy…the good ones? Yoda: No more training do you require. Already know you, that which you need.  Luke: Then I am a Jedi.  Yoda: No. Not yet. One thing remains. Vader. You must confront Vader. Then,…

(Text and Audio) Title: So You’ve Been Called as an Apostle:  A 5 Step Guide to Success “Do NOT go the way of the Gentiles” It is important that we understand what Jesus is, and what he is not, saying when He gives this command.  Jesus is not forbidding ministry to the Gentiles.  And one…

(Text and Audio) Title: The Message in the Method I really like this passage.  Like a lot of other pastors, I enjoy passages where I think there is more to the passage than meets the eye.  I have a great advantage this morning with you.  And that is this:  The vast majority of you have…

(Text and Audio) Title: Wise as Serpents, Harmless as Doves  I remember when I was 5, living with mother in Lake Forest Village apartments in Willoughby, OH (mom, remember this?)  That I would occasionally be allowed to walk down the road about 1/2 mile to the Lawsons (anyone else remember Lawsons?…basically like a 7-11, quickie…

(Text and Audio) Title: The Wayward Jews and the Sovereignty of God I have long since believed that the story of Joseph and his brothers from Genesis is among the most powerful stories in all of scripture.  It culminates when Joseph says, in Genesis 50:20  “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for…

(Text and Audio) Title:  A Peculiar Command and How it Relates to us Today “When they deliver you up.”  A subtle reminder that this spotlight persecution was a matter of “when” not “if”.  This would not be a comforting though the apostles as they were being sent out.  But Jesus follows this with a more…

(Text and Audio) Title:   The Extent of Commitment How many of you are familiar with the NBC show “Fear Factor?”  Can someone explain the basic premise behind fear factor? What is the motivation behind doing these crazy, often disgusting, often dangerous things?  Why do these people put themselves through such misery, especially on national TV?…

(Text and Audio) Title:   A Tough Question and 5* Possible Answers I purposefully ended last week’s sermon a verse short because I wanted us to have a full lesson dedicated to what Jesus says to his apostles in verse 23.  To be sure, the difficult question that today’s sermon gets it’s title from is this: …

(Text Only) Title: Whom Dost Thou Fear? When I was 13 I was a handful.  13 was 7th grade…the first year of junior high.  13 for me, was awful.  Gone were the days of being a big fish, a popular kid, in a small pond of my local elementary school.  Now there were tons of…

(Text and Audio) Title: The Gospel According to 80’s Action Flicks Being a child of the 80’s I have a deep appreciation for the 80’s training montage in film.  Before I go any further, does anyone have any idea what I’m talking about when I say “training montage”? (take answers…what it is?) You’ve all seen…

(Text and Audio) Title: Do Not Fear…And Why Not. Anyone here this morning willing to admit that you occasionally cry at the end of a good movie?  Any men willing to admit to shedding a tear or two at the end of a great film?  What films make you cry?  (Answers) I, loving film, am…