This Sunday, we are finishing our "Hard Sayings of Jesus" series with a look at Matthew 21:1-22, where Jesus rides in to Jerusalem on the occasion we have come to know as "Palm Sunday." We've chosen to include this passage in our series reflecting on the most perplexing teachings/actions of Jesus, because there's so much in this text that really seems out of place. Why does Jesus tell his disciples to just take some random person's donkeys? Further, why in the world does Jesus ride a donkey in to Jerusalem, especially if He's the Messianic King? What's up with people throwing their shirts on the ground? Palm tree branches? What's Hosanna mean (we sing it all the time, but what in the world does it mean)?
Immediately after this pleasant, idyllic scene, Jesus goes to the Temple and goes berserk on the money-changers and sellers of pigeons. What?! Why are pigeons being sold in the Temple? And why such an intense reaction from Jesus? What's going on?
The very next paragraph is also puzzling. Hungry/hangry Jesus goes to a fig tree, and when we saw that it had no fruit on it, he curses it. A little much, Jesus?
Join us as we look at Matthew 21:1-22 and celebrate the (puzzling) Palm Sunday.
Faith & Mountains
March 20, 2016 • Matthew 21:1–22
Do Not Judge
February 14, 2016 • Matthew 7:1–6
Today, we're beginning a new sermon series called, "The Hard Sayings of Jesus." Most of what Jesus said was absolutely clear to understand, though impossible to do (apart from the grace of God). Mark Twain spoke for many, when he said that the things in the Bible that bothered him most were not those that he did not understand but those that he understood quite well. However, Jesus did say some things, that were just perplexing. In John 6:60-61, after Jesus finishes a sermon, Scripture says that many of his disciples said: "This is hard saying; who can listen to it?" But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, "Do you take offense at this?" So, we're devoting the next 6 Sundays to ponder the hardest sayings of Jesus, and revealing their vast implications for our lives. Join us this tomorrow as we look at Matthew 7:1-6, and consider what Jesus means when he says, "Judge not, that you be not judged."
The Unforgivable Sin
February 21, 2016 • Matthew 12:22–37
As we continue our series through the "Hard Sayings of Jesus," we'll look at one of the most mystifying texts in all of Scripture: Jesus' teaching on the "Unforgivable Sin." Many Christians over the centuries have worried that perhaps they, unwittingly, at some point, have committed this sin. Just to calm the troubled soul of the Christian burdened by this worry: No Christian can commit this sin. If you are worried about having committed this sin, you cannot possibly have committed it. However, this doesn't mean we can just write off this text as irrelevant. I believe it has lots to teach us, including the realization of how glorious it is, that the Holy God of the Universe would forgive any of our sins, at all!! We must never get over the staggering fact, that our blasphemies and sins can be forgiven, though at such a great cost to the Lord. We also need the reminder that we can never take God's grace and forgiveness for granted. Forgiveness is not owed to us, it is gifted to us. Finally, we need to take the warning seriously, and warn those who are hardening their hearts against the Lord. What does Jesus mean when he says, "Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come"? What is this one, unpardonable sin? How can I be sure to never commit it? What if I'm worried about having had already committed it?
Tased by Jesus
February 28, 2016 • Matthew 8:18–22, Matthew 10:34–39
One of the cardinal rules of public speaking is: "Don't be boring!" I remember a preaching professor in seminary used to say, "Preaching a boring sermon is a deadly sin!" Why? Because the Gospel is anything but boring. Jesus is the most interesting man in the world (sorry Dos Equis guy). As the most interesting man in the world, Jesus' words are the most riveting words in the history of the world. His words are so interesting because they are so scandalous! Over and over in the Gospel accounts, crowds are amazed, astonished, shocked! They marvel, they tremble, they worship. Our culture needs to be shocked by Jesus. We need to be constantly re-shocked by Jesus. We are the most entertained and pleasured society in the history of the world, and still, we're the most bored. We've grown numb to God and to each other. We need to be tased by God's shocking truth and grace.