Sermons on Greg Nance:

Matthew

Contributed by Greg Nance on Jun 7, 2010

This is an introductory lesson on Matthew’s gospel. It includes a lot of specific content analysis taken largely from Mark Allan Powell’s book, The Gospels. It closes with an appeal to realize the gift of God’s love in Jesus as Emanuel.

Introducing Matthew’s gospel! The first book of the New Testament. (Not the first N T book to be written, but the first to appear in our Bibles). Matthew tells us where Jesus came from, who were his ancestors, how God caused a virgin named Mary to conceive and bear this One who is the Son of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:1-25

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Star, Dreams And Scriptures

Contributed by Greg Nance on Jun 14, 2010

God wants us to hear his voice and heed what we hear. Matthew 2 provides good examples of those who listened and one who didn’t.

Matthew 2 tells the story of Jesus’ birth and early childhood. Jesus is in danger as soon as he comes into this world. Herod wants to kill him, later the Jewish leaders will pick up where Herod left off and eventually succeed in having Jesus killed. Jesus has entered enemy territory as ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-23

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Of Fathers And Baptism

Contributed by Greg Nance on Jun 19, 2010

How does Matthew 3 relate to Father’s day? You might be surprised.

Matthew 3 Happy Father’s day! How many fathers are here today? Matthew 3 has a good Father’s day message in it. John scolded the hypocritical Pharisees and Sadducees when they came to where he was baptizing. He said (vs. 9), “Do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 3:1-17

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Jesus: Master, Mentor, And Minister

Contributed by Greg Nance on Jun 26, 2010

Matthew 4 shows how Jesus faced temptation, called disciples and entered his ministry. This lesson focuses on the meaning of Jesus’ temptation for us.

In Matthew 4 we see that Jesus is the master, the mentor, and the minister sent from God. Right after Jesus was baptized he was led into the wilderness to be tempted by the Devil. This is a disturbing turn of events for anyone who thinks that becoming a Christian, being baptized into Christ, will ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:1-11

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Heaven’s High Standard

Contributed by Greg Nance on Jul 10, 2010

Matthew shows us Jesus as the preacher of the kingdom of heaven. He shows us just how high heavens standards are and how to properly understand the law. Be perfect, like your Father! That’s the whole point.

Matthew seems to have been written to a Jewish community under fire for their faith. He talks about the kingdom of heaven in ways that suggest how hard it is to enter. The beatitudes begin and end with words that describe hardship and persecution. Why? Probably because that is what those were ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:43-48

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Rewarded In Full

Contributed by Greg Nance on Jul 10, 2010

Jesus tells us how to live heavenly kingdom lives with instructions that keep us on track.

In Matthew 6 the word “Father” occurs twelve times. Matthew presents God as our Father over and over again stressing it and awakening us to the relationship God wants to have with us through Jesus Christ, His son. In fact, Matthew ends with the great commission where Jesus tells the apostles to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:1-34

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

On The Rock Is The Fear Of The Lord

Contributed by Greg Nance on Jul 17, 2010

Jesus uses lots of language that should inspire us to the fear of the Lord. Here we can build families that will last.

(Recite Matthew 7) Those last words of Jesus in his Sermon on the Mount give us a clear message, do they not? What you and I do with the words of Jesus determines whether our lives will stand or fall. Today, I would like to take these final words of Jesus and apply them not just to us ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:1-29

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Authority And The Fear Of God

Contributed by Greg Nance on Jul 24, 2010

Matthew 8 demonstrates Jesus’ authority in miracles and ministry. Jesus’ words and works show us the depth and extent of His authority. Our call is to walk under that suthority as we hear and heed his instruction.

Matthew 7 ends with the amazement of the crowds who heard Jesus teachings. They observed that Jesus spoke with authority and not as their teachers of the law or scribes. We noticed several passages last week about the fear of the Lord and its importance to our lives as Christians. Without the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 8:1-34

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

God’s Authority In Christ And You

Contributed by Greg Nance on Jul 31, 2010

Jesus ministry demonstrated the authority of God. Not everyone applauded. The authority of God in us brings great blessing and responsibility. Do we take seriously the authority God has given us? Jesus did.

Imagine having a photo album of the events in Jesus’ life. That describes well what God has given us in the first gospel. Between five major spoken messages of Jesus in Matthew, we find narrative pictures of Jesus’ in action. Last week we looked at chapter 8 and today Matthew 9 gives us seven ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

God's Missionary Heart

Contributed by Greg Nance on Aug 8, 2010

God has always been on a mission. From Creation to Consumation God has been on a mission. From making us in His image to restoring us to that image, God works with missionary zeal. Matthew reveals how Jesus forms that missionary heart into the disciple

We have been studying the gospel of Matthew. Let me get a running start on today’s lesson in chapter 10 by reviewing briefly the message of Matthew thus far: What is in the first chapter? The genealogy of Jesus and Joseph’s story. Verse 21 is the key verse: “You shall call ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 10:1-42

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Origin, Problem, Solution, And Destiny

Contributed by Greg Nance on Jul 20, 2007

Where did we come from? What is our problem? Where is the answer? Where are we going? God answers all these for us in scripture.

Where did you come from? The answer to this question determines to a large degree the answer to other questions such as: Why are you here? What is your purpose? Where are you going? Genesis 1 begins the story of man. Here God tells us where we came from, how we, and everything else for that ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:1-2

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Where Did You Come From?

Contributed by Greg Nance on Jul 23, 2007

You have to start somewhere! The beginning is a very good place to start. But where is it? God tells us. What a grand origin we have!

(This lesson is bare bones. You will need to add illustration and flesh to it. God bless the presentation of His Word.) Where did you come from? The answer to this question determines to a large degree the answer to other questions such as: Why are you here? What is your purpose? Where are you ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:1-27

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

What Is Our Problem?

Contributed by Greg Nance on Jul 23, 2007

This is our second study in this series. God describes our problem, how we got there and what it does to us. Once we begin to understand the problem and how devastating it is, perhaps we will begin to appreciate the solution.

We came from God. We were made to be like God. (As we studied last week). So, what is the problem? Genesis, again, holds the answer. Chapter 3 tells the story. Everything God made was good, very good. But then things change. There was this tree and this serpent. God had put Adam and Eve in a ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:1-19

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Wanting, Waiting, Working

Contributed by Greg Nance on Aug 9, 2011

These three areas are so basic to our lives and determine our destiny. God's word shows us how important these are on just about every page of scripture.

Let's say the 23rd Psalm together. (The Lord is my Shepherd...) I heard about a preacher who asked if any of the children could come up and say the 23rd Psalm. A little five year old bounced out of the pew and came to the podium and said: "The Lord is my Shepherd and that's all I want!" As I ...read more

Scripture: James 1:12-15

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

What Does God Hate?

Contributed by Greg Nance on Aug 13, 2011

Raising godly children today is more difficult than ever. We need God's help at every turn. This lesson looks at two passages that point us to some practical wisdom for accomplishing this. My focus is on dads, but moms could use this as well.

What does God Hate? Text: Proverbs 6:16-19 16 These six things the LORD hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: 17 A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 6:16-19

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ