Sermons on Matthew 3:18-23:

The Luckiest People Alive - Matthew 5:1-12 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Jul 1, 2024

There is controversy surrounding how the Sermon on the Mount should be interpreted. Is it law? Grace? Is it binding on us today? How can we possibly live that way?

The sermon on the mount makes some very hard demands on us. The introduction to the sermon (the beatitudes) is designed to provide motivation for the hard demands of righteous living throughout the sermon. The first half of the message focuses on how the sermon on the mount should be interpreted (a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12

Yours Is The Kingdom Of Heaven - Matthew 5:3b Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Jul 3, 2024

This message explores what the kingdom of God is, and what it means that it belongs to you.

Matthew 5:1-12 Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them, saying: 3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 Blessed ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:3

You Will Be Called Sons Of God-Matthew 5:9 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Jul 7, 2024

The wellbeing of the entire world depends on peaceful relationships in the church. This message is a reminder of the importance of peacemaking, gives instruction on how to achieve it, and examines the reward Jesus promised

Matthew 5:1-12 Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them, saying: 3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 Blessed ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:9

Kill Sin Or Die - Matthew 5:29-30 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Aug 14, 2024

The threat Jesus warns of here is being thrown into hell. For a lustful look? How do we reconcile that with passages that assure us that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ?

Matthew 5:27-30 "You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.' 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:29-30

Amputation 101 - Matthew 5:29-30 (Contd) Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Aug 14, 2024

The key to persuading your heart to fling sin away is to become convinced that nearness to God would be more satisfying than that sin. But what do you do when the sin brings intense pleasure and the last few times you sought God in prayer or Scripture it was boring?

Matthew 5:27-30 "You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.' 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:29-30

Life Under Oath - Matthew 5:33-37 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Aug 17, 2024

Everything you ever say is under oath, as if you swore by God himself that it’s true. This message will help you grasp how important truthtelling in every detail of life is. It also explains the legitimate purpose of formal oaths.

Matthew 5:33-37 "Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.' 34 But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:33-37

One-Handed Giving - Matthew 6:3-4 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Aug 27, 2024

Jesus spends so much time in Matthew 6 and other places trying to get us to be motivated by eternal rewards. Why are so few Christians still not motivated by reward?

Matthew 6:1-18 "Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 "So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:3-4

Go To Your Room - Matthew 6:5-6 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Aug 28, 2024

Why does God promise reward for private prayer? And how can you make your daily prayer time the most enjoyable part of your day, instead of a drudgery or chore that is dry and boring? This message will help you actually look forward to your prayer time each day and come away closer to God.

Matthew 6:5-16 And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:5-6

Prayin’ Like A Pagan - Matthew 6:7-8 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Aug 30, 2024

How would you naturally finish this sentence: “God already knows what you need before you ask him, therefore ____.” The conclusion Jesus finishes that sentence gives us great insight into how to pray in a way that truly communes with God, rather than just saying dry words.

Matthew 6:5-8 And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:7-8

Hallowed Be Your Name - Matthew 6:9b Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Sep 1, 2024

Why does Jesus teach us to ask God to hallow his own name?

Matthew 6:5-15 And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:9

Judgment Day Surprise - Matthew 7:21-23 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Nov 18, 2024

Many will call Jesus Lord and have impressive, Christ-centered ministries and yet be condemned because 1) they were not known by Christ (not favored by Him and did not trust and obey Him) and 2) they did not do the Father’s will (a function of knowing God) and are therefore lawbreakers.

Matthew 7:15 Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:21-23

A Passion Greater Than Comfort - Matthew 16:24 Series

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Nov 22, 2024

Have you ever noticed how easy it is to seek comfort over commitment? How quickly we gravitate towards convenience over courage? May our passion for Jesus always be greater than our passion for an easy life.

A Passion Greater Than Comfort Introduction Have you ever noticed how easy it is to seek comfort over commitment? How quickly we gravitate towards convenience over courage? Yet, when we read the Bible, we discover that following Jesus is not about ease—it's about a deep and abiding passion for ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:24, Galatians 2:20, John 16:33, Colossians 3:17, Matthew 6:19-21, James 1:2-3  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

Go! And Make Disciples - Matthew 28:19-20 Series

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Dec 12, 2024

The words of Matthew 28:19-20 are not just a suggestion or a guideline; they are a command from Jesus to His followers. This command is the heartbeat of Christianity, a call to Go! But it’s not just about going—it’s about what we do as we go.

Go! And Make Disciples - Matthew 28:19-20 Matthew 28:19-20 (NLT): “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 1:8, Romans 6:4, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Hebrews 13:5  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

Should We Be Baptized? Matthew 28:18-19

Contributed by David Cramer on Dec 19, 2024

A Message about Baptism and what it means to you and I.

Should We Be Baptized? Matthew 28:18-19 Stand with me and lift up your Bible and repeat after me. This is my Bible. I am what it says I am. I can do what it says I can do. I am going to learn how to be what it says I can be. Today I will learn more of the word of God. The ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:18-19

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Why Are Jesus' Genealogies In Matthew And Luke Different?

Contributed by Steven W. Satterfield on Mar 21, 2023

From https://zondervanacademic.com/blog/why-are-jesus-genealogies-in-matthew-and-luke-different This post is adapted from the Four Portraits, One Jesus: Jesus’ Birth, Childhood, and Early Ministry, a free online course taught by Dr. Mark Strauss. My notes will be added later.

The birth narratives in both Matthew and Luke help answer the question, “Who is Jesus and where did he come from?” One of the ways each book does this is by recounting Jesus’ genealogy. The problem is: the genealogies are different. The Old Testament predicted that the Messiah would come from the ...read more

Denomination: Vineyard