True Religion

True Religion

July 7, 2019

 

We celebrated the independence of our nation this week, and whether you partied big with family and friends or enjoyed a day of peace and quiet, I hope that somewhere along the way you took a few minutes to consider all that we have for which to be thankful. To be sure, this time in our nation is marked by contention, accusation, and explosive arguments over direction and decisions. But in the midst of all of the rhetoric there is still much for which to be grateful.

 

I’m grateful for the gospel, for the saving work of Jesus Christ, for the truth of His Word, and for the faithfulness of our God.

 

As we continue in our study of Matthew this week, there are a lot of loud voices to consider. The voices of the crowds shout for Jesus to be crowned King; and the voices of the Pharisees, Sadducees, and teachers of religious Law ring out in attempts to trap Him into saying something blasphemous. It’s at this point that Jesus makes a strategic shift in His ministry. And it’s crucial that we recognize and understand it. We’ll be working our way through several stories of Jesus' interactions with people and His continued preparation of the disciples for the ongoing mission that He is training them to take on.

 

The truths we’ll discover are foundational and vital for our lives today. For the mission Jesus entrusted to His circle of disciples then is the same one He entrusts to us today.

 

Pastor Chris