INTRODUCTION
Matthew’s account of the gospel is the first book in the New Testament and was one of the most popular books in the early church. It gives us a clear and thorough account of who Jesus is and what he accomplished through his life, death, and resurrection.
At the heart of Matthew’s account is the identification of Jesus Christ as the true King of the universe who ushers in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew’s Gospel also gives us a clear picture of discipleship, with all of Jesus’ radical demands on his followers amid a hostile world.
SERIES TEACHINGS
Part 4
Part 36 – The Death of John the Baptist
Richard relaunches the Matthew series with a look into the gruesome death of John the baptist and how it is unexpectedly included within the narrative that Matthew is weaving. In case the harsh imagery is of concern Richard made a plan to nullify the situation as well.
Part 37 – Compassion & Calm
Richard delves into the aftermath of John the Baptist’s death as Jesus seeks solitude but places His compassion for the crowds before His own needs and the miracles that He performs in the resultant space.
Part 38 – The Heart is a Sewer
Richard leads us in investigation of an early confrontation between Jesus and an envoy of pharisees from Jerusalem around traditions, commandments and how they overlap, contradict and support.
Part 39 – The Wonder of His Mercy
An intriguing interaction between Jesus that initially feels rather out of character is followed by another feeding of multitudes. Richard explores these 2 seemingly unrelated stories and shows how they demonstrate the inclusivity of the Kingdom of Christ.
Part 40 – Be Warned
Another encounter between Jesus and the pharisees and sadducees becomes heated as the unlikely allies request a sign which is met by strong rebuttal from Jesus. In the aftermath of the encounter the disciples also receive a stern warning against becoming misguided by false teachers.
Part 41 – I Will Build My Church
In this message we take a look at how Jesus Jesus institutes the concept of the Church as his own, indicating its ownership and centrality to his mission. We look at it’s indestructibility despite challenges, how it is assured until Jesus’ return, as well as the church’s mission: shining light in darkness, redeeming spiritual impoverishment.
Part 42 – The Cross Before the Crown
This week Zwai examines Jesus’ foreshadowing of the cross, as well as the responses from some of the disciples to this information. Moreover, we explore Jesus’ instructions to take up our individual crosses, dying to self in order to serve Christ and how that applies to the trials within our own lives.
Part 43 – Unveiling the Son of God
Richard walks us through the great mystery of the transfiguration as we see Jesus through the eyes of the disciples in all His glory as a reassurance to us of the hope we have for the future in times of trials. Despite the miraculous presence of both Elijah and Moses we are also urged to hold our focus on Jesus, only.
Part 44 – A Faithless & Twisted Generation
Upon the return from the transfiguration event Jesus heals and thereafter revisits a common phrase, ‘you of little faith’. Richard leads us and investigates the latest scenario to evoke this reaction, as well as looking at a passage around the paying of religious taxes.
Part 45 – True Greatness
Justin leads us in understanding that being so close may be enough but in the right circumstances what seems like a small margin may be life altering. He also dives into the meaning behind Jesus’ well known teaching surrounding children being the greatest in the kingdom and how we should take that into our own lives.
Part 46 – When Sheep Act Like Shepherds
This passage in Matthew 18:12-20 teaches about the importance of seeking out and confronting those who have gone astray. It emphasizes the value of each individual and the desire of God for none to perish. It also highlights the difficult process of confronting someone who has sinned against us and the need for a humble and shepherd-like attitude.
Part 47 – Forgiving From the Heart Without Limits
Jesus expands upon his previous teachings around the topic of forgiveness by establishing the importance of forgiveness through its impact on us as both forgiven and forgiver as well as how that affects those around us.
Part 48 – Marriage, Singleness & The Pursuit of the Kingdom
In another confrontation between Jesus and the religious leaders that has a callback to the sermon on the mount teachings Jesus discusses marriage as well as the possibility to leading a life of singleness in pursuit of the Kingdom before a reiteration of the importance of children.
Part 49 – What Do I Lack?
The rich ruler seeks Jesus to understand how he may enter into heaven, however, the response proves to be too great of an ask for the young man. The disciples are also challenged by the response but in a different manner and receive a reassuring response from Jesus.
Part 50 – The Beauty of Grace
Jesus continues the theme of firsts and lasts that he left off on as He leads the disciples through a workday in a vineyard wherein the expectations of the workers and by extention the disciples and us are challenged in regards to what we truly deserve.
Part 51 – The Upside-Down Kingdom
Brett dives into how Jesus illustrates the reversal of the roles within His Kingdom in anticipation of His entry into Jerusalem and the suffering that will come with it, with particular emphasis on serving the people around us.
Part 52 – Who Is This?
Richard leads us through the triumphant and ceremonious but also unexpected arrival of Jesus into Jerusalem and a number of intriguing interactions that take place seemingly at random within His initial time within the city.
SERIES TEACHINGS
Part 5
Part 53 – The Essence of Discipleship
Jesus enters Jerusalem and the temple to be met by another in an escalating set of encounters with the religious leadership, this interaction centers around a tricky debate surrounding the authority by which all the involved parties, and John the Baptist, teach. Followed by a brief parable from Jesus to drive home his point.
Part 54 – The Great Invitation
In this sermon, Richard discusses two parables from Matthew 21 & 22, focusing on the Vineyard metaphor and the religious leaders’ rebellion against God’s authority. We are reminded how the owner’s care for the Vineyard symbolizes God’s love and protection for His people. We also see how the invitation to the wedding feast signifies God’s grace extended to all, regardless of status. We are also warned about the consequences of rejecting God’s invitation and the need for genuine repentance.
Part 55 – Show Me The Money
Richard dives into an interaction that occurs between Jesus and the pharisees surrounding the topic of taxes while looking at the significance in both a historical and modern day context.
Part 56 – Jesus: 3 | Religious Leaders: 0
As tensions continue to rise between Christ and the pharisees another confrontation occurs, Brett breaks down this latest meeting for us and highlights that at the end of it all, the key is love.
Part 57 – Jesus Questions Religious Leaders
In a final attempt from the pharisees to ensare Jesus in His words there is a debate around the Godhood of Christ which is conclusively answered when Jesus references the Psalms, Justin then continues to explore as Jesus teaches on hypocrisy and its pitfalls.
Part 58 – Woe & Beware
In a set of scathing remarks that mark a direct opposite to the earlier beatitudes Jesus highlights the folly and danger of hypocrisy and some of the ways in which it is on display from the religious leaders of the period, it acts as a stern warning for our lives while additionally setting the stage for the pharisees plot to whip the Jewish people into a mob calling for the crucifixion of Christ.
Part 59 – Love for the Hardest of Hearts
As Jesus closes out the woe oracles He aims straight for the heart, particularly the hard ones, and while critical of their posture He continues to offer hope and love even amidst the unbelief and anger.
Part 60 – Proclamation Amidst Tribulation
Christ offers a stark warning over the trials that believers will face as the end times draw near and advises the disciples as well as other believers on how they should act to avoid falling prey to the enemy’s efforts to draw believers astray.
Part 61 – Events Surrounding the End Pt. 1
Richard dives into the intricacies of Jesus’ teachings on end times, the abomination of desolation and all the associated carnage, in it we look at how we can expect it to play out but far more importantly, what we as believers should be doing, both during those times and in anticipation of them.
Part 62 – Events Surrounding the End Pt. 2
Richard continues to dive into the intricacies of Jesus’ teachings on end times, the abomination of desolation and all the associated carnage, in it we look at how we can expect it to play out but far more importantly, what we as believers should be doing, both during those times and in anticipation of them.
Part 63 – Ready or Not, Here I Come
Zwai discusses how we are to remain wise and vigilant as we stay in anticipation of the coming of Christ. Though none but the Father know the time, however, to live wisely we are to live always as if everything were our last chance, both for ourselves and those whose lives we touch.
Part 64 – Watchful Waiting
Richard delves into another parable as Jesus teaches on how we are to steward our talents as faithful servants. He looks into what talents are in our own lives as well as how we are to make use of them to fall into the joy of the master.
Part 65 – Judgement Day
Richard looks at Christ’s description of judgement day as He calls all that have lived before Him and separates them into two groups, those that would serve Him and those that would have nothing to do with Him, and gives them their wish. Richard also speaks on how we are to live out the fruits of our faith should we desire to serve Christ with our lives.
Part 66 – Preparation of the Death of Christ
Justin leads an expository teaching as Christ and the disciples enter into the events of Holy Week, beginning with the Passover Supper preparation. We take a look at how those around Christ react to the little time that there is left of His time on earth, as well as how Christ chooses to use it.
Part 67 – Drink This Cup | Nat Schluter
Nat joins us from JBC on the partner Sunday to preach in the morning services. Nat leads us through the center of Matthew 26 as Jesus is betrayed by His own disciples and arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane. Nat looks at how Christ was betrayed by more than just Judas on that fateful and difficult night.
Part 67 – Journey To The Cross | Brighton Phiri
Brighton joins us from JBC on the partner Sunday to preach in the evening service. Brighton leads us through the center of Matthew 26 as Jesus is betrayed by His own disciples and arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane. Brighton looks at how Christ was betrayed by more than just Judas on that fateful and difficult night.
Part 68 – Silent as He Stood Accused
As Christ is put on trial before the Sanhedrin, we observe Peter’s struggles to maintain the promises he made only a short while earlier. Additionally, there is a symmetry that arises between the accusations of the high priest with the claims Peter made in chapter 16. Richard explores these things as well as how we will answer the only question that matters when the day to answer it arrives.
Part 69 – A Tale of Two Betrayer-Traitors
Pastor Ndaba digs into the betrayals that arise in the period between the arrest of Christ and His trial before Pontius Pilate, all from those closest to Him. Pastor Ndaba also explores how we should live our lives to steer clear of becoming guilty of betraying Christ.
Part 70 – His Blood Be Upon Us
Richard explores the story and characters involved as Pilate hands Christ to the crowd, a crowd that was sympathetic to and riled up by the religious leaders that sought to have Christ condemned to death.
Part 71 – Jesus Forsaken, We Are Forgiven
Brett delves into the incredibly brutal and painful suffering and death that was suffered by Christ on the cross, as well as why all the pain of the how pales into insignificance next to the why behind Christ’s death. A death brought about purely from love for each of us and an overwhelming desire to draw each of us into a personal and everlasting relationship with Him.
Part 72 – The Burial & Resurrection of Christ
Justin launches an in-depth exploration into one of the pinnacle tenets of the Christian faith, the fact that Christ was resurrected and the evidence that stands for its occurence as well as the implications that those facts and assertions carry 2000 years after the fact.