Worship Resource

Sunday AM Review

Preaching Summary:

The first ten chapters of the book of Matthew make the claim and support the claim that Jesus is the Christ – the Messianic King. In chapters 11 and 12 Matthew shifts to highlighting the responses of men to the claims, credentials, and evidence. 

• A true believer like John the Baptist (11:2ff.) had some confusion but continued to get clarification. 

• The common people were fickle and unrepentant (11:16ff.). 

• The religious establishment (12:1ff.) was accusatory and conspired to destroy. 

• The earthly brothers and sisters of Jesus (12:46ff.) remained aloof and unbelieving.  

Against this backdrop Jesus extended the invitation to join his spiritual family by submitting to His Father’s will. If you will take God at His Word and take His Son for your Savior and King, you enter into a relationship that is dearer than any could ever be on this earth.

Devotional Activities:

1. Who is the book of Matthew about?

2. What is the position/title Matthew claims for this person right away?

3. What are some of the credentials that support this claim in the first 10 chapters?

4. Is it possible that the potential loss of friendship or close family relationships and any accompanying criticism has kept you from unashamed loyalty to Christ? How would the Lord have you respond to Him today?

Sunday PM Review

Preaching Summary: 

The first guidepost in our pursuit of glorifying God as a church is practicing the “headship” of Jesus Christ (Eph.1:22-23, etc). This calls on us to give Christ the most elevated position in the body. The church is not possession of the longest standing members, those who have given the most financial resources to its support over the years, the staff, the deacons, the pastor, or even the congregation in mass as a democracy. The church is the possession of the One who said, “I will build MY church” (Mt. 16:18). No church should takes its orders or cues from the unchurched, evangelical pollsters, or even our fundamentalist brethren but from the One who is our Head!

If we will seek to know the mind of our Head, we must understand that he has revealed his mind in the Scripture (Jn 14:26, 15:26, 16:12-13, 2nd Peter 1:21, 2nd Tim.3:16). Thus, a second guidepost for our pursuit of arriving at the destination of glorifying God is a commitment to give careful attention to His authoritative Words written in the Scripture.  The primary activity of our gatherings together should be sustained attention to what He has said to us in His Word.

Devotional Activities:

1. What is the God-established destination for any local church? (Note at least one reference that points to this truth)

2. Not only has God the Father declared that the church is the body of Christ, but by what did Jesus "purchase" the church to himself (Acts 20:28)?

3. What is the difference between illumination and inspiration/revelation? Which is promised in the references given in the message and the summary? Why?

4. What is the ministry of the Word in 2nd Timothy 3:15?

5. What is the ministry of the Word in 2nd Timothy 3:16?

6. What is the ministry of the Word in 2nd Timothy 3:17?

7. What is the principal means of the ministry of the Word in 2nd Timothy 4:2?