After finishing our preaching series in Matthew's Gospel, we asked the congregation to let us know how they had been blessed by the study. We hope you enjoy these responses we received.
Daniel Roberts
There have been a few parts of this journey that stuck with me. The first sermon I ever heard preached from the pulpit of this church was Jesus feeding the 5,000 in Matthew 14. Jesus driving home the point of the disciples needing to return to him, empty handed, for blessing and the ability to serve others has stuck with me since. It pushes me away from a tendency to try to rely on my own strength and instead turn towards Christ for my ability to work and serve.
The sermon on Matthew 20 and the parable of the laborers in the vineyard has similarly stuck with me. When tempted to despair or be angry with God over different circumstances, I am reminded that nothing in the life of a Christian is truly fair. Grace isn't fair, the life granted to us and the forgiveness of our sins isn't fair. Jesus suffering on the cross for my sake was not "fair" in the way that we often understand the term. It reminds me that God's grace to us is freely given, exactly as he promised, to all who believe regardless of their past sins or current struggles. It is in accordance with the will of God that ALL who repent and believe receive the same blessing of knowing God and spending eternity in worship to Him.
The sermons in Chapter 27 yielded several more points that have remained with me. The juxtaposition of the guilt felt by Judas with the guilt felt by Peter challenged me to think about where my own guilt and grief stemmed from and to think about where I was taking that guilt. We also saw the guilt of the leaders, the crowd, Pilot, and ourselves as Jesus was delivered to be crucified. Changing my view to see myself and my undeservedness in Barabbas is humbling. The guilty one deserving death is set free so that the sinless Savior dies.
For me, the overarching takeaway of Matthew was love. Even outside of the summary of the law that Jesus gave in 22:37. God is a God of love. The Old Testament law was given as a loving act to the people of Israel in order to help them to see the goodness and faithfulness of God. Jesus came and demonstrated perfect, loving obedience to God through his entire earthly life by showing loving kindness in all that he did and said. We must shift our view of what love truly is. Love is leaving your nets, your father and mother, your life of comfort or rebellion, and choosing a life of trial and true fullness of joy. Love is confronting the straying christian and the lost with their sin. Love is calling them to turn to God for repentance to rescue them from the consequences of their sin. Love is serving and praying for those who will soon abandon you as you face death. Love is saying "Father not my will, but yours be done", submitting an earnest desire to avoid trial to God. Love is suffering and dying so that others may gain life. Love is sending the disciples out on an impossible mission under immense persecution but giving them the promise that the holy Creator of the universe would be with them ALL their days, giving them the strength to carry on. Love is submission to the Father trusting that HIS love will transform us in our submission.
Cate Richardson
The sermon series through Matthew gave me a deeper, clearer understanding of Jesus and his heart. I was blessed by two contrasting but central themes. The first was the theme of being salt and light as preached from Matthew 5, and the second was the theme of how to treat God's "little ones" as preached from Matthew 25.
Circumstances are such that I spend a great deal of time with unbelievers. I care for them deeply but it can be difficult and I sometimes wonder what the point of it is. It was encouraging to hear that salt actually only has it's purpose when coming into contact with something that is decaying. It's still not always easy but it made me feel a renewed sense that God must have me where he wants me.
The other theme pressed the significance of how we treat other believers. I don't know where I got the idea that wanting to be around other Christians is wrong to prioritize too highly, because Jesus himself commends it as the best kind of fruit you can bear. It's good to know that wanting to be with other Christians, to have substantial and meaningful relationships, is worth the effort it takes to do so.
Bob Bell
I view social media on a regular basis. Lately, I have seen a tremendous amount of anti-Christian posts. I used to swipe past them. The series in Matthew helped me realize I need to be contending for the faith. Now I interact with some of these posts, seeking to uphold God's truth. It has led to a number of conversations, which gives me opportunities to reveal more truth. Some of these get into the deep theology of the sovereignty of God, sin, and evil. Another thing this series taught me is that it's not up to me to sway anyone to the truth. That’s God’s job. The Spirit is the one who opens the eyes of the blind. All I am to do is reveal the truth with boldness. It’s a start.
Daniel Roberts
There have been a few parts of this journey that stuck with me. The first sermon I ever heard preached from the pulpit of this church was Jesus feeding the 5,000 in Matthew 14. Jesus driving home the point of the disciples needing to return to him, empty handed, for blessing and the ability to serve others has stuck with me since. It pushes me away from a tendency to try to rely on my own strength and instead turn towards Christ for my ability to work and serve.
The sermon on Matthew 20 and the parable of the laborers in the vineyard has similarly stuck with me. When tempted to despair or be angry with God over different circumstances, I am reminded that nothing in the life of a Christian is truly fair. Grace isn't fair, the life granted to us and the forgiveness of our sins isn't fair. Jesus suffering on the cross for my sake was not "fair" in the way that we often understand the term. It reminds me that God's grace to us is freely given, exactly as he promised, to all who believe regardless of their past sins or current struggles. It is in accordance with the will of God that ALL who repent and believe receive the same blessing of knowing God and spending eternity in worship to Him.
The sermons in Chapter 27 yielded several more points that have remained with me. The juxtaposition of the guilt felt by Judas with the guilt felt by Peter challenged me to think about where my own guilt and grief stemmed from and to think about where I was taking that guilt. We also saw the guilt of the leaders, the crowd, Pilot, and ourselves as Jesus was delivered to be crucified. Changing my view to see myself and my undeservedness in Barabbas is humbling. The guilty one deserving death is set free so that the sinless Savior dies.
For me, the overarching takeaway of Matthew was love. Even outside of the summary of the law that Jesus gave in 22:37. God is a God of love. The Old Testament law was given as a loving act to the people of Israel in order to help them to see the goodness and faithfulness of God. Jesus came and demonstrated perfect, loving obedience to God through his entire earthly life by showing loving kindness in all that he did and said. We must shift our view of what love truly is. Love is leaving your nets, your father and mother, your life of comfort or rebellion, and choosing a life of trial and true fullness of joy. Love is confronting the straying christian and the lost with their sin. Love is calling them to turn to God for repentance to rescue them from the consequences of their sin. Love is serving and praying for those who will soon abandon you as you face death. Love is saying "Father not my will, but yours be done", submitting an earnest desire to avoid trial to God. Love is suffering and dying so that others may gain life. Love is sending the disciples out on an impossible mission under immense persecution but giving them the promise that the holy Creator of the universe would be with them ALL their days, giving them the strength to carry on. Love is submission to the Father trusting that HIS love will transform us in our submission.
Cate Richardson
The sermon series through Matthew gave me a deeper, clearer understanding of Jesus and his heart. I was blessed by two contrasting but central themes. The first was the theme of being salt and light as preached from Matthew 5, and the second was the theme of how to treat God's "little ones" as preached from Matthew 25.
Circumstances are such that I spend a great deal of time with unbelievers. I care for them deeply but it can be difficult and I sometimes wonder what the point of it is. It was encouraging to hear that salt actually only has it's purpose when coming into contact with something that is decaying. It's still not always easy but it made me feel a renewed sense that God must have me where he wants me.
The other theme pressed the significance of how we treat other believers. I don't know where I got the idea that wanting to be around other Christians is wrong to prioritize too highly, because Jesus himself commends it as the best kind of fruit you can bear. It's good to know that wanting to be with other Christians, to have substantial and meaningful relationships, is worth the effort it takes to do so.
Bob Bell
I view social media on a regular basis. Lately, I have seen a tremendous amount of anti-Christian posts. I used to swipe past them. The series in Matthew helped me realize I need to be contending for the faith. Now I interact with some of these posts, seeking to uphold God's truth. It has led to a number of conversations, which gives me opportunities to reveal more truth. Some of these get into the deep theology of the sovereignty of God, sin, and evil. Another thing this series taught me is that it's not up to me to sway anyone to the truth. That’s God’s job. The Spirit is the one who opens the eyes of the blind. All I am to do is reveal the truth with boldness. It’s a start.
Brent Osterberg
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