May 5, 2013 | Matthew
I am reasonably sure that as our Lord climbed to the top of Mount Hermon, He knew what was going to take place there. Yes, He wanted to get away from the maddening crowd – and perhaps He wanted to get a little rest. Then as Luke tells us “He took Peter and John and...
May 4, 2013 | Matthew
Let me try to explain these events as I see them. As I said last week, I believe that the transfiguration took place on Mt. Hermon. Honesty demands that I tell you that not everyone agrees with that idea. Tradition says that this was on Mt. Tabor, which is 12 to 15...
May 3, 2013 | Matthew
A hundred and forty years ago, Philip Bliss wrote some poetry and then put it to music. With the advent of contemporary worship hymns, who knows if Christians will be singing it in another hundred and forty years. But as of today it is still popular in a many...
May 2, 2013 | Matthew
This morning I raised the question, “Why were Peter, James and John invited to witness the transfiguration?” Was it an arbitrary choice on Christ’s part, or were there specific reasons. Were they better men than the rest of the disciples, and if so in what way? How...
May 1, 2013 | Matthew
This past week, I have had several people, who know that I am a pastor, ask me if I was “ready for Easter.” They were thinking that I must have a lot of special preparation to do for this day. I told them that for the most part I was, even though I didn’t have this...
Apr 17, 2013 | Matthew
I have entitled this message – “Two Comings of Christ,” but there is a slight “slight of hand” involved. Notice that I didn’t use the definite article “the” two Comings of Christ. Most of you understand what the preacher means when he talks about the two comings of...
Apr 16, 2013 | Matthew
I’m sure that on several occasions Christ and His disciples spent nights out in the wilderness – under the stars. Sometimes on the eastern side of the Sea, or perhaps traveling north to Syro-Phoenician-Phoenicia. There were undoubtedly evenings, after the crowds had...
Apr 15, 2013 | Matthew
The psalmist David – King David – loved the Word of God. In Psalm 19 he sang: “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of...
Apr 14, 2013 | Matthew
I have some neighbors who are about as religious as anyone possibly can be. I think that they both work in a religious school, probably attending either chapel or their church nearly every day of the week. They wear very conservative clothing; they have religious...
Apr 13, 2013 | Matthew
Tonight, let’s think about the principles of Christian leadership. My reason for this subject is that everyone of us are, or will be, or ought to be leaders of others. If you are a parent, teacher, drill sergeant, pastor, deacon or someone’s hero, you are a leader....
Apr 12, 2013 | Matthew
The ministry of the Lord Jesus was beginning a transformation period. If you think back on it, ever since creation, the “work” of the Son of God has changed and changed again. There were things which He did to Israel and the patriarchs which were special. “But when...
Apr 11, 2013 | Matthew
In Luke 9 we have the condensed version of the event that we are studying here in Matthew 16. Luke omits verses 18 and 19. “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it....
Apr 10, 2013 | Matthew
One of the heretical doctrines of many cults is that the leader, or some group, controls the keys to Heaven. Some demand allegiance to the founder of the cult, and so when that leader dies, so does the cult. Some place all their converts and devotees in communes or...
Apr 9, 2013 | Matthew
When the Lord Jesus said, “And I say also unto thee…” He basically meant – “You’ve just said something really important, and now so will I.” Peter had said – on behalf of all the disciples – “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” Jesus replied,...
Apr 8, 2013 | Matthew
I have heard it said that there are a hundred million billion stars in the universe. One hundred million billion – that is an astronomical number (no pun intended). That is a number exceeded only by America’s national debt – it is almost incalculable. With that many,...
