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Four Points Church in Acworth, Georgia.
Episodes
Sunday Nov 18, 2018
Sunday Nov 18, 2018
Our text opens with the Pharisees scrambling to have an answer for the miracles that Jesus is performing. The crowds were beginning to consider that He may truly be who He says (vs. 23). The Pharisees began accusing Jesus of working through the power of the devil. Jesus had earlier begun to dismiss the Pharisees by using scripture (12:3-8). At this point, Jesus appeals to logic and reason to dismiss their accusations. He famously tells the Pharisees that, “every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste.”
Sunday Nov 11, 2018
Sunday Nov 11, 2018
Scripture teaches us that one day a week should be for rest and worship (Exodus 20:8-11). Every generation has had different ideas about what it looks like to rest on the Sabbath, especially first century scribes and pharisees. The Bible itself speaks very little as to what “keeping the Sabbath” is, and isn’t. In fact, the whole Torah (first five books of the Bible) only condemns one activity on the Sabbath, which is gathering sticks and kindling a fire (Exodus 35:1-3; Numbers 15:32-36). Throughout the rest of the Old Testament very little is added to the list of what “work” is. We are instructed that we shouldn’t carry burdens (Jeremiah 17:21-27), buy or sell (Nehemiah 10:31; 13:15-17; Amos 8:4-5), or use the Sabbath for our own pleasure, but to delight in God (Isaiah 58:13). That's it.That's all the instruction God gives us for keeping the Sabbath holy.
Monday Nov 05, 2018
Monday Nov 05, 2018
Jesus often uses the analogy of children when He is showing the difference that exists between His followers and everyone else. Children are the great dependent class of humanity. They would be utterly doomed without parents or guardians to feed, clothe, and train them. This hearkens back to the first beatitude that Jesus taught in the gospel of Matthew, “Blessed are the poor in spirit” (5:3). Scripture makes it clear it is impossible for the wisdom of this world to move us toward God (I Corinthians 1:18-31; 3:18-21). Like children, we must be completely aware of our need to be shown the way by God Himself. This affirms the teaching of Jesus who declares we must be like children to come to Him (Matthew 18:3).
Monday Oct 29, 2018
Monday Oct 29, 2018
Most people become Christians under the guise that Jesus is going to make everything in their life perfect. It can be a real letdown when we come to the knowledge that Christians are not exempt from trials and hardships. We find John the Baptist in a very similar situation.
Sunday Oct 21, 2018
Sunday Oct 21, 2018
As Jesus closes his commission to His disciples, He gives some very shocking statements. Because of the repetition of use, these statements may not have the same appalling meaning as they would have had with the disciples. However, that should not diminish the intention of Jesus as He clearly articulated what the cost would be if His disciples were willing to follow him. Discipleship is not cheap, and it certainly isn’t free. Everyone who desires to follow Jesus must be willing to pay. These words stated by Christ should challenge our hearts and demand a response from everyone who considers themselves a Christian.
Tuesday Oct 16, 2018
Tuesday Oct 16, 2018
As we continue our study of Matthew 10, we see Jesus’ call and commission to his disciples becomes wider and wider. What begins as a commission to the lost sheep of Israel, will soon include the Gentiles, and eventually a commission to whomever is willing. But with this commission will come a price. A price that should challenge everyone who calls themselves a disciple. Discipleship is not a safe and subtle call to live a comfortable life with no worries or troubles. If you want to be a disciple of Jesus, you must be willing to be hated for his name sake and truly be willing to lay down your life to follow Jesus.
Monday Oct 08, 2018
Monday Oct 08, 2018
This is a pivotal moment in the gospel of Matthew where the 12 apostles are first introduced. Change is coming. The Son of Man is going to transfer power from the blind guides of the 12 tribes of Israel to His church through His 12 apostles. Remember that God doesn’t need us to do His work. He does however, choose to do His work through us. In the words of Jesus, to reap the harvest will take prayer and people. During the incarnate ministry of Jesus Christ, He chose to use the 12 apostles to lay the foundation of His new kingdom. Today, during the session of Christ, He chooses to use His church. May we continue to pray for more laborers among us to have compassion on the crowds and proclaim to them the good news of what Jesus has done!
Sunday Sep 30, 2018
Sunday Sep 30, 2018
The healing of the paralytic taught us that Jesus was God who has the power to forgive sin (9:1-8). Now we see Jesus going a step further. He is surrounding Himself with sinners. Look carefully as Matthew has not put his calling into this moment of His narrative on accident. Mark 2:13 teaches us that the crowd was all over Jesus. Everyone in Capernaum had heard about Jesus and wanted to see Him.
Sunday Sep 23, 2018
Sunday Sep 23, 2018
Matthew has already revealed the power Jesus has over disease and nature. In this text we see He has power over demons as well. As Jesus and His disciples arrive safely at the other side of the sea of Galilee they are met by two men. Mark 5, and Luke 8, give us more information about one of the men. We know he was naked, out of his mind, and living among the tombs. Locals had tried to restrain him, but he would break through chains. When these men saw Jesus their words are very telling. Demons know who Jesus is (James 2:19)! They rightly identify Him as the Son of God.
Monday Sep 17, 2018
Monday Sep 17, 2018
There is no “then.” There is only “now.” Some people have deceived themselves into thinking that there are other things that are more important in life that exempt them from following Christ in the present. Jesus makes clear that we follow Him first and work everything else out as we stay behind our Savior.