Introduction What is the path to greatness? It would be nice if we all were great. Right? Great at sports, great in school, great at work, great relationships. It would be great. I just learned not that long ago—maybe I shouldn’t admit this—when someone calls another person the GOAT, they mean he or she is the Greatest Of All Time GOAT. So, for example: Tom Brady could be called the GOAT of quarterbacks.  With 7,753 Completions.  12,050 Attempts.  89,214 Passing Yards.  And 649 Passing Touchdowns.  https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2023/02/01/gettyi ..read more

  What is the most essential rule to live by? In our passage this morning, Jesus answered this question and asked his own. He turned the conversation from the Law to the Lord. Those listening didn’t understand who was standing in front of them. Jesus gave them rules to live by and defined himself in a way that shuts them up. If we look closely, his words have the power to convict our consciences and encourage our souls.  TEXT  If you have your Bibles, we are continuing our series in Matthew. The book’s theme is to follow the Promised King into his Kingdom. I am going to have ..read more

CHILDREN’S MESSAGE  He has risen! [He has risen indeed] He has risen! [He has risen indeed] He has risen! [He has risen indeed] I would like all the kids ten and under to come up front for a children’s message. [Items in a bag.] This week is one of my favorite weeks of the year. What happened this week? [Easter] Right. When you hear the word Easter, what do you think of? [Candy, the Easter Bunny, Easter Eggs, family, Jesus?] This week is about Jesus rising from the dead. Right? Here is another question: How did he die? He died on the cross. And another question is: How did he get there ..read more

Two servants served two high priests, one we know and the other not. Both are prominent, one obstinate. Their work was to serve and serve well. One traveled miles, and the other just outside the city. Late one Thursday night, they ran into each other on a night like this.  SOUND  Sounds brought them together. Varying frequencies, decibels, and instructions filled their ears. These servants heard different messages. The day was long. The city expanded like a belt at the end of a buffet. The crowds filled the streets and swelled to six times the average size. But now, in the middle of ..read more

  Two servants serve their great high priests Their work extends beyond the feast One fisherman from Galilee The other from David’s city Two servants hear instructions late  The sound of someone’s deadly fate  One prayer asking God’s will be done   A surprise arrest had begun Two servants met at garden plot  Torches, swords, and questions are brought “Where is Jesus of Nazareth?”  “I am he,” and ready for death Two servants face off in a fight Peter draws a sword, cuts with might Severs the right ear of Malchus  The sound he hears is treasonous Two ..read more

Today, we are continuing our series in the book of Matthew. Our theme has been to follow the promised King into his kingdom. In our passage this morning, Jesus will describe a royal wedding feast. Are you hungry? What are you having for lunch? We usually do something simple at home. What is your favorite? My family probably knows: chips and salsa or PB&J (strawberry jelly and hearty bread). But, if I were invited to a wedding feast, I would look forward to the cake. I would also love to eat smoked salmon and beef tenderloin if they had it. How about you? What if it was a royal wedding ..read more

Faithlife and NavPress are giving away the book Holiness Day by Day: Transformational Thoughts for Your Spiritual Journey by Jerry Bridges Free for the rest of the month of March.  From the publisher: Do you want more substance to your daily devotional? Then you will appreciate this devotional. Free of "fluff" and steeped in scripture, here's a rock-solid 365-day devotional that will stand the test of time. Each entry has been carefully selected from Jerry Bridges' best writings, offering thoughtful daily guidance to help you meditate on God's Word and diligently seek Him. This quick dai ..read more

INTRODUCTION  Thanks, Butch and Worship team, for leading us in worship. There is no other name than Jesus. That is true. But to be candid, I think people don’t always live like it is true. I don’t always live like that. Let me explain authority another way.  BUGATTI This is the Bugatti La Voiture Noire, the second most expensive car in the world, valued at 18.1 million dollars. I will give it to the first person who comes up here, but I don’t have the authority to do so. I would love to actually give one away, but I don’t have the power to do it. I found the picture on their we ..read more

The Gospel Coalition and Crossway are giving away the book  From the publisher:  Is there evidence to believe the Gospels? The Gospels―Matthew, Mark, Luke, John―are four accounts of Jesus’s life and teachings while on earth. But should we accept them as historically accurate? What evidence is there that the recorded events actually happened? Presenting a case for the historical reliability of the Gospels, New Testament scholar Peter Williams examines evidence from non-Christian sources, assesses how accurately the four biblical accounts reflect the cultural context of their day, com ..read more

Faithlife and Intervarsity Press are giving away this month the book Christianity on Trial: A Lawyer Examines the Christian Faith by W. Mark Lanier FREE.  From the publisher:  Does the Christian faith hold up under scrutiny? What does science tell us about the plausibility of a god? Can we trust the alleged eyewitness testimony of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus? These questions are worth investigating in order to find an answer solidified in fact and evidence. Mark Lanier, one of America's top trial lawyers, uses his experienced legal eye to examine the plausibility of ..read more