‘Confessing Jesus’ (Matthew 16:13-23)

In this message, preached in July 2022, Rev R’jae Rojas explores the crucial moment in the life and ministry of Jesus, when He asked His disciples the telling question, ‘Who do you say that I am?’

Message

Radio service

00:00 Welcome
Song: O Worship the King
00:17 Introduction
00:38 Prayer
03:34 Bible reading: Matthew 9:1-8
Song: Behold the Lamb
05:31 Bible reading: Matthew 16:13-23
Song: Before the Throne
07:25 Bible reading: Matthew 27:62-28:15
Song: Come My Soul
Sermon: Matthew 16:13-23
Song: My Faith Looks Up
09:29 Closing

Outline

Introduction

  1. Confused by Jesus (v.13-14)
  2. Confessing jesus (v.15-17)
  3. Commitment to Jesus (v.18-20)

Exhortation

‘Tensions in the Christian life’ #1 Freedom vs Submission

There are all kinds of tensions in the Christian life. Tensions as in truths that seem to clash. In this message, the idea of being ‘free’ in Christ is contrasted with the need to ‘submit’ to Christ as Lord. How do freedom and submission fit together? Maybe Matthew 11:28-30 has the answer!

Message

Radio Service

00:00 Welcome
Song: Stand Up and Bless the Lord
00:19 Introduction
00:39 Prayer
05:15 Bible reading: John 8:12-36
Song: We Are His People
09:16 Shorter Catechism Introduction
10:44 Catechism Questions 162-167
14:43 Bible reading: Galatians 3:1-15
Song: Jesus Strong and Kind
Sermon: Matthew 11:28-30
Song: I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say
17:43 Closing

Outline

• This new series…
• A life of no conflict
• Freedom through submission?
• Note from this text …

  1. The invitations Jesus gives us (v.28, 29)
  2. The promises Jesus gives us (v.28)
  3. The reasons Jesus gives us (v.29, 30)

The farmer, oxen and yokes
Be yoked to Jesus!

‘Jesus speaks of nets, fish, baskets and fire’ (Matthew 13:47-50)

In this fifth and last of the parable recorded in Matthew 13, this one in Matthew 13:47-50, Jesus spoke of things that would have been familiar to those who lived on the shores of the Sea of Galilee – the everyday, ordinary practice of the people who made a living from fishing, and the associated sorting process that would follow… the not up-to-scratch fish thrown away and the best ones either sold or eaten. On this, Jesus taught that this was just a pointer toward the end of time, when people are sorted out into categories – some rejected, some not – and the only safe place to be to avoid such judgement.

Message

Radio Service

00:00 Welcome
Song: Standing on the Promises
00:18 Introduction
00:33 Prayer
06:06 Bible reading: Luke 5:1-11
Song: O Great God
07:37 Shorter Catechism Introduction
09:05 Catechism Questions 128-133
12:32 Bible reading: Revelation 14:14-20
Song: My Hope Rests Firm
Sermon: Matthew 13:47-50
Song: Out of My Bondage
14:05 Closing

Outline

• Found in 1986…
• The daily fishing trade
• A very pointed parable
• See how Jesus tells his followers about …

  1. Their mission (v.47)
  2. Their makeup (v.47-48)
  3. Their future (v.49-50)

This is not a drill!
The only safe place to be …

‘Jesus speaks of a hidden treasure and a priceless pearl’ (Matthew 13:44-46)

In this fourth, and one of the smallest, parables found in Matthew 13:44-46, again we find that Jesus spoke to those who were around him about everyday common items. This time, the fairly well-known practise of finding buried wealth in a plot of land (which means it was yours if you bought the land!) and the search for a priceless, most valuable pearl. In the first case, the man who found the treasure gave all he could to gain something of greater value. In the second, the one who came across the pearl also gave up everything in order that he might have it. The Kingdom of God is like that. Worth more than anything else.

Message

Radio Service

00:00 Welcome
Song: And Can It Be
00:19 Introduction
00:34 Prayer
03:53 Bible reading: Matthew 19:16-30
Song: See Him Coming
06:05 Shorter Catechism Introduction
07:33 Catechism Questions 122-127
10:08 Bible reading: Philippians 3:1-11
Song: By Faith
Sermon: Matthew 13:44-46
Song: Glorious Things of Thee
12:00 Closing

Outline

• Daytime TV
• What is valuable?
• What’s the point of these parables?
• See in this parable.…

  1. An unforeseen discovery (v.44, 45)
  2. An unmatched desire (v.44, 46)
  3. An unconventional decision (v.45-46)

Onboard the Titanic!
No entrance fee to the Kingdom, but…
Moses’ choice… and yours!

‘Jesus speaks of a tiny seed and a small amount of yeast’ (Matthew 13:31-35)

In this third parable of Matthew 13, Jesus speaks in Matthew 13:31-35 of two very common items from his day. The tiny mustrad seed which, which when grown, became a medium to large sized bush that would be the home for many birds, and an amount of yeast, which would turn a small amlount of leaven into a larger amount of bread. By these, Jesus again taught that the kingdom of God does not come by worldly means, but God brings it about silently and almost behind-the-scenes, leading us to always have hope that His Kingdom ‘will come’.

Message

Radio Service

00:00 Welcome
Song: Holy, Holy, Holy
00:18 Introduction
00:34 Prayer
04:20 Bible reading: 1 Corinthians 1:18-31
Song: 10,000 Reasons
06:17 Shorter Catechism Introduction
07:45 Catechism Questions 115-121
13:00 Bible reading: Matthew 13:31-35
Song: Consider Christ
Sermon: Matthew 13:31-35
Song: Jesus Shall Reign
13:55 Closing

Outline

• These parables of Matthew 13
• Mary, Mary quite contrary
• How does His kingdom grow?
• See in this parable…

  1. From little things big things grow (v.31-32)
  2. From hidden things, some things grow (v.33)

Don’t despise the day of small things
Don’t despair of seeing kingdom growth
Don’t forget there’s room in those branches
Do adopt this vision of the kingdom!

‘Jesus speaks of seeds, some weeds and a harvest’ (Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43)

In this second parable that Matthew records Jesus teaching in Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43, the everyday item that Jesus used was wheat and weeds. To us, these might sound like two completely different items, but in his day the ‘weed’ was a ‘counterfeit wheat’ that was very hard to distinguish from the real. As Jesus explained the parable, it becomes clear that the point he was making is still so important for His people today, as we grow in the world along with the ‘counterfeit wheat’ – leading us to see the world around us through His eyes.

Message

Radio Service

00:00 Welcome
Song: Praise to the Lord
00:18 Introduction
00:33 Prayer
04:40 Bible reading: Matthew 9:1-13
Song: Come Praise and Glorify
06:46 Shorter Catechism Introduction
08:13 Catechism Questions 111-114
11:25 Bible reading: Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43
Song: Christ Is Mine Forevermore
Sermon: Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43
Song: May the Mind of Christ
13:23 Closing

Outline

• These parables of Matthew 13
• How can good and evil exist in the world side by side?
• Two extremes we could adopt..
• See how this parable.…

  1. Explains our present reality (v.24-30)
  2. Points to a future certainty (v.36-43)

John Wesley’s visit to Newcastle (UK)
How do you see the world?

‘Jesus speaks of seeds, some soils and a sower’ (Matthew 13:1-23)

Of the 5 parables that make up Matthew 13, the first in one Matthew 13:1-23 is by far the longest. All of them have to do with the Kingdom of God, how and when it comes and how it grows, and what will be the consequences of not being part of it. In this parable, Jesus takes familiar agricultural themes and makes a point about listening, hearing and fruitfulness.

Message

Radio service

00:00 Welcome
Song: Immortal Invisible
00:20 Introduction
00:34 Prayer
04:50 Bible reading: Matthew 13:1-23
Song: Behold Our God
08:07 Shorter Catechism Introduction
09:35 Catechism Questions 107-110
13:24 Bible reading: James 1:19-27
Song: Meekness and Majesty
Sermon: Matthew 13:1-23
Song: Master Speak
14:50 Closing

Outline

• The parables of Matthew 13
• Was Jesus making truth plain or hiding it?
• It all depends if you’re ‘in’ or ‘out’ of the Kingdom
• See how Jesus tells us of…

  1. Some vital activity (v.1-3)
  2. Some varied responses (v.4-9, 18-22)
  3. Some very big results (v.23)

Hearing the Word isn’t enough!
Fruit is the proof of life!

‘Salt and light’ (Matthew 5:13-16)

In this message on Matthew 5:13-16, Hugh Price examines the two metaphors that Jesus used in the Sermon on the Mount to describe his followers. Salt in the ancient days was used mainly as a preserving agent, and light, (in the sense of the opposite of darkness) has one major purpose in all of our lives ever since God made the world. The challenge is of course, not just understanding these metaphors, but living them out in the world.

Service

00:00 Welcome
Song: To God Be the Glory
00:18 Introduction
00:38 Prayer
05:21 Bible reading: Psalm 119:89-112
Song: Jerusalem
07:51 Shorter Catechism Introduction
09:18 Catechism Questions 96-98
11:08 Bible reading: Matthew 5:1-16
Song: My Hope Rests Firm
Sermon: Matthew 5:13-16
Song: God Whose Almighty Word
13:06 Closing

‘Great introductions’ (Matthew 11:1-15)

As part of Christian Union Sunday in April 2017, Steve Blyth from CU preached from Matthew 11:1-15. In this passage, John the Baptist introduces Jesus to the world but is a confused messenger. He asks to check if Jesus is the one we’ve been waiting for and what he has come to do. Jesus reassures him from the Old Testament prophecies concerning himself and commends John’s message as he prepared the way. Yet we now have a greater perspective than even John as we live on the other side of the cross and Jesus’ resurrection. We have the privilege of introducing Jesus to others as we share the hope that we have in him.

Service

00:00 Welcome
Song: Praise to the Lord
00:19 Introduction
00:37 Prayer
03:33 Bible reading: Matthew 3:1-17
Song: Grace Unmeasured
06:16 Shorter Catechism Introduction
07:44 Catechism Questions 53-57
10:38 Bible reading: Matthew 11:1-15
Song: Never Alone
Sermon: Matthew 11:1-15
Song: Tell Me the Old, Old Story
12:36 Closing

Outline

A Confused Messenger (1-6)

  • Are you the one?
  • John had different expectations
  • The great danger of confusion

A Commended Message (7-11)

  • None greater than John
  • John introduced Jesus to the world
  • We are greater than John!

A Clarified Mission (11-12)

  • The great privilege of evangelism
  • Expect great progress and great hostility
  • Please pray…

‘An empty tomb, a blatant lie and a message for the world’ (Matthew 28:1-20)

When the women first went to the tomb where Jesus has been buried on that first Easter Sunday morning, they never expected to find Him alive. But when Matthew records in Matthew 28:1-20 that Jesus was alive, this changed everything. While they worshipped Him by falling down at His feet, the soldiers who had been guarding the tomb (and saw what happened) and the Jewish authorities were meeting together to spread misinformation about the truth. But no lie can stop the truth, and the whole universe is now under the Lordship on Jesus!

Service

00:00 Welcome
Song: Jesus Christ Is Risen Today
00:17 Introduction
00:43 Prayer
04:20 Bible reading: Matthew 27:57-28:7
Song: In Christ Alone
07:06 Kids’ Talk – Colin Buchanan (with thanks to Compassion)
14:42 Bible reading: Matthew 28:1-20
Song: Never Alone
Sermon: Matthew 28:1-20
Song: Thine Be the Glory
17:02 Closing

Outline

• If the gospels ended at the cross…
• The resurrection is the great game changer
• Three scenes in the text
• See how Matthew tells us of…

  1. Feet worth touching (v.1-10)
  2. Lies worth telling (v.11-15)
  3. Commands worth keeping (v.16-20)

A choice to be made… which will be yours?