Matthew

Are We Still a Life-Saving Station?

Title: Are We Still a Life-Saving Station?

Text: Matthew 4:12–25

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On a dangerous sea coast where shipwrecks often occur, there was once a crude, little life-saving station. The building was just a hut, and there was only one boat, but the few devoted members kept a constant watch over the sea, and with no thought for themselves, went out day and night tirelessly searching for the lost. Many lives were saved by this wonderful little life-saving station. So it became famous.

A Call for Disciples, Not “Casual” Christians

Title: A Call for Disciples, Not “Casual” Christians

Text: Matthew 4:12–22

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This week, I listened to a pastor speak about his experiences in missionary work around the world. In India, he met a young woman and her husband who left Hinduism and became disciples of Christ. They faced a lot of recoil for this decision from their family and from the village where they lived. On one occasion, everyone in their village came to their hut with lizards whose heads had been cut off and told the couple to drink the blood and convert back.

Why Was Jesus Baptized?

Text: Matthew 3:11–17

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A biblical baptism is a baptizo. This word never refers to sprinkling or pouring. There are Greek words that refer to those, but this is not it. Two examples will prove this. When Philip baptized the Ethiopian eunuch, both went down into the water (Acts 8:38). Also, John chose to baptize at Aenon because there was plenty of water there (John 3:23).

How to Pave a Road for the Gospel

Text: Matthew 3:1–10

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I want to read a quote from Laura Ingalls Wilder, author of the beloved Little House on the Prairie. She describes her first encounter with a mystery object while on a wagon journey with her parents in 1894 that took them through Topeka, Kansas. As I read the quote, see if you can guess the mystery object.

The Will of God and Difficulties

Text: Matthew 2:13–23

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Isaac Watts was a boy genius. He was learning Latin by age 4, Greek at age 9, French (which he took up to converse with his refugee neighbors) at age 11, and Hebrew at age 13. He was born in Southampton, England, on July 17, 1674. From an early age, he experienced two things very clearly: the will of God and difficulties. He realized that being in the will of God did not mean that someone would not face difficulties.

The King of All Kings is Born

Text: Matthew 2:1–12

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The first statement of verse one announces the most epic event in human history: “Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem.” God had been moving history towards this one event. Four thousand years of symbols, pictures, and road signs all pointed to the birth of this promised Messiah. God used history to accomplish His purpose, and now we are at the center and axis of all history—the birth of the King of all kings.