Matthew: Explaining the Kingdom (Chris)

In Matthew 13, Jesus explains the nature of the kingdom of heaven using parables. For us, these teachings reveal hidden truths about faith and following Christ. They also explain the purpose of the church in this age before the full kingdom appears. Come and explore your place in Christ's kingdom.

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Matthew: Mystery of the Kingdom (Randy)

We turn to Matthew 13 and the mystery of the Kingdom. Why does Jesus suddenly start teaching in parables? Why do some people hear Him and lean in, while others hear the same words and walk away unbothered? We'll work through the Parable of the Sower, the parable that unlocks all the others, and finish with the treasure hidden in a field and the pearl of great price. The question underneath all of it: the Kingdom is here, but do we recognize what we're looking at?

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Matthew: Reactions to the King (Chris)

In this lesson, we will study “Reactions to the King” from Matthew 11–12. In these two chapters, the evidence for Jesus as the Messiah is clear, yet the responses are strikingly different. From John the Baptist’s honest doubt, to the crowds’ indifference, to the growing opposition of the religious leaders, these chapters show that the key issue of faith is not the lack of evidence, but the condition of the human heart. We will also see Christ’s gracious invitation to come to Him and what it means to live as citizens of His kingdom. Join us as we consider how we are responding to the King.

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Matthew: The King's Mission (Randy)

In this lesson, we explore Matthew 10 and the Mission of the King’s People. What does it mean to be sent by Jesus into our everyday lives? We’ll look at how mission flows from identity, why faithfulness may involve real cost, and how we can trust God even when obedience feels risky.

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Matthew: The Power of the King (Chris)

In this lesson, we resume our study of the Gospel of Matthew by exploring Matthew 8–9. After teaching about the character of the kingdom in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus demonstrates the authority of that kingdom through a series of amazing miracles. We will see how Christ reveals His power over sickness, nature, evil, sin, and even death — and how these moments show both the authority and the compassion of the King. Join us as we consider what these signs teach us about who Jesus is and why we can trust Him with every part of our lives.

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Matthew: Trusting the King (Randy)

In this leasson, we explore Matthew 6 and Jesus’ call to trust in the King. We’ll look at what it means to live before an audience of One, to examine where our treasure truly lies, and to confront the worries that reveal what we trust most. We’ll revisit the question, “Who is the king you depend on?”

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Matthew: Salt and Light (Randy)

In this lesson, we explore Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:13–16, where he calls his followers the “salt of the earth” and the “light of the world.” We consider what it means to live distinctly yet faithfully in the world under the reign of King Jesus, and how grace empowers our influence.

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Matthew: The King's Vision and Values for his Kingdom (Randy)

In this lesson, we take an overview look at Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7), exploring what life looks like under the reign of King Jesus, and why this “kingdom vision” reveals both God’s absolute ideal and our need for grace. I encourage you to reread the Sermon in preparation for this lesson!

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Matthew: Launching Christ’s Ministry (Chris)

Two important events launch Christ’s ministry in the Gospel of Matthew: his baptism and his temptation in the desert (chapters 3-4).  This week, we will consider why these experiences are so important, how they are connected, and what they mean to us as followers of Jesus.

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Matthew: The Upside Down Kingdom of Christ (Chris)

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus reveals a kingdom that reverses the world’s values: humility outranks power, service defines greatness, and grace replaces status. Together we’ll examine how Christ’s teachings challenge our assumptions about success and call us to live as faithful citizens of His kingdom. Join us as we learn what it means to “seek first the kingdom of heaven.

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Matthew: Saving the Biggest Sinners (Chris)

Underlying the Gospel of Matthew is the powerful story of Matthew himself: a hated and ostracized tax-collector who became a beloved apostle of Jesus Christ.  Matthew's Gospel focuses on Jesus's fulfillment of all God's promises in the Old Testament to redeem Israel and the world.  Animating the text is Matthew's own salvation and the intense commitment to Christ it produced.
 
This week, we will consider the power of God's love and grace to overcome the largest sins and to redeem the biggest sinners.  Alongside Matthew's own story, we will consider two other arch-sinners turned agents of God: King David and the Apostle Paul.  We will see further how God's love in Christ saves each of us and offers us an amazing life of gratitude and joy. 

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Supplemental Information

Matthew: Birth of a King (Randy)

In this lesson, we will continue our series on the Book of Matthew by studying Matthew 1–2 and the birth of Jesus. We’ll explore what it means to follow a King who enters the world in weakness rather than power, and consider where God may be calling us to obedience before full clarity.

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Matthew: An Introduction to the Book of Matthew (Randy)

This Sunday we begin a new series on the Gospel of Matthew, where Jesus is introduced not merely as a teacher or savior, but as King. We’ll look at how Matthew’s opening verses and genealogy invite us to move from observing Jesus to living under his reign in the Kingdom of Heaven.

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