Union Church

Easter: The Reality and Ramifications of the Resurrection

Sermon Notes/Quotes:

Luke 24:36-49.

Without losing a piece of me, How do I get to heaven?
Without changing a part of me, How do I get to heaven?
All my time is wasted, Feeling like my heart's mistaken, oh
So if I'm losing a piece of me, Maybe I don't want heaven?
Troye Sivan

“My death will not be symbolic. It will be real. Therefore, a metaphorical resurrection is no hope for me.” - Jared C. Wilson

“The resurrection, in short, is presented..not as a "happy ending" after an increasingly sad and gloomy tale, but as the event which demonstrated that Jesus's execution really had dealt the death-blow to the dark forces that had stood in the way of God's new world, God's "kingdom" of powerful creative and restorative love, arriving "on earth as in heaven.” - NT Wright

Reading: Colossians 3:1-4

“you believe that Jesus has died to save you—to redirect your eternal trajectory irrevocably toward God. You believe that God has accepted you, for Jesus sake, through an act of supreme grace. You are part of the kingdom of God.” (Timothy Keller)

“You may know a man and have an idea that he is powerful. But to know him and his power over you, is a stage further.” (Charles Spurgeon)

Good Friday: The Journey Jesus Makes

Sermon Notes/Quotes:

Do you feel the world is broken? (We do)
Do you feel the shadows deepen? (We do)
But do you know that all the dark won’t stop the light from getting through?
(We do) 
Do you wish that you could see it all made new? (We do)”

“For sin is – a ruthlessness, a hurting, a breaking away from God and from the rest of humanity, a partial alienation, or act of rebellion....Sin has a willful, defiant or disloyal quality: someone is defied or offended or hurt. To ignore this would be dishonest.” -John Stott

The terrible, tragic fallacy of the last hundred years has been to think that all man's troubles are due to his environment, and that to change the man you have nothing to do but change his environment. That is a tragic fallacy. It overlooks the fact that it was in Paradise that man fell. - Martyn Lloyd Jones

Romans 5:8

Isaiah 53:5

2 Corinthians 5:21

Colossians 2:13-15

“My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!”

The movement of Holy Week is a pattern upon which we must build our entire lives. Our destination is the empty tomb. We are bound for glory. However, the way of death is the way of life. Salvation is impossible without sacrifice. We must hold together that which we constantly seek to fragment and tear apart. Good Friday is good only in light of Easter Sunday. The joy of Easter comes only by way of the cross." - Holy Week Devotional by Dwell

1 Peter 2:24-25

“When we lose the centrality of the cross, Christianity morphs into a religion of self-improvement and becomes about us, about our accomplishments, and about getting our act together.” - Elyse Fitzpatrick

“I wonder if the common Holy Week emphasis on our making a journey to the Cross might not better be reversed by emphasizing, instead, the journey that Jesus has made to us, from the Father’s side to humiliation and rejection in "the far country," on our behalf and in our place.” - Fleming Rutledge

“To confess your sins to God is not to tell God anything God doesn’t already know. Until you confess them, however, they are the abyss between you. WHEN YOU CONFESS them, they become the bridge." - Frederick Buechner

Galatians 2:20

Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent, for the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.

Book of Common Prayer

Matthew: The Parable of the Sower

Text: Matthew 13:1-23
Title: Parable Of The Sower

Reading: Matthew 13:1-23

“Parable (מָשָׁ֑ל, mashal; παραβολή, parabolē). Is a story or saying that illustrates a truth using comparison, hyperbole, or simile. Additionally a parable can be a model, analogy, or example.
In Greek rhetoric, parables were used in argumentation to clarify, prove, or cause something to appear livelier whereas Rabbinic parables explain passages of Scripture, or illustrate an interpretation of a passage already provided.” (Lexham Bible Dictionary)

Taunt (Isa 14:4), riddle (Psa 49:4), proverb (Deut 28:37), and allegory (Ezek 17:2–10)

“Jesus’ parables are in many ways similar to rabbinic parables, which usually had some allegorical elements. For instance, the father in the parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11–32) represents God and the son who leaves home symbolizes sinners and tax collectors. There are stock metaphors in the Old Testament and in rabbinic literature that are present in Jesus’ parables Limiting the meaning of details in parables to these standard metaphors prevents excessive allegorizing.” (Craig Blomberg)

The Kingdom Of God: “nothing less than the power of God in heaven entering the world to heal every alienation and every brokenness in every dimension of human life. Whether it be social, economical, racial, emotional, physical, psychological or spiritual.” (Timothy Keller)

1 thought, 1 question:

#1. Remember you are soil not the Sower.
#2. Do you see rocky ground and thorns in the soil of your heart?

Matthew: Signs, Self Help, Family

Text: Matthew 12:38-50

Title: Signs, Self-Help, Family

 

Reading: Matthew 12:38-50

 

“a demon-oppressed man who was blind and mute was brought to him, and he healed him, so that the man spoke and saw. And all the people were amazed, and said, “Can this be the Son of David?” But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.” (Matthew 12:22-24)

 

“The tendency of the human heart is always to deal with its spiritual bankruptcy in human terms rather than God’s terms.” (Michael Andrus)

 

“The Gentiles in Jonah’s and Solomon’s time believed after hearing God’s “lesser” spokesmen, while “this generation” refused to believe even after hearing “one greater” (Craig Blomberg)

 

“He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him." (John 1:10-11)

 

Nothing in my hand I bring
Simply to Thy cross I cling
Naked, come to Thee for dress
Helpless, look to Thee for grace
Vile, I to the fountain fly
Wash me, savior, or I die
(Rock Of Ages)

 

“It is not enough to clean house; we must also invite in the right tenant. The Pharisees were proud of their “clean houses,” but their hearts were empty! Mere religion, or reformation, (self-help) will not save. There must be regeneration, the receiving of Christ into the heart.” (Warren Wiersbe)

 

Moralistic Therapeutic Deism 

"about providing therapeutic benefits to its adherent. ” Less about a God who calls us to faith and repentance and more "like a combination Divine Butler and Cosmic Therapist: he's always on call, takes care of any problems that arise, professionally helps his people to feel better about themselves, and does not become too personally involved in the process." (Christian Smith, Melinda Lundquist Denton)

 

Questions:

Are you a member of the household of God?

Seeking a sign?

Clean house rather or Christ’s reign?

 

 

Matthew: Aware and Inviting

Listen in as we look at Matthew 12:15-37 and see how Jesus again confront and comforts. 

Notes/Quotes:

Matthew 12:15-37

“Withdrawals and commands to silence are puzzling messianic deeds. Messiahs do not ordinarily retreat but advance; and Messiahs do not seek to be hidden but to be known. But Matthew wants to summarize his Gospel to this point, and for him Isaiah 42 seemed a perfect medium.” - Dale Bruner

“What helium does to a balloon, Jesus’s yoke does to his followers. We are buoyed along in life by his endless gentleness and supremely accessible lowliness. He doesn’t simply meet us at our place of need; he lives in our place of need. He never tires of sweeping us into his tender embrace. It is his very heart.” - Dane Ortlund

What a friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear
What a privilege to carry, Everything to God in prayer.
Oh, what peace we often forfeit, Oh, what needless pain we bear
All because we do not carry, Everything to God in prayer.
Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged, Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful, Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness, Take it to the Lord in prayer.

It is impenitence, the unwillingness to repent, that is at the root of the unforgivable sin (Augustine)
It is not careless acts; it is a hardened state (Luther)

We must say no to the false teachings and leave to God’s judgment false teachers. - Dale Bruner

Proverbs 4:20-27
“We are endlessly in need of God. And what a wonderful thing that is. For He is full of all that we need, moment by moment, forever and ever.” - Jackie Hill Perry

Matthew: Rest vs. Religion

Listen along as we look at Matthew 12:1-14 and see Jesus as prophet, priest, and king and the one who gives us true and forever rest.

Sermon Notes/Quotes:

Matthew 12:1-14 - 

Exodus 20:8-11


Jesus made it clear that the Pharisees had it backward (as legalists always do). Man wasn’t made for the Sabbath. The Sabbath was made for man. It was a gift to make people’s lives better, a guaranteed day of rest even during the hectic days of planting and harvest. The Sabbath was never meant to be a test to see how much people were willing to give up for God. - Larry Osborne

“Biblical orthodoxy without compassion is surely the ugliest thing in the world.” - Francis Schaeffer 

“You have made us for Yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in You.” - Augustine

“If you’re new to the Sabbath, a question to give shape to your practice is this: What could I do for twenty-four hours that would fill my soul with a deep, throbbing joy? That would make me spontaneously combust with wonder, awe, gratitude and praise? The Sabbath is an invitation to enter delight.” John Mark Comer

Matthew: Condemnation and Comfort

Listen in as Anthony walks us through Matthew 11:20-30 and we see how Jesus can both condemn and comfort.

Sermon Notes/Quotes:

Text: Matthew 11:20-30

Title: Condemnation & Comfort

 

Reading: Matthew 11:20-30

 

“It is remarkably easy to live life without any reference to God. In the mystery of his will, the Lord does not force himself upon us, neither does he coerce nor demand from us a positive response to his love. He invites us to become truly human, yet it is always that — an invitation. A gift that we choose to receive or reject.” (Dwell)

 

“Jesus Christ’s earthly ministry was one of giving back to undeserving sinners their humanity. We tend to think of the miracles of the gospels as interruptions in the natural order. Yet German theologian Jurgen Moltmann points out that miracles are not an interruption of the natural order but the restoration of the natural order. We are so used to a fallen world that sickness, disease, pain, and death seem natural. In fact, they are the interruption.” (Dane Ortlund) 

 

“When Jesus expels demons and heals the sick, he is driving out of creation the powers of destruction, and is healing and restoring created beings who are hurt and sick. The lordship of God to which the healings witness, restores creation to health. Jesus’ healing's are not supernatural miracles in a natural world. They are the only true “natural” thing in a world that is unnatural, demonized and wounded.” (Jurgen Moltmann)

 

“Doom to you, Chorazin! Doom, Bethsaida! If Tyre and Sidon had seen half of the powerful miracles you have seen, they would have been on their knees in a minute. At Judgment Day they’ll get off easy compared to you. And Capernaum! With all your peacock strutting, you are going to end up in the abyss. If the people of Sodom had had your chances, the city would still be around. At Judgment Day they’ll get off easy compared to you.” (Matthew 11:21-24, The Message)

 

“Jesus’ pronouncement of judgment on the cities in which he performs deeds of Power makes us, contemporary Christians, profoundly uncomfortable. We want a gospel of love that ensures when everything is said and done that everyone and everything is going to be okay. But we are not okay. Like the cities of Israel, we have turned our existence as Christians into a status meant to protect us from recognizing the prophets who would point us to Jesus. Of course we do not like Jesus to pronounce judgment on the cities in which he performs deeds of power, because we do not want to recognize that we too are judged. But the gospel is judgment because otherwise it would not be good news. Only through judgment are we forced to discover forms of life that can free us from our enchantment with sin and death.” (Stanley Hauerwas)

 

“Thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth. You’ve concealed your ways from sophisticates and know-it-alls, but spelled them out clearly to ordinary people. Yes, Father, that’s the way you like to work.”   (Matthew 11:25-26, The Message)

 

“Jesus resumed talking to the people, but now tenderly. “The Father has given me all these things to do and say. This is a unique Father-Son operation, coming out of Father and Son intimacies and knowledge. No one knows the Son the way the Father does, nor the Father the way the Son does. But I’m not keeping it to myself; I’m ready to go over it line by line with anyone willing to listen. Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” (Matthew 11:27-30, The Message)

 

“The most holy and important practice in the spiritual life is the presence of God — that is, every moment to take great pleasure that God is with you.” (Brother Lawrence)

 

Questions:

What am I enchanted with? 

Do I need to repent?

In what new ways can I practice the presence of God?

Am I resting in the unforced rhythms of grace?

 

 

Matthew: Doubt and Disappointment

We continue through Matthew 11:1-19 and see how Jesus interacts with John the Baptist's doubts.

Notes/Quotes:

Matthew 11:1-19

 

“Expectations are resentments waiting to happen.” - Anne Lamott

 

“Jesus is out in the sticks healing sick, “insignificant” little individuals here and there, but not doing much to change the basic structural problems in Israel’s life. The Pharisees still control popular religious life; the Sadducees still control the temple; the whole religio-ideological system seems thoroughly unthreatened by Jesus’ do-goodism in the hills. What is more, John (the propagandist of the New Order) is in prison, and Herod (the embodiment of the oppressive Establishment) is still on the throne and is in fact about to have John’s head. What kind of Messiah is this?” - Dale Bruner

 

Isaiah 29:18-19

Isaiah 35:3-6

Isaiah 61:1-2

 

Luke 1:17

1. Our doubts don’t discredit Jesus.

 

2. Our doubt don’t drive Jesus away

 

3. Our doubts need a greater story. 

 

The answer to doubt is God. The answer to our questions about tithing, membership, gender roles, politics, sin, and any other aspect in life that gives us pause is God. The blight of our generation is that we believe we are god. - Lore Ferguson Wilbert

 

4. Our doubts need patience, and questions and community

 

“Feelings are indicators, not dictators. They can indicate where your heart is in the moment, but that doesn't mean they have the right to dictate your behavior and boss you around. You are more than the sum total of your feelings and perfectly capable of that little gift . . . called self-control.” - Lysa TerKeurst

 

5. Jesus addresses what’s underneath our doubts

 

“A faith without some doubts is like a human body without any antibodies in it.” - Tim Keller

6. There is still a blessing and invitation in our doubts.

 

The way of trust is a movement into obscurity, into the undefined, into ambiguity, not into some predetermined, clearly delineated plan for the future. The reality of naked trust is the life of the pilgrim who leaves what is nailed down, obvious, and secure, and walks into the unknown without any rational explanation to justify the decision or guarantee the future. Why? Because God has signaled the movement and offered it his presence and his promise.  - Brennan Manning

Matthew: Trust Issues

Listen along as we continue to allow some of the tough words of Jesus tackle our hearts.

 

Notes/Quotes:

Matthew 10:26-42 

Fear Archetypes - Ruth Sukoup
The Procrastinator
The People Pleaser 
The Rule Follower 
The Outcast 
The Self Doubter 
The Excuse Maker 
The Pessimist 

1 John 4:18, 2nd Timothy 1:7

“It is Christ-following that enables cross-bearing. Who would be willing to have family and world against them if they did not have Jesus (over and) with them?” - Dale Bruner 

"The fastest place the church is growing is in Iran. The myth we have taken into is that you have to have a Christian nation for Christianity to survive and thrive. False." - JonTyson

“Because almost anything in life that truly matters will require you to do small, mostly overlooked things, over a long period of time with Him” - Zach Eswine

1 Corinthians 15:19

“Jesus often contrasts eternal life and this life. Our time needs the corrective of an otherworldliness in order to be braver in this world.” Dale Bruner

Matthew: Disciples, Demons, Dangers

Listen in as we continue through Matthew and see Jesus gather, form, and send His disciples. 

Notes/Quotes:

Matthew 10:1-25

Both the snake-intelligence and the dove-innocence are both designed to keep the sheep out of trouble. Jesus does not mean for us to get ourselves into as much difficulty as possible. He means: Risk your lives as vulnerable, non-combative, sheep-like, courageous witnesses, but try to find ways to give your witness in a way that does not bring down unnecessary persecution.” - John Piper

“Jesus tells us our task is not to force the kingdom into existence, but to endure. To endure turns out to be the only way we can be witnesses to Christ’s kingdom” - Stanley Hauerwas

Those who aren't following Jesus aren't his followers. It's that simple. Followers follow, and those who don't follow aren't followers. To follow Jesus means to follow Jesus into a society where justice rules, where love shapes everything. To follow Jesus means to take up his dream and work for it. - Scot McKnight