Ccf Sunday Messages

As we continue in our Biography of the King series in Matthew's gospel, we enter the final hours of Jesus' life before the cross. In chapter 26, Jesus hosts the last supper with his disciples, celebrating the feast of Passover together with them, and instituting the communion meal.

Matthew 26 records the story of Mary, the woman who anoints Jesus with precious oil. As we study this story we are reminded that very little of what is accomplished in human terms is remembered as a legacy for very long, but what Mary did for Jesus has been told around the world for over 2000 years! What really matters?

Pastor Steve takes us through the end of the Olivet discourse as we finish Matthew chapter 25. The continued theme is readiness for his return as Jesus pictures the separation of sheep from goats.

One of our elders, Warren McIvor, continued our study through Matthew 25 by teaching on the parable of the talents.

As we begin chapter 25 in our continuing study in Matthew--the Biography of the King--Jesus continues in the context of answering the questions about the end and His 2nd coming by telling a parable about being watchful and ready. In this sobering parable some are not ready for the bridegroom and it is too late to do anything about it. Get ready while there is still time!

We continue our study in Matthew 24 as Jesus tells his disciples about the end times--that no one knows the day or the hour, and how we should be watching and ready for that day, whenever it appears.

As we continue to follow Jesus' words to his disciples in Matthew 24, we learn about the tribulation and the second coming of Jesus Christ. As we understand what it is to live in a world that has an "end date", we realize the need to be ready, to be doing God's work and following His will in a world that is steadily moving away from Him.

As we start Matthew chapter 24, the disciples are surprised as Jesus prophesies that the beautiful temple will not even have one stone left on top of another. They ask Jesus privately to let them know when these things will be, and what will be the signs of His coming and the end of the age.

Finishing chapter 23 of Matthew in our "Biography of the King", Jesus saves his strongest words of correction for the religious elite of his day. The eight "woes" he proclaims against the Pharisees reveal their wicked hearts and hypocrisy to do so well at their ritual and outward experience while being dead on the inside. Yet Jesus is not so much angry as he is sorrowful as he would have gathered them together as a mother hen gathers her chicks--but they were not willing.

On Communion Sunday, we looked at the story of the woman with the great debt in 2 Kings chapter 4. God provides for her need through her obedience to collect empty vessels. Are you empty enough to be filled by God's Spirit, or are you already full of everything the world is offering? God needs an empty vessel that He can keep filling as we are poured out and used up for Him!

Continuing our study through Matthew's gospel, Jesus speaks plainly about the religious elite's problem with pride and hypocrisy in chapter 23.

On this communion Sunday, we focus our attention to the hypothetical question the Sadducees tried to use to discredit or disprove the truth of resurrection. Again, Jesus' teaching causes all who hear to be in awe of his teaching with authority and power.

As we start chapter 22 in our continuing study through the gospel of Matthew, Jesus continues to teach in the temple, directly speaking to the religious leaders through parables. Chapter 22 opens with the parable of the wedding feast and the king's invitation to celebrate together with Him.

Finishing up chapter 21 this week in our study of Matthew--Jesus tells a "judicial parable" to the religious leaders that exposes their hatred for the Father (the landowner) by their treatment of the son. When they realize they have judged themselves by judging (rightly) the parable's meaning, they are ready to seize Jesus--and if it wasn't for the crowds they would have. He is the chief cornerstone that the builders rejected, but he is precious in God's eyes and those of us who have trusted in Him!

Picking back up in our "Biography of the King" in Matthew, we return to Matthew 21 where Jesus interacts with the religious leaders in the temple the day after the triumphal entry.

Easter 2012: What the Resurrection CAN'T do; based on the story of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16. If we won't listen to the Word of God, even if someone were to rise from the dead, we still would not believe.

We arrive at Jesus's triumphal entry into Jerusalem just in time for our own calendar reaching Palm Sunday. He heals the two blind men who cry out, and then after entering the city, cleanses the temple of the moneychangers and those who were cheating the people.

As we continue our biography of the King through Matthew's gospel, Jesus, as he draws closer to Jerusalem, predicts his death for the 3rd time to his disciples. As they continue to argue and vie for greatness, Jesus takes them aside and teaches them the model for greatness in His Kingdom: whoever wants to be great must be the servant of all!

Pastor Steve finishes chapter 19, as Peter notices that unlike the rich young ruler, they have left all and given it up to follow Jesus. Jesus warns against those who think they might be first in the kingdom, and tells a parable in chapter 20 to illustrate God's grace to all, no matter at what time or how long we have followed Jesus.

Steve, along with Warren McIvor, cover the next section of Matthew chapter 19--Warren speaking about the importance of children and our work in Columbia, VA, followed by Steve covering the story of the "rich young ruler". The slideshow shared during the message is available on YouTube at this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8A91YWCxNQQ