Part 2 of Series…The Life of Jesus according to the Book of Matthew
Part 1 of Series…The Life of Jesus according to the Book of Matthew
The way we drive, the clothes or jewelry we wear, or a number of other things have the potential of communicating a different message to others than what we want to convey. When we think about all the nonverbal communication that happens each day in our families, what message are we sending their way? Everything I do… everything I look at… everything in my home should be pleasing to God! My daily witness is most often done without words. What message am I promoting?
Can a person actually trust the Bible? In the face of this question, most scholars—both secular and Christian—after having looked at the historical and literary evidence, agree that the Gospels, along with the rest of the New Testament, are “the best-attested documents in antiquity.” But many people in our society today think that it is ludicrous for a modern, educated person to consider the Bible legitimate. In this message, we will explore the historicity of these ancient documents to consider just how legitimate it is to trust the Bible.
When it comes to the spiritual leader named Jesus, everybody has an opinion. Jesus has a polarizing effect on people. You can talk about God and spiritual things all day long, but people don’t always like it when you talk about Jesus.
Who is Jesus? Is He a man? Was He a man? Is He a myth? Or is He God? The answers to this question are as varied as the people who supply them. People have been asking this question for the past two millennia. In fact, Jesus Himself was the first to ask this question. Who did Jesus claim to be?
There have been many so-called “Scholars” who have set out to disprove the existence of the historical God/man named Jesus. But as renowned Professor Emeritus of History at the University of Miami said, “We have more and better historical documentation for Jesus than for any other religious founder (e.g. Zoroaster, Buddha or Muhammad).” Edwin Yamauchi
Hell is the absence of God and every good thing that His presence brings to this world. If hell is the absence of God, then it is also the absence of everything good—joy, pleasure, laughter, music, art, food, water, etc. Can you imagine? God patiently offers us the free gift of eternal life with Him, but when man exercises his free will and chooses not to follow God’s plan, then his choice has determined his fate. John 3:17-18 says, “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.”
Part 1. The Prime Directive…Connect people to God. Unite people to one another. Equip people to be on a mission.
Four events occurred in a dramatic succession on that Easter weekend: The Upper Room, The Garden, The Crucifixion, The Resurrection of Jesus. Let’s look at each of those events and their implications.