In this installment of True Discipleship, we look at Matthew 3:1-6 and the first description we get of John the Baptist. How does his life line up with God's will and how can we apply the principles we see here to our own lives? Links to Bible Passages: Matthew 3:1-6: https://www.esv.org/Matthew+3/ 1 Corinthians 2:2: https://www.esv.org/1+Corinthians+2+2/ Romans 10:17: https://www.esv.org/Romans+10+17/ 2 Kings 1:7-8: https://www.esv.org/2+Kings+1+7/ John 6:44: https://www.esv.org/John+6+44/ 2 Peter 3:9: https://www.esv.org/2+Peter+3+9/ Church Directory: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/churches/ If you would like to see the preaching manuscript I used, along with other helpful resources, check out the sermon in the For Preaching web app for sermons: https://sermons.forpreaching.com/sermon/60c8cc757a1d4b32b50e4ff7

Taking a short break from Matthew as I was blessed with the opportunity to preach at the church I attend. Preaching out of Psalm 21, I address the topic of our depravity as sinners and God's mercy to rescue us from sin. The topic of the doctrine of election is near and dear to my heart, because of the great security it provides to the heart of the disciple. We should relish in the fact that even though we are painfully not useful, God still saves us, and gives us the opportunity to be a part of His work to call sinners to repentance and mercy. Read Psalm 21 online: https://www.esv.org/Psalm+21/ In the sermon, I reference a couple "buckets of verses". All of these can be looked up and read on www.esv.org, as Psalm 21 is above. Below is a list of the verses in these "buckets": Group 1 (referenced in sermon): Romans 6:9 Romans 4:3 Genesis 15:6 Romans 7:4 Romans 8:28 1 John 5:14 Philippians 4:5-6 1 Corinthians 9:24-25 John 10:28-30 Romans 9:22-23 Romans 3:10-11 Romans 3:23 Romans 6:20 Genesis 6:5 Genesis 8:21 Romans 5:10 Daniel 3 1 Kings 18 Numbers 16 Ephesians 1:3-6 John 6:37,44 John 10:24-26 John 17:24 Acts 13:48 Group 2 (for later consumption): Matthew 22:14 Matthew 24:22, 24, 31 Mark 4:11–12 Luke 10:21–22 Luke 18:7 John 15:16,19 Acts 4:28 Romans 8:33 Romans 9:6–23 Romans 11:5 Romans 11:7 Romans 11:28 Romans 16:13 1 Corinthians 1:27–28 Galatians 1:15 Colossians 3:12 1 Thessalonians 1:4 2 Thessalonians 2:13 2 Timothy 2:10 Titus 1:1 James 2:5 1 Peter 1:2 1 Peter 2:9 2 Peter 1:10 2 John 1,13 Revelation 17:14 I also mention an article from Desiring God's blog, which can be found here: https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/god-grew-up-in-a-forgotten-town Also as usual, if you are without a church home, the best way to disciple and be discipled is by living and working alongside like-minded believers. Below is a link to the church directory that lists churches of (mostly) like faith and practice to my own: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/churches/

In this installment of True Discipleship, we look at Matthew 2:19-23 and Jesus' identity as a Nazarene. What can we learn about how we should live by looking at how Jesus lived, even growing up in a backwater town. Links to Bible Passages: Matthew 2:19-23: https://www.esv.org/Matthew+2+19/ 2 Kings 22: https://www.esv.org/2+Kings+22/ Hebrews 11: https://www.esv.org/Hebrews+11/ Great article from Desiring God about Jesus and Nazareth: https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/god-grew-up-in-a-forgotten-town Church Directory: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/churches/ If you would like to see the preaching manuscript I used, along with other helpful resources, check out the sermon in the For Preaching web app for sermons: https://sermons.forpreaching.com/sermon/60b646f57a1d4b5b2b0e4ff5

In this installment of True Discipleship, we look at Matthew 2:16-18 and Herod's edict to kill the children under 2 years old. We'll seek to understand how this event should shape our walk with God. Links to Bible Passages: Matthew 2:16-18: https://www.esv.org/Matthew+2+16/ Genesis 6-8: https://www.esv.org/Genesis+6/ Matthew 7:15-20: https://www.esv.org/Matthew+7+15/ Romans 2:1-5: https://www.esv.org/Romans+2/ Church Directory: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/churches/ If you would like to see the preaching manuscript I used, along with other helpful resources, check out the sermon in the For Preaching web app for sermons: https://sermons.forpreaching.com/sermon/609d93c77a1d4bcc8f0e4ff3

In this installment of True Discipleship, we look at Matthew 2:13-15 and look at how Jesus' escape to Egypt connects with God's unfailing faithfulness. Links to Bible Passages: Matthew 2:13-15: https://www.esv.org/Matthew+2+13/ Church Directory: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/churches/ Doctrinal video about imitating Christ: https://youtu.be/nhFnHsPgvtk If you would like to see the preaching manuscript I used, along with other helpful resources, check out the sermon in the For Preaching web app for sermons: https://sermons.forpreaching.com/sermon/60931621654655b084c49132