What I Forgot To Say

Last Sabbath I preached a message from Matthew 16:13-23 entitled Shadow of a Doubt. I challenged the idea that believers are called to live beyond the shadow of a doubt. Instead, we are called to have faith within the shadow.  In the text there are two stories, both about Peter and Jesus.  When we put these stories side by side there is an interesting contrast. Faith Within the Shadow (vv. 13-20) Certainty Beyond the Shadow (vv. 21-23) Confusion about Christ (vv.13-14) Clarity about Christ (v.21) Faith in Christ (vv.15-16) Certainty about Christ (v.22) Affirmation from Christ (v.17) Rebuke from Christ (v.23) “Blessed are you, Simon” (v.17) “Get behind me, Satan” (v.23) Truth Revealed to the Mind by God (v.17) Not Mindful of the Things of God (v.23) Where the Church is Built (v.18) Where the Church is Threatened  (v.23) When Peter had faith i

This past Sabbath I preached a message from John 20:24-31 entitled Nail Marks.   We explored the tension between Thomas’ statement, “Unless I see…   I will never believe”(v.25) and Jesus’ statement, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe “(v.29).   These statements raise questions about the role of evidence in our faith.    On one extreme we have blind faith that closes it's eyes to the evidence and just believes.   On the other side we have blind doubt that closes it's eyes to the evidence and just doubts.   We don’t want either of those.   In John 20 Doubting Thomas becomes Believing Thomas. His story displays how faith relates to evidence, in this case, Nail Marks:     Requiring Nail Marks (v.25) – Thomas insisted on having evidence to base his faith on.         Waiting for Nail Marks (v.26) – Thomas showed that he was more of a seeker than a skeptic by the fact that he waited to the Nail Marks by coming into fellowship with the other disciples. He put

This past Sabbath I preached a message from  Matthew 11:1-15  called  Deep Questions from Dark Places. When John the Baptist was in prison (a dark place) he sent disciples to ask if Jesus was the Messiah (a deep questions).   Our journey of faith passes through dark places and we need to be bold enough to take our deep questions to Jesus. I can relate to John’s experience, but I am amazed by Jesus’ response.   Jesus did not rebuke John for his questions but provided evidence that He, in fact, was doing the work of the Messiah. He reminded John of who He is. Jesus calls us to a trust that is based on knowing His Character and not all His reasons.   Then He affirmed who John was.   Even calling him the greatest ever born of women! Jesus shows how He   feels about doubters who seek Him for answers, He loves them.   Going through a dark time? Have deep questions? Take them to Jesus. He can handle your struggle. Here’s what I forgot to say…. In the sermon I explored the idea th