Monday, April 30, 2007

Matthew 5 Study Guide PT 1

This Wednesday, May 2, we will begin studying the "sermon on the mount." We will focus on introducing this "sermon" and then move on to discussing the first few pronouncements of "blessed." Here are some initial suggestions, thoughts, and observations:

1. Please read all of Matthew 5-7 together in one sitting! Do this several times if you have not already! Time spent in the word of God is not wasteful but beneficial! Please spend more time reading what Christ actually says in the "sermon on the mount" than what others say he said (I say this in light of my next point.)

2. The literature and interpretations available for the "sermon on the mount" are mountainous! Clarence Bauman in "The Sermon on the Mount: The Modern Quest for its Meaning" has itemized 36 different interpretations! If you have not already read and come to some sort of understanding and agreement in your own mind on what Christ says before you start reading other literature you will be lost.

3. Matthew provides a summary statement of Jesus Christ ministry in Galilee in Matthew 4:23-25. Specifically, Matthew 4:23 says, "Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom...." Matthew 5-7 then gives us a good view of what Christ was teaching and preaching about!

4. This is the first of five discourses provided by Matthew. Can you list the other four?

5. What does "blessed" mean in Matthew 5:2-11?

Andrew

Monday, April 23, 2007

Matthew 4 Study Guide PT. Four

We did not finish Matthew 4 last Wednesday. We finished somewhere around Matthew 4:20ff. Continue to study and think about Jesus call of discipleship. Consider the example of Simon, Andrew, James, and John with their "immediate" following of Christ. Take some time also to consider Matthew's summary statement of Jesus threefold ministry of teaching, preaching, and healing in Matthew 4:23-25. I look forward to seeing you on Wednesday.

Andrew

Only One Life

A Christian disciple is more than a believer. A disciple is more than a learner, at least, a learner in the ordinary sense of the word. A disciple is more than a follower and imitator of Christ, more than a holy enthusiast for Christ, yea even more than living a life of full devotion to the Lord. A disciple is a believing person living a life of conscious and constant identification with the Lord in life, death, and resurrection through words, behavior, attitudes, motives, and purpose, fully realizing Christ’s absolute ownership of his life, joyfully embracing the Saviorhood of Christ, delighting in the Lordship of Christ and living by the abiding, indwelling resources of Christ according to the imprinted pattern and purpose of Christ for the chief end of glorifying his Lord and Savior. There is divine fullness and content in the concept of discipleship which we must not limit. Larson, referring to a study by A. Friedrichsen, points out the fact that the expression cross-bearing was a contemporary metaphor indicating “radical social isolation and humiliation.”

The call to Christian discipleship must always be interpreted to involve a call to humble fellowship, constant fellowship, sanctified openmindedness, undisputed obedience, ready submission, heroic faith, arduous labor, unselfish service, self-renunciation, patient suffering, painful sacrifice, and cross-bearing. It is the bringing of all of life under the Lordship of Christ. This is not only the purpose of salvation, but this is the fullness of salvation—redemption from self and devotion to the Lord. And to this every Christian is called.

Too often, however, Christian discipleship has been detached from the everyday life of every believer and thought of in terms of the great, the heroic, and a peculiar sense of saintliness is being attached to it, instead of being lived out daily in the ordinary affairs of life and relationships.


The preceding has been taken from Dallas Theological Seminary, Bibliotheca Sacra Volume 120 (Dallas Theological Seminary, 1963; 2002), 120:327.

Monday, April 16, 2007

Matthew 4 Study Guide PT. Three

This Wednesday, April 18th, we will discuss the remaining few verses of Matthew 4, specifically, Matthew 4:17-25. Notice Matthew 4:17 begins with "from that time," we will see this phrase again in Matthew 16:21, suggesting a significant break or shift in thought. Matthew has established that Jesus is qualified to be the Messiah by his "fulfilling all righteousness" through his baptism and temptation, not this section of Matthew introduces the beginning of Jesus ministry. It begins with the calling of his disciples and is characterized by his threefold ministry of teaching, preaching, and healing (cf 9:35). Matthew expounds on this threefold ministry of Jesus in Matthew 5-9. In Matthew 5-7 we are given an example of his teaching and preaching ministry and in Matthew 8-9 we have recorded 10 miracles that include healing.

I trust to see you this Wednesday

Andrew

Friday, April 13, 2007

Preaching the Word

This Sunday I have been asked to preach at Wayside Gospel Chapel in Greentown, Pa. The title for my message is "The Tempter and the Tempted." The text for this message is Matthew 4:1-11. I ask that you will right now as you read this blog post pray for me and for those who will hear the message.

A Servant of Christ,
Andrew Manwarren

Tuesday, April 10, 2007

Matthew 4 Study Guide PT. Two

This Wednesday, April 11th, we will continue with our study of Matthew 4. Last week we got through Matthew 4:7 and this Wednesday I would like to conclude our thoughts on the temptation of Jesus and proceed as far as Matthew 4:17. Please come prepared to discuss these verses.

Let me also take advantage of this opportunity to encourage you to keep reading through the entire book of Matthew. The more you read through the book of Matthew the more you will appreciate its themes and motifs. More importantly, the more you read through the book of Matthew the more you will know of our dear Savior the Lord Jesus Christ and desire to serve him with all your undivided attention.

Repetition is the mother of all learning.

Monday, April 9, 2007

Resurrection Song "Arise My Love" by NewSong

I found this video on You Tube and thought it appropriate. You can view it in its original here. Enjoy, and remember every day is resurrection day for a believer in the King Lord Jesus.

"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory." Colossians 3:1-4 NIV

Sunday, April 8, 2007

And He Made The Stars Also....

I recently saw a version of this over on www.theologica.blogspot.com and I was impressed with it so I thought I would put the fuller version here. If you like this, on the bottom of the post there is another link with a view of the Milky Way 10 million miles from Earth.




Want more? Then follow this link.




Verse of the Day