Praise for the Gospel According to Matthew

We completed 50 studies in the Gospel According to Matthew, praying that the Lord would grow us to know, love, worship, and share JESUS more. Here are some thoughts in reflection:

Eric: Although I missed most of your teaching on Matthew, I am thankful that the Bible can be explored so in depth and in so many different ways! It's wonderful that we can spend an entire year in just one book, and amazing to think that every letter in it is faultless and inspired by God Himself. When I saw your message, I was reminded of 2 Timothy 3:16-17... "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work."

Jonathan: I was blown away once again at just how much Jesus went through to gain my salvation. Matthew highlights the mocking and degrading of Christ, which is a shocking display of the depravity of man and our in-born hatred of God and His truth. This vision of Christ's unjust suffering fills me with gratitude that He was willing to absorb our hateful ingratitude in order to save us.

Clarence: The series was thorough and rigorous. As a consequence, I had to spend more time with a passage than I would have on my own. Previously, I would have said that Joseph of Arimathea was a considerate man who was sympathetic and provided Jesus' tomb. A thorough reading says that Joseph asked for the body. Who did he ask? It must have been the corrupt and murderous authorities who had just crucified three men. Joseph was not just nice, he was courageous. The subject of Jesus' body came up with a coworker of mine. He dismissed my mild reference to Joseph and in the process he dismissed Courage.

Alyssa: I was impressed by the importance of faithfulness, devotion to Jesus. To give our all to him, as Mary, and spend our life serving him faithfully til he returns is the greatest honor I can seek, while there is no greater shame and destruction than to sell him as Judas and prefer the idols of this world to Him, the Son of God. At any cost, I must not give him up.

Derek: I have grown in my understanding that Jesus is the King who is coming to reign again based upon Matt 24 and that this has dual fulfillments.

Amy: How bad can any earthly trial that I have really be? I never have to pay for my countless sins because of my redemption through Christ. All else pales in comparison to that reality! This was of great encouragement to me through all the pain and tears of the last five years. I am a child of God and that is the center of my world. The gentle reminder to refocus to that center has been such a blessing. <3

Nick: God's will is steadfast and immovable; he accomplishes what he sets out to do. Thank God that he redeemed me though I didn't deserve it, and that I get to join him in his work. He is king, and he's my king.

Sherry: I've been amazed again at the depth of God’s love for me that he would send his only son to be rejected by men so that I could be accepted by God. That truth has helped put the daily and temporal struggles of life into perspective -- Christ loved me enough to die for me, so he will also help me in daily life struggles.

Steve: This sermon series in Matthew drove home two very important things for me about the Lord Jesus: 1) He is the long-awaited fulfillment of all the critical promises of redemptive history. Matthew makes it clear that It’s all summed up in Him and Him alone. 2) Here on display like nowhere else is the majesty and authority of our KING. Yes, He came as a humble servant, was laid low and emptied Himself on the cross – but we witness in Matthew the true Lion of the tribe of Judah!

Aaron: I’d like to praise God for reigniting in me a passion for making Christ known. I went through a period of real struggle in this area for a number of reasons, but suffice it to say that as we’ve studied the gospel according to Matthew, God has reminded me of Christ’s beauty, His glory, His supremacy, His humility, His sacrifice, and His worthiness to be made known among the nations.

Rob: Matthew's gospel has caused me to more fully appreciate the Lord Jesus Christ's divine attributes. Although clothed in human flesh, His words and actions demonstrate His deity. He displays perfect wisdom. He not only possesses all power in heaven and on earth but knows how and when to use it strategically. He rises above the fray of human debates and controversies, displaying an otherworldly equanimity of spirit. He's not alarmed when men insult, blaspheme, or crucify Him. He is always in control-- of the weather, of the food, of the situation at hand, and of both good and bad men.