Come Sojourn with Us
This is where you will find sermons and updates for our church. Our mission is to preach expository sermons focusing on the gospel of Christ. We are a church that is tied to the reformed tradition and seeks to submit to the scriptures so we walk in the Lord’s wisdom rather than our own.
We would love to have you join us on our Christian sojourn if you are in the Belgrade, MT area. If you are not in area then join us by listening to our bi weekly free sermon podcast.
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John’s mission was a very rich mission. John’s privilege is announcing the arrival of the messiah while looking in the face of the messiah. One would think that have such a mission would lead to an incredible amount of assurance believing in the one Christ. As John has his doubting moments what does Christ use to reassure John that Christ really is the Messiah?
Christ has discussed and warned his disciples about the struggles and issues that the church will face in time as they go to carry out Christ’s mission. The temptation is not to go forward with Christ’s mission. I mean if this is a kingdom that only involves cross bearing plus suffering then why go? Christ gives the assurance that we go because we will receive the prophet’s reward. So, what is that prophet’s reward?
Christ’s disciples will face trials, struggles, and hardships. Christ has already mentioned the hardships that await us. However, Christ goes on to speak of other problems that tempt us beyond just the comforts of this world. Christ tells us that we might have to walk away from family to be incorporated into the kingdom of God. How can Christ talk about disrupting the family? Why would we want to give up these earthly comforts for Christ?
One would think that being a disciple of Christ would result in instant glory. It must have been an incredible privilege to be sent out by Christ himself, and the people would embrace the messengers of the kingdom with open arms. This is what we would think, but Christ exhorts us to exercise wisdom in a way that almost seems contradictory. On the one hand we are to be humble doves, but on the other hand we are be be slithering serpents. How do we reconcile these two concepts? What is Christ trying to communicate to us?
Matthew alerts us that Christ enters history to save his people from their sins. One would expect Christ to be received with excitement, but that is not the case. Now Christ sends out his disciples to the surrounding area to proclaim the gospel. Will they be embraced with open arms? Abraham’s children embrace the substance of their redemption?
We know that Christ is our redeemer and our messiah. We know that Christ has entered history to save his people from their sins. Does this mean that Christ is indifferent or uncaring? How do we know that our Lord cares about us when we are down here on earth and he resides in glory?
Matthew tells us that this Jesus is the embodiment of Yahweh’s salvation that his name means, “Yahweh Saves.” There are two ways that we can understand Christ conducting himself. He could have his authority from Satan so he is only deceiving his followers or he can have his authority from God. I think that his authority is from God, but who do you say empowers Christ? This is the question that Matthew desires us to answer.
There is no doubt that Christ is the standard of wisdom. He is the embodiment of wisdom and so we would expect his followers to embrace him. We find that not only do the pharisees question Christ’s credibility, but so do John’s disciples. What basis do they have to question them? Did Christ do something wrong or are they out of line?
Christ comes to the other side of the sea and is in his home town and district. It would seem that everything is going to go well because now Christ is among his own people who should embrace him. We find that Christ announces the significance of his office by forgiving sins. Christ came to redeem us from our sins so why would Christ’s forgiving sins be so controversial?
When Christ goes outside the land we would expect Christ to be embraced with open arms, but that is not the case. In fact, Christ encounters satanic forces, and then the men of the city affirm the satanic rebellion. What does this tell us about the status of man? What does this tell us about man’s nature desire for God? What does this tell us about the grace of Christ?
When we consider the message of Matthew’s gospel the concern is that we discern whether or not we are insiders seeking to do the Lord’s will. However, if I am not genetically tied to the Israelite people, Abraham is not a direct genetic descendant in my family tree, and I am not genetically tied to the prophets then can I be an insider? What if my faith is not as strong as it should be does that mean I am excluded from the inside? How do I know if I am an insider who possesses the Gospel promises?
Matthew is writing a Gospel not just to confirm that Christ is the Messiah, but to call people to embrace the true Messiah in faith. So, is this a Gospel that is merely rebuking the Israelites for not embracing their God? Is this a Gospel that is excessive for one race? Who can be an insider?
So often when people hear about the Gospel they accuse Christianity of being an easy believes. The perception is sometimes given that you just believe the gospel and then living life is a life that is lived for self rather than out of gratitude. However, there is another perception that we have to show we are worthy to receive the grace of God. How do we take the commands in Scripture seriously without making the Gospel a burden?
Our Lord gives us the warning about being judgmental. This is somewhat strange because our Lord will judge the religious rulers in Matthew’s gospel, our Lord pronounces judgments against others, and our Lord does not approve of sin. So, how can our Lord rebuke us for being judgmental when Christ is the judgmental judge?
The Lord has given some pretty strong commands as he expounds the intention of the law. We might want to turn away, tune out the sermon, and take our own path. Our Lord continues to give some assurances that he really has come to save sinners. How do we know that our God can and will love a struggling people?
Christ gives us the church hard words and difficult words for us to follow. So, as we hear the next series of commands do we just dismiss them? Why would Christ give us such impossible things to follow? How do we live out these commands in Scripture?
The Lord has created human beings to be creative. This is good because it enables us to create, to build, and to live out what it is to be in the image of God. However, the down side of this is that we are creative in how we apply the law of God. If we are seeking to use the law lawfully that is great, but the problem is that we can set up our own standard that is not intended in the law of God. We might wonder why we would do such a thing, but we find that answer when Christ lays out the intention of the law. How can we be faithful disciples when the Law of God is impossibly rigorous?
Jesus enters history to fulfill the law and the prophets. Christ summarizes his mission as the messiah who has entered history fulfill rather than to abolish. Why is this important? What does this definition of his mission tell us about Jesus living up to His name?
Jesus tells his disciples that they are the salt of the earth and they are to be the light on the hill. This sounds like Jesus is giving us very strong directives, but what does it mean to be salt and light? What do these commands imply about our Christian life? What does it look like for us to live out this ethic?
Jesus takes his stand on the mountain to teach the crowds and his disciples. This should be a sermon that is full of good news. This is expected to be a sermon where Christ promises absolute victory. However, Christ talks about mourning, oppression, and persecution. How can Christ’s message truly offer us hope? Has the kingdom failed in some way?
We are a bible believing church in the Belgrade, MT. We are a Reformed Protestant church who desire to build one another up in love as we sojourn under the sun.
