Guest Speaker: Sherry Dickson - Judgement

My prayer this morning is that what I say is pleasing to God and that it will encourage your mind and your heart, and stir you to grow—to love Jesus more deeply and more intimately today.

I did make an outline—a hard copy outline—if you want to hold it and take notes. If you would like one, there are copies available. You can raise your hand and I'm sure Tom would give you one. There are also some in the narthex; Scott can get those for you.

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The Word of God and the Five Judgments

In 1982, my parents gifted me with this Bible. It is the New American Standard Study Bible, and it has been my go-to Bible since that time. It contains the Word of God, and there are also Christian study outlines in it. I wanted to share one of those outlines with you today.

Most people, when they think about God's judgment, might stiffen a little. But I hope that some of what I say today will round that out for you, so that you can see how wonderful God's judgments are.

I think most people—even on the street—understand that one day, they are going to have to give an account to God for their lives. This outline describes five different judgments. I used to think, "Yes, Jesus is coming, and my life is going to be judged, and I’ll give an accounting." But this outline shows that there are actually five different judgments, and they differ in time, place, and purpose. What they have in common is that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Judge. God the Father has given all authority of judgment to Jesus the Son.

Don’t worry—I’m not going to talk about all five today. I’ll talk about three.

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Judgment #1: The Judgment of the Believer's Sin (Justification)

To begin with: God is holy. He is perfect in justice. He is great in mercy. He is all-loving, and His judgments are just as wonderful as He is.

Anything less than holiness is sin. It must be paid for and atoned for by death to be made right. This is God’s standard. He wants us to live by a high standard.

The first judgment is the judgment of the believer’s sin. The verse here is John 5:24. Jesus says:

"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has eternal life and does not come into judgment but has passed out of death into life."

Notice—it says those who believe have passed out of death into life. That’s spiritual death.

This judgment happened 2,000 years ago on the cross. It also happens afresh every time a person repents and is born again.

You might ask, “How can something that happened 2,000 years ago affect me today?” Well, God is supra-time—He is outside and above time. He encompasses time. He’s not limited by it.

Scripture tells us, “To God, one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.”

So God, who is holy, requires righteousness. Unrighteousness has a cost—death. God cannot be pure and wink at sin, no matter how small we think it is. Grace is costly. Anything less than good must be redeemed.

Purpose: The purpose of this judgment was to redeem all of humanity from the curse of the Fall—for all time.

Adam and Eve had the perfect place, perfect relationship with God, and perfect spouse. But they were tested and failed. Spiritual death came immediately; physical death followed later. Everyone born from Adam has a spirit dead to God—disconnected from Him.

But Jesus is the second Adam. He passed the test. He resisted Satan. He humbled Himself and surrendered His perfect life on the cross. He took our sins, died the death we deserved. The perfect Lamb of God, pierced and crushed for our iniquities.

The cross is the greatest act of love ever known.
The debt of sin is paid—not in part, but the whole: past, present, and future.

Jesus triumphed over evil. The cross is where the greatest love met sin and death—and love won.

Think about the events of the cross:

• The veil was torn

• The sky darkened

• The earth shook

• The tombs opened

All sin was laid on Jesus, and He paid the price. The victory is won.

“He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of light…” (Colossians)

Jesus has redeemed paradise lost. He’s opened the doors of heaven. He’s given believers the everlasting gift of God’s grace.

"There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."

This first judgment is summed up in one word: Justification.

It’s "just as if I never sinned." God made Jesus—who knew no sin—to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God. That’s who we are.

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Resurrection Power and New Identity

Jesus’s resurrection is our resurrection. His sacrifice didn’t just clean up our mess—it took care of the root of the mess: our unregenerated, stony heart.

Now, resurrection power lives in us. Our old self was crucified, and now we have the Spirit of the living God inside us to become more like Jesus.

"See what great love the Father has lavished on us that we should be called the children of God! And that is what we are."

We are adopted into God’s family. That’s why we can claim righteousness.

We are saints. We are a new creation. A royal priesthood. Born anew. No longer in Adam’s family—we’re in the family of God, the Kingdom of Light.

And God longs for every person to receive this eternal life.

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Judgment #2: The Judgment of the Believer's Self (Sanctification)

1 Corinthians 11:31–32 says:

"But if we judged ourselves rightly, we would not be judged. But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world."

Place: Our heart
Time: Ongoing
Purpose: Sanctification—fullness of maturity in Christ

If our sins are forgiven, what’s our relationship to sin now?

We know sin still happens. Christians fail. We disobey. But our relationship with sin is now different.

Sin is still sin. It’s evil, deceptive, and destructive. But now we are not condemned.

We are convicted, not condemned. Conviction is being convinced by the Holy Spirit of our sin. Before Christ, sin flowed from a sinful heart. Now, our heart is new. Sin brings dissonance.

Now, our job is to put off the old self, be made new, and be transformed into the image of Christ.

"Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. We are not our own; we were bought with a price."

Sin is more than disobedience—it hurts the heart of God.

1 John 1:9 is for believers:

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

That restores fellowship with God. This is part of the growth process.

Illustration: Parent and Child
A child born or adopted into a family belongs there. They bear the name and receive all benefits—guidance, protection, discipline, provision, and love.

When they disobey, fellowship—not relationship—is broken. That disobedience creates a barrier. But when the child repents, fellowship is restored. Same with God and us.

Sin doesn’t break our relationship with Christ—but it breaks our fellowship. Restoration comes through confession and agreement with the Holy Spirit.

We must examine ourselves, be shaped more into the likeness of Jesus.

Jonathan Edwards said he resolved every night to review where he had failed.
Charles Spurgeon, John Wesley—all emphasized that justification without sanctification is not salvation. They are inseparable.

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Judgment #3: The Judgment of the Believer’s Works (Evaluation and Reward)

This is the judgment of the believer’s deeds. Not sin—but deeds. It’s about reward or loss.

2 Corinthians 5:10:

"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad."

This is not about eternal destiny. It’s about evaluating how we lived as redeemed people.

We’ll give an account of:

• Our time

• Our opportunities

• Our resources

• Our gifts

• Our use of grace

There will be differing rewards.

God won’t compare me to Billy Graham or Jimmy Carter. He’ll evaluate me based on what He gave me.

Metaphor: The Builder

1 Corinthians 3:11–15 says:

"No one can lay a foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or straw, their work will be shown for what it is… If it survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss—but will be saved, even though only as one escaping through flames."

So are we building with eternal materials or temporary ones?

Good deeds done with compassion, love, wisdom, and integrity—those last.
Deeds done for selfish reasons—those burn away.

Good deeds are the natural outflow of a redeemed heart. They are the proof of true faith.

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Judgments 4 & 5 (Brief Mention)

• Judgment of the Nations – Christ separates sheep and goats.

• Judgment of the Wicked – Great White Throne Judgment; the wicked dead judged.

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Summary

• The debt is paid.

• Your sins are forgiven.

• You have a new life and a firm foundation—Jesus Christ.

• You are called to examine yourself.

• You will receive rewards.

Let us love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.
Amen.

Pastor Chris Interviews Bible Publisher, Philip Nation

Introduction
I had the privilege to interview Philip Nation, the Vice President/Publisher of Thomas Nelson Bibles.  The following is a transcript of our interview.

Interview Transcript
Hey YouTube friends! Today we're doing something a little bit different. I am going to conduct an interview with Phillip Nation, who is the Vice President Publisher of Thomas Nelson Bibles. He has served as a pastor, church planter, and education minister in local churches. He frequently travels to speak in churches and at conferences. Phillip earned a Doctor of Ministry from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and has authored and edited numerous books and Bible studies. He is also a university fellow for Arizona Christian University and has been a professor at Union University and Houston Christian University.

So, let's welcome Phillip onto the podcast today!

Phillip: Thanks, Chris. It's fun to be on the podcast with you. I'm looking forward to this conversation.

Chris: Yeah! Would you like to share a little bit about yourself?

Phillip: I’d be happy to. God has been so very gracious. Many of us can say that in terms of life and vocation. The most important things in my life currently: my wife Angie and I have been married for 31 years, and we have two grown sons who are both married. One of our sons and his wife have two little ones, so we’ve entered the grandparent stage of life—and that is the most fun ever.

Vocationally, I’ve served for many years as a pastor and preacher, planted a church, and been a professor at a few different universities in part-time capacities. In this season of life, as you mentioned, I work for Harper Collins Christian Publishing, and I lead Thomas Nelson Bibles. I’ve been doing that for about five and a half years. It’s fascinating and complex work to be the publisher of the Bible, but it’s been a joy.

All the things God has done in my life—from academic work, to books I’ve written, to pastoring—have rolled together into this role of shepherding forward the work of Thomas Nelson Bibles.

Chris: That’s awesome. Did you always want to be in this kind of ministry work?

Phillip: I wouldn't say I never wanted to be in this kind of work. It would have never been on my radar to think, “One day I’ll be a Bible publisher.”

My journey in ministry started as a teenager when I felt a call, though it was vague. I didn’t know what ministry would look like for me. I’ve always had this sense of calling that felt a little odd—atypical. I felt drawn to preach, to work with the Word, rather than stay solely in local church ministry. As a young man, I couldn’t really define it.

I went through seminary, came out, began pastoring. I served as a senior pastor and associate pastor. In my mid-30s, I started writing and editing—partly because I was church planting and needed to support my family. A curriculum publishing company eventually offered me a position as a chief editor for adult curriculum. That opportunity was clearly providential.

I continued to be a bi-vocational pastor, even doing full-time pastoral work again later. But about six years ago, one of the largest publishing companies in the world reached out and said, “We want to interview you to lead a Bible publishing entity.” It's one of those jobs where you just have to say yes and explore it.

Now, I feel honored to shepherd forward Bible translations our company owns, like the New King James Version—our largest and most used translation. We also oversee other editions that have been around for decades, and new study Bibles we’re dreaming up to help people engage more deeply with the Word. It wasn’t something I planned, but I’m so glad God brought me here.

Chris: That’s really interesting. As a pastor, I use study Bibles and scholarly resources, and sometimes I quote scholars when I preach. But honestly, I often find it challenging to bridge the gap between what scholars say and what everyday people in the pew can understand. Sometimes it seems like Bible editors and scholars are disconnected from ordinary folks. Is that true? And how can we bridge that gap?

Phillip: I love that question. I’ve always held the belief that all pastors are theologians. But I also believe that all theologians should strive to be pastoral.

Those scholars writing commentaries and systematic theologies, the Greek and Hebrew experts—they’re doing amazing work. But pastors like you are the ones translating those complex ideas into something your people can use. Your people are going to work on Monday—to factories, offices, the ballfield. While we pastors might find Hebrew word studies fascinating, folks in the pew are thinking, “Okay, but what do I do with this on Tuesday?”

So I love the idea of taking the intricacies of Scripture and making them applicable. That was God’s intent—He didn’t write the Bible just for ministers. He wrote it for all believers.

But I will say this too: pastors sometimes underestimate their congregations. My joke is, “If you can figure out how to order coffee at Starbucks, you can learn biblical and theological language.”

We have people in our churches—accountants, HVAC techs, factory workers, nurses, doctors—who master complex information every day. They’re absolutely capable of understanding theology. They just need someone to invite them into those deeper waters and show them how to swim there.

Chris: I agree. And you know, there’s been this big problem with younger people leaving the church. Talking with my own children, sometimes they say, “What we’re hearing in church just isn’t deep enough.” They want substance. They want to go deeper.

Sometimes in church, we act like we’re not supposed to go too deep. But I think we sell ourselves—and our people—short. They’re capable of so much more than we give them credit for.

Phillip: Absolutely. And they’re not satisfied with shallow theology. They might not yet understand all the theological language, but they can get there. They just need someone to explain it in a way that connects. Once they’re equipped, they grow, and they often become self-feeders of Scripture. And that’s one of the great joys in ministry.

Chris: Wonderful. I think those are some great ideas as well. I wish I had been more prepared when they asked me, but now I’ll have some things to take back and talk to them more about.

What about pastors? You know, I study the Bible every week—every day. I live in it, I walk in it. Are there any things that you could say to me or to other pastors that might help us along the way?

Phillip: I'm glad you asked. You're the first one who has asked me that in a long time. From my years of being a pastor, I remember those long stretches where you're in the Word day in and day out. One encouragement I would start with is this: do a little self-survey. Have you allowed sermon preparation to totally replace your own personal devotional life?

There’s no way to completely separate sermon prep from personal formation, but sometimes we let outline building or manuscript writing replace time alone with God. So, I’d say make sure that the study you're doing is being applied to your heart long before you try to apply it to your congregation.

Also, we pastors tend to have favorite parts of Scripture. Maybe you're always in Paul's epistles or the Pentateuch. But the full counsel of God includes the minor prophets, the poetic books, the general epistles—all of it. So visit the "clean white pages" of your Bible—the parts you don't usually turn to. Let the Holy Spirit work through the whole field of Scripture to sanctify you.

Chris: I like that. It really is a challenge to separate our personal walk from our ministry role. But we can't really be pastors unless we’re first children of God. That has to come first. And I’ve found that whenever I get personally excited about a Scripture, it often finds its way into my preaching naturally.

Phillip: Yes! In this season of life, something that’s been powerful for me is the book of Psalms. I always loved Ecclesiastes for its postmodern tone, and Proverbs had that daily, chapter-a-day rhythm. But Psalms—it's been a new well for me. I wish I had dug deeper into it in my 20s and 30s.

Psalms was the everyday singing and worship of Jesus and the early church. It shows the human condition and God's faithful interaction with it—His grace, mercy, sovereignty. It's been an emboldening and comforting part of my devotional life.

Chris: I love that. Psalms has definitely had seasons of significance for me too. It can be a tough book to preach from, but personally, it's powerful. For years, I avoided Proverbs because it felt like the sayings contradicted each other. But once I understood the genre better, I fell in love with it.

You're working on the Open Bible with Thomas Nelson. I’m really interested in that because I’ve never used it. I was telling friends about this interview and one pastor corrected me. I called it a study Bible, and he said, "No, it’s not a study Bible!" So—what is the Open Bible?

Phillip: Great question. The Open Bible is like a reference Bible on steroids. I first received a copy from my aunt and uncle when I was 17, back in 1987. This year is the 50th anniversary of Thomas Nelson publishing it.

Every decade, a new iteration comes out. It includes rich front and back matter: articles, concordances, indexes. But the star feature is its robust cross-reference system. In the newest edition, the cross-references are placed at the end of each verse. That helps people trace themes and phrases across Scripture easily.

It also has a 300-page topical index. Want to understand the doctrine of the Holy Spirit or what the Bible says about forgiveness? Go to the index, find the big ideas and subcategories, and then follow all the Scripture references. It’s great for anyone—even those brand new to Bible study.

There are also study notes with practical life applications, visual charts, and one of my favorite features: a 15,000-word article on archaeological discoveries that support the people, places, and events in Scripture. It's essentially one-third of a book, included right in the Bible. The more we dig, the more we find evidence confirming the Bible’s accuracy.

Chris: That’s exciting. I’m looking forward to getting a copy and trying it out personally—and possibly using it to help others too. What formats is it available in?

Phillip: Right now, it's available in the New King James Version. Historically, it’s been published in multiple English translations. We're going to continue that. We’ll reintroduce a KJV edition, and we’re reviving the NIV version. We’re also considering other translations.

The font is readable and comfortable. And yes, I’ve heard interest in a NASB edition too. That’s a great suggestion. We work with the nonprofit that holds the NASB copyright. I’ll take that feedback to the team.

Chris: As I prepared for this interview, I asked my friends what questions they’d want to ask you. One of them asked whether new Bible translations are made from the original Hebrew and Greek texts or from existing English translations. I knew the answer, but I thought I’d let you respond.

Phillip: Great question! The vast majority of English Bible translations are made directly from the original Hebrew and Greek texts. There are a few exceptions—revisions or paraphrases—but the NKJV, for instance, is translated from the original languages, in the translation tradition of the KJV.

If you open your Bible to the preface section at the front, most people have never read it—but you should. It explains why and how the translation was made, what manuscripts were used, and whether it's a formal or dynamic translation.

Chris: So, when you say “in the tradition of the King James Version,” you mean you’re using their philosophy but going back to the original languages?

Phillip: Exactly. The original KJV translators wanted to be formal—word for word as much as possible—while using common language. The 1611 edition is tough for us to read today, but in 1611, it was the language of the people. The edition most of us read now is actually from the 1769 revision, which updated the vocabulary.

The NKJV continues that tradition: formal translation from the original manuscripts, using modern, accessible language for today’s reader.

Chris: That makes sense. One friend made a funny comment about phrases like “butt dialed.” He said, “In 500 years, no one will know what that means.” How do translators deal with ancient idioms and tricky phrases like that?

Phillip: Another great question. It depends on the translation philosophy. More formal translations will keep the phrase literal—like “your neck is like a tower” or “your teeth are like sheep.” Dynamic translations interpret the meaning instead—saying her neck is graceful, her teeth are white, for instance.

Some translations land in the middle and use footnotes. Others explain in study notes at the bottom of the page. That’s the beauty of serious Bible study—it invites us to explore historical context, idioms, and layers of meaning.

Chris: That’s fascinating. I love how archaeology and textual studies bring clarity to those things. Even phrases like “apple of his eye” mean something deep, though the words alone don’t make modern sense.

Phillip: Exactly. That phrase wouldn’t translate clearly into Mandarin or French. But that’s part of what makes Bible study so rich—it’s a journey.

Chris: I’ve got one last question, from another viewer. How is the new version of the Open Bible different from the older ones?

Phillip: Great wrap-up question. This edition has a new typesetting—larger font, updated accent colors—and we returned to verse-by-verse formatting to include the inline cross-references. We also expanded articles that hadn’t been updated in decades. One example is the archaeology article, which is now current and enhanced.

We brought back valuable content from previous editions that had been trimmed for space. Overall, this edition represents the best of all previous Open Bible resources, updated and refreshed for today’s reader.

Chris: That’s wonderful. I’m excited for you—and to dig into the Open Bible myself. Thank you so much for taking the time to share today.

Phillip: Thank you, Chris. And for your listeners, check out what Thomas Nelson Bibles has to offer. We’re passionate about making beautiful Bibles that help people at every stage of life. We’re grateful to steward the Word of God.

Chris: Amen. And to everyone watching—thank you. If you’ve made it this far, maybe God is nudging you to dig into the Bible more deeply. Explore the resources out there. The Word of God can make a real, lasting difference in your life.

So thanks again, and as always: let’s grow and be fruitful.

Jesus' Ministry Begins | A Sermon on Matthew 4:12-17

Introduction
In the last few weeks, we’ve studied how Jesus went down to the Jordan River where His cousin John was preaching and teaching people to repent of their sins and be baptized.  Jesus asked John to baptize Him in the Jordan River and the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus and God spoke from heaven and said, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” 

 Immediately after that, Jesus went into the desolate region west of the Dead Sea where he fasted and prayed for 40 days and was tempted by the Devil.  After remaining faithful and without sin, it was time for Jesus to officially begin His ministry.

Matthew 4:12-17
¹² When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he left Judea and returned to Galilee. ¹³ He went first to Nazareth, then left there and moved to Capernaum, beside the Sea of Galilee, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali. ¹⁴ This fulfilled what God said through the prophet Isaiah:

¹⁵ “In the land of Zebulun and of Naphtali,
    beside the sea, beyond the Jordan River,
    in Galilee where so many Gentiles live,
¹⁶ the people who sat in darkness
    have seen a great light.
And for those who lived in the land where death casts its shadow,
    a light has shined.”^[a]

¹⁷ From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.^[b]”

Ministry Can Be Dangerous
First of all, I don’t want us to pass by verse 12 where it points out that John was arrested.  Ministry can be dangerous.  We often forget this in America, where we live sheltered lives.  There are Christians in our own Global Methodist Church denomination who live in Nigeria and Liberia who are facing arrests, beatings, and severe persecution as we speak—simply because they are trying to be faithful to the Word of God.  Next Sunday, in fact, we will host a missionary who has to be careful to protect his identity because it could be dangerous for him or his family if word got out about the work he does to serve Christ in his community.

John the Baptist was arrested and his work to baptize people and prepare the way for the Messiah came to an end.  Now it was time for the Messiah, Jesus, to begin His work.

Jesus Fulfills Prophecy
Matthew quotes Isaiah 9:1-2, “The people living in darkness have seen a great light.”  The prophet Isaiah spoke these words 700 years before Jesus came.  Jesus’ move to Capernaum (in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali) is not random—it fulfills God’s long-planned mission to reach the Gentiles as well as the Jews.  And they are a reminder to us, when things are at there darkest, Jesus comes to call us out into the light. 

These are important words for us to hear right now.  There’s a lot of darkness in our world.  We see the darkness of war.  We see the darkness of injustice.  We see the darkness of hurtful words—of lies, betrayal, of the poor getting poorer while the rich get richer.  We see injustice.  And many here live in fear of what the future holds—whether it is for you personally or for someone you know and love.  And there may be some listening to this message today who are in a very dark place.  And the Gospel Matthew shout the Good News: “The people living in darkness have seen a great light!”

Jesus is the Great Light!  No matter what darkness you may be facing—whether it’s fear, uncertainty, grief, or the weight of the world’s troubles—know this: Jesus is the light that overcomes the darkness. The same God who planned salvation for the world through Christ has not forgotten you. He sees you, He loves you, and He is calling you out of the shadows and into His marvelous light. Even when life feels overwhelming, His light still shines. Hold onto Him, because the darkness will not last—His hope, His truth, and His love will carry you through. 

The Kingdom of Heaven is Here
Before his arrest, John the Baptist prepared the way by calling people to repent.  Jesus continues John’s call to repentance, but His message is even greater—the Kingdom of Heaven is arriving now!  God’s reign is breaking into the world through Jesus’ ministry.

We often think of Heaven as a place we go to after we die.  But Jesus preached the Kingdom of Heaven starts now.  This isn’t just about a future heaven, but a present reality—God’s rule is being established on earth through Christ.

That means God’s Kingdom is not just something we wait for—it’s something we live in now. When we follow Jesus, we step into His reign, where love overcomes hate, truth defeats lies, and hope rises above despair. The way we live, work, love, and serve should reflect that we belong to His Kingdom, not the broken systems of this world. Where in your life is God calling you to live under His rule today? Maybe it’s in your family, your workplace, or in how you treat others. Jesus is not just offering you a future home in heaven—He is inviting you to experience His Kingdom right now. Will you step into it?

The Kingdom Is Just Beyond the Veil
Though the world may seem consumed by darkness, the Kingdom of Heaven is here, just beyond the veil. We may not always see it with our eyes, but it is breaking through in quiet, powerful ways—in acts of love, in moments of grace, in every heart that surrenders to Christ. While the world’s struggles feel overwhelming, God’s reign is already at work, transforming lives, restoring hope, and preparing the way for His ultimate victory. The Kingdom is not far off; it is near, it is now, and it is winning, even when we cannot yet see it in full.

It takes faith to believe in the Kingdom beyond the veil. The early Christians faced some of the darkest times in human history—they saw their Savior crucified, they endured relentless persecution, and many were put to death for their faith. And yet, they thrived. They didn’t cling to power or fight with fear; they lived with boldness, joy, and unshakable hope because they saw beyond the suffering of this world. They knew that God’s Kingdom was already here, breaking through, and that death itself had no power over them. That same faith can sustain us today. When life feels overwhelming, when evil seems to be winning, we can hold on to the truth that the Kingdom is real, that Christ is reigning, and that nothing—not even death—can separate us from His victory. This faith doesn’t just help us survive hardship—it transforms us, giving us the courage to shine His light in the darkest places.

Entering the Kingdom
Jesus came not just to show us the Kingdom, but to invite us in. We are welcome in Christ’s Kingdom, but we must make the choice to enter in. How do we enter the Kingdom? There are two key steps:

First, Repent – Turn Away from Sin and Turn to Jesus.  Jesus began His ministry with a simple but powerful message:  "Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven has come near!" (Matthew 4:17) 

 Repentance isn’t just about feeling bad for our sins—it’s about turning away from the darkness and stepping into the light. Sin blinds us from seeing the Kingdom. It chains us to the brokenness of this world. But when we repent—when we confess our sins, surrender our pride, and turn to Jesus—our eyes begin to open. We start to see beyond the veil, and the reality of God’s Kingdom becomes clear.

What is God calling you to leave behind today? What sins, distractions, or false securities are keeping you from stepping fully into His Kingdom?

Second, Die to Yourself to Find New Life in Christ.  Jesus didn’t come just to make our old life better—He came to give us an entirely new life. And that only happens when we die to ourselves.  "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me." (Luke 9:23)

The world tells us to chase our dreams, follow our desires, and live for ourselves. But Jesus tells us the only way to find real life is to surrender everything to Him. When we die to our selfish ambitions, our need for control, our old way of thinking, we step into true life in Christ.

The Kingdom of Heaven isn’t just waiting for us after death—it’s here now. But to enter, we must let go of our grip on this world. We must step through the veil and trust that what Jesus is offering is far greater than anything we leave behind.

The question is: Will you step in?

Closing
What’s keeping you from experiencing His Kingdom more fully? Is it a habit, a fear, a distraction, or an area where you need to surrender control? Over these next 40 days of Lent, I challenge you to seek God’s Kingdom more faithfully. Make space for Him in prayer, Scripture, acts of love, and obedience.

Remember, Jesus opened the door to the Kingdom through His sacrifice.
He invites you to repent, to die to ourselves, and to receive the new life He offers.

Will you step into His Kingdom?

Jesus' Temptation | A Sermon on Matthew 4:1-11

Introduction
Last week, we read the incredible, powerful story of Jesus’ baptism.  When Jesus came up out of the water, the Holy Spirit descended like a dove and God spoke from heaven saying, “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.”  What a wonderful affirmation that was for Jesus as He marked the beginning of His public ministry. 

Immediately after that remarkably special moment, Jesus faced a very dark and difficult test.

Matthew 4:1
¹ Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. 

Three Things
I want to pause here and point out a few important ideas. 

First, the peaks of our spiritual highs are often followed by difficult lows.  Life has its ups & downs.  Make peace with it. Soak it up and savior the highs.  And understand the lows won’t last forever.  Be faithful and cling to your faith.  Things will improve & there are more incredible victories coming.  Don’t give up.  Keep the faith.

Second, testing is part of the spiritual journey.  
Right after the high of Jesus’ baptism, the Spirit led Him into the wilderness to be tempted.  And it specifically says it was the Spirit who led Him there.   It was important for Jesus to be tested.  A person’s real character is not revealed unless it’s tested.  That’s true for everyone—even Jesus.  People can dress up and look good on the outside, but when pressure squeezes a person, the juice comes out.  That’s when you find out who they really are inside. 

Third, I want to say Jesus understands what we go through because He went through it too.  Jesus didn’t live a sheltered life.  He faced all the same life struggles we all face.  He even met the Devil face to face and it was awful. That’s why He told us to pray about it in the Lord’s prayer, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil…”  Even though temptation and evil are an inevitable part of our experience from time to time, Jesus encourages us to pray that God would protect us from them as much as possible.  But for Jesus, in this chapter of His life, it was important for Him to face the Devil.  And He did.

Matthew 4:2-11
² For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry.

³ During that time the devil^[a] came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.”

⁴ But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say,

‘People do not live by bread alone,
    but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’^[b]”

⁵ Then the devil took him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, ⁶ and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say,

‘He will order his angels to protect you.
And they will hold you up with their hands
    so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’^[c]”

⁷ Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’^[d]”

⁸ Next the devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. ⁹ “I will give it all to you,” he said, “if you will kneel down and worship me.”

¹⁰ “Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say,

‘You must worship the Lord your God
    and serve only him.’^[e]”

¹¹ Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus.

Why Did Jesus Need to Be Tempted?
You may wonder, “Why did Jesus need to be tempted?” One reason is because we are.  Hebrews 4:15 says of Jesus, “This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.” 

Another reason is explained in Romans 5:18-19.  Jesus is the second Adam.  Sin entered the world when Adam and Eve were tempted and ate the forbidden fruit.  Their disobedience caused everything in creation to fall apart.  That is why there is sin and suffering and death and corruption in our world.  It is why the world and people are so broken.  But Jesus is the second Adam.  He is obedient where Adam and all of Adam’s offspring (us) fail.  Jesus’ obedience takes the place of our sin—fulfilling God’s original intent for humankind.

Jesus’ response to Satan also shows us how we can resist the Devil too.

How to Resist the Devil For Dummies
First, understand Satan’s plan.  The Devil often tempts us the same ways he tempted Jesus: with physical needs (bread), power (control), and testing God (pride).  Satan takes good things and twist and corrupts them.  Food is a good thing, but if we overindulge it is bad for us.  Power and influence can be used for good, but not if they require us to compromise godly values.  And we can certainly rely on God to help us through our trials, but it is sinful pride to expect God to protect us when we do something stupid.

And notice, Satan’s strategy is often to come quoting Scripture to back up His evil temptations.  (He tries to trick Jesus to jump off the highest point of the Temple by quoting Psalm 91.)  But Jesus doesn’t fall for it because Jesus doesn’t just pick Scriptures to prove his own points.  He knows the over-arching meaning of the whole Word of God.  And we must know it too so that neither Satan (or anyone) can lead us to sin by quoting the Bible to us.

As Jesus said in John 8:44, “[Satan] was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”  So listen to 1 Peter 5:8, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”,

Second, Use the 5 Finger Defense Technique. 

The 5 Finger Defense

1.     Thumb – Stay Close to God through Prayer & Submission – The thumb is closest to you, reminding you to stay connected to God.  Do this through Prayer and Submission.  You will never be able to resist the Devil on your own.  You need God’s help.  And a life of prayer is the most important way to stay close to God where Satan cannot overcome you. Develop a strong, vibrant, regular prayer life.

2.     Index Finger – Know & Use Scripture to Point to the Truth – Just like you use this finger to point, use God’s Word to point out the lies Satan tells you.  But it’s important to KNOW the whole truth—not just over-simplistic random quotes from the Bible.  Even Satan quotes Scripture.  So ask yourself, “What is God really saying in Scripture?  What is the whole Truth Jesus reveals?”  Know Jesus’ Truth and live it!

3.     Middle Finger – Guard Your Mind and Stay Pure – The tallest finger reminds you to rise above sin and keep your mind focused on God.  Thoughts lead to actions.  Heed the Apostle Paul’s advise in Philippians 4:8 – “Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”

4.     Ring Finger – Avoid Triggers and Be Committed – Just like a wedding ring symbolizes commitment, commit to avoiding temptation.  Examine the times you failed and fell to sin.  Learn from your mistakes.  What triggered you?  How can you avoid those triggers in the future?  Learn to be content with what God has already given you.  Then, Satan’s temptations won’t entice you.

5.     Pinky – Stay Faithful in Small Things – The smallest finger reminds you that even small, daily acts of obedience give you strength to resist the devil.  Satan often starts eroding your faithfulness to God through little things.  He’s not going to ask you to rob a bank right from the start.  He’ll start with stealing a pencil.  He won’s start by asking you to cheat on your wife.  He’ll start by tempting you to lust after someone you see on TV.  If you stand firm in the small things, Satan won’t be able to get through your defense and hit you with something bigger.

Remember: Jesus faced every temptation we do, yet He remained faithful.  Through Him, we have the strength to resist the devil and walk in righteousness too.  This Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a season where we refocus spiritually, just as Jesus did during His 40 days in the wilderness. It's a time for prayer and fasting, reflection, and drawing closer to God, resisting the distractions and temptations of this world.  What will you do during the 40 days of Lent from Ash Wednesday until Easter Sunday to help you grow in faith? 

What Did Jesus Mean: You are the Salt of the Earth?

Introduction
Have you ever heard the expression:  “That guy ain’t worth his salt!”  What does that mean? It means they aren’t worth their pay.  There’s a reason someone is or isn’t worth his salt. In the ancient world, salt was sometimes used as currency—the Greeks, Romans, and Spanish Moors all used salt for money in certain situations.  In fact, our modern word “salary” comes from the ancient Roman word salarium, which was the salt sometimes paid to solders (instead of Roman coins).  Salt in the ancient world was rare and as valuable as money.  That brings us to today’s lesson from Jesus’ famous Sermon on the Mount.

Matthew 5:13
¹³ “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.

You are the salt of the earth
If you are Christian, a follower of Jesus, you are the salt of the earth.  Christians provide something essential this world needs.

We’re a bit spoiled in our modern world and we take salt for granted.  Usually, we consume too much salt, but a certain amount of salt is essential in your diet.  If you don’t have enough, it can lead to muscle cramps, nausea, vomiting and dizziness.  Eventually, lack of salt can lead to shock, coma and death.

Have you ever noticed the slightly salty flavor to Gatorade or Powerade sports drinks?  That’s because they put sodium in the drinks (one of the minerals found in salt).  Intense sweating during strenuous exercise can flush sodium out of your body—leaving you lethargic, even when you drink enough water. The sodium in Gatorade puts it back.

In biblical times, salt was expensive and hard to come by, but salt was also essential.  In addition to being required in a person’s diet, salt was essential for preserving meat before refrigeration.  In case you didn’t know, modern refrigerators didn’t become common until the 1930s (less than 100 years ago).  Before that, one of the most common and reliable ways to preserve meat was with salt.  If you pack enough salt around a big hunk of pork, you get a perfectly preserved and delicious ham—something that can be slaughtered in November and enjoyed for Easter dinner 4-5 months later.

Not only does salt preserve meat and provide and essential minerals in your diet, salt also brings out the flavor of our food.  Can you imagine how bland your food would be without any added salt?  Can you imagine how a potato chip would be without any salt?

So when Jesus says His followers are “the salt of the earth”, He is making a bold statement.  Christians are incredibly valuable and essential—like the right amount of salt in your diet, without it you cannot live.  And Christians are a preservative in this decaying world.  Without our preserving influence, evil would completely take over and consume this world—causing it to rot and completely spoil.

And when Christians faithfully follow Christ, we bring out the flavor of life.  True Christians are not boring—as the world often claims.  We are full of life and joy and love.  Jesus and His New Testament followers were never accused of living dull lives.  It was the opposite.  Their detractors accused them of spending too much time feasting and drinking with sinners and having a good time.

Losing Our Saltiness
Now, this second part of verse 13 confuses people.  How can salt lose its flavor?  The salt in your salt shaker doesn't really have an expiration date.  It doesn't lose it's saltiness.  However, in Jesus’ day in Israel, they mined salt from the Dead Sea.  The concentration of salt in the dead sea is about 33%--10 times as salty as the ocean.  Salt water can be collected into shallow pools until the sun evaporates the water leaving behind the salt.  Then, the salt was stored in a cave or barn—usually right on the ground.  Over time, the salt on the bottom of the pile would leach into the dirt on the ground and some of the dirt would get in the salt too.  This “bottom salt” was too dirty and nasty to eat.  And the dirt was too salty to use in a garden—the high salt content would kill the plants.  So this salt that had lost its flavor was only good for one thing—to be thrown on the walkways where it would kill weeds and anything else growing and people could walk on and a barren path where nothing would grow.

Now what does that have to do with you?  If you follow Jesus, you are the salt of the earth—adding flavor and essential things to this world, preserving a broken world from spiritual decay.  But being salty for Jesus inevitably means being different from the world.  Most people don’t want to be different.  There’s something in our DNA that we want to fit in.  We don’t want to feel like outsiders or outcasts who are different.  We want to be part of the group.

Well, God designed us to be social creatures.  There’s nothing inherently wrong with wanting to fit in.  That’s just part of being human.  Unfortunately, sin takes that natural desire inside us and twists it all out of wack until we are willing to do anything just to fit in with the group.  We may even adopt attitudes and behaviors God says are sinful because society says it’s fine.  At the same time, we may turn our backs on holy living because the worldly people all around us live unholy lives.

What good, though, is salt that has lost its saltiness?  What good is a Christian who lives an unholy life?
Not only have you lost your flavor and preserving power, somehow your unholiness now poisons the world like salty dirt thrown into a garden.  There’s nothing more bitter in this world than Christians who know they’re supposed to live for Jesus, but who are still caught up trying to live for the world.  They can’t be happy living for Jesus because they still want to sin, but they can’t be happy sinning because they feel guilty for not being faithful to Jesus.  So, they live divided lives, pulled completely in two by these competed convictions.  

It’s OK To be salty, to shine bright, to stand out.  Don’t be afraid to be different.  That’s the definition of Holy—when you’re set apart from everything else by God as different.  

We take salt for granted.  We also take light for granted in our modern world.  Of course, we have just as much sunlight today as people in ancient times.  What’s different now is what happens when the sun goes down.  We can just turn on a light today but in Bible times, you had to burn up expensive oil in a lamp or wax candles.  And the amount of light these gave was roughly 100 times less than an electric light we use today.

That’s why looking up at the trillions of stars in the night sky in ancient times was so dazzling.
King David said in Psalm 8:3-4, “When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—the moon and the stars you set in place—what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them?”

And when Jesus and his disciple were camping on the outskirts of Jerusalem, they would look across the valley and see the shining city on Mount Zion, shining like twinkling jewel—with thousands of oil lamps flickering from afar, contrasted against the utter darkness of the night.  And with the glow a campfire shining on their faces, Jesus could say something like: 

Matthew 5:14-16
¹⁴ “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket.  Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house.  ¹⁶ In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

We are called to be different—to be salty, to shine brightly.  When Christians truly live the way Jesus calls us to live—when we love others the way He loves us—it shines out for all to see.  You don’t even necessarily have to say anything.  Sometimes your actions speak volumes.  

On the other hand, when Jesus is Your Lord, you can’t help but say His name and talk about how He’s saved you and changed you and how He’s filling your life with His light and love.  People will see His light in you and you need to be ready to explain it when they ask:  “Why are you so different?  What is this light that shines inside you?”  Be ready to tell them “so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”  Don’t hide your lamp under a basket.  Place it up high on a stand, where it gives light for everyone to see.  And like a moth is drawn to a light, people will be drawn to the Lord.

Closing
Some of you may say, “My life’s so messed up. There’s no light there to see.”  I get it.  Sometimes we go through dark trials and it can feel like there’s nothing good there to talk about.  But what you don’t realize is everyone’s going through something.  It’s not about having a perfect, bright and sunny life all the time.  It’s about seeing a perfect God pulling you up out of your brokenness and filling you with His wonderful light.  You don’t have to lie and tell everyone your life’s perfect.  Tell the truth.  Share your struggles.  But also have faith to see how Jesus is there with you in the midst of your darkness.  He hasn't left you.  He is there.  You just have to recognize Jesus is there and share how you’re trusting Him to save you.  God is the light in your story.  So don’t you hide it under a basket.  Let your light shine and be salty!