How the Kingdom Advances (Matthew 4:12-25)

The Gospel of Matthew is all about Christ’s kingdom coming, but how is his kingdom expanding today? In the midst of the chaos of our world and the anxieties of our lives, how can we see God making progress? And how can we join him in bringing light to the darkness around us? This Sunday’s passage is about how Jesus’ ministry starts and spreads. We’ll see the surprising power of where he begins, who he recruits, and how he works to inaugurate heaven’s reign on earth.

The King's Test, and Ours (Matthew 4:1-11)

What is the hardest test you’ve ever taken? In our passage this week, Jesus goes from being declared beloved by his Father and empowered by the Spirit, to being led into the wilderness to be tested (or tempted) by the devil. We’ll see in this rich text the reality and strategy of our adversary and the power we have to pass the spiritual tests we encounter in our lives through the victory of Christ.