Matthew #36: The Humble Standard (Matthew 18:1-14)

February 1, 2026 Rob Woodrum

My dad used to say: “If it weren’t for my great humility, I’d go on about how humble I am”. It was a joke, of course, but how often do we find it difficult not to go out of our way to make sure the people around us have taken note of our gracious and humble attitudes? That’s the struggle we have with our fallen, human nature – we just want to be recognized in one way or another. We are a very lonely and insecure species.

We’re coming to a section in our study of Matthew where Jesus is going to give us some instruction as to how to handle ourselves in community. We’ll be reading Matthew 18:1-14.

The scene opens with Jesus’ disciples vying for the number one spot in terms of God’s kingdom and His fantasy team ranking. In response, Jesus puts a child in front of them and commands that we follow that example. In what ways do children embody the concept of humility on a societal level? If we think about ancient attitudes towards children, it expands that idea even further. How is Jesus’ call to intentional humility distinct from the way our normal societal patterns work? If we’re not getting our validation from our fellow humans, where will we get it from if we embrace intentional humility?

Jesus warns us not to put a scandalon (stumbling block) in front of his humble children– that is, offend or trip up someone who is a humble believer in Jesus. Given the context of not seeking to advance ourselves over each other, how do you think this translates to our community interaction? Based on the imagery Jesus uses, how important do you think this is to him?

The final section has a parable about a shepherd who leaves his ninety nine sheep to search for one lost lamb. He was pointing out how all the sheep are valuable to God. No one is unimportant, including you and I. Realizing that, what do you think Jesus’ point is concerning how we interact with each other in community? How can we better embody these traits as a church? If we could do that, what effect do you think it would have on the world around us?

Hope you can join us this COLD Sunday!

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Matthew #35: Sacrificial Freedom (Matthew 17:22-27)

January 25, 2026 Rob Woodrum

We’ll be reading Matthew 17:22-27 this Sunday. It’s a highly unusual story. One that’s unique to Matthew’s gospel, but understandable considering his tax-collector background.

The story opens in v22-23 where Jesus once again announces his upcoming arrest and execution, as well as his resurrection. Again, the disciples are puzzled.

When they get to home to Capernaum, they are confronted by “collectors of the Temple Tax”. This was a tax instituted in Exodus 30 as a census tax that went to support the temple operations. The priests would go to outlying areas up in Galilee and collect it from the Jewish people. When the collectors corner Peter, they assume Jesus isn’t going to pay that tax. Why do you think they would assume that? Interestingly, a sect within Israel, who was contemporary to Jesus, the Essenes, openly opposed the temple tax. It’s probable that the priests were trying to embroil Jesus in a politicalized debate.

Peter answers in the affirmative, but when he sits down with Jesus, he gets a different perspective. Jesus gives a parable about the kings of earth and how they operate a tax. We’ll get into what Jesus is getting at on Sunday – but it’s pretty clear that Jesus considers himself and his followers as free from that tax.

Surprisingly, Jesus capitulates, he does so not to offend. What can we learn about Jesus’ attitude and our calling here? What do you think is worth offending people over when it comes to our faith?

The fish story at the end…that’s something, huh? What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever found? We see here that God will provide for us to peacefully navigate through this world of ever present cultural expectations. Let’s trust him for the wisdom to live well.

I hope you can join us on Sunday!

Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow.

Matthew #34: Christ's Glory Revealed (Matthew 17:1-20)

January 18, 2026 Rob Woodrum

Are you familiar with the phrase “a mountaintop experience”? It’s describing times of glory and exuberance, especially as it touches our spiritual journey. Those experiences are great, but usually…actually, always short lived.

This Sunday we’ll be reading Matthew 17:1-20 and we’ll read about the original mountaintop experience as we get a glimpse of God’s glory revealed in Christ.

The first section, v1-8, provides the account of the “transfiguration” of Jesus. Jesus takes three of his disciples up on a mountain, and there, his appearance changes in front of them – he is glorious. Why do you think Moses and Elijah showed up? What is it that they represent?

When the voice instructs us to “listen to him“, Jesus, what do you think that means in light of who is on the mountaintop with him?

When they head off the mountain in v 9-13 the disciples get a lesson about Elijah’s coming before the Messiah. Why do you think the people didn’t recognize John the Baptist as a fulfillment of Micah’s prophecy about Elijah’s appearance? What can we learn from that when it comes to our expectations about how God will manifest his glory?

After they return down from the mountaintop experience, they face a different tone in v14-20. What is the key element that Jesus says is missing, which prevented the disciples from helping the demonized boy? What connection would there be between our faith and God’s glory?

We’ll get really honest about our journey this Sunday – hope to see you there!

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Matthew #33: The Cost of Belief (Matthew 16-38)

January 11, 2026 Rob Woodrum

In Matthew 16:13-28, Jesus asks a question of his disciples that still confronts each of us today: “Who do you say I am?” There have always been plenty of opinions about Jesus. Even to this day, some say Jesus was merely a prophet, teacher, or a well meaning individual. However, Jesus presses past secondhand answers and makes it personal. How we answer this question matters because it shapes how we live and what we believe about God, ourselves, and the world. Who is Jesus to you?

Peter boldly answers, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God,” and Jesus affirms that this confession is the foundation of the church. Belief in Jesus is the doorway into the Kingdom of Heaven—but that kingdom doesn’t look the way we expect. When Jesus explains that the Messiah must suffer and die, Peter resists, revealing how easy it is to trust Jesus while still wanting control over how his plan unfolds.

Jesus then makes it clear: following him means surrender. “Take up your cross and follow me” is a call to sacrificial love. He goes on to say that this means losing our lives so we can truly find them. The kingdom of God is upside down, where real power looks like humility and real life is found in giving ourselves away.

We invite you to join us this Sunday at 10:00AM as we study Matthew 16:13-28 together.

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Matthew #32: A Contrast of Intent (Matthew 15:29-16:12)

January 4, 2026 Rob Woodrum

This Sunday we’ll be returning to our study in Matthew, and we’ll read Matthew 15:29-16:12. It’s a big section, but I think you’ll see how it all goes together pretty well.

As you read through this section you’ll notice that, even connected with last section, there is an ongoing bread theme. The Canaanite woman asked for bread crumbs. Jesus provides bread in the wilderness and then warns about the wrong kind of spiritual bread. There could be a whole teaching in that thematic vein alone…but that’s not where I went for this study.

In the section that closes out chapter 15, Jesus is doing all sorts of miracles, finishing off with a miraculous feast on a desert mountaintop. Mark’s parallel account clues us in that this happened in the Decapolis – a largely gentile region. When Jesus is performing all these miracles in that region, what does it mean? How should it be read?

When we come to chapter 16 the Pharisees and Sadducees ask for a sign – ignoring what has been happening right under their noses. They are intent on trying to control God’s plan concerning what Messiah would be doing, and with whom. In what ways are we sometimes guilty of trying to dictate to God our own purposes? How can we keep from trying to steal the director’s chair in life?

in v 5-12, Jesus’ disciples are cast in a pretty dim light. They forgot bread and assume Jesus’ warning about the leaven of the Pharisees was about a lack of bagels. Leaven is used as a metaphor for an element introduced that changes it’s host into something else. Leaven changes bread dough, causing it to rise and inflate. In what way do you think the teaching of the Pharisees had done this as it touched Israel’s calling? What is Jesus warning his disciples about? What are the philosophies, politics and religious agendas in our world that could veer us off the path that God originally set the church on? What is lacking, according to v8, that can keep us from falling prey to these aberrant directions?

Once again, this will be a challenging and thought provoking passage to dig into. Hope to see you on Sunday!

Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow.

Matthew #31: The Canaanite Woman Who Outwitted Jesus (Matthew 15:21-28)

December 14, 2025 Rob Woodrum

This Sunday we’ll be reading Matthew 15:21-28.

This is a distressing section of Scripture. We are confronted with a Jesus who seems strange to us; uncharacteristically distant and even apparently rude. He and his disciples have left Israel and are 50 miles north in the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon, which is modern day Lebanon. While there, a local woman calls out for Jesus’ help on behalf of her demonized daughter. Jesus doesn’t answer her, but remains silent.

Jesus’ response and statements about and to this woman are perplexing – they have been since he spoke them, I guess. What lessons can we learn about faith – faith that’s not easy, exercised in a world that is not easy on us either. In what ways can she inspire us when we feel frustrated by God’s silence or by circumstances that seem to be against us?

We will be hearing a very interesting take on this passage tomorrow from a guest speaker. I’m very excited to hear what it said!

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Matthew #30: Traditional Trouble (Matthew 15:1-20)

December 7, 2025 Rob Woodrum

Do you have any traditions for Christmas that your family has passed down through the years? I think the most delightful for Robbie and I is the annual watching of Die Hard as we put up the Christmas tree. “Ho, Ho, Ho…now I have a machine gun.” C’mon? What’s more Christmasy than that?

Traditions are great. They can keep us in touch with our history and even connect us with what is unique about our family or community. Traditions, however, can become troublesome if we allow them to take precedence over the more important issues of life. Spiritual communities are especially susceptible to that. That’s what we’ll be considering this Sunday as we read Matthew 15:1-20 in our study of Matthew.

The passage starts out with a controversy over hand washing. This wasn’t about hygiene – it was about ceremonial hand washing (Netilat Yadayim) required in the Talmud before eating bread (or anything else, by implication). It is still a tradition to this day among observant Jewish people.

V6, 8, 17-20 sum up Jesus’ response to the Pharisees. How would you word what it is that Jesus is trying to communicate about religious traditions and rules?

What does Jesus point to as being the most important issue when it comes to our relationship with God and how we live our lives in this world (v19)?

It’s not addressed in this passage per se, but how do we go about seeing a change take place in our hearts if righteousness doesn’t come from the outside in?

I hope this proves to be an encouraging contemplation of the Gospel of grace. See you on Sunday!

Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow.

Matthew #29: Faithful In The Fury (Matthew 15:1-20)

November 23, 2025 Rob Woodrum

“Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong.” ~ Captain Edward A. Murphy Jr. (Murphy’s law)

This Sunday we will continue our study of Matthew – 14:22-36 and we’ll be reading about things going very wrong for Jesus’ disciples, and the awe-inspiring revelation they get in the process.

I believe this is an account of something that really happened. I also believe this actual event can read as a parable – a metaphor for a life of following Jesus. Very few of us, if any, have been fully insulated from the storms we face in life. We’ll find some encouraging insights we can hold to when we face troubles as we face troubles along the way.

The disciples follow Jesus’ instructions to get in the boat and go. Obeying Jesus, they find themselves caught in a storm and being (literally) tormented by the waves. What metaphor can you see in that? How does this correspond with your own life of faith?

When Jesus shows up the disciples are terrified. They think he’s a ghost sent to welcome them into death – but in reality, he’s showing up just like the Spirit of God did in Genesis 1:2, bringing light, life and order to the chaos.

What do you think, was Peter right or wrong to ask Jesus to command him to walk on the water? Scholars seem to be divided about it. Do you think his lack of faith began when he had to have proof that it was really Jesus, or was it a bold move of faith to claim participation in the miracle?

When Peter is focused on the rising surf, he begins to sink. The lessons there are obvious. Something else to think about is: what was Jesus’ first response (not words, necessarily) to Peter’s predicament? How does his response encourage you when you remember times where you’ve had “little faith”?

Those are just some things we’ll be unpacking on Sunday. I really love this account, and I think we’ll have some fun but also be very encouraged by what we encounter in this text!

Hope to see you this Sunday!

Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow.

Matthew #28: The Parallels of Power (Matthew 14:1-21)

November 16, 2025 Rob Woodrum

Have you ever found yourself wondering where God is in the middle of a chaotic or painful moment? Many of us have been there. Plans fall apart, people are hurt in ways that seem needless, and violence can spread with unsettling speed. In moments like these it is natural to ask, Where is God in all of this and Does He care?

As we turn to the Scripture for this Sunday, those questions are not spoken aloud in the text, yet they seem to echo beneath the surface. This week we will read the account of John the Baptist’s beheading under Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee. In this section of Matthew’s Gospel, the narrative shifts from the parables Jesus has been teaching to a dramatic story that reveals the fragility of human power and the quiet persistence of God’s kingdom.

When you think about your own difficult seasons, what questions about God’s presence rise to the surface?

Matthew then moves from the darkness of Herod’s banquet to the miraculous feeding of the five thousand. The contrast is striking. One scene takes place in a palace where fear and manipulation dictate the outcome. The next unfolds in an open field where Jesus meets the needs of the crowd with compassion and abundance. As we read these stories together, we will look for the ways God’s power is at work among the powerless and how the kingship of Jesus challenges the self-serving rule of Herod.

Both stories invite us to reflect on the kind of kingdom Jesus brings into the world. Even in moments when God seems distant, Scripture reminds us that His work often unfolds quietly and faithfully, especially among those who feel overlooked or vulnerable.

We invite you to join us this Sunday at 10:00 AM as we read Matthew 14 together and consider how God’s presence meets us in both suffering and hope.

Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow.

Matthew #27: The Valuable Kingdom (Matthew 13:44-58)

November 9, 2025 Rob Woodrum

It seemed to me that my mom was on a perpetual hunt for some valuable antique that would somehow turn the tide of her fortunes. She wasn’t materialistic, per se, but just had this indefatigable hope that some day she would discover treasure. By and large, the stuff she had (either passed to her from her family, or found in some market) was of little value. Nevertheless, she persisted in hoping for that bountiful encounter.

Finding something of value is the theme for the passage we’ll be looking at this Sunday as we continue our study of Matthew, reading chapter 13:44-58.

The parable of the hidden treasure and the pearl of great price carry on the prior theme of something hidden and unexpected (like that of the wheat and weeds, the mustard seed and the leaven), but now a new dimension is added: value. Jesus is trying to get across the great value of God’s in-breaking kingdom in comparison to all other things/religions/philosophies/pursuits of life. In what way do you understand God’s kingdom to be something of great value to you? What do you think it means to prioritize and value God’s kingdom more than anything else?

If you’re not too clear on how to understand what the Kingdom of God is – check out this helpful video from the Bible Project: Heaven and Earth

The parable of the dragnet leaves the world of agriculture and sets us out to sea. Once again, we have something hidden yet productive as our motif. Why do you think its important that Jesus describes the indiscriminate nature of the net in that it gathers all kinds of fish? When the net gets filled, it gets pulled to shore. There is a finite amount of time for gathering. How does that reality impact your valuation of God’s kingdom?

The parable of the old and new treasure seems to be making a closing point to the line of thought we’ve been on. What do you think the old and the new treasure represents in this story? How can something old shed light on something new, and visa versa? How did we see that being played out in Jesus’ ministry and later in that of the church?

I’m looking forward to exploring this series of parables together. Hope to see you on Sunday!

Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow.

Matthew #26: The Hidden Work of the Kingdom (Matthew 13:24-43)

November 2, 2025 Rob Woodrum

My brother Daniel used to work as a manager in the Publix deli. It seemed like a hard job with long hours, demanding customers, and endless sandwiches. Yet when I asked him what it was like, he said he loved it because every day he got to “feed the hungry.”

That perspective changed how I think about ordinary work. Daniel could have focused on the frustration, but instead, he found fulfillment in serving others.

It made me wonder, how would our view of daily work change if we saw it as a way to serve rather than just something to get through?

In Matthew 13:24–43, Jesus shares three parables about the Kingdom of Heaven. The last two show how something small can become something extraordinary in God’s Kingdom. We learn that God’s kingdom often works quietly and unseen, transforming small acts into meaningful impact.

This gives me pause as I consider, what small or hidden ways might God be at work in our lives and community right now?

The world may look like an endless line of sandwiches, but in God’s kingdom, every act of service becomes part of feeding the hungry and building something eternal.

Join us this Sunday at 10:00 a.m. as we study the book of Matthew and reflect on how God’s kingdom grows through everyday moments.

Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow.

Matthew #25: Learning To Listen (Matthew 13:1-23)

October 26, 2025 Rob Woodrum

Have you ever been talking with someone and then, with a chill, realized you’d tuned out and had no idea what the person was talking about? Not listening can be frustrating in a conversation; it can be devastating spiritually, when God is trying to communicate and people don’t seem to listen.

That is going to be the dominant theme of the text we’ll be examining this Sunday as we continue our way through the Gospel of Matthew, reading chapter 13:1-23.

This is the beginning of what has come to be called the “parables discourse”, where Jesus tells 8 parables in a row. It is very significant that Jesus taught through the use of stories that represented a larger truth. What do you think is significant about his use of parables?

When his disciples ask him why he’s teaching people through these unexplained riddles, Jesus gives an answer that is as cryptic as the parables themselves, and somewhat disturbing. He indicates that the parables are a means of hiding the arrival of God’s kingdom from certain types of people. Who is it that Jesus seems to have in mind in this warning? Why do you think they are unable to hear what it is Jesus is saying, or see what it is that is happening? What lesson can we take from this as the 21st Century American church?

Jesus provides an explanation of the parable in this section, and tells us plainly that the seeds represent the news of God’s kingdom arriving through Jesus while the soils represent the hearts and lives of people. Some hear and embrace the possibilities of God’s rule over life and it produces varying amounts of fruit. Some hear and are interested, but lose interest as everyday life crowds out the importance of what God is doing in their hearts. Others hear and are stoked, but its shallow emotionalism so that when things get difficult or demanding, they bail out. Worst of all, there are those who are like hard-packed dirt on a well-trodden path – who won’t allow the news of God’s rule get anywhere near their hearts because it doesn’t fit with what they’ve already assumed about life.

Think about this: Jesus was talking about people who were pretty religious already. He’s not necessarily talking about the pagan Romans, but most likely the pious Jews. How do we evaluate what this story means to us in our journey of faith? Do you think its possible to have all of these types of soil represented in one life? How can we hear with an intent to embrace what God says in his gospel? What can make us more receptive to His word?

This will be a challenging study – hope you can join us this Sunday!

Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow.

Matthew #24: Identity Issues (Matthew 12:28-50)

October 19, 2025 Rob Woodrum

One thing about human society throughout history is, we love to label stuff…especially people. It’s usually born from a quest of trying to get a grasp of who our fellow human is by generalizing them. It’s easier to interact with someone if we can fit them neatly into our categories. But this is, of course, a broken way to relate to people. In our study of Matthew, we’re going to read a theme that is carried over from last week…that of people trying to get a handle on who Jesus is. We’ll be reading Matthew 12:38-50.

In the last section, Jesus challenged those who heard him to make a decision, one way or the other, and neutrality was not an option. Carrying the theme through, Jesus knew there were a lot of people wanting more proof that he was Messiah via some supernatural sign from heaven, so he did what any self-respecting Messiah would do; he called them all evil. Kinda’ cool if you think about what terrible marketing that is.

Jesus mentions the “sign of Jonah”, which has had a lot of people theorizing about its meaning for the last 2,000 years. There are some obvious parallels between Jonah and Jesus and his resurrection. What do you think the “sign of Jonah” is?

Why would the people of Nineveh and the Queen of the South, both pagan, gentile peoples, have a place to condemn Jesus’ generation of chosen people?

How did Jesus identify who his family of chosen people are? What do we make of that when it comes to understanding our own identity as followers of Jesus?

There is some really profound insight about who Jesus is and who we are in this section – I hope you can join us as we explore this text together!

Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow.

Matthew #23: Choosing Sides (Matthew 12:22-27)

October 12, 2025 Rob Woodrum

We live in an extremely polarized society. Everyone seems to want to divide up into teams. Usually these divisions are along socio-philosophical lines. But some choices we are confronted with have big consequences.

We’ll be considering that in our study of the Gospel of Matthew this week.

In our text we’ll be reading this Sunday, Matthew 12:22-37, we are confronted with a choice between two worldviews. It’s a fairly uncomfortable passage, but it’s there, and we need to wrestle around with it and see how it will shape our lives.

As you read the text from v22-24 you see right away that Jesus has a polarizing effect on people. There are two very distinct opinions forming about him. Jesus will latch onto that and develop a picture of the world in stark contrasts between good and evil.

Jesus’ counter argument from v25-30 starts with a logical premise that brings to the surface the dualistic view of this world. There is a kingdom of our enemy, the devil, and there is a kingdom of God. He clearly portrays these at odds with each other and in conflict. His logic is pretty simple: why would the devil be working at cross purposes against himself? Which reveals something about the nature of Jesus’ mission. In fact, v29 pretty much describes what Jesus is up to. Who do you think the “strong man” is? What is the house and what is the plunder that is taken (put it in the context of what started this whole thing in v22 – the healing of the demon possessed man)?

V31-32 has had the effect of scaring some people, especially those new to the faith. They worry that Jesus is describing some partially identified way of sinning that can never be forgiven if committed. Have you ever worried about that? Just to put your mind at ease, that’s not what he’s trying to say. He’s talking about how the Pharisees were claiming that the devil was the source of Jesus’ work. If they reject Jesus and the salvation that’s offered, there’s no other way offered that provides forgiveness. We’ll unpack that more on Sunday.

V33-37 deals primarily with our use of language. The words we speak and the way we communicate reveals something about ourselves. How can we see to it that the words we communicate are in harmony with the purposes of God’s kingdom in this world?

Hope to see you this Sunday!

Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow.

Matthew #22: Rest From Religion (Matthew 11:1-21)

October 5, 2025 Rob Woodrum

I remember back in high school hearing about the Exxon oil spill in Alaska and feeling so bad for all of the wildlife that was hurt as a result. In fact, I was so affected by what had happened that I decided I would never get gas from an Exxon gas station again.

One day, I came home bragging to my dad about how much I cared for the environment. I told him that, in my effort to avoid going to an Exxon station, I had driven around for almost an hour until I finally found a gas station I thought was good enough for my environmental convictions.

I remember my dad saying, “I want to make sure I understand this. You avoided Exxon and other gas stations because you care about the environment, right?”

I proudly responded, “Yep!”

To which my father said, “What about the harm you do to the environment by wasting an hour’s worth of gas to find a gas station that’s really not that different from the ones you were trying to avoid?”

Yeah… I hadn’t thought about that. In my effort to do the right thing, I had actually worked against my original goal. Today, I just use whatever station is closest, but I often think back on that moment as a reminder of how easy it is to get caught up in the details and lose sight of the bigger picture.

Why do you think it is so easy to focus on rules or appearances instead of the real purpose behind them?

This Sunday, we will be looking at some verses where Jesus is confronted by Pharisees who interpret the law of rest in a way that actually causes more work. Matthew presents a contrast between the heart of the law that Jesus shows us and the rigid religious structures the Pharisees worked so hard to keep in place.

As we read Matthew 12:1-21 together, think about what differences you notice between the Pharisees’ approach and Jesus’ teaching. What might it look like for us to live by the heart of God’s law rather than getting caught up in rigid structures?

I invite you to join us this Sunday at 10:00AM as we read and reflect together on how this passage might apply to us today.

Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow.

Matthew #21: Rejecting or Receiving God's Wisdom (Matthew 11:20-30)

September 28, 2025 Rob Woodrum

We live in an unprecedented time where incredible amounts of information are readily at our fingertips, and at the same time we are starving for wisdom. We know that information is not the same as wisdom, but the keen observer will also recognize that human wisdom will only take us so far. In fact, the whole mess the human race is in, according to the Bible, stems from humanity grasping for knowledge and forsaking the wisdom of Creator God.

Still – God offers us his wisdom, again and again, all through the biblical narrative.

Our response to God’s wisdom will effect the way life plays out, and never more so than when it comes to the wisdom revealed in Christ. How we respond to God’s kingdom closing in on this world will have varying results in accordance with our response. That is something Jesus will highlight in the section of Matthew we’ll be reading this Sunday, Matthew 11:20-30.

Jesus gives some of his harshest rebukes outside of the religious leaders in v20-24. What is the repeated reason for their looming judgement? Do you think Jesus is angry with these people? What do you believe is motivating his words? What appears to be the result of rejecting God’s kingdom?

In v25-27 we see that everyone didn’t reject Jesus’ presentation of the kingdom. Who does it say it was revealed to? What do you think is significant in the contrast between the “childlike” and the “wise and clever” ones? What implicit attitudinal response seems necessary for recognizing and embracing God’s wisdom revealed in Christ?

Some of Jesus’ most beautiful words are spoken in v28-30. Here’s the thing – read them. Read them again. Read them from the Message version. Read those words out loud and hear them coming from Jesus to you, personally. Tell me how those words make you feel. What is the result of surrendering to Jesus and the wisdom of God?

I can’t wait to dig into this passage together! Hope to see you Sunday!

Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow.

Matthew #20: The Anomalous Kingdom (Matthew 11:1-19)

September 21, 2025 Rob Woodrum

Anomalous: deviating from what is standard, normal, or expected.

We face a lot of disappointments in life, all of which extend from our own expectations. Have you ever been disappointed in how God’s plans seem to be working in your life? If we’re honest about it, there are probably a lot of times when God doesn’t seem to be responding or doing what we think he should be doing.

We’re going to be reading a section in Matthew’s gospel (chapter 11:1-19) where Jesus addresses some questions that John the Baptist has asked him from his jail.

Why do you think John is asking Jesus if he’s really the One they’re waiting for? Consider where John is, imprisoned by Herod, getting word that Jesus has been going to banquets with tax collectors…basically Herod’s employees. John had said Messiah would come the ax of God and an winnowing fork to separate the faithful from the unjust…which was sort of a different picture than feasting with oppressors.

John was waiting for Messiah to execute judgement on unfaithful Israel and Rome. What does Jesus point to as the focus and evidence that God’s kingdom is indeed present and at work? How can that help us to understand the unexpected ways in which God works in our world? How can that shape our mission?

Jesus makes a few cryptic comparisons between John the Baptist and Herod and the rulers of Israel at that time. We’ll get deeper into the specifics of it on Sunday – but the comparison forces us to see the difference between people’s expectations about the force Messiah would use on his enemies…and what Jesus actually did.

Jesus then compares his critics to spoiled children who refuse to get on the same page and play the same game. They criticized John because he was too austere, they rejected Jesus because it looked like he was having too much fun. There was no pleasing them. So what does Jesus point to in answering his critics in v19? As Christians, we will always have people criticizing or questioning our faith. Following Jesus’ lead, what should we be pointing to as evidence that God is at work in our efforts?

I’m really looking forward to digging into this text on Sunday! Hope to see you there!

Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow.

Matthew #19: Preparing For The High Calling (Matthew 10:26-42)

September 14, 2025 Rob Woodrum

One time I came across a church’s advertisement for their Sunday morning service. The video showed someone walking into church carrying “100 problems.” As they experienced the service, the number of problems kept dropping until, by the time they left, they had “0 problems.”

I believe the ad was trying to communicate that we can bring our problems to church and trust that God will care for us. But I also wondered if the simplest takeaway could be misunderstood: “Come to church, and all your problems will disappear.”

The Jesus we meet in the gospels never pretends that following him will remove all our problems. What he does promise is this: we don’t have to live in fear, because he will take care of us. The troubles we face are real but temporary; his presence and protection are eternal.

How have you experienced God’s care—not by removing a problem, but by giving you strength or peace in the midst of it?

This week we’re continuing our study in the Gospel of Matthew, reading Ch 10:26-42. Jesus continues instructing his disciples about what to expect as they go out into the world. Even though large crowds were drawn to him, often amazed by his miracles, Jesus was careful to be honest with his followers about the challenges and opposition they would face.

Why do you think Jesus emphasized the hardships of discipleship, even when people were excited about his miracles?

As we prepare for Sunday, I encourage everyone to read Matthew 10, focusing on verses 26–42. We invite you to join us this Sunday at 10:00 AM as we dive deeper into these teachings together.

Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow.

Matthew #18: Mission Briefing (Matthew 10:1-25)

September 7, 2025 Rob Woodrum

Learning to drive is a rite of passage in our culture and I still remember it well. It’s one thing to be along for the ride as a care-free kid, it’s another when the keys are in your hands and steering that metal box that’s flying down the road is up to you. It can be daunting at first, and it certainly isn’t something done lightly. That responsibility requires a lot of instruction.

Jesus’ disciples will experience something like that in our text for this Sunday, Matthew 10:1-25. Jesus will essentially be handing the keys of his ministry to his 12 disciples and send them out to do what he has been doing. We’ll be reading Jesus’ instructions for the mission.

In v 1-4, Jesus sends them out as “apostles” – it’s the first time this designation is used. It basically means someone sent…by Jesus, in this case. When you look at the list of apostles, what stories about them come to mind? We wouldn’t necessarily call them a dream team of spirituality. Does this tell you anything about who Jesus is willing to send?

When you read the instructions of v5-8a, we discover the tone of the mission. This is something that will demonstrate what the Good News is like. I would summarize their mission as “doing good”. How can we continue that practice today, as representatives of Jesus?

Jesus talks about finding people who are willing to listen to the message (worthy) and staying with them. The NLT says to bring “blessing” to the household – but the literal Greek is a word that is often translated as “peace” – the word used in the Greek translation of the Old Testament as “shalom”. Shalom is well-being and wholeness – that is what we are meant to bring into this world. If people reject the message, he instructs them to shake the dust from their feet. Why do you believe he gives that instruction instead of telling them to force the issue when the stakes are so high?

The last part of this section, v 16-25, is pretty dark. Jesus is realistic about how this world may respond to the news that Jesus is KING. Take some time to contemplate what it means to be a sheep in the midst of wolves, or a dove as opposed to a venomous snake. What should characterize our mission, even in the face of hostility and rejection.

These are some heavy ideas the think about – we’ll work through them as best we can. Hope to see you this Sunday!

Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow.

Matthew #17: Compassion For The Desperate (Matthew 9:18-38)

August 31, 2025 Rob Woodrum

One thing we as humans all have in common is that at one time or another, we have all felt desperate. Certainly, times of desperation come in varying degrees – but none of us escape moments where things seem so hopeless they seem impossible to deal with. In our times desperation, we will usually go all over the place looking for something or someone who can give us a glimmer of hope. That’s just the nature of desperation…and it doesn’t have to be a bad thing. One thing the Bible reveals, over and over again, is that God is fond of desperate people.

This Sunday we’ll be reading Matthew 9:18-38 and we’ll discover some desperate people who go to the right place in their time of crisis. As we read about these people, we’ll be looking at what it was that moved them to seek help from Jesus. We’ll look at the compassion Jesus had on them, and we’ll observe the faith that they expressed in Jesus’ compassionate power.

The synagogue ruler, the hemorrhaging woman and the two blind men all have their stories told in succession. Their expressions of faith are risky, scandalous and bold, but they are also desperate. How does Jesus respond to their desperation? Does Jesus demand anything but trust from those who approach him? It’s important to remember that God’s compassion comes before our need is ever known.

When Jesus casts out a demon and a man was able to communicate when he hadn’t been able to before – what are the two reactions recorded? If both groups of people saw the same miracle, what kept the Pharisees from believing Jesus’ power was from God?

The chapter culminates with a summary of what Jesus is up to with the Kingdom Project – and then we see his compassion for the multitudes who are oppressed by religion and not cared for by a Shepherd. He clearly is inviting us into the activity of harvesting a ripened field…but what does that metaphor mean to you? How do you believe we can be used in this “harvesting” activity?

I hope you can join us this Sunday as we dig deeply into these fascinating accounts of Christ’s power!

Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow.