Introduction

Matthew 19:1 marks an important transition in the Messianic story:

1. To this point in the narrative, the Synoptic Gospels have focused attention on Jesus’ Galilean ministry
2. However, from this point, the Gospel writers record the Lord’s determination to fulfill his redemptive purposes by setting his face toward Jerusalem.
3. Furthermore, the narrative highlights the growing intensity of the hostility of the Jewish leaders and their insistence on killing the Lord.

I The Reality of Divorce

1. The statistics of divorce
2. Every year about 2.3 million marriages take place in the US
3. 40%–50% of all first marriages will end in divorce
4. 60% of second marriages will end in divorce

And beneath the rubble of those numbing statistics, lie the crushed lives of men, women and 5-6 million children.

(2014)

May God bless you through this message!

You can support this ministry: Donate

The Epic Life https://www.theepiclife.org https://www.facebook.com/livetheepiclife https://www.instagram.com/Living_The_Epic_Life https://www.theepiclife.podbean.com

Introduction

Matthew 19:1 marks an important transition in the Messianic story:

1. To this point in the narrative, the Synoptic Gospels have focused attention on Jesus’ Galilean ministry
2. However, from this point, the Gospel writers record the Lord’s determination to fulfill his redemptive purposes by setting his face toward Jerusalem.
3. Furthermore, the narrative highlights the growing intensity of the hostility of the Jewish leaders and their insistence on killing the Lord.

I The Reality of Divorce

1. The statistics of divorce
2. Every year about 2.3 million marriages take place in the US
3. 40%–50% of all first marriages will end in divorce
4. 60% of second marriages will end in divorce

And beneath the rubble of those numbing statistics, lie the crushed lives of men, women and 5-6 million children.

May God bless you through this message!

(2014)

May God bless you through this message!

You can support this ministry: Donate

The Epic Life https://www.theepiclife.org https://www.facebook.com/livetheepiclife https://www.instagram.com/Living_The_Epic_Life https://www.theepiclife.podbean.com

We all sin and hurt one another unintentionally or otherwise. The thing that should differentiate us as believers is the way we handle our own sin and the sin of others. Biblically, these things should be dealt with in love. But often we find all kinds of excuses for not dealing with the problem directing and in a biblical manner.

In this message, Pastor Bob explains the obstacles to reconciliation, biblical motivation for reconciliation and offers practical steps to reconciling. Click for his Sermon notes and Outline.

(Aug 2014)

May God bless you through this message!

You can support this ministry: Donate

The Epic Life https://www.theepiclife.org https://www.facebook.com/livetheepiclife https://www.instagram.com/Living_The_Epic_Life

In the Matthew 18 series, Pastor Bob addresses biblical reconciliation. In this message he uses Luke 17:1-4 to give practical steps in reconciling.

We all sin and hurt one another unintentionally or otherwise. The thing that should differentiate us as believers is the way we handle our own sin and the sin of others. Biblically, these things should be dealt with in love. But often we find all kinds of excuses for not dealing with the problem directing and in a biblical manner.

In this message, Pastor Bob explains the obstacles to reconciliation, biblical motivation for reconciliation and offers practical steps to reconciling. Click for his Sermon notes and Outline.

Enjoy this audio replay of a sermon message Pastor Bob Hallman delivered 8/17/2014 about Steps to Biblical Reconciliation.

May God bless you through this message!

You can support this ministry: Donate

The Epic Life https://www.theepiclife.org https://www.facebook.com/livetheepiclife https://www.instagram.com/Living_The_Epic_Life https://www.theepiclife.podbean.com

This sermon is part of the Matthew series, but is included here as a companion message in the series on Biblical Reconciliation. This passage is often taught as a stand-alone text and therefore misinterpreted and misapplied.

Peter asks Jesus a valid question:

What if my brother continues to sin repetitively against me after confessing and repenting of the original sin? How many times should I forgive him?

Important points to remember:

1. Jesus is not talking about civil or criminal offenses:
2. He is referring specifically to Christians who, having been biblically confronted, have already confessed and repented of their sin(s).
3. He is referring to Christians who keep committing the same sin, but keep responding biblically to their repeated failure.

If a fellow believer has sinned against you, you have an obligation as a citizen of God’s kingdom, to follow the biblical steps of reconciliation - Matthew 18:15-17. If your brother or sister confesses and repents of their sin, you are obligated by God to forgive and restore that person.

May God bless you through this message!

(2014)

May God bless you through this message!

You can support this ministry: Donate

The Epic Life https://www.theepiclife.org https://www.facebook.com/livetheepiclife https://www.instagram.com/Living_The_Epic_Life https://www.theepiclife.podbean.com

This sermon is part of the Matthew series, but is included here as a companion message in the series on Biblical Reconciliation. This passage is often taught as a stand-alone text and therefore misinterpreted and misapplied.

Peter asks Jesus a valid question:

What if my brother continues to sin repetitively against me after confessing and repenting of the original sin? How many times should I forgive him?

Important points to remember:

1. Jesus is not talking about civil or criminal offenses:
2. He is referring specifically to Christians who, having been biblically confronted, have already confessed and repented of their sin(s).
3. He is referring to Christians who keep committing the same sin, but keep responding biblically to their repeated failure.

If a fellow believer has sinned against you, you have an obligation as a citizen of God’s kingdom, to follow the biblical steps of reconciliation - Matthew 18:15-17. If your brother or sister confesses and repents of their sin, you are obligated by God to forgive and restore that person.

(2014)

May God bless you through this message!

You can support this ministry: Donate

The Epic Life https://www.theepiclife.org https://www.facebook.com/livetheepiclife https://www.instagram.com/Living_The_Epic_Life https://www.theepiclife.podbean.com

Who were these wise men?

The Greek word for wise men in this account (magoi) is rendered as astrologers where it occurs in the SEPTUAGINT, the Greek translation of the Old Testament (Dan. 1:20; 2:2) and as sorcerer in its other occurrences in the New Testament (Acts 13:6,8).

The Greek historian Herodotus, writing in the fifth century B. C., identified the Magi as a caste of Medes who had a priestly function in the Persian Empire. In the Book of Daniel the "astrologers" (magoi) are grouped with magicians, sorcerers, and Chaldeans as advisers to the court of Babylon with responsibility for interpreting dreams.

The role of the star in suggests a connection with astrology. These astrologers, pursuing their observations of the stars in the heavens, encountered a sign of God. God broke through their misguided system to make the great event known.

The joy, rejoicing, worship, and gifts which mark the response of these wise men to the birth of Jesus is quite a contrast to the troubled state and murderous intent of Herod and his Jewish advisers in Jerusalem.

The tradition that these men were kings dates back to Tertullian (second century). It probably developed as a result of OT passages that say kings will come and worship the Messiah (Ps 68:29, 31; 72:10-11; Is 49:7; 60:1-2)

The theory that there were three of them is probably a deduction from the three gifts.

By the end of the sixth century, the wise men were named; Melchoir, Balthasar, and Gaspar. But Mathew gives no names.

Although these various issues are interesting to consider, the real point of the story is found, not in the identity of, but in the actions and priorities of these wise men.

May God bless you through this message!

You can support this ministry: Donate

The Epic Life https://www.theepiclife.org https://www.facebook.com/livetheepiclife https://www.instagram.com/Living_The_Epic_Life

There are at least three types of darkness a person can experience in life:

1. Physical darkness
2. Emotional darkness
3. Spiritual darkness

Fortunately, physical and emotional darkness are usually temporal. But the Good News is that spiritual darkness is something that no man or woman has to live with. If you want, you can come out of the darkness and into the light!

I The Promise of God's Light: Foreshadowed in the OT

1. In the Creation
2. In the Burning Bush
3. In the Pillar of Fire
4. In the Shekinah glory

A visible manifestation of the presence of God in the Holy of Holies of the tabernacle and in Solomon's Temple. The Shekinah was a luminous cloud which rested above the altar in the place of worship and lit up the room.

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Blessings, The Epic Life https://www.theepiclife.org https://www.facebook.com/livetheepiclife https://www.instagram.com/Living_The_Epic_Life https://www.theepiclife.podbean.com