Pastor’s Blog

Preaching Repentance

Preaching Repentance

Matthew 4:12-17 Suggest further reading: Romans 2:1-11 There is no greater honor for a believer to have than to share the Gospel with others because nothing is more important than the saving of souls. Our Lord dedicated Himself to this task. To this, He ap-pointed His...

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The Peril of Familiarity

The Peril of Familiarity

Luke 4:22-30 Suggested further reading: Isaiah 46:8-13 “Familiarity breeds contempt.” Those who heard our Lord’s self-revelation in Nazareth rejected Him because they were familiar with the little boy who had grown to manhood in the thirty years He had lived among...

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Jesus Is Dismissed in His Hometown

Jesus Is Dismissed in His Hometown

Luke 4:14-22 Suggested further reading: Isaiah 61:1-7. Our Lord’s first sermon, preached in His hometown, should have stunned the congregation when He revealed to them who He really was! He read aloud a prophecy from Isaiah and told them that He fulfilled that same...

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Satan Is Subtle

Satan Is Subtle

Matthew 4:1-11 Suggested further reading: Deuteronomy 6:4-9 Satan is subtle, a master in the “art” of temptation, having a higher intelligence than us and thousands of years of successful experience. First, he tempts our Lord to distrust His Father’s providential...

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Don’t Be Surprised

Don’t Be Surprised

Matthew 4:1-11 Suggested further reading: Genesis 3:1-6 Since Satan successfully tempted Adam to sin, he was not timid to assault the second Adam, our Lord Jesus. He knew who Jesus was. He had, no doubt, witnessed Jesus’ baptism and saw the dove descending, and heard...

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After the Praise Comes the Temptation

After the Praise Comes the Temptation

Matthew 4:1-11 Suggested further reading: Hebrews 4:14-5:5 Here is a major crisis point in our Savior’s life. Immediately after receiving God’s praise, He is tempted by the devil. The praise of the Father draws a sneering “if” from the devil. It is the same with...

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The Blessed Trinity

The Blessed Trinity

Matthew 3:13-17 Suggested further reading: Mt 28:18-20; 2 Cor 13:14; Rev 1:4-5 The presence of the three Persons of the Trinity is seen: God the Son who is baptized, God the Spirit who descends as a dove upon Him, and God the Father who speaks from heaven. Here we...

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Our Lord Was Baptized!

Our Lord Was Baptized!

Matthew 3:13-17 Suggested further reading: Acts 6:30-34 Our Lord highly esteemed water baptism! When a Jewish priest began his office at the age of thirty, he was washed with water. When our great High Priest began His greater work, He was publicly baptized. Jesus...

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Judgment Day: Rewards and Retribution

Judgment Day: Rewards and Retribution

Luke 3:15-20 Suggested further reading: 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10 There will be a solemn separation on Judgment Day. The unerring justice of the King of kings will divide the wheat from the chaff - an eternal separation. This is no trivial doctrine! It makes our...

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The Bible Church of the Lakes