Sermon Notes; a Daily Devotional

Matthew 20:1&2 "1 For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. 2 And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard." Last week we concluded our “Gathering in Jesus’ Name” series, where we saw the importance of worshipping and serving our Lord and Savior. We then began our Lenten study of Jesus’ parables, starting with His lesson for Simon the Pharisee. Simon judged a sinful woman’s deep affection for Jesus, yet his own minimal hospitality exposed his failure to recognize his need for grace or Jesus’ true identity. Jesus contrasted her extravagant love—proof of her forgiveness—with Simon’s lack of love and spiritual blindness. A strong start to this series. Today we return to the Gospel of Matthew for the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard, a lesson we must take to heart. As Jesus and His disciples head toward the cross, He tells th...

Luke 7:43&44 "43 Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And He said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. 44 And He turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest Me no water for My feet: but she hath washed My feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head." We observe Lent to prepare for Holy Week and Easter. Our Lenten study series explores the Parables of Jesus. We began yesterday in Luke with Jesus’ visit to Simon the Pharisee. Simon judged a sinful woman for her deep affection toward Jesus, while his own minimal hospitality revealed his failure to recognize his need for grace or Jesus’ true identity. In today's verse, Simon correctly affirms that greater forgiveness produces greater love. Yet he misses the spiritual application: the woman (a known sinner) loves Jesus deeply because she has been greatly forgiven, while Simon—self-righteous and blind to his own need—s...

Luke 7:41&42 "41 There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. 42 And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?" We just completed the series Gathering in Jesus' Name, learning how vital it is. Jesus is not merely a teacher or prophet, but the divine, exalted King over all creation. We must take His commands seriously. As we observe Lent in preparation for Holy Week and Easter, let’s seek ways to better serve our Lord and Savior. Today we begin our Lenten series on the Parables of Jesus, starting in Luke with Jesus’ visit to Simon the Pharisee. Simon judged a sinful woman for her deep affection toward Jesus, while his own minimal hospitality revealed his failure to recognize his need for grace or who Jesus truly is. Through this parable, Jesus teaches a key spiritual truth: the greater the forgiveness received, the greater the love shown i...

Matthew 28:19&20 "19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." Gathering in Jesus' name is more vital now than ever. Just before ascending to heaven, He gave these words to His eleven disciples. "Go therefore" is often taught as a direct command, but the Greek uses a participle ("as you are going"). The emphasis falls on making disciples in everyday life, not solely through distant missions. "Make disciples of all nations" The central command is to make disciples—not just convert, but mentor believers into lifelong obedience to Christ. "All nations" (Greek: panta ta ethne) means all ethnic groups, extending God's salvation beyond Israel to the whole world. "Baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, ...

Matthew 28:18 "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth." We are studying Matthew’s final four verses. These capture Jesus’ last moments with His eleven disciples, the core group chosen to receive His parting instructions. Their journey to Galilee fulfills His earlier command and was the heart of His ministry and a familiar place for them. The disciples rightly worshiped Jesus—prostrating in homage and acknowledging His divine authority—yet some doubted. They wavered or hesitated, not outright disbelief in the resurrection, but uncertainty. Jesus had conquered death and descended to hell and back—it’s a lot to process! Remarkably, worship and doubt coexisted here, showing that faith isn’t the absence of questions. Even His closest followers wrestled with understanding, yet Jesus immediately entrusted them with the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18–20). This affirms that doubt does not disqualify you from encountering and serv...

Matthew 28:17 "And when they saw Him, they worshipped Him: but some doubted." We conclude our study, Gathering in the Name of Jesus, with Matthew’s final four verses. These capture Jesus’ last moments with His disciples. The number “eleven” is significant, highlighting Judas Iscariot’s absence after betrayal and death. These eleven remain the core group chosen to receive His parting instructions. Their journey to Galilee fulfills His earlier command. It was the heart of His ministry and a familiar place for them. Though the mountain is unnamed, mountains in Matthew often signal divine revelation (e.g., Sermon on the Mount, Transfiguration), underscoring the authority of the commission to come. Today’s verse reveals the complexity of human response to the miraculous. The disciples rightly worshiped Jesus—prostrating in homage and acknowledging His divine authority—yet some doubted. The Greek word used here, "distazō" means to waver or hesitate, not outright disbelief...