Sermons

Current Series: Matthew: Learning the Unforced Rhythms of Grace

When: 5/31/26 – 8/30/26

Context: The Gospel of Matthew presents Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah and King who fulfills the promises of the Old Testament, carefully showing how His life, teachings, death, and resurrection complete God’s covenant story with Israel. Positioned at the beginning of the New Testament, Matthew serves as a crucial bridge between the Old and New, grounding the story of Jesus in fulfillment (“this was to fulfill…”) and emphasizing His authority through major teaching sections like the Sermon on the Mount. Within the canon of the Gospels, it offers a deeply structured and Jewish-informed portrait of Jesus, while in the New Testament and the whole Bible it anchors the reader in the truth that God’s redemptive plan has come to completion in Christ—and now extends to all nations.

Purpose: Over the past five summers, our intention has been to slow walk through a Gospel. This year, we will be focusing on Matthew’s account as our guide as we peer into the person of Jesus, his profound teachings, and his invitation into a holy life. Over a fourteen week period, we’ll cover the 28 chapters through a weekly sermon and a weekly reading plan as well. Our title for the series comes from Eugene Peterson’s interpretation of Jesus’ sermon found in Mt. 11 (The Message Version) – it says:

Jesus resumed talking to the people, but now tenderly. “The Father has given me all these things to do and say. This is a unique Father-Son operation, coming out of Father and Son intimacies and knowledge. No one knows the Son the way the Father does, nor the Father the way the Son does. But I’m not keeping it to myself; I’m ready to go over it line by line with anyone willing to listen.

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

As we embrace the chapters assigned each week, my hope is that we find hope in the tender invitation of learning these Jesusly movements as a means to transform and liberate us. Perhaps these questions can help:

  1. What is Jesus up to in the story/passage?
  2. Where is the kindness of Jesus in this story?
  3. What is the invitation of freedom?
  4. Why does it matter?

My deep desires for our summer series are simplicity and story. I long for our community to be captured by scripture and experience God’s Spirit at work in our lives as the text is read and contemplated. May we be a people overwhelmed by the grace and mercy of Jesus. 

Grace + Peace,

Mike Lawrie

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