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A Year Held in His Hands| A New Year Sermon

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A Year Held in His Hands| A New Year Sermon Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash Every time a new year comes close, something in me start feeling that weird mix of excitement and heaviness. Maybe you know the feeling too—like you’re standing at this invisible doorway. One foot in the old year (the stuff you want to forget but somehow still sticks to you like stubborn glue), and the other foot stepping into something you still can’t see clearly. And sometimes you’re hopeful, sometimes you’re scared, sometimes you’re… well, both at the same time. I was thinking about all that while reading some Scriptures again, and honestly, it hit me harder this year. Maybe because life been kinda loud lately, or maybe because I’m tired of pretending everything always makes sense. But the Bible does this thing, right? It sneaks into the parts of your heart you thought you cleaned up, and suddenly you realize God is trying to talk to you again. Even if it feels like you weren’t exactly listening. S...

Matthew Chapter 3 – Commentary and Explanation

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  Matthew Chapter 3 – Commentary and Explanation Photo by  Aaron Burden  on  Unsplash (Bible Study Blog in a Conversational Style) When you turn the page from Matthew 2 into Matthew 3, it feels like a time jump. We’re not in Bethlehem anymore. The wise men, the flight to Egypt, the early childhood years of Jesus—they’re not the focus now. Matthew skips ahead nearly three decades in the story, and suddenly, we’re introduced to this rugged, almost wild figure called John the Baptist . And trust me, he’s not the type of preacher you forget. We start with a setting: "In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea." Right off, Matthew paints a picture. The wilderness. Not the temple courts, not the city streets, not a polished synagogue. John is out there in the rugged, dusty, quiet places—where the sun beats down and the land feels empty. It’s almost like God is making a point: His message wasn’t going to start in a place of political powe...

Matthew Chapter 2 – Commentary and Explanation

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Matthew Chapter 2 – Commentary and Explanation Photo by Inbal Malca on Unsplash If Matthew chapter 1 gave us the genealogy and birth of Jesus, Matthew chapter 2 takes us into events that happened not long after His birth — moments full of prophecy, danger, unexpected visitors, and God’s guiding hand. It’s a chapter that moves like a journey. We go from the visit of wise men in the east, to the desperate and dark rage of King Herod, to the family’s escape into Egypt, and then to their quiet settlement in Nazareth. In this chapter, we see God directing events that fulfill His promises, but also protecting His Son in the middle of political chaos and fear. And you know what? The same God who was weaving details together then, still works in the same way today — orchestrating the big and small pieces of our life, even when we can’t see the whole picture yet. The Visit of the Magi – Matthew 2:1–12 "Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, ...

Matthew Chapter 1 – Commentary and Explanation

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  Matthew Chapter 1 – Commentary and Explanation Photo by  Aaron Burden  on  Unsplash When you open up the New Testament for the first time, Matthew greets you right away. And not with some thrilling action scene or sudden miracle. No. He begins with a list of names . Honestly, for many of us, it can feel a little dry at first glance. But the thing is—those names are not just filler. They carry a weight of history, covenant, and promises fulfilled. Matthew, being a tax collector turned follower of Jesus, was very particular in what he included. And here, in Chapter 1, he’s building a bridge from the Old Testament into the New. He’s basically saying—“Hey, this Jesus I’m telling you about… He’s the real deal. The Messiah. And here’s the proof.” 1. The Genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 1:1–17) The chapter opens: "The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham." Right there—boom—Matthew sets the tone. These two titles aren’t random. Son ...

Introduction to the Book of Matthew – Commentary and Explanation

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  Introduction to the Book of Matthew – Commentary and Explanation Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash When you open the New Testament, the very first book you meet is Matthew. It’s not placed first by accident. The early church put Matthew right at the front because of how it bridges the Old Testament with the New. You could say Matthew is like the front porch of the New Testament — you step onto it, and you’re standing right at the doorway to the life of Jesus Christ. But here’s the thing. If you’ve read through the Old Testament, especially the prophets, and then jump right into Matthew, you can almost feel the connection. Matthew is writing with this constant hum of “This was to fulfill…” running through his words. And that’s no coincidence. He wants the Jewish reader, especially, to see that Jesus is the promised Messiah they’d been waiting for all along. Now, before we go deep into Matthew’s purpose, let’s slow down and talk about who Matthew was. Who Wrote the Book of Ma...

The New Testament – A Journey into the Heart of the Gospel

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The New Testament – A Journey into the Heart of the Gospel Photo by Tim Wildsmith on Unsplash You know, sometimes when we hear the words “New Testament” we think of this neat, little second half of the Bible that is all about Jesus, church, and love. And yeah, it’s true, but also it’s so much more than just that. It’s a story, it’s a promise, it’s an unfolding of God’s plan that reaches into every part of human life. It’s like a continuation, but also a fresh beginning. The Bible is divided into two main parts — the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament deals with God’s covenant with Israel, the law, the prophets, the history of the people of God before Christ came. But the New Testament, it’s about the fulfillment of what was promised before. It’s the climax. It’s where the Messiah, Jesus Christ, steps right into the story in a way that changes everything. The Beginning of a New Covenant Let’s get this straight — the word Testament basically means “covenant” or “agr...

Malachi Chapter 4 – A Day is Coming

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  Malachi Chapter 4 – A Day is Coming Photo by  Scott Major  on  Unsplash When you get to the last chapter of Malachi, you can almost feel the tension in the air. It’s like a letter that’s building and building, and now it’s closing with something big. The prophet doesn’t end with soft words or gentle reminders; he ends with a picture so sharp, it’s hard to ignore. Malachi 4 is short—only six verses—but wow, they are packed like a suitcase that’s about to burst. It’s a chapter about the coming Day of the Lord. Not a “maybe” day, not a “well, perhaps” moment, but a certain one. And it’s not just a calm sunny day—it’s a day of burning, judgment, and restoration. This is the point in Scripture where the Old Testament wraps up, and honestly, the way it ends almost feels like the pause before a long silence. Because after Malachi, there will be four hundred years with no new prophetic voice, no new words from God through a prophet. And then… the voice of John the Baptis...

Malachi Chapter 3 – Commentary and Explanation

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  Malachi Chapter 3 – Commentary and Explanation Photo by  Scott Major  on  Unsplash Malachi chapter 3 is one of those chapters where you just stop, reread, and realize—wow—God’s Word doesn’t play around. It’s not soft-pedaling anything here. The chapter takes us right into the heart of God’s justice, His refining work, and His call for His people to turn back. It’s like a spiritual heart-check moment. This is a chapter where God basically says, “I’m coming, and I’m coming to set things straight.” And that statement alone is both comforting and terrifying, depending on which side of the fence you stand on. Verse 1 – “Behold, I will send my messenger…” The chapter kicks off with God making an announcement. He says He’s sending His messenger to prepare the way before Him. Now, in the New Testament, Jesus Himself connects this to John the Baptist (Matthew 11:10). John was the forerunner, the one crying out in the wilderness, “Prepare the way of the Lord.” The wor...