Learning for Life: Sundays 9:30 Read about both sessions
JOIN our Worship Service: 11:00 am
Listen to the sermon: Joel Russell-MacLean
Watch the recent Worship Service
“God Is Quietly Turning our World Upside Down”
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- Hosanna (Praise is Rising) (with lyrics)
- Praise My Soul the King of Heaven (background, Westminster)
- Speak O Lord (video with lyrics)
- Jesus Loves Me (Johnny Cash, band)
- Agnus Dei (live, meaning-definition, author)
- All the Way My Saviour Leads Me (video, author)
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Joel Russell-MacLean
The Gospel According to Matthew
From Epiphany through to Easter, we will be reading and reflecting on the Gospel According to Matthew.
The words and the structure of Matthew all reinforce that Jesus in his humanity must be understood within the Jewish story.
The story of Israel is Jesus’ story.
With inspiration, skill, and creativity, Matthew reminds us of the key events and people in Israel’s story. He shows how it all pointed to Jesus and how Jesus completed the work God began in them. Jesus is like Moses, Samuel, Elisha, and David. He is the prophet expected by Moses, the Priest who can approach the heavenly temple, and King David’s heir. Jesus is like Israel, chosen as God’s Son, blessed, made the place of God’s presence, but also sent into exile, and then forgiven and restored.
In this way, Matthew affirms indirectly that all of history, and the stories of every person, matter. It is within human history and even through human history that God is saving us.
Matthew’s gospel is complex and profound but Matthew is clear that what really matters is knowing Jesus. Matthew wants us to know Jesus as our teacher and healer, and the one who forgives and restores us, and as the one who suffered, died, and rose again for us.