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An Exposition of the Beatitudes

This Sunday-morning expositional series by Pastor Rod Harris on the Beatutudes began on September 27, 2020. To listen to a sermon simply click on one of the titles below. The most recent message is cued up and ready to play at the top of the list; to begin listening to it, simply click the little grey triangle in the upper left hand corner of the playlist.

Resurrection Reactions

This exposition of Matthew 27:57-28:15 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, April 21, 2019.

Intro:

It is incredible. It defies logic. It is contrary to our experience. I understand that it is hard to believe. Yet it is the basis of our celebration today. It is the reason for our hope. It is why we sing.

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“Dead people don’t walk out of graves!” Our experience is that life is hard and then you die. Yet for the Christian, that is not the whole story. Central to our thinking and our faith is that death has been conquered! The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the grave is not an optional belief for the Christian. If Christ did not come out of the grave, what assurance do we have that our ransom has been paid? If Christ was not raised what confidence do we have that death has been overcome? In fact, the apostle Paul tells us if Christ is not raised than we are the most miserable people on earth!

That is why the apostle assures us, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, that, “Christ was raised for our justification” (Romans 4:25). Peter says we have been given, “New birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3). Today is Resurrection Day! Today we gather in joyous celebration of the fact that we serve a risen Savior! This morning I want us to look at Matthew’s account of this momentous event.

Text: Matthew 28:1-15

It has been a long couple of days.
Their world was rocked and the light was turned off!
Just a week ago – He entered the city to joyous shouts of praise.

But by Friday morning He had been betrayed, tried, convicted, beaten and nailed to a cross.

His followers scattered in all directions. His lifeless body was taken from the cross and placed in a borrowed grave. It was over. There had been such promise but now there was only hopelessness. Their sorrow and confusion conspired to drown out His words of resurrection and hope.

But that was before dawn on the first day of the week…

Paul said, “If Christ is not raised we are still in our sin.”
“If Christ is not raised – our preaching is a vain thing (it is worthless).”
“If Christ is not raised we are without hope.”
If he is not the “first fruit” what assurance do we have of being raised?
If it is merely His “influence” that lives on – is that the best we can hope for?

The consistent record of all four Gospel writers, the other New Testament writers with their accounts of the various resurrection appearances and two thousand years of church history and you’ve got a pretty good case for the resurrection.

But, having said that, it is imperative that you note:

Thesis: Overwhelming evidence for the fact of the resurrection does not ensure saving faith.

Biblical faith is not about winning arguments.
You cannot overlook the spiritual dimension.

I’m not pitting the two against each other I’m merely acknowledging that we are dealing with both the logical and the spiritual.

Let me illustrate this from our text.

  1. The resurrection inspires reverential fear and great joy in the hearts of believing saints. (28:1-8)
  2. The resurrection inspires obstinance and denial in the hearts of those who refuse to believe. (28:11-15)

Conclusion:
The empty tomb, the various resurrection appearances, two thousand years of church history all declare the reality of the resurrection. My question to you is, “What is your response?” Is it one of reverential fear and great joy or one of obstinate refusal?

The difference is the difference between life and death.
It is possible to attend church faithfully in celebration of the resurrection and still die in your sin. It is possible to acknowledge belief in the resurrection without surrendering your life, dying to self and trusting in Christ for life eternal and life abundant. Religious ceremony and adherence to traditions is of no value apart from a heart of loving obedience and simple trust. I ask you, what is your response to the news that, “He is alive?”

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Behold Our Great King

This exposition of Matthew 21:1-11 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, April 14, 2019.

Intro:

“It just didn’t make sense. It was not in keeping with what had been going on for the past three years. And it was dangerous. This was a time for laying low.

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This was a time to play it safe. Why take the risk? Why now? You know they are going to be looking for something like this. It’s suicide.” That must have been the confused reasoning of the disciples as Jesus made his approach to Jerusalem on the first day of that infamous week.

Weeks before, Jesus had “set his face as a flint for Jerusalem.” He resolutely determined to go there. Nothing could stop him – nothing would stand in his way. The time had come. That time established, by the Father, in eternity past, had now come. God’s eternal plan of redemption was now reaching its climax. For weeks Jesus has been preparing his disciples by focusing on the Kingdom. He has talked about its requirements – you must have the faith of a child, a simple, dependent faith. You must be willing to lose everything in order to obtain it. Jesus taught them that such a thing is impossible with man but possible with God. He taught them to look up for the Kingdom of God was near. History’s greatest drama is about to be played out as the Sovereign Creator of the universe mounts a donkey colt and makes his way toward Jerusalem. Our text this morning is found in Matthew chapter 21.

Text: Matthew 21:1-11

Matthew has crafted his Gospel to say to Jewish readers, “This is your Messiah.”
He has demonstrated that Jesus is a great teacher 5-7 (Sermon on the Mount).
He has revealed him as a great miracle worker.
He demonstrated that he is the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets (Transfiguration).

Throughout his Gospel he has made it clear that the people responded favorably toward Jesus while the establishment despised him. Nowhere is that any clearer than in this passage.

Remember the context. Hostility has been mounting for years by this time. The more popular Jesus became with the crowd – the more threatened the establishment felt. He had to be silenced. They had to get rid of him – but how? Numerous meetings have been held. Various plots had been developed but none of them seemed to get off the ground. If only they could get him to come to Jerusalem. If they could just have him on their home turf.

That’s why it didn’t make sense to his followers. Why go to Jerusalem? Why now? Jesus would be playing into the hands of his enemies. And it appears as if he did. Albert Schweitzer the 19th century theologian described the Passion Week in terms of the Lord Jesus being “crushed in the wheels of history.” What Schweitzer failed to realize was that it was the Lord Jesus, himself, who was turning the wheel!

To Schweitzer the death of the Lord Jesus was the tragic end of a noble man who died before completing his great work. The fact is that his death was his great work!

As we explore this incredible story, we will discover that:

Thesis: The Triumphal Entry dramatically reveals the ultimate significance of Jesus’ life and ministry.

There are three things I want us to note.

  1. With His entrance into the city, our Lord boldly, deliberately and unapologetically declares himself King. (Matthew 21:1-8)
  2. Our Lord’s bold, public proclamation reveals He’s a very different kind of king: a peacemaker, reconciling sinful humanity to a holy God. (Matthew 21:9-10)
  3. His broken-hearted lament over the proud, unrepentant city demonstrates the depths of our Savior’s love. (Luke 19:41-44)

Conclusion:
He prophetically saw the proud, unrepentant Holy City as a pile of rubble wet with blood.
Look at him.
This is the heart of God.
This is the heart of the Savior.
This is how God sorrows over hearts that miss their “day” of salvation.
The tears of the Lord Jesus measure the value of your soul.
The question is will he weep over you?

I don’t believe it is possible to overestimate the significance of what happened that day in Jerusalem. The Triumphal Entry dramatically revealed the ultimate significance of Jesus’ life and ministry.

He is reveled as the Great Servant King.
He is seen as the Great Priest reconciling the world to God.
He is seen as the Great Prophet, weeping over the devastation of the proud and unrepentant.

Behold the Lord Jesus – Prophet, Priest and King.

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What’s in a Name? Christmas 2018

This exposition of Matthew 1:21 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, December 23, 2018.

Intro:

You’ve just found out. You’re going to have a baby! When you come to and pick yourself up off the floor – you’re thinking, “I can’t believe it, a baby.” You’re numb. As the initial shock wears off you begin to get excited.

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Now you are fighting over who gets to tell who – “Let me tell them,” “No let me!” You are just so excited, a baby. Things rock along just fine until one day someone says to you, “What are you going to name this kid?” That’s an innocent enough question but it ignites a storm of controversy. You enter into a time of intense negotiation. Everyone has a suggestion. By the way, Rodney is always an excellent choice! You’ve got to weigh all the suggestions. You find yourself paying attention to names wherever you find them. You’re watching a movie and your wife says, “Oh I like that.” “You like what – the man’s been murdered!” “No, the name. The killers name was Jeb.” Of course you have to give careful consideration to family names. Rheadon was not fond of my grandmother’s name. She just didn’t take to the name, Zephie. Of course you also have to get a couple of those “name” books. Then you have to experiment with different names and combinations. Rheadon liked Charis, which is Greek for grace. I liked the name itself but come on, “Charis Harris?” I couldn’t do that to a kid. It’s a time consuming process and it’s important because this is a label for life. Names are important.

In ancient times names were important as well. Names were intended to express the character and nature of the person. Parents often instilled their hopes and dreams in the name given to their child. Biblically, names are important. Abram meant, “exalted father.” God changed his name to Abraham, “father of a great multitude.” So names do matter. You want to get it right.

That is the backdrop of our text this morning. It prepares us for what happened 2000 years ago in the tiny village of Nazareth as the angel of God came to a carpenter by the name of Joseph.

Text: Matthew 1:18-25

This is Matthew’s account of the events surrounding the birth of the Lord Jesus. Luke focuses on Mary. Matthew views events from Joseph’s perspective. In the heart of the angel’s message to Joseph is a very important statement. A statement that you have read and heard many times. You are so familiar with it, it doesn’t stand out in your thinking. Yet it is a profound announcement bringing great insight into the significance of the birth of this child.

Look at the text and take special note of verse 21. For it is there that we learn:

Thesis: The name of Jesus reveals the true beauty and wonder of Christmas.

It is easy in the midst of parties, the shopping, the celebrating, the coming and going to lose your focus during this time of year. The beauty and wonder of Christmas is not found in the giving. It is not in the lights or the singing. It is not in the “good cheer.” It is not even in family. The beauty and wonder of Christmas is found in understanding the love of God demonstrated so wonderfully in the name of Jesus. Oh we say it. He is the reason for the season. We even print it on T-shirts and sweatshirts. But what does that mean? In what way? How is He the reason for the season? The answer is found in His name.

There are three things I want us to note about the name of Jesus.

  1. The name of Jesus reveals the purpose of His coming.
  2. The name of Jesus reveals the nature of His people.
  3. The name of Jesus reveals the heart of God.

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Meditations for the Lord’s Table: “The Garden”

This is an exposition of Matthew 26:36-46. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, September 24, 2017.

Intro:

There are many things about the Passion of our Lord that are difficult to look at. The scene of his being mock, spit upon and struck repeatedly in the face; the thought of the scourging and his back ripped to pieces. Finally his being nailed to the cross and publicly exposed to humility and shame.

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It is unthinkable that the eternal Lord of glory should endure such pain and humiliation and for what purpose? To redeem sinful, fallen wicked folks like you and me. But in my own mind there is a more terrifying scene. A scene that unnerves me. It is that scene of our Lord laying prostrate on the ground in a pool of blood crying, “Father if at all possible, let this cup pass from me.”

On the night before our Lord’s greatest triumph, at the threshold of history’s pivotal moment, that moment anticipated by our Lord for all eternity, fear grip his heart. This Jesus who with such command and authority silenced the storm and calmed the sea. This Jesus who, with a word, caused demons to flee. This Jesus who, by his touch, opened the eyes of the blind, comforted the afflicted and even raise the dead. This Jesus who repeatedly silenced his critics with his profound wisdom, who consistently amazed the multitudes with his authority – this Jesus now cried out in terror from a lonely spot in the garden of Gethsemane. Our text this morning is found in the 26th chapter of Matthew.

Text: Matthew 26:36-46

It has been quite an evening. Our Lord met with his disciples in an upper room to celebrate the Passover. As they gathered our Lord assumed the role of servant and washed the feet of his disciples. During the supper he introduced a new memorial meal, one that would look back to the cross. “This is my body given for you. This is my blood poured out for you.” He spoke of betrayal, denial, death and resurrection. After singing a hymn they went out into the night. They walked the familiar path to the Garden of Gethsemane. As they approached the Garden our Lord became strangely silent. As they crossed they Kidron brook he had a strange look in his eye as he stared down at the water now red with the blood of the Passover lambs. Upon reaching the Garden he told his disciples to watch and pray. Taking Peter, James and John a bit further he went on beyond them and threw himself on the ground. Such agony. Such pain. Everything in me wants to look away from this scene. But to do so would be to miss a precious and wonderful revelation.

Thesis: Our Lord’s agony in the Garden of Gethsemane reveals the majesty and the beauty of our Savior.

This is the heart of Christian worship. Christian worship, I don’t want to lose you on this, is about Christ! It is about the beauty of his character, and the glory of his work on the cross.

Three things are revealed to us in this experience. Three truths that call us to worship and adore our Savior.

  1. Our Lord’s experience in the Garden reveals the absolute horror of the cross.
  2. Our Lord’s experience in the Garden reveals the tender compassion of the Savior for his own.
  3. Our Lord’s experience in the Garden reveals the iron-willed determination of our blessed redeemer.

Conclusion:
Our Lord’s experience in the Garden is a powerful revelation of the majesty and the beauty of our Savior.

It reveals the absolute horror of the cross.
It reveals the tender compassion of the Savior toward his own.
It reveals the iron-willed determination of our blessed redeemer.

This is the One we love.
This is what he has done for us.
This is the essence of the Gospel.

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