Main Text: Matthew 18:10-14 10 “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven. 12 What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? 13 And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. 14 So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

Preaching Point: We should reflect God’s heart by showing the same vigilant care for one another that God and his angels show toward us.

Teaching Points:

1. Match Heaven’s Concern for God’s Kids (V. 10)
2. Value Every Single One of God’s Kids (V. 12)
3. Eagerly Welcome Back God’s Wayward Kids (VV. 13-14)

Bonus Notes on Textual Criticism:

Video Resources:

1. Can I trust the Bible? - Dr Robert Plummer (6 min)
2. Why do the footnotes in my Bible say, "Some manuscripts say..."? - Dr Rober Plummer (5 min)
3. Is the Bible we have what the original authors even wrote? - Wes Huff (30 min)

Video/Audio Lectures:

1. Origins of the Bible - Dr. Mike Fabarez (12-part series)

Books:

Main Point: Christians must cherish one another as they cherish Christ by promoting behavior that prevents themselves and others from stumbling.

Teaching Points:

1. Treat One Another as God’s Kids (V. 5)
2. Prefer Death Over Causing God’s Kids to Stumble (V. 6)
3. Dread the Thought of Causing God’s Kids to Stumble (V. 7)
4. Do Whatever It Takes to Eliminate Opportunities for Sin (VV. 8-9)

Application Questions:

1. Write down one observation or application you found helpful from this week’s sermon.
2. Read Matthew 5:8. How do you typically treat the average Christian you know? Do you cherish them as you would if they were Jesus?
3. How can you better cherish each Christian as God’s kid?
4. Read Matthew 18:6. What does this verse reveal about how seriously God views anyone who causes a believer to stumble?
5. How does the severity of Christ’s warning sharpen your own vigilance to ensure that you will not be the reason someone else trips spiritually?
6. Read 2 Peter 3:4-7 and Romans 14:10-12. Why should the sober reminder of God’s coming judgment keep you from adding more stumbling blocks in an already sinful world?
7. Read Romans 13:10-14 and Matthew 18:8-9. What do these verses offer to help you see the necessity of taking any measure necessary to eliminate opportunities for sin in your life?
8. What are some things you can eliminate in your life that are causes for sin, either for you or others?

Main text: Matthew 18:1-4 (ESV) 1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them 3 and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Preaching Point: We must remember that in God’s House, the greatest are not ranked by their accolades or how fast they climb the ladder, but by how much they humble themselves in the name of Christ.

Teaching Points:

1. Stop Thinking You’re Better Than the Next Christian (V. 1)
2. Understand the Terms for Joining God’s Household (VV. 2-3)
3. Excel in Displaying Christlike Humility (V. 4)

Preaching Point: Salvation is given exclusively through the revelation of Jesus Christ to those who are open to truth and burdened by what this world has to offer.

Main Text: Matthew 11:25–30 (ESV) 25 At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; 26 yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Teaching Points:

1. Acknowledge God’s Rejection of Human Wisdom vv25-26
2. Affirm God’s Elective Choice in Salvation v27
3. Find Rest in the Work of Christ vv28-30

Preaching Point: Announcing God's coming judgment to our generation is an unpopular but necessary task with eternal implications.

Main Text: Matthew 11:20–24 (ESV) 20 Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent. 21“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I tell you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. 23 And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you.”

Teaching Point:

1. Articulate the Purpose of Jesus’ Miracles vv20-21,23
2. Make Repentance a Requirement vv20-21
3. Expect Varying Degrees of Judgment vv22-24

Preaching Point: Anyone proclaiming Jesus as the Christ should anticipate rejection from those who do not want to accept him and doubt from those who do not understand him.

Main Text: Matthew 11:1-19 (ESV) 1 When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities. 2 Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples 3 and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” 4 And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5 the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. 6 And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” 7 As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 8 What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. 9 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is he of whom it is written, “ ‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’ 11 Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. 13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John, 14 and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. 15 He who has ears to hear, let him hear. 16 “But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates, 17 “ ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’ 18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.”

Teaching Points:

1. Adjust Your Expectations vv1-6
2. Prepare for Increased Hostility vv7-14
3. Expect Unfair Criticism vv16-19

Preaching Point: Any accurate explanation of the good news must include God the Son taking on flesh and living in perfect obedience to the Father, including death on the cross in place of sinful humanity to be resurrected by the Father and exalted above all things.

Main Text: Philippians 2:5–11 (ESV) 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Teaching Points:

1. Confess Jesus is Fully God vv5-6
2. Contemplate the Implication of Jesus’ Humanity v7
3. Comprehend the Substitutionary Death of Christ v8
4. Consider Christ’s Exalted Status vv9-11

Preaching Point: Our only hope of salvation rests on God’s promise to regenerate those who place their faith in the work of Jesus on the cross.

Main Text: John 3:1–15 (ESV) 1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” 9 Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? 11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

Teaching Points:

1. See Your Need for Regeneration vv1-3
2. Grasp the Supernatural Work of Regeneration vv4-8
3. Look to the Cross for Eternal Life vv9-15