In Matthew 12:22-37, Jesus engages the Pharisees in a controversy about his healing of a demon-possessed, deaf and mute man. Threatened by Jesus, the Pharisees claim he’s healing by the power of Satan. In this passage Jesus warns against blasphemy of the Holy Spirit and tells a parable about our hearts being like a tree that produces fruit. By Noel Piepgrass
In Matthew 8:23-34, Jesus demonstrates his power over the storm and over the spiritual realm.
In Matthew 12:50, Jesus says that anyone who does the will of his Father in Heaven is his family. Noel Piepgrass took the opportunity to talk about Exeter Valley Church’s Core Identity as a Family on Mission with God. In this message, Noel breaks down some of the implications and imperatives of seeing the church as a family.
Matthew 16:21-28. Jesus instructs his disciples to deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow him. By Noel Piepgrass
In Matthew 9:18-26 Jesus raises to life the daughter of a synagogue leader and heals a desperate woman of her hemorrhaging disorder. In these healings we see that Jesus responds to faith by bringing freedom from sickness AND death. We also see in this story Jesus willingness to touch women, an often marginalized group, particularly in that ancient context.
In Matthew 14:1-12, we find out that Herod has been hearing about the deeds of Jesus. In fact, Matthew tells us Herod actually suspects that John the Baptist has risen from the dead and is the one performing these deeds. In this passage, we learn that John was killed because he took a stand against Herod’s illegitimate marriage and sensual lifestyle. Noel Piepgrass shares how we ought to be willing to take a similar stand against our culture’s wayward views on gender, marriage, and sexuality.
IIn this scene from the Garden of Gethsemene, the gospels depict Jesus’s overwhelming sorrow as he faces the reality of his impending death.
Michael Seaward shows us why this agony was so intense and what we can learn from the prayer it led Jesus to pray.