In Matthew 12 Jesus claims to be greater Jonah and greater than Solomon. To a first century Jew this was a huge claim. Jonah was the great prophet whose preaching had caused the people of Ninevah to repent. Solomon was the great king whose wisdom and riches had dazzled the Queen of Sheba. How could a poor carpenter from Nazareth possibly be greater than them?
And yet in Matthew 12-15 we see that the truth is even more remarkable. In these chapters the disciples declare for the first time that Jesus is the Son of God. As he clashes with religious leaders and captivates the crowds with stories about the kingdom he has come to establish, we see that Jesus is the promised king who has come to rescue and restore our relationship with God.
Matthew’s goal is to show us that following Jesus is the best decision we could ever make because is a king who is greater than any other.
14th Sept 11:28-12:8 A GREATER KING who offers us REST
21st Sept 12:9-21 A MERCIFUL KING who treats us with KINDNESS (JS)
28th Sept All Age Service (Women’s weekend away)
5th Oct 12:22-37 A POWERFUL KING who can RESCUE US
12th Oct 12:38-50 A RISEN KING who invites us into his FAMILY
19th Oct 13: 1-23 A WISE KING who can make us FRUITFUL (TD)
26th Oct 13:24-52 A PATIENT KING we must be READY to MEET
2nd Nov Mission Service: Julian Hardyman preaching
9th Nov 13:53-14:12 An UNLIKELY KING we must not DISMISS
16th Nov 14:13-33 A DIVINE KING we can fully TRUST
23rd Nov 14:34-15:20 A RIGHTEOUS KING who can CLEAN our HEARTS
30th Nov 15:21-39 A SHEPHERD KING who came for ALL PEOPLE
7th & 14th Dec Advent mini-series (JS)
21st Dec Christingle Service (AJ)