Church notes - March 2025

[fardell24]

2nd
John 3:16, 17

Matthew 23:1 - 24:2

Cosmetic Fixation
Not just a problem back then.
Outward focused.

The religious leaders were obsessed with their image.
They were the elite.

The authority doesn't come from the person up the front. It comes from Scripture and from God.
vs 16 - 18

Jesus was pointing out that oaths and finicky rules don't work.

vs 25, 25
Don't be legalistic. Focus on what's inside; on motives and the heart.

Deuteronomy 14:22, 28
Generosity to the poor.

The teachers of the Law were not being generous (using loopholes to avoid being so).

vs 27, 28
Jesus was pointing out their hypocracy and insulting them; daring them to kill Him.

He was prophesying the persecution of the disciples and the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD.

Psalm 118

Judgement, but also forgiveness.
Judgement and mercy.


9th
Matthew 25:14 - 46
Kindness and love

Love: the outcome of the transformed.

Declare the Gospel
Everything is God's; we are merely stewards.

Comparison - a poison that eats us from the inside out.
vs 19 - 23
Good and faithful servant.

Faithfulness leads to fruitfulness.

The third servant.
Doubt isn't the opposite of faith. Fear is.

Fear paralyses. Faith is action.

Put time anmd energy into it.

Gr. Okneros - Lazy, reluctance or avoidance of duty, avoidance of responsibility.

Romans 12:9 - 11
Our responsibility is to love others. If we aren't loving, we are avoiding responsibility.

Look to Jesus!
Hebrews 1:1 - 3

Vs 31 - 46
Care for those God most cares for.

A life lived in God is a life lived in love.


16th
Matthew 26:1 - 16
Annointing
High Priests, Kings, Healing, Burial
Jesus
He has been annointed as High Priest, as King and for healing, and now for burial.

Annointing at Bethany
vs 10
Jesus asking why the disciples are bothering Mary.
Why did she choose to worship Jesus in this way?
She had a lot to be thankful for (including Lazarus being brought back from the dead). Also, being led by the Spirit for this annointing to occur.

Jesus objecting

It is not about the monetary value, but what was in her heart.

The key is simply to love Jesus, but it is difficult to put Jesus first.

Psalm 23
- vs 5
Jesus was sitting with someone who was his enemy and about to betray Him.
And His annointing

1 John 2:20

Living it Out
2 Corinthians 2:14 - 16
- vs 15
God is pleased with us when we witness to others about Christ.

Being in the community.

1 Corinthians 15:1-10


23rd
Matthew 26:36 - 56
Gethsemane
Singing hyms from the Last Supper
Jesus' mind was heavily burdened.
Both the Human and Divine sides of Jesus
Overwhelmed with sorrow, deep seated grief.

vs 38
Soul was crushed to the point of death.

Luke 22:39 - 46
Sweating blood - an indicator of extreme levels of stress.

Matt 26:39
Not as I will, but as You will.

Matthew 6:10
An echo of the Lord's Prayer.

His prayer aligned Him with the Father's will.

He didn't want His disciples to fall into temptation.

Bearing the load of Mankind's sin.

Jesus faces His betrayer head on.


30th
Matthew 26:57 - 75
King Jesus' Determination
Injustice
Betrayal
- When those you love let you down.
Redemption
- How God's grace changes everyting.

Determination
vs 56 - 68
Jesus on trial
A clash of kingdoms
- Also in our hearts

Caiaphas
- The High Priest
- A Sadducee - who were as rude to their peers as they were to foreigners.
- In charge of worship at the Temple.
- Sanhedrin - 71 members
vs 63
Jesus remained silent against the false testimony.

vs 64
Quote from Psalm 110.

Reaction
vs 65 - 68
Contempt, anger and hostility.

Micah 6:8

Betrayal
Our human frailty.

Peter

Betraying Jesus is
- Such a sad thing to do, and yet we all do it.

vs 69 - 72
Servant girl - the lowest of the low.

vs 75

Sorrow or regret
Judas had regret. Peter had sorrow with genuine repentance.

2 Corinthians 7:10, 11

Readiness to see justice done.

Our riftuals and lists aren't enough.

We need to repent of our sin and righteousness.

The Heart
External activities can't change us, says Jesus, because sin comes from our hearts.

Idols of the Heart

What are the idols of my heart?