Tree Of Life

This midweek gathering seeks to alleviate fears and clarify confusion about liturgy. The presentation moves in three parts: 1) The Need for Liturgy, 2) A Definition of Liturgy, and 3) A Tour of CCTP's Liturgy. NOTE: Presentation slides are available at https://snbs.sermon.net/main/snbs/22311388, but please note they will not make sense without the audio teaching. NOTE: The question-and-answer segments are not included.

Matthew records Jesus' judgment on the Pharisees as a warning to disciples in the church.

When Jesus visits, judgment results. But not all judgment is bad. It all depends on how we receive Him.

In contrast to conventional values, God is generous to the point of foolishness. Given such grace, what do we want from Him?

Disciples live differently than conventional cultural means. Sometimes Jesus' expectations seem impossible. How are we faithfully formed?

In Matthew 18, Jesus gives his fourth sermon. This one focusses on inter-relationships within the church. Throughout, His sermon addresses what it means to be an inheritor of the Kingdom.

The transfiguration of Jesus is a preview of our own glorification. This message examines the theme of humans being clothed in glory throughout the Biblical story and what it means for us right now.

Matthew 16 sees the word "church" appear for the first time in the New Testament. What Jesus has to say about His church is crucial for our understanding of what a church should be and how we relate ourselves to it.

Tradition is the living faith of the dead; traditionalism is the dead faith of the living. In Matthew 15, Jesus criticizes dead traditionalism while demonstrating a living tradition.

In Matthew 14, Jesus turns His focus toward training His disciples to feed the world. In this chapter are the foundations for Christian worship.

In Matthew 13, Jesus gives His third of five sermons. This time, He speaks in parables, which serve as a kind of riddle. Are we listening to what He says and are we bearing fruit?

Jesus faces a series of intensifying episodes of rejection. How does He rebound from such rejection? How can we move through opposition with such resilience?

Depression of spirit is a real struggle for many Christians. Psalm 143 may offer an excellent prayer for such times.

Palm Sunday service.

Why do we give praise to God? How can such inferior creatures ever give God praise worthy of who He is? Psalm 103 calls not only the individual, but the entire cosmos to bless God. We discover that it is not God who needs our praise, but we who need to enter into His life through praise.

The liturgy and prayers for the fifth week of Lent and the sermon on Psalm 103.

Praying the Psalms pluck our heartstrings, making us instruments of God. Psalm 88 is the darkest psalm in the Bible. How do we pray something so dark? Good new: this Psalm directs us directly to Christ!

The liturgy for the fourth week of Lent and the sermon from Psalm 88.

Praying the Psalms plucks our heartstrings. Psalm 63 stirs the heart's desire for God.

The liturgy for the third week in Lent and the sermon.