Trinity Fremont

Jesus warns against practicing righteousness in order to be seen by others. Whether we are giving, praying, or fasting, the praise of the world can feel like a reward. But it is an incredibly small one. It doesn’t last, it can’t save us, and it can’t hold us together when life falls apart.

Again and again, Jesus points us to something greater: “your Father.” The greatest reward is not simply what the Father gives, but the Father Himself. And through Jesus, our great High Priest, we are invited to draw near to Him with confidence. In Christ, the Father gives us not only daily bread, but the Bread of Life. Not only clothing, but the righteousness of Jesus. Not only His gifts, but Himself.

• Isaiah 58:1–12
• Hebrews 4:14–16
• Matthew 6:1–18

"Missionary Gary" Theis shares his thoughts on the bible and  miracles God still provides. The joy the Lord that is found in not being normal.

Changed hearts.  This is what Jesus is after in this part of His Sermon on the Mount.  It is not about check lists.  They will ALWAYS be imperfect.  Even when we have a TO DO list, and start crossing things off on it, you can still see through the scribbles and be reminded of not being able to be perfect when it comes to DOING what is needed to be done.  Also, there are some things that remain on our TO DO lists unchecked as we either run out of time to do them or ignore them out of inconvenience.  

Jesus reminds us in these verses that our imperfections are not going to go away on our own.  However, Jesus, Himself, absolutely can and did perfectly fulfill the LAW for us.  His righteousness redeems us, not our “trying” hard enough to DO the things we have to do.  No, God promises to give us NEW HEARTS through the power of the Holy Spirit.  Our lights shine because of our transformed hearts, not out of our ability or inability to be righteous by upholding, perfectly, the Law of God, which we can’t.  But HE can and HE did, for You and for me.  He took our imperfections to the cross and he finished what was needed for us to be saved.  Check√

• Isaiah 49:1-6
• Philippians 2:12-18
• Matthew 5:13-16

Last week we heard that we are empty vessels filled with Jesus. This weekend we ask: What does a life look like when that vessel is full, oozing out? In the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5:13-16, Jesus declares, “You are the light of the world” and commands us, “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

This is not about hiding Jesus or shining our own light, but allowing Christ’s light to shine through us. When we are filled with Him, our good works, done in faith, love, and service, become visible reflections of His grace. Others see them and are drawn to glorify our Father in heaven.

• Isaiah 49:1-6
• Philippians 2:12-18
• Matthew 5:13-16

This week, Jesus continues the Beatitudes and shows us what happens when He gives His kingdom to empty-handed people. He fills His people with His Spirit, and what He gives begins to come out in mercy, purity, and peace. These gifts are not a reward we earn or a possession we keep for ourselves. They are gifts from Jesus, worked in us by His Spirit, for the sake of our neighbor. And even when others reject Jesus as He comes through His people, His promise remains: the kingdom is already ours, and the fullness is still coming.

Readings:

• Isaiah 66:5–14
• 2 Corinthians 4:7–18
• Matthew 5:1–12

This week, Jesus says, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” In a world broken by sin and death, mourning is real. But Jesus does not leave His people with grief as the final word. He enters our brokenness, dies and rises, and promises the day when death will be swallowed up forever, every tear will be wiped away, and all things will be made new.

• Isaiah 25:6–9
• Revelation 21:1–5
• Matthew 5:1–4

On our own, we are not capable of giving anything to God.  Our works don’t cut it.  Can NOT cut it.  God blesses us with gifts that don’t involve doing but receiving, receiving his goodness, grace and His promises.  Promises to never leave or forsake us.  Promises to cover us with the robe of His Son’s righteousness.  

We are blessed not because good things are happening to us, we are blessed because of what Jesus has done for us when He suffered and died for us. When He rose again for us.  This is how He has restored us.  So the question becomes, what does it look like to live that restored life?  

 

• Isaiah 57:14-21
• 1 Corinthians 1:26-31
• Matthew 5:1-3

This week, we celebrated Vacation Bible School at Trinty. The kids spent the week hearing five big truths: God is our Creator. God knows everything. God is our safe place. God is love. God is forever.

Those truths are not just for kids. God created us for life with Him and love for one another. Sin bends that love inward, but God shows His love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Jesus died for us.

Jesus takes our death in our place and for our sake, and He gives us His life. Death was not the last word for Jesus, and because of Him, death is not the last word for us.

God made you. God knows you. God loves you in Jesus. God gives you life now and forever.

Wow, God.

• Genesis 1:1-5, 24-31
• 1 John 4:7-16
• Luke 24:1-12

 

All Jesus is the end of Matthew.  It is fitting as Jesus is such a theme for Matthew throughout his gospel.  At the end of this gospel Jesus reminds or emphasizes he has ALL authority and it has been given to him by the Father.  He instructs his disciples to make disciples of ALL nations, in other words, ALL people. Disciples are to obey ALL Jesus has commanded them.  That’s a lot of ALL’s.  

But then Jesus reminds them that he will ALWAYS be with them - ALWAYS.  And He is.  Through His Word, through His sacraments and through His Spirit, Jesus is ALWAYS with us, Always with us until He returns in ALL his Glory.

• Gen. 1:1–2:4a
• Acts 2:14a, 22–36
• Matt. 28:16–20

What a gift.  A gift that is meant to be shared.  The Living Waters that Jesus refers to sharing with others in John 7 is the Holy Spirit that has been placed inside of us at our baptisms.  Again, what a gift, but a gift not to keep to ourselves.  In verse 38 Jesus says, “Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘ Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’”

These Living Waters are the Holy Spirit in our hearts.  Gifts like love, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and gentleness, all gifts of the Holy Spirit are to flow over out of our hearts for others and into others.  Jesus says in verse 37 “Whoever” believes in me.  The gift of the Holy Spirit and the Living Waters that flow out of our hearts are for ALL people. 

• Num. 11:24–30
• Acts 2:1–21
• John 7:37–39