Matthew's Gospel

Nick Holden

Join Pastor Nick Holden as we journey through Matthew in our Nesting with Jesus. Nesting with Jesus is our daily bible reading plan. This is our daily devotional schedule for July. If you don't have your own plan, we'd love for you to join us. 
 This month, Lord willing, our faith family at the Chapel, along with others from all around the world, will spend the entire month in the Newer Testament. We’ll continue exploring the redeeming work and witness of Jesus — and His promised return for each of us who will be found eagerly and earnestly looking and living in the light of His return. We’ll spend the lion’s share of the month in the deep waters of the book of Matthew.

  1. Apr 28

    Go Learn What This Means

    Go Learn What This Means Approaching, Appreciating, and Applying the Message and Mission of God 1. Observation — What did God say? 2. Interpretation — What did God mean? 3. Application — How must this change me? 4. Communication — How do I share and show it faithfully? 5. Edification — How does this build up the body? 6. Evangelization — How does this point lost people to Jesus? 7. Glorification — How does this bring honor to God? This teaching centers on Jesus' call to understand the deeper meaning of 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice' from Hosea 6:6, emphasizing that true faith involves not just ritual observance but a transformative, merciful love that glorifies God and blesses others. It unfolds a practical, seven-step process of biblical engagement—observation, interpretation, application, communication, edification, evangelization, and glorification—rooted in the conviction that Scripture must shape not only belief but daily life and witness. The message underscores that genuine knowledge of God transcends mere information, leading to a life marked by loyal, enduring love that serves others while exalting God. This approach fosters spiritual renewal, authentic community, and effective evangelism, all ultimately directed toward the glorification of God. The message calls believers to internalize Scripture not for self-achievement, but to become living extensions of God's mercy and righteousness in a broken world. Mercy That Learns, Lives, Loves, and Glorifies God Let's Not Miss What Jesus Repeats Church, listen to me for just a moment. Anytime Jesus highlights something once, it is worth following. But when Jesus says it twice, we better slow down, bow our heart

  2. Apr 26

    With Him — Not Just Around Him

    With Him — Not Just Around Him Teaching Summary This message centers on the transformative power of faith rooted in the unshakable promises of God, drawing from 1 Peter 1:3–9 and key passages in Matthew to emphasize that genuine faith, though tested by trials, produces a joy that is inexpressible and full of glory. It underscores that true discipleship involves being not merely present with Christ but actively united to Him through faith, which is cultivated by hearing and obeying His Word, not by human effort or understanding. The preacher warns against the danger of being 'with' Christ yet not truly 'with' Him—operating in fear, doubt, and misunderstanding due to misplaced focus on earthly needs rather than divine purpose—illustrating this through the disciples' failure to grasp Jesus' teaching about the leaven of the Pharisees. The solution is a life of surrender, where believers seek first the kingdom of God, trusting that He will provide for all needs, thereby experiencing peace, spiritual growth, and a deepening love for Christ that grows sweeter with time. Ultimately, the message calls for a daily yoking to Jesus, where faith, obedience, and reliance on His grace lead to a life marked by joy, clarity, and divine intimacy. Main Truth: 1 Peter 1:3–9; Matthew 6:30–33; Matthew 8:23–27; Matthew 14:27–31; Matthew 16:5–12; Matthew 11:28–30 Central Truth: A believer is not called merely to be around Jesus, but to walk with Jesus by faith. Little faith produces doubt, fear, worry, and misunderstanding, but growing faith rejoices in Christ, trusts His Word, receives His correction, and rests under His yoke. Key Statement: Do not just be with Him outwardly and miss Him i

  3. Apr 25

    Beware of Little Faith and Leaven

    Beware of Little Faith and Leaven Guarding the Heart from Legalism, Liberalism, and Loose Living This sermon centers on Jesus' warning to His disciples about the 'leaven' of the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Herod—symbolizing hypocrisy, legalism, liberalism, and worldly compromise—each representing spiritual influences that distort truth and hinder genuine faith. Drawing from Matthew 16 and related passages, it emphasizes that true faith is not defined by outward conformity, religious tradition, or personal convenience, but by authentic trust in Christ, rooted in His Word and demonstrated through obedience. The message underscores that hypocrisy, whether in rigid legalism or careless liberalism, is marked by a disconnect between outward appearance and inward reality, and that such influences, though subtle, can permeate and corrupt the whole life of a believer. Ultimately, the call is to reject all counterfeit forms of spirituality, to walk humbly with Christ, and to allow His truth to transform us so that we may be genuine, Spirit-led witnesses in a world that resists correction but longs for salvation. Matthew 16, Matthew 15, Luke 12, and Mark 8 With Him, But Not Always With Him All right, look with me in Matthew 16. Matthew 16. And speaking of that number sixteen, it is worth noticing that Matthew records Jesus using that word hypocrite or dealing with hypocrisy again and again in connection with the Pharisees. Matthew especially draws out how Jesus confronted religious stage-playing, religious pretending, religious acting, and religious influence that looked right on the outside but was corrupt on the inside. And we see it right here in Matthew 16. "Then the Phari

  4. Jan 3

    See — I’ve Told You Beforehand

    See — I've Told You Beforehand The word centers on the imperative of prioritizing a personal relationship with Jesus above all else, emphasizing that true blessing and clarity come not from seeking God's will apart from His presence, but from abiding in Him through faith, obedience, and continual pursuit of His face. Drawing from Matthew 25 and Romans 8:28–30, it teaches that God works all things for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose, ultimately conforming believers to the image of Christ. The message underscores that spiritual discernment—seeing God's hand in daily labor, family, and the church—requires walking in His ways, fearing Him, and remaining connected to Him, for only then does He manifest Himself and reveal His goodness. The preacher warns against spiritual distraction, frustration, and the danger of missing God's work by focusing on outcomes without abiding in the Source, urging the congregation to seek Jesus above all, especially in confusion, weariness, or doubt, as His presence brings rest, joy, and divine clarity. Ultimately, the life of faith is one of continual communion, where the joy of the Lord becomes strength, and every trial is transformed into a testimony of His faithfulness. Matthew 24–25, Romans 8, Psalm 128, and John 14 All right, church—where are y'all tonight? Open that Bible with me if you would. We're in Matthew's Gospel, chapter 25, but before we step into 25, we've got to remember what Jesus already said in Matthew 24. And here's the phrase that keeps ringing in my heart: "See—I have told you beforehand." Jesus didn't say, "Figure it out later." He didn't say, "Guess when it happens." He said, "

  5. Jan 1

    The Sign of The Son of Man

    The Sign of The Son of Man The sermon centers on the biblical promise of Christ's return, emphasizing that His second coming—foreshadowed in Daniel's vision of the Son of Man—will be sudden, visible, and triumphant, fulfilling the redemptive work He began in His life, death, resurrection, and ascension. Drawing from Matthew 24 and Daniel 7, it underscores that Jesus, as the Son of Man, is the divine representative who humbled Himself, was exalted by the Father, and now reigns with eternal authority, making all things subject to Him until He delivers the kingdom back to the Father. The message calls believers to live in faithful anticipation, not in fear, but in joyful submission, recognizing that true life is found in being made subject to Christ through faith, which transforms enemies into advocates. It also highlights the urgency of the gospel, warning that while grace is available now, the day of His return will bring judgment for those who have rejected Him, and thus calls for personal surrender and mission-driven living. Ultimately, the sermon affirms that Christ's victory over death ensures the resurrection of believers, and that the believer's hope is anchored in His faithfulness, making the fear of missing out on God's work the highest form of spiritual longing. THE SIGN OF THE SON OF MAN Matthew 24:25–31 (with Daniel 7; Philippians 2; 1 Corinthians 15; Revelation 19) Good morning, everybody. Good to see you. Good to see you. Won't you take the Bible that you brought with you—your sweet chest of precious gold—your treasure chest—and turn with me to the Gospel of Matthew, chapter number 24. Matthew 24. Now church, He kept telling them—He wants us to be ready,

  6. 12/31/2025

    Who’s Writing Your Story?

    Who's Writing Your Story? The message unfolds a profound theological narrative centered on God's redemptive sovereignty, illustrated through the story of Ruth and the broader biblical arc from Lot to the Messiah. It emphasizes God's perfect, permissive, providential, and prescriptive will, showing how He sovereignly has written, reorders, and orchestrates even human failure and foreign origins—such as Ruth's Moabite heritage—into His redemptive plan. Despite the law's exclusion of Moabites, divine grace transcends legalistic boundaries, using Ruth's loyalty, submission, and faith to place her in the lineage of David and ultimately Jesus. The contrast between Moab's unrefined, unchanged state and God's transformative work in His people highlights the reality of spiritual renewal through Christ, as seen in the believer's new identity in 2 Corinthians. The message culminates in a powerful affirmation of grace: God does not change the world by force, but by redeeming individuals from within, transforming their taste and scent, and glorifying Himself through the unmerited favor of salvation. A Redemption Written Before the First Day Let's Step Into Truth Amen. Well look—let's jump into truth tonight. I want us to slow down and see something familiar, but see it through the lens of redemption. When you read Scripture carefully, you start realizing this Book isn't a collection of disconnected stories. It's one story—God's story—written with purpose, precision, and grace. Matthew opens that way, doesn't it? Not with miracles. Not with sermons. But with DNA. Names. Generations. Stories that don't look clean on the surface—yet are holy in design. And the question before us

  7. 12/30/2025

    What Is Truth?

    "What is Truth?" The setting can be found in Matthew 27 and John 18-19. In this teaching we used John's account to unfold the profound truth that Jesus is the ultimate embodiment of divine truth, whose kingdom operates not through earthly power but through sacrificial love and divine sovereignty. Drawing from John 18, it emphasizes that Pilate's question, 'What is truth?' reveals humanity's inability to grasp spiritual reality apart from being born again—only those who are of the truth can hear Christ's voice. The message unfolds through the lens of Romans, highlighting that salvation is not earned but granted through God's predetermined purpose, where Jesus, though unjustly condemned, bore the sins of humanity, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies in Isaiah and establishing justice through His suffering. The sermon underscores that true sanctification comes by the truth, as believers are transformed daily by the Spirit, living not according to the world's values but in alignment with Christ's eternal kingdom, which is both spiritual and victorious. Ultimately, it calls listeners to recognize Jesus not as a political figure but as the divine King whose truth sets free, whose sacrifice justifies, and whose presence empowers believers to live in faithful obedience and hope. WHAT IS TRUTH? Standing Face-to-Face with Truth — Matthew 27 & John 18 Opening — Setting the Heart Amen. Anybody got a praise report tonight? Anything good you want to give away? The Scripture tells us to think on those things which are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, and of good report. And when you start thinking on those things, you'll find yourself standing right where we're about to stand toni

  8. 12/29/2025

    He Will Gather, Who He Gave

    HE WILL GATHER, WHO HE GAVE The clear insights found in John's gospel can be clearly seen in both John and Matthew message (Matthew 25 and 26). This message centers on the divine orchestration of salvation, emphasizing God's sovereign act of giving—both the Father giving people to the Son and the Son giving eternal life to them—throughout Scripture, particularly in John 17. It highlights how this giving is not a mere theological abstraction but a living reality woven into history, from the Old Testament's prophetic foreshadowing in Jeremiah and Caiaphas's unwitting prophecy, to the cross where Jesus, as the second Adam, fulfilled God's purpose by dying for the children of God scattered across time. The preacher underscores that God's plan, though obscured by human ignorance and resistance—seen in figures like Pilate and Caiaphas—was always designed to gather all believers into one body, reconciling them through Christ's propitiation and glorifying them through His resurrection. The message calls believers to recognize their identity as part of God's eternal family business, inherited through grace, and to live as witnesses to the truth that Jesus is the only way, the only propitiation, and the only hope for all who are given to Him. Truth: John 17; John 11:47–52; John 18:12–14; John 10; John 12:23–26; Hebrews 2; 1 Corinthians 2; Acts 2–4; Matthew 25–26 "ALL RIGHT, WELL, LET'S GET IN IT…" All right, well, let's get in it. Amen. Any news? Anything? Anything? Anything struck you as you've been walking through these last couple days—John 17, 18, 19—or you can be anywhere else. Y'all know how we do. It don't have to be in John. We just want to hear what God's been dealing

About

Join Pastor Nick Holden as we journey through Matthew in our Nesting with Jesus. Nesting with Jesus is our daily bible reading plan. This is our daily devotional schedule for July. If you don't have your own plan, we'd love for you to join us. 
 This month, Lord willing, our faith family at the Chapel, along with others from all around the world, will spend the entire month in the Newer Testament. We’ll continue exploring the redeeming work and witness of Jesus — and His promised return for each of us who will be found eagerly and earnestly looking and living in the light of His return. We’ll spend the lion’s share of the month in the deep waters of the book of Matthew.