Matthew 3
April 9th, 2026
Good Morning “Unlikely”. Today we are in Matthew 3.
John the Baptist didn’t fit the mold that’s for sure. Especially that of the religious leaders. Would John be welcome if he showed up in our church? Maybe I’ll show up Sunday morning wearing a camel hair coat. We can grab some lunch after service - anyone know who serves locust and honey?
The Pharisees and the Sadducees were the rule keepers, yet it’s John that has to set them straight! Their self made righteousness isn’t what God’s after. John challenges them to produce real fruit, the kind that comes from repentance and reliance on God. John’s busy Baptizing all comers from Jerusalem to Judea. Even Jesus!
“As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.””
Matthew 3:16-17 NIV
We use the word Trinity as a label for the 3 persons of our God. You will not find that word in Scripture. That doesn’t mean our Triune God doesn’t exist. Here we see all three persons clearly - The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit together yet separate. He’s 1 God in 3 persons… not 3 Gods. I know, I know, it’s hard to understand. It’s like the 3 states of water existing simultaneously, no it’s like the egg with its 3 parts… NO He’s not! Ha ha… Any human effort that try’s to define The Trinity falls short in my opinion. It’s comical to watch finite humans attempt to define an infinite unimaginable God (Isaiah 55:8-9, Isaiah 40:13). He doesn’t fit into our box of categories. Isn’t that the point? Why would I worship a god I could figure out? I’m not that smart.
When we receive Jesus our sins are washed away by the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5). We are “Baptized” by the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4-5). Once that’s happened, He commands that we declare it publicly. That’s what water Baptism does. Even Jesus, who WAS God, chose to be baptized out of obedience. It is a public declaration of what has already occurred inside (Romans 6:1-4). Baptism publicly says Jesus I’m yours, and asks witnesses to hold us accountable to live like it. When we realize what Jesus has done for us, we get Baptized out of obedience (Matthew 28:19-20). Reach out, we could talk more about it.
Matthew Chapter 3, and John the Baptist stand as proof that God uses broken, unlikely, out of the ordinary tools for extraordinary things! Let Him use you!
Love you all! Dig in and live it out!
Good Morning “Unlikely”. Today we are in Matthew 3.
John the Baptist didn’t fit the mold that’s for sure. Especially that of the religious leaders. Would John be welcome if he showed up in our church? Maybe I’ll show up Sunday morning wearing a camel hair coat. We can grab some lunch after service - anyone know who serves locust and honey?
The Pharisees and the Sadducees were the rule keepers, yet it’s John that has to set them straight! Their self made righteousness isn’t what God’s after. John challenges them to produce real fruit, the kind that comes from repentance and reliance on God. John’s busy Baptizing all comers from Jerusalem to Judea. Even Jesus!
“As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.””
Matthew 3:16-17 NIV
We use the word Trinity as a label for the 3 persons of our God. You will not find that word in Scripture. That doesn’t mean our Triune God doesn’t exist. Here we see all three persons clearly - The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit together yet separate. He’s 1 God in 3 persons… not 3 Gods. I know, I know, it’s hard to understand. It’s like the 3 states of water existing simultaneously, no it’s like the egg with its 3 parts… NO He’s not! Ha ha… Any human effort that try’s to define The Trinity falls short in my opinion. It’s comical to watch finite humans attempt to define an infinite unimaginable God (Isaiah 55:8-9, Isaiah 40:13). He doesn’t fit into our box of categories. Isn’t that the point? Why would I worship a god I could figure out? I’m not that smart.
When we receive Jesus our sins are washed away by the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5). We are “Baptized” by the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4-5). Once that’s happened, He commands that we declare it publicly. That’s what water Baptism does. Even Jesus, who WAS God, chose to be baptized out of obedience. It is a public declaration of what has already occurred inside (Romans 6:1-4). Baptism publicly says Jesus I’m yours, and asks witnesses to hold us accountable to live like it. When we realize what Jesus has done for us, we get Baptized out of obedience (Matthew 28:19-20). Reach out, we could talk more about it.
Matthew Chapter 3, and John the Baptist stand as proof that God uses broken, unlikely, out of the ordinary tools for extraordinary things! Let Him use you!
Love you all! Dig in and live it out!
January 2024
God is in the business of using the unlikely! John the Baptist didn’t fit the religious leaders mold that’s for sure. Maybe I’ll show up Sunday morning wearing a camel hair coat. We can grab some lunch after service - anyone know who serves locust and honey?
The Pharisees and the Sadducees were the rule keepers, yet it’s John that has to set them straight! John is busy teaching repentance and Baptizing all comers from Jerusalem to Judea. Even Jesus!
“As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.””
Matthew 3:16-17 NIV
You will not find the word Trinity in Scripture used to define the 3 persons of our God. But here we see all three clearly - The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit all seen together here. He’s 1 God in 3 persons… not 3 Gods. I know, I know, it’s hard to understand. Any human effort that try’s to define The Trinity falls short in my opinion. It’s comical to watch finite humans attempt to define an infinite unimaginable God. He doesn’t fit in our box of categories. Isn’t that the point? Why would I worship a god I could figure out? I’m not that smart.
Even Jesus, who WAS God, chose to be baptized out of obedience - and He had nothing to repent of. Have you been Baptized. Baptism is a public declaration of what has already occurred inside. Baptism is commanded as an act of obedience. Reach out, we could talk more about it.
Check out Matthew Chapter 3 - Proof our undefinable God uses broken out of the ordinary tools for extraordinary things!
God is in the business of using the unlikely! John the Baptist didn’t fit the religious leaders mold that’s for sure. Maybe I’ll show up Sunday morning wearing a camel hair coat. We can grab some lunch after service - anyone know who serves locust and honey?
The Pharisees and the Sadducees were the rule keepers, yet it’s John that has to set them straight! John is busy teaching repentance and Baptizing all comers from Jerusalem to Judea. Even Jesus!
“As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.””
Matthew 3:16-17 NIV
You will not find the word Trinity in Scripture used to define the 3 persons of our God. But here we see all three clearly - The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit all seen together here. He’s 1 God in 3 persons… not 3 Gods. I know, I know, it’s hard to understand. Any human effort that try’s to define The Trinity falls short in my opinion. It’s comical to watch finite humans attempt to define an infinite unimaginable God. He doesn’t fit in our box of categories. Isn’t that the point? Why would I worship a god I could figure out? I’m not that smart.
Even Jesus, who WAS God, chose to be baptized out of obedience - and He had nothing to repent of. Have you been Baptized. Baptism is a public declaration of what has already occurred inside. Baptism is commanded as an act of obedience. Reach out, we could talk more about it.
Check out Matthew Chapter 3 - Proof our undefinable God uses broken out of the ordinary tools for extraordinary things!