MATTHEW | THE KING THAT WENT TO THE CROSS (AUDIO ONLY)

Matthew 12:22-32 | The Unforgivable Sin

This sermon explores Jesus' confrontation with the Pharisees after He healed a demon-oppressed man who was blind and mute. While the crowds began asking if Jesus could be the promised Son of David, the Pharisees accused Him of casting out demons by Satan's power. Jesus responded by exposing the illogic of their accusation and warning them about blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.

This text reveals that neutrality toward Jesus is impossible. We must either be for Him or against Him. The unforgivable sin isn't a single statement we might accidentally make, but rather a continual rejection of the Holy Spirit's testimony about Jesus, which closes off the only path to forgiveness: repentance. Pastor Michael gave us urgent implications for our spiritual life, reminding us that self-righteousness blinds us to our need for Jesus, and that the evidence of His power demands a response.

Sermon No. 30

Pastor Michael Johnson

Preached on 1-11-2026

MATTHEW | THE KING THAT WENT TO THE CROSS (AUDIO ONLY)

Matthew 12:9-21 | Finding Rest in Jesus

This sermon explores the dangerous divide between life-giving faith and crushing legalism through Jesus' healing of a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath. You will see how the Pharisees' self-righteousness blinded them to their own need for restoration, leading them to plot against the very One who came to save them. Pastor Michael reminds us that Jesus didn't come to burden us with religious obligation, but to restore what sin has broken. Our salvation rests entirely on Christ's righteousness, not our own efforts, and this truth should transform how we view both our own struggles and the struggles of others.

Sermon No. 29

Pastor Michael Johnson

Preached on 1-4-2025

MATTHEW | THE KING THAT WENT TO THE CROSS (AUDIO ONLY)

Matthew 12:1-8 | The Lord of the Sabbath

This sermon explores the first major confrontation between Jesus and the Pharisees over Sabbath observance, revealing how religious legalism enslaves us while the gospel sets us free. When the Pharisees accused Jesus' disciples of breaking the Sabbath by picking grain, Jesus responded by declaring Himself greater than the temple and Lord of the Sabbath. This passage confronts our tendency to earn God's favor through rule-keeping rather than resting in Christ's finished work. The implications for our spiritual life are profound: we must continually examine whether we're trusting in our performance or in Jesus' righteousness, recognizing that true spiritual growth comes not from trying harder but from abiding in Christ.

Sermon No. 28

Pastor Michael Johnson

Preached on 12-28-2025