Olivet Baptist Church

Matthew 28:16-20 - The King's Commission by Olivet Baptist ChurchJesus has now been resurrected, He has been exalted to King over the entire universe with all authority, and now He sends out His disciples with this commission to make disciples. Pastor Kevin Craft

Matthew 27:62-28:15 Nothing Can Stop Jesus by Olivet Baptist ChurchWhen an unstoppable force meets an immovable object, what happens? There were many ways that Jesus was opposed in this passage, but none of those oppositions was able to stop Jesus. Jesus has power over everything and and the plan of God cannot be stopped. Pastor Kevin Craft

Matthew 27:11-61 - Jesus the King, rejected by men, but not by God by Olivet Baptist ChurchIt's natural for people to want a leader who will do exactly what they want, a Savior who will meet their every desire. But Jesus shows us what it really means to be the Messiah King, and He is rejected for it. But He trusts in God and is not rejected by God so that we would not be rejected by God. Pastor Kevin Craft

Matthew 26:57-27:10 - Boldness without the Burden of Guilt by Olivet Baptist ChurchContrasts can help us see things clearly. Knowing what is wrong can help us see what is right, knowing what is right can help us see what is wrong. This passage gives us two sets of contrasts - the contrast between Jesus and Peter facing the risk of death and the contrast between Peter and Judas facing the burden of guilt. Pastor Kevin Craft

Matthew 26:30-56 - Thy Will Over My Will by Olivet Baptist ChurchJesus is omniscient, and yet when we read the gospels we more often see the emphasis that He knew the Scriptures. And it is that example that we follow as we seek to know the will of God and hold to the will of God, being strengthened by prayer. Pastor Kevin Craft

Matthew 26:17-29 - Blood of the Covenant by Olivet Baptist ChurchIn order to know what is new, it helps to compare it to what is old. We do that in all areas of life - that's how we even define the word "new." Jesus does that in this passage as He institutes the Lord's Supper. He is introducing the New Covenant and compares it to the Old Covenant at the Passover meal. And in all of that, He focuses on His death. That is what we remember in the Lord's Supper. Pastor Kevin Craft

Matthew 26:1-16 - Magnifying the Death of Jesus: This is Good Stewardship by Olivet Baptist ChurchThere are at least 2 types of magnification. A microscope takes an object that is truly small and makes it look big. A telescope takes an object that is truly massive and gives us a little better glimpse of how spectacular it is. It is this second type of magnification that the Bible talks about when it says to magnify the Lord. This passage has both types of magnification, and they lead to very different results. Pastor Kevin Craft

Matthew 25:31-46 - Final Judgment by Olivet Baptist ChurchAt the end, Jesus will sit on His throne and judge, separated everyone into two groups. The criteria that this passage talks about is rather surprising, given the other verses which talk about our eternal destiny. Pastor Kevin Craft

Be Ready or Face Judgment by Olivet Baptist ChurchThe most important thing for a disciple of Jesus is not knowing exactly when Jesus will come back, but being ready for when He does return. In this passage, Jesus hammers home the necessity of being ready and gives illustrations to His disciples about how to be ready for His return. This sermon also explores biblical evidence for and against the idea of a rapture. Pastor Kevin Craft

Matthew 23:36-24:35 When will Destruction Come? When will Jesus Come Back? by Olivet Baptist ChurchWhen will the temple be destroyed? When will Jesus return? When will be the end of the age? These are the three questions that the disciples ask Jesus. This is an often debated passage regarding the timeline of history. But when we start with what we know, then we are more able to understand the more complex things that Jesus is teaching. Pastor Kevin Craft

Matthew 23 - Don't listen to These Bible Teachers by Olivet Baptist ChurchWe can find just about any kind of preaching or writing about the Bible through a quick google search. But in an age of so much information, how are we supposed to filter through it all? What kind of Bible teacher should we be listening to? Pastor Kevin Craft

Matthew 22:15-46 - Questioning Jesus by Olivet Baptist ChurchThere is more than one way to ask the question "Why." There can be genuine curiosity, or you can ask it because you don't really agree with what someone else has said. In this passage, we read 4 questions. And as each of them are answered, there are riches of truth that can be learned if one will receive it. Pastor Kevin Craft

Matthew 21:28-22:14 - Who Are The People Of God? by Olivet Baptist ChurchJesus continues to clarify who the people of God are. It is not about ethnicity or knowledge - the Pharisees after all won't be a part of the kingdom. Rather it is what one believes about Jesus, and a faith that produces works. Pastor Kevin Craft

Matthew 21:12-27 - Rejecting God's Authority and Agenda by Olivet Baptist ChurchWe often view the ultra-rich as being above the rules. They can hire the best lawyers, fund the politicians, and literally pay people to agree with them. While we would be right to view that as a misuse of authority, sometimes we view God in the same way as money - He is there to promote us and make us successful in what we are doing. But when we put our agenda first and not God's, Jesus says that we will be destroyed. Instead, He puts us to have faith in God and to be people of prayer. Pastor Kevin Craft

Matthew 20:17-34 - Jesus, The Servant Who Gives His Life For Many by Olivet Baptist ChurchIn this passage, there is a contrast between Jesus - who lowers Himself, serving to the point of death - and James and John - who are seeking exaltation. Jesus, in lowering Himself, is a merciful God who gives His life as a ransom for many. Pastor Kevin Craft

Matthew 19:13-20:16 - Childlike Faith and the Rich Young Man by Olivet Baptist ChurchThe eternal good life is something that everyone wants. It's what the rich young man asks Jesus about. But instead of telling him to do some good work to gain eternal life, Jesus tells him to surrender all and follow Him, to have a childlike faith. Pastor Kevin Craft

Matthew 19:1-12 - Marriage, Divorce, and Singleness by Olivet Baptist ChurchShould I get a divorce? Is it better to be single and not marry? What does it mean to be created male and female? What is marriage? Jesus teaches about all of these questions as He answers the Pharisees question about divorce. Pastor Kevin Craft

Matthew 18:15-35 - Caring and Confronting by Olivet Baptist ChurchWhat do we do when other people hurt us and sin against us? Jesus gives us clear instructions and responsibilities in this passage. Pastor Kevin Craft

Matthew 18:1-14 Who is the Greatest by Olivet Baptist Church"I am the greatest." That's what Muhammed Ali said, and that's what lots of people strive for. Greatness is what we want. But Jesus changes the way we think about greatness. Instead of focusing on greatness, focus on being little, focus on being humble. And that comes out in this passage, especially in the face of temptations and stumbling blocks. Pastor Kevin Craft

Matthew 17:14-27 - Faith That Grows by Olivet Baptist ChurchGod does not leave us a children in our faith. He puts us in trials and temptations that will increase our faith. Usually we want those trials to go away and to return to an easy life, but that is exactly what we need to grow. That is what we see Jesus doing in this passage - growing the faith of the disciples. Pastor Kevin Craft

Matthew 17:1-13 - The Glorious Messiah by Olivet Baptist ChurchWhen Jesus is transfigured, He displays the glory of God, fulfilling the prophecies and proving He is the Messiah. Pastor Kevin Craft

Matthew 16:21-28 - Called to Die by Olivet Baptist ChurchWhy would Jesus not want people to know that He was the Messiah? It came down to the fact that people didn't have a full understanding of what He was doing and who He was. And in this passage, Jesus starts to clearly show the full picture of who He is and what He came to do. He is the Messiah who came to die. And He calls His disciples to do the same. Pastor Kevin Craft

Matthew 16:13-20 - What's in a Name? by Olivet Baptist ChurchSometimes it's just best to be direct. In this passage, Jesus directly asks the disciples what the people are saying and what they think about who He is. Peter then makes the declaration that Jesus is the Messiah. After Peter's declaration, Jesus makes a declaration about Peter and how He is going to use him in the future. Pastor Kevin Craft

Matthew 15:21-39 Abundant Mercy by Olivet Baptist ChurchWhen someone unexpected shows up for dinner, sometimes you wonder if you've cooked enough food for everyone. But when you go out to eat, you don't usually have to worry about running out of food - it's their job to make sure there's always enough. In this passage, Jesus shows that He always has enough mercy for us. Pastor Kevin Craft

Matthew 15:1-20 - Defilement Come From Within by Olivet Baptist ChurchWhile the Pharisees were concerned with rituals to keep themselves looking good to others, Jesus admonished them to focus on the heart. Sin comes from within. This is the first truth to realize in the path of being clean in the eyes of God. Pastor Kevin Craft

Matthew 14:13-36 - Overwhelming Situations by Olivet Baptist ChurchWe don't like limits. When we're given restrictions, we like to push boundaries because we like to think we are more capable than others give us credit for. But there are many situations in life that are too big for us. And God intentionally puts us in those situations so that we will not rely on ourselves, but look to Him. Pastor Kevin Craft

Matthew 13:53-14:12 Responding in Belief and Obedience by Olivet Baptist ChurchIn celebrity culture, there are fans and there are critics. This passage says that Jesus was becoming famous in the area and it details two different responses to His notoriety and teaching. Pastor Kevin Craft

Matthew 13:44-52 Ultimate Treasure, Ultimate Suffering by Olivet Baptist ChurchEveryone gets excited over a modern-day treasure hunt. Whether it's a sense of accomplishment, or the security and joy that treasure brings, treasure excites us. In this passage, Jesus tells a set of parables about treasure, getting to the heart of what we value most, and making us think, "Would I really want God more than something else?" Pastor Kevin Craft

Matthew 13:24-43 Counterfeits and Growth by Olivet Baptist ChurchCounterfeiting has a long history. Those who practice it are able to produce items that are nearly identical to the original. But it's still not the real thing. In these parables, Jesus teaches about those who are really in the kingdom and those who only appear to be. He also teaches about how the kingdom grows. Pastor Kevin Craft

Matthew 12:22-50 - Evaluating Jesus, Evaluating Ourselves by Olivet Baptist ChurchIt's not uncommon for people to disagree about the of talent an athlete has. Some may say they're the greatest, others may say they're average. When Jesus performed His miracle, there were two completely different evaluations about Him. And so Jesus not only clarifies who He is, but also turns the mirror to us and tells us how to rightly evaluate ourselves. Pastor Kevin Craft

Matthew 12:1-21 - The Clearest Picture of Mercy by Olivet Baptist ChurchJesus said, "Come to me all you who labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest." In this chapter, God is giving us examples of how we have rest and mercy in Jesus. This mercy has been pointed to through symbols in the Old Testament, prophesied about, and now Jesus is here - the fullness of mercy. Pastor Kevin Craft

Matthew 11:20-30 - Come And Find Rest For Your Soul by Olivet Baptist ChurchGetting ahead in the world is exhausting. Trying to get one more recognition, one more paycheck, one more person's approval is a burden that never ends. And pursuing this recognition is what actually makes us miss the Lordship of Jesus and the rest that is found in Him. Pastor Kevin Craft

Matthew 11:1-19 - Mistaken Identities by Olivet Baptist ChurchHave you ever paid for someone to do a job and then not gotten what you expected? John the Baptist asks Jesus for clarification about who He is, because He is different than he was expecting. Jesus clarifies not only who He is, but explains who John the Baptist is and who the crowds are. Pastor Kevin Craft

Matthew 10:34-42 Responses to Jesus by Olivet Baptist Church • A podcast on AnchorWhat is the cost of following Jesus? Holding all things with an open hand, and holding tight onto Jesus is what it means to love Jesus more. When we follow Jesus, there are things that we will lose, but there are also rewards to be had as well. Pastor Kevin Craft

Matthew 10:16-33 Persecuted for the Mission by Olivet Baptist Church • A podcast on AnchorJesus does not sugarcoat the mission that He sends us on. We are sent out as sheep among wolves. But the mission is that important, and Jesus assures us that it is worth it. Pastor Kevin Craft

Matthew 9:35-10:15 - Fields and Fields of wandering people by Olivet Baptist Church • A podcast on AnchorPeople harassed, helpless, and wandering aimlessly. That's evident not just in a physical sense, but also in a spiritual sense. Everyone not in the kingdom of God is subject to these conditions, and Jesus has compassion on them. Jesus said that the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few, so pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. Pastor Kevin Craft

Matthew 9:1-34 - The distinctness of Jesus by Olivet Baptist Church • A podcast on AnchorA blind taste test shows us that we might not actually know our favorite foods as well as we think we do. Sometimes it's hard to pick out a distinct taste without all of our faculties. But this is not the case with Jesus. Jesus is distinct. And throughout this chapter, He shows us how unique He is. Pastor Kevin Craft

Matthew 8 - Power and Authority by Olivet Baptist Church • A podcast on AnchorJesus continues to fulfill all that was spoken about Him as He performs miraculous healings. If we remember His authority and how we respond to His authority makes the difference between great faith, little faith, and rejection. Pastor Kevin Craft

Matthew 7:13-29 - The Pathway of Life by Olivet Baptist Church • A podcast on AnchorJesus closes His sermon on the mount by presenting us with two paths: the path of life and the path of destruction. One is hard, one is easy. On the path of life, there will be those who might lead us off the path, and we must make certain that we are on the path ourselves. But if we are on the path, then we will make it through the storms of life into the presence of Jesus. Pastor Kevin Craft

Matthew 7:1-12 - Judge Better Than A Pharisee by Olivet Baptist Church • A podcast on AnchorIt's easy to judge. It's also easy to tell people that they shouldn't judge. Jesus says we should do both. But we should do this in a certain way. Not like the Pharisees, assuming motives and being hypercritical, but like God judges - calling sin sin, and yet being merciful with sinners. In short, we should look in the mirror before we look out the window. We need help to do this. And this is also why Jesus gives us the encouragement that God will give us wisdom in this task and remind us of how simple it can be. Pastor Kevin Craft

Matthew 6:19-34 - Shaped by Actions and Beliefs by Olivet Baptist Church • A podcast on AnchorOne of the challenges that new investors in the stock market have to overcome is trading with their emotions. Emotional trading can lead to poor investment decisions. And yet it is understandable that we are emotionally invested in our money, because it is our livelihood. This principle comes from the Bible, and in this passage, Jesus teaches His disciples that where our treasure is, there our heart will be also. Pastor Kevin Craft

Matthew 6:1-18 - Disciplines Focused on Jesus by Olivet Baptist Church • A podcast on AnchorWhat makes something good? Is it the end result? What makes someone a hypocrite? Is it what they do? Jesus answers both those questions as He talks about the heart of someone who is seeking after God through spiritual disciplines. Pastor Kevin Craft

Matthew 5:21-48 - The Fullness of the Law, the Christian's Ethic by Olivet Baptist Church • A podcast on AnchorWhat does it mean that Jesus was the fullness of the law? We don't have to wonder; the New Testament gives us examples. And here Jesus explains what the fullness of the law is and how we as citizens of the kingdom of heaven are supposed to live. This is the greater righteousness that Jesus calls us to. Pastor Kevin Craft

Matthew 5:17-20 by Olivet Baptist Church • A podcast on AnchorAm I required to follow all the rules in the Old Testament? If not, why are they there? Jesus says that He fulfills the entire Old Testament and that all the Old Testament points to Him. Pastor Kevin Craft

Matthew 5:1-16 - The Good Life of Discipleship by Olivet Baptist Church • A podcast on AnchorCultures have unique character traits that are more prominent than others. The culture of the kingdom of heaven is no different. There are certain traits that disciples of Jesus are supposed to display as they live as citizens of the kingdom of God. Here, at the beginning of the sermon on the mount, Jesus lays out what a kingdom citizen looks like. Pastor Kevin Craft

Matthew 4:12-25 - Call to the Kingdom by Olivet Baptist Church • A podcast on AnchorWhy is following Jesus such a good thing? What does it actually mean to follow Jesus? What happens when we follow Jesus? This passage marks the start of the earthly ministry of Jesus and the dawning of light in the kingdom of darkness. Pastor Kevin Craft

Matthew 3 - The Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand by Olivet Baptist Church • A podcast on Anchor"You just need to speak things into existence." Sometimes this is what people say, or the mindset that we might have - that we can make good things happen if we just stay positive. But the Bible shows us that what matters more than our words is what God says. His words show us reality. In this passage we see a declaration about the kingdom of heaven and who is a part of it, and a declaration about Jesus. "This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."

Matthew 2 - Jesus: The Fullness of the Old Testament by Olivet Baptist Church • A podcast on AnchorThere are patterns and types and prophecies throughout the OT. All of these are meant to prepare us for what the Messiah will be like and what He will do. In Matthew 2, we see that Jesus is this Messiah, the one who fulfills all of the patterns and types and prophecies. He is the Messiah, the Son of Abraham, the Son of David, the Son of God. Pastor Kevin Craft

Matthew 1:18-25 - Jesus: He Will Save His People From Their Sins by Olivet Baptist Church • A podcast on AnchorJesus is the Messiah, the King who eternally reigns. But He did not come and reign like we would expect. He came to deliver His people from something very specific - the main thing that we all need deliverance from. Pastor Kevin Craft

Matthew 1:1-17 - Messiah: Son of David, Son of Abraham by Olivet Baptist Church • A podcast on AnchorKnowing something about who came before us, can have an impact on who we are. Knowing who came before Jesus, can tell us who Jesus will be. This is what Matthew announces to us at the beginning of his gospel. It is announced to us that Jesus is the Son of David and the Son of Abraham. He will be the eternal King who will bring blessing to all the nations of the earth. Pastor Kevin Craft

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