Sermons Archives - Maynardville Fellowship

https://www.maynardvillefellowship.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Cooke-05-10-2026.mp3 In 1 Peter 3:7, the apostle Peter gives husbands one of the clearest and most searching commands in all of Scripture: know your wife, honor her, be tender with her, remember whose she is, and keep covenant with her so that your prayers may not be hindered. A wife  is a fellow heir of the grace of life, a daughter of the King, and a precious vessel entrusted to her husband’s care. Her femininity is not a defect to tolerate, but a glory to honor. Her vulnerability is not an excuse for contempt, but a summons to Christlike strength. Peter does not call husbands to sentimental softness or domineering harshness. He calls them to the pattern of Christ, the Bridegroom who knows, honors, protects, and gives Himself for His bride. A man may confess biblical headship with his lips, but if he is harsh, selfish, dismissive, or covenantally absent in his home, he contradicts with his life what he professes in doctrine. Listen as Pastor Matt calls husbands to repent where they have damaged what God entrusted to them, and to recover the glory of strong, tender, Christ-shaped leadership in the home.

https://www.maynardvillefellowship.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Carr-1-19-25.mp3 As Zechariah seven comes to a close, the prophet gives the Lord’s answer to the envoy from Bethel concerning worship that pleases God. Pastor Carr walks through the text highlighting the nature of the prohibitions levied against the people for their good.

https://www.maynardvillefellowship.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Carr-1-12-25.mp3 This week Pastor Carr takes a topical look at the failures in Israel’s history that led to the spiritual captivity that brought their demise. He uses that history as a warning for the church and challenges to greater affection.

https://www.maynardvillefellowship.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Sermon-Carr-01-05-25.mp3 In this message Pastor Carr continues to handle Zechariah’s response to the delegation from Bethel in Zechariah 7 and gives a brief exhortation toward the type of worship that pleases and honors God.

https://www.maynardvillefellowship.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Carr-12-29-24.mp3 Why do we perform the religious duties that we do? Can we do that which is good and Scripture requires of us in a way that is displeasing to God? In this sermon Pastor Michael Carr explores the important distinction between outward conformity and inward submission to the commands of God.

https://www.maynardvillefellowship.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Carr-12-22-24.mp3 As Zechariah moves out of the night visions his attention turns to the long awaited Branch figure. This passage serves as a more formal introduction to the person and work of the Branch Messiah that will be developed in the remainder of the book.

https://www.maynardvillefellowship.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Carr-12-15-24.mp3 The final of Zechariah’s series of night visions depicts the ultimate demise of national Israel’s favored status and the anticipated victory of the promised Christ.

https://www.maynardvillefellowship.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Carr-12-8-24.mp3 The first half of Zechariah’s sixth night vision portrayed the flying scroll exposing the hidden sins of Israel. The second half of the vision shows how God will remove Israel from their place of honor. Pastor Carr shows how to apply this text to Israel’s post-exilic context, their first century context, and what that means for Christians today.

https://www.maynardvillefellowship.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Carr-12-1-24.mp3 The first four chapters of Zechariah consist exclusively of blessing and promise, but in the sixth vision the tone shifts to covenant curses. Find out how the curses for violating the covenant are intensified for Israel after their return from captivity and why.

https://www.maynardvillefellowship.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Carr-11-24-24.mp3 How will God accomplish is purposes with his chosen people? How do his dealings with OT Israel affect his chosen people today? In this sermon Pastor Michael Carr shows how God moved his people from cursed to blessed and why that matters for you today.

https://www.maynardvillefellowship.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Sermon-Carr-11-17-24-1.mp3 In this sermon Pastor Michael Carr considers the biblical pattern for temple building from Genesis to the final temple of Revelation. Learn how this pattern applies to the narrative of Zechariah as well as to today’s believer.

https://www.maynardvillefellowship.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Carr-11-10-24.mp3 Symbolic imagery can be difficult to digest in the prophetic books and this passage is no exception. Follow along as this sermon walks you through the symbolic items of this vision and rejoice at its glorious fulfillment in Christ.

https://www.maynardvillefellowship.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Carr-11-3-24.mp3 See the promises made to the newly clean High Priest and how his ministry foreshadowed the true High Priest who was to come.

https://www.maynardvillefellowship.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Carr-10-27-24-redo.mp3 The people of Israel find themselves in a dire position in this text. See how the marvelous grace of Christ was extended to His people even 500 before his redemptive ministry on earth.

https://www.maynardvillefellowship.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Carr-10-20-24.mp3 What is the nature of the promises to Old Testament Israel with regard to their city and temple? Many mistakenly apply these promises to the “end times”, but pastor Carr shows in this sermon why these promises were fulfilled initially in Zechariah’s time and finally in Christ.

https://www.maynardvillefellowship.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Carr-10-13-24.mp3 Zechariah’s second vision is his shortest, but it full of restoration and promise. The imagery is not nearly as intimidating as one might think. This sermon makes the symbolism plain and the hope clear and tangible. Find out what role you play in this promise.

https://www.maynardvillefellowship.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Carr-10624.mp3 The first vision of Zechariah’s ministry reveals the way that God interacts with his covenant people. The gracious and comforting words that he offers for Israel are also offered to his covenant people today.

The worship of the false god Baal has brought the Northern Kingdom of Israel under the condemnation of the Lord in the book of 1 Kings. To show that the Lord is God and not Baal, the Lord causes a drought to come over the land and it does not rain for more than 3 years. Listen as Brother Cody Maples walks us through 1 Kings 18, and we will see a showdown between the prophet of God, Elijah, and the 450 prophets of Baal. Then the people of Israel will have to quit “limping between two different opinions.” Then the people of Israel are called to make a choice. They can’t go on “limping between two opinions.” If the Lord is God, serve Him, but if Baal is god, then serve him.

https://www.maynardvillefellowship.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Of-Images-and-Imagery-Zechariah-1_7-11.mp3 It can be difficult to understand what you’re reading in prophetic literature. Fortunately, there is great internal evidence to help you understand the symbols and imagery that is used. This sermon walks through the four primary images in the first vision of Zechariah.

https://www.maynardvillefellowship.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/The-Lord-Remembers-Zech-1_1-6.mp3 Does God see me in my distress? Will he be faithful to his promises toward me? Does he have a plan for my future? It may be surprising to many, but Zechariah opens his book answering these very questions.

One of the great encouragements in Scripture to press on in faithfulness, regardless of how we feel or what we see around us, is that God is not mocked. Sowing to the flesh, no matter how the wicked seem to prosper, will bring only corruption. Sowing to the Spirit, will bring eternal life. Listen as Caleb Stomberg, Pastor of Legacy Reformed Baptist Church in East Grand Forks Minnesota, encourages Maynardville Fellowship toward continued faithfulness in light of this hope. *

Jesus has finally silenced the relentless attack of the religious leaders. They don’t know how to answer Jesus’ question. Furthermore, they are so intimidated by His wisdom that ‘no one dared from that day to ask Him another question.’ One might expect Jesus to kind of, ‘live and let live.’ If the Scribes and Pharisees are no longer going to attack Jesus, then He can just go about His business freely. Why enflame their passions against Him, right? But what do we see? We see Jesus on the attack! Listen as Pastor Matt shows how Jesus lambasts the Scribes and Pharisees to the crowds with them listening; exposing their self appointment as leaders, their double-standards, and the unholy motives of their ‘righteousness.’ If Jesus keeps this up He is going to get Himself killed….. which is, in fact, a necessary component of God’s perfect plan.

The day after the triumphal entry was a doozy of a day. All the groups of religious leaders banded together in their opposition to Jesus. Matthew tells of how they tried to intimidate Jesus, incriminate Him, discredit His theology, and diminish the influence He had over the crowds. In each instance they failed. Now Jesus goes on the offensive. He asks them two questions designed to expand their understanding of the Messiah. Yes, the Messiah was to be the Son of David, but He was more than that; He would also be David’s Lord. Listen as Pastor Matt explains the mysteries truths that make these seemingly contradictory identities possible, and the implications of those truths for both the enemies of Christ and the citizens of His Kingdom.

The religious leader’s have come after Jesus relentlessly since the triumphal entry and the cleansing of the Temple, but each time Jesus has warded off their attacks and made them look foolish. He was unfazed by their attempt at group intimidation. He avoided the Pharisees political trap to catch Him in treason, and answered what the Sadducees thought was an unanswerable Theological inconsistency in Jesus’ worldview concerning the resurrection. Now the Pharisees are attempting to test Jesus again; this time with a legal question. They expect to get Jesus to ostracize a portion of His support proclaiming one portion of the Law as the greatest when others, undoubtedly would have their differing opinions. Listen as Pastor Matt explains how Jesus once again avoids another trap. Jesus answers this question in an incontrovertible way with which no Jew could possibly argue, and in a way that ultimately points us to the Gospel.

When you mention the most wicked cities in history, Sodom and Gomorrah will always be on the list. The Lord calls their sin “very grave,” and the men of the city are called “wicked, great sinners against the Lord.” When we come to chapter 19, we see the Lord pour out his Wrath upon the cities because of their wickedness. Yet, at the same time, we see his Mercy displayed in the character, Lot. Listen as brother Cody walks us through Genesis 19 and we will see the disgusting wickedness of Sodom, how the city has impacted Lot and his family, and the Wrath and Mercy of God on full display.

Some texts are easier to understand and accept than others. This one is a doozy! What’s with this law about marrying your deceased brother’s widow if they had no kids before he died? And how are we supposed to feel about there being no marriage in heaven? And how are we ‘like the angels in heaven’ in the resurrection? After a surface reading, this text probably leaves you with more questions than answers. Listen as Pastor Matt unpacks this difficult passage, and points us to the death and resurrection of Christ as our only hope in life and in death.

This text is the go to text for statists: ‘Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.’ It is regularly used as a proof text for unlimited submission to leaders, and unquestioned acceptance of any tax burden levied by those leaders. But is that what Jesus is saying? Listen as Pastor Matt shows from the biblical and historical context that there is a lot more going on here than a blanket instruction to submit to any and all human Government, and how that within this text there is an implicit hope of better days to come due to Jesus’ unstoppable coming reign.

The chief priests and elders of the people attempted to intimidate Jesus after the triumphal entry and the clearing of the temple. Let’s just say it did not work…. like at all. In response Jesus gave three parables that progressively indicted the Jews as a whole, and the religious leaders in particular for their rebellion and wickedness. Listen as Pastor Matt shows how this third parable points to the irrationality and wickedness of their collective rejection of His offer of grace and blessing.

What is the proper approach to restoring a brother ensnared by sin? How should a Christian pursue someone who has been excommunicated? Many believe that the approach is the same in both situations, but Scripture is clear that the situations present two different paths to restoration and reconciliation.

Listen as Pastor Josh Woody explains how the local church is to corporately work out their salvation with fear and trembling before a holy God.

Disagreements and conflicts in the church are burdensome, but they are not to unique to your church. The same sorts of conflict was present in Ephesus, Colossae, Philippi, & Corinth. Paul even says that divisions are necessary & even helpful.1 Cor. 11:18 When you come together as a church, I hear that divisions exist among you; & in part I believe it. 19 For there must also be factions among you, so that those who are approved may become evident among you. The key is that WHEN there is a disagreement over faith or practice that the members are working through those disagreements toward unity. But how can you tell when someone is using such disagreements to create division through gossip? Listen as Pastor Matt examines Proverbs 20:29 to show us how to identify and deal with gossip so the church can remain unified.

Unity is not an option in the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is the very thing that Jesus himself prayed his followers would have to mirror the Godhead in John 17. We in the church have an awesome responsibility to maintain the unity that God has already provided us with the means that He has prescribed. Listen as Pastor David presents from Ephesians 4:1-6… I-Unity is Given to us by God DirectlyII-Unity is to be Guarded by us DevotionallyIII-Disunity is to be Gravely Dealt With

The Parable of the Landowner is the second of three judgment parables that Jesus with which Jesus threatened the chief priests and the elders of the people when they opposed Him in the temple. Listen as Pastor Matt explains this dark illustration, Jesus dreadful application for the Jewish people, and how their damning repudiation of Jesus’ warning led to the salvation of the world.

It is likely that the title of this sermon itself caused you to cringe a bit and recoil. The question is, why? Listen as Pastor Matt explains the God’s patriarchal design for marriage and all of society, and how that departing from this biblical structure ’causes the word of God to be dishonored. The Gospel is unashamedly, unapologetically, and unabashedly Patriarchal and that is something for which we should be thankful.

Christians are commanded to take dominion of the world and disciple the nations under Christ, but we will never take dominion of the world if we do not first take dominion of our own bodies. Listen as Pastor Josh Woody exposits Paul’s warning in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 to discipline our bodies and keep our bodies under control, lest we lead ourselves to destruction.

What does it mean to be “in the world, but not of it”? Many in the church either ignore the distinction altogether or reduce it to a christianized version of secular failures. Find out why Jesus prayed for this distinction and how you can avoid being “of the world.”

After the chief priests and the elders refused to answer Jesus concerning the source of John the Baptist’s ministry, Jesus presented them with a question centered around a parable. In this parable one son rebels and then repents while another son pretends to be an obedient son but doesn’t actually obey. Jesus then asks which son did the will of the father. Clearly, it was the first. But then Jesus hits them with a shocking pronouncement, ‘The tax collectors and prostituted would enter the Kingdom before these self-righteous, hypocritical religious leaders! May we all guard ourselves from pretending to be righteous when our hearts are far from God!

After Jesus’ triumphal entry and the cleansing of the temple the religious leader in Jerusalem were angry. So when He returned he was met with a huge group of chief priests and elders. This group asked Jesus two insincere questions. 1) By what authority are You doing these things, and 2) Who gave You this authority? Jesus’ response is a bit confusing on the surface. He asks them a question, and says if they answer His question He will answer theirs. He asks, ‘What is the source of John’s the Baptist’s baptism, from heaven or of man?’ Does this question seem odd to you? How is John’s baptism in any way related to Jesus’ authority to march into the city representing Himself as ‘the Son of David’ and His authority to cleanse the temple. Listen as Pastor Matt explains this remarkable text.

We all know the text. Matthew 21:21 Jesus answered and said to them, “Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ it will happen. Have you ever wondered how the cursing of a fig tree has anything at all to do with a mountain being cast into the sea? Listen as Pastor Matt explains how these two things are related, and the confidence building encouragement that this proclamation by King Jesus carries for His people.