“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be lik...
Jun 29, 2025•32 min
Matthew 6:1–4 (CSB) 1 “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. Otherwise, you have no reward with your Father in heaven. 2 So whenever you give to the poor, don’t sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be applauded by people. Truly I tell you, they have their reward. 3 But when you give to the poor, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. An...
Jun 22, 2025•32 min
Matthew 5:38–42 (NIV) 38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
Jun 10, 2025•27 min
Matthew 5:33–37 (CSB) 33 “Again, you have heard that it was said to our ancestors, You must not break your oath, but you must keep your oaths to the Lord. 34 But I tell you, don’t take an oath at all: either by heaven, because it is God’s throne; 35 or by the earth, because it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, because it is the city of the great King. 36 Do not swear by your head, because you cannot make a single hair white or black. 37 But let your ‘yes’ mean ‘yes,’ and your ‘no’ mean ‘no.’ An...
Jun 01, 2025•37 min
Matthew 5:21–26 (CSB) 21 “You have heard that it was said to our ancestors, Do not murder, and whoever murders will be subject to judgment. 22 But I tell you, everyone who is angry with his brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Whoever insults his brother or sister, will be subject to the court. Whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be subject to hellfire. 23 So if you are offering your gift on the altar, and there you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave yo...
May 18, 2025•29 min
Matthew 5:13–16 (CSB) “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt should lose its taste, how can it be made salty? It’s no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works an...
May 04, 2025•34 min
Matthew 5:9–12 (CSB) Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. “You are blessed when they insult you and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of me. Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Apr 28, 2025•35 min
Matthew 5:1–12 (NIV) 1 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them. He said: 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 8 Ble...
Apr 08, 2025•36 min
Matthew 4:23–25 (CSB) 23 Now Jesus began to go all over Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. 24 Then the news about him spread throughout Syria. So they brought to him all those who were afflicted, those suffering from various diseases and intense pains, the demon-possessed, the epileptics, and the paralytics. And he healed them. 25 Large crowds followed him from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, ...
Mar 30, 2025•29 min
Matthew 4:17–22 (CSB) "From then on Jesus began to preach, 'Repent, because the kingdom of heaven has come near.' As he was walking along the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter), and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. 'Follow me,' he told them, 'and I will make you fish for people.' 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and his brot...
Mar 23, 2025•24 min
Matthew 4:12–17 (NASB95) "Now when Jesus heard that John had been taken into custody, He withdrew into Galilee; and leaving Nazareth, He came and settled in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali. This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet: 'THE LAND OF ZEBULUN AND THE LAND OF NAPHTALI, BY THE WAY OF THE SEA, BEYOND THE JORDAN, GALILEE OF THE GENTILES— THE PEOPLE WHO WERE SITTING IN DARKNESS SAW A GREAT LIGHT, AND THOSE WHO WERE SITTING IN THE L...
Mar 16, 2025•27 min
Matthew 3:13–17 (ESV) 13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming...
Mar 02, 2025•31 min
John the Baptist was not one to mince words, so while it must have been jarring, it wasn't too surprising that his greeting to the Pharisees and Sadducees was "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?" Why did he start with this, and how can we learn from their mistakes and instead pursue a vibrant, living faith in Christ?
Feb 25, 2025•38 min
Matthew 2:1–6 (ESV) 1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehe...
Feb 18, 2025•32 min
Matthew 1:18–25 (ESV) 18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which...
Feb 02, 2025•29 min
"For many cultures ancient and modern, and certainly in the Jewish world of Matthew’s day, this genealogy was the equivalent of a roll of drums, a fanfare of trumpets, and a town crier calling for attention. Any first-century Jew would find this family tree both impressive and compelling. Like a great procession coming down a city street, we watch the figures at the front, and the ones in the middle, but all eyes are waiting for the one who comes in the position of greatest honour, right at the ...
Jan 26, 2025•35 min
Malachi had a message from God of both correction and hope for the people of Israel. They had become careless and negligent in their calling, and were stale in their faith. But God gives them a glimpse of the coming Messiah and his forebearer (John the Baptist) in this call back to a godly focus and life of faith.
Jan 19, 2025•37 min
Haggai the prophet urged the returning people of Jerusalem to remember their commitments and calling as he called them to complete the rebuilding of the Temple because they had become distracted by misplaced priorities and procrastination. Haggai wasn't the bearer of fire and brimstone, though. As they faithfully returned to their mission, God had some beautiful blessings in store.
Jan 14, 2025•31 min
"The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.” - Zephaniah 3:17, NIV
Jan 05, 2025•32 min
"How long, Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, “Violence!” but you do not save? 3 Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds. 4 Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never prevails. The wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted. The Lord’s Answer 5 “Look at the nations and watch— and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in y...
Dec 29, 2024•40 min
We're excited to share this message from James Kinnaird, Regional Advancement Representative for World Bible School, about the past, present, and future ministry of World Bible School. We are also very excited about the hands-on opportunities WBS makes possible for our congregation to share the good news of Jesus with people around the world.
Dec 15, 2024•32 min
Sometimes the difference between bad news and good news is which side of the news you're on. Such was the case when Nahum prophecies the fall of Nineveh and Assyria. If you had been violent, oppressive, and abusive, the coming of the King of Kings is a bad day. However, if you were among the crushed, the oppressed, the exploited, and pummeled? Delivery is GOOD NEWS! GREAT NEWS!! And such is the case with those who now await the advent of King of Kings. "But our citizenship is in heaven. And we e...
Dec 08, 2024•35 min
Into a world of injustice, oppression, and greed the prophet Micah spoke justice, hope, and the kingdom of the Messiah. "He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8)
Dec 01, 2024•36 min
Jonah is an incredibly powerful and dramatic story. Being swallowed by a fish for three days and surviving sounds crazy and miraculous. However, that isn't the most incredible facet of Jonah's story. The most powerful part of the story is God's mercy and redemption of a people so lost, so broken, that God describes them as "not knowing their right from their left." God committed an act of mercy so incredible that Jonah was actually offended by it, and thought it was God who should repent of show...
Nov 24, 2024•28 min
Obadiah. He was, perhaps, the definition of a fire & brimstone prophet. His book is short but powerful as he addresses the nation of Edom (the descendants of Esau) and their abuse of their neighbors in Israel
Nov 17, 2024•31 min
Amos was a farmer and shepherd from the Southern Kingdom (Judah) sent to the heart of the Northern Kingdom (Israel) to speak truth to power. He held nothing back as he spoke powerfully to oppression, injustice, and deep immorality, calling people to genuine change and a real relationship with God. It's a message that rings as true for the world and the church of Christ as it did then.
Nov 13, 2024•27 min
Joel 2:13–14 (MSG) "Change your life, not just your clothes. Come back to GOD, your God. And here’s why: God is kind and merciful. He takes a deep breath, puts up with a lot, This most patient God, extravagant in love, always ready to cancel catastrophe. Who knows? Maybe he’ll do it now, maybe he’ll turn around and show pity. Maybe, when all’s said and done, there’ll be blessings full and robust for your GOD!"
Nov 03, 2024•31 min
The Book of Hosea is a beautiful, poetic look into the heart of God for his people, Israel. It's also a heartbreaking look at the brokenness of our world, and how it weighs on God's own heart. Through it all, God's justice, mercy, and grace shine through.
Oct 27, 2024•33 min
This week James updated us on his recent work in Guatemala City, and spoke on Acts 8 and how we can learn from Philip how to share the good news of Jesus.
Oct 13, 2024•37 min
Esther proved to be a strong, capable, faithful, and courageous woman of faith. That faith and courage was, in part, due to her willingness to have and to listen to wise people around her.
Oct 06, 2024•33 min
