The Golden Rule. Almost everybody knows it, yet how few live it! As Jesus nears the end of the Sermon on the Mount, He gives this revolutionary principle that, if lived out, would change every relationship we have. Listen in to hear how this age-old saying can change your life today.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus makes a blanket promise - if we will pray the way He teaches us to, God will give us what we ask. Every time. Listen in to hear how to pray the type of prayer God answers.
The mantra of the day is that no one should tell another person that their actions are wrong. In other words, "don't judge." While many people today wrongly use Jesus' words as a covering for their sin, Jesus does not teach a wholesale acceptance of every choice and lifestyle. This sermon examines what Jesus really means when He tells us not to judge.
In this final teaching on worry, Jesus gives 4 more reasons Christians should not worry.
Christians are not supposed to worry. We know that, but it is easier said than done. So, in this section of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gives us 8 reasons not to worry.
Jesus gives us some very straightforward direction on how to view and handle our wealth - store up treasures in Heaven, not earth, be careful how you view your wealth, and choose to follow God instead of wealth.
In this concluding section of how to "do our righteousness", Jesus teaches us how to fast the correct way - secretly.
In this continuation of Jesus' instruction on prayer, Jesus teaches us, through example, how to pray. His example is both instructive and convicting. Listen in to hear why.
Did you realize there is a right way and a wrong way to pray? According to Jesus, you may be doing it wrong. Rest assured, if you are praying to impress people or you are praying for show, you are not praying at all. You are being a hypocrite that God will not listen to. Instead of all of that, Jesus teaches us how to pray the right way.
Jesus' teaching in all areas of life is just as practical and relevant now as the first day He spoke it. In this message, Jesus teaches us how we are to practice our righteousness - in particular, how we should give to help out the poor.
Christians should love everyone, but there should be a special place in our hearts for fellow believers. In the last chapter of Hebrews, the writer gives us very straightforward direction - sympathize with persecuted Christians.
Jesus calls us to live on a higher level than what comes naturally. Such is the case with our enemies. While our natural response to an enemy is to repay evil for evil or curse for curse, Jesus says that's not the way of the Christian. As God blesses the righteous and the evil alike with sunshine and rain, we too ought to love and do good to everyone - even our enemies.
When Christians are wronged,they should not retaliate. Instead, they should bear with it patiently and trust that God will take care of them. That is essentially the message Jesus delivered in His "eye for an eye" message. Listen in to hear what else He has to say!
Honesty and integrity are not words that describe this generation. Neither were they words that described Jesus' day. In this section of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus counsels us to not swear or take oaths to be believable. Rather, we should have integrity in all we say and do.
Fewer topics are more sensitive than divorce, but that is precisely what Jesus talked about in Matthew 5 and 19. This sermon examines Christ's teaching on divorce and remarriage.
Sin is a heart-problem. Circumstances, environment, heritage, &c may contribute to the liklihood that a person will commit a given sin, but the heart of the human problem is the problem of the human heart. In just a few verses, Jesus gives some very convicting teaching - adultery starts in the heart. As with murder, adultery begins long before the full-blown sin occurs. Listen in to hear what Jesus has to say about lust and adultery.
The Bible is very clear - we should serve the Lord. But God is looking for more than mere outward obedience. He is looking for "service with a smile." Psalm 100 tells us to serve the Lord with gladness. How are you using your spiritual gifts to serve the Lord today?
Everyone gets mad. But when we hold on to it and let it turn into a grudge, it becomes dangerous - spiritually and sometimes physically as well. In this section of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches about anger and the need to reconcile with others.
Jesus did not come to compete with the Law of Moses. He came to complete the Law of Moses. The whole Old Testament points to Him. In these verses, Jesus is transitioning from speaking of His followers being salt and light to speaking of His relationship to the Law.
Jesus calls His followers salt and light; two figures that speak of the same function. It is not something Christians become. It is something we are. Listen in to hear this unpacked, and if you're not as "salty" or letting your light shine as brightly as you should, fix it today.
God poured out His Spirit on believers at Pentecost. While the birth of the church is a singular event in history, this account has some definite lessons for us as 21st century believers.
In this final sermon on the Beatitudes, Jesus concludes His pathway to blessing on a seemingly odd note. He essentially tells Christians to expect persecution, and that when it comes, we are blessed. Listen in to this oft ignored aspect of Christianity.
This sermon continues to look the Beatitudes that Jesus gave in the Sermon on the Mount. Believers need to purify their hearts as well as be peacemakers.
In this sermon, Jesus continues to lay out the pathway of blessing as found in the Beatitudes. The focus of these verses is our desire for righteousness and being merciful.
The Sermon on the Mount is a distillation of the moral teachings of Jesus. It covers a wide range of topics, starting with the pathway to blessing - the Beatitudes. This sermon is the first of several that will dig into the Sermon on the Mount to see what Jesus requires of His people, and to see what we should do in order to be blessed.
In this convicting passage of Scripture, Jesus gives us a glimpse into the happenings of judgment day. While we are not saved by our works, Jesus makes it crystal clear that good works are extremely important to Him. Listen in as Jesus talks about the coming separation of the sheep and the goats.
Jesus was no stranger to controversy. There were even times when He pushed the issue and created controversy. The proper place of the Sabbath was one of those times. In this sermon, Jesus' instruction, as well as other teachings from the New Testament concerning the proper place of the Sabbath in the life of believers, are examined.
The resurrection of Christ is a glorious, historical fact. The old, old story hasn't changed in all these years - Christ is not here for He has risen, just as He said!
Jesus' entry into Jerusalem was anything but triumphal. Even though the people proclaimed Him as their king, they had totally missed what Jesus was really all about. Don't be like those people. Worship Jesus for Who He really is and what He has really done.
God doesn't always answer our prayers the way we want Him to. Sometimes He answers, but not when we want Him to. What do we make of that? How are we to understand His delay? This is the question that the raising of Lazarus answers in part. This personal message wrestles with this big topic.
