Mic'd Up
The Narrow Way
As Jesus concludes his Sermon on the Mount he makes some shocking claims about those who will and won’t follow him. Is Jesus being narrow-minded in making such exclusive claims? Or is there a true dichotomy that Jesus presents us that we must contend with? Additional Resource From NIVAC – Matthew by Michael J. Wilkins In these four brief scenes that conclude the SM, all of humanity stands before Jesus, and he asks each, “What will you do with me?”•…
The Golden Rule
In a world where we often treat one another the way we think they deserve to be treated, Jesus offers a better way. But has the Golden Rule become just another cliche we ignore? Or is there a way for those who follow Jesus to find and bring life to others by doing to others as we would like done to us?
Ask, Seek, Knock
Have you ever wanted something so bad you prayed and prayed for it only to feel let down by God? As Jesus talks about prayer for the third time in the Sermon on the Mount, he adds a bit of confusion by saying all we have to do is ask and we will get what we have for. But our experience tells us otherwise. Pastor Brent looks at Matthew 7 and shows how our emphasis on receiving might miss the…
Don’t Judge
When you see someone do something you believe is wrong, can you say something? Or if you speak to the situation are you immediately judging? In Matthew 7, Jesus explicitly says do not judge but what does that mean and how can Jesus followers be salt and light and challenge culture when appropriate if everything we say to challenge it is considered judging. Pastor Brent looks at the words of Jesus to see that Jesus isn’t forbidding moral discernment but…
Don’t Worry
Worry seems to be a part fo daily life for many people. And when we hear that Jesus tells us not to worry, we worry about how not to worry! Pastors Brent and Ryan discuss what Jesus meant in the Sermon on the Mount when he say “Do not worry…but seek first the kingdom of God.”
Treasures
One sure way to find out what someone treasures is to look at how they spend their time and money. Often we are surprised at how what we say we value doesn’t get the most or bets of our attention and resources. Pastor Amy Becker looks at the Sermon on the Mount and how Jesus challenges us to see those things we invest in the most are the things we truly care about and value and how your heart follows…
How to Pray (and Not to Pray)
Many who follow Jesus struggle with how to pray often wondering if we are doing it right. Jesus gives us a framework on how to pray but prior to giving us this prayer guide he shares how not to pray.
Practice in Private
Pastor Ryan looks at how we may want others to see how religious we can be but real faith is what is done in private.
Revenge and Love
Often we find it so easy to react when things happen around us and especially to us. And yet Jesus says that those who follow him can do the extraordinary like turn the other cheek, go the extra mile, and even love our enemies. But how is this possible? Pastor Brent Clark looks at the last verses of Matthew 5 and the Sermon on the Mount to understand how these words don’t instruct us to be doormats but do show…
Oaths and Divorce
How important is it to keep your word and are there ever exceptions when you can’t? And how has the church gotten divorce so wrong for so long? Brent Clark and Ryan Lenerz discuss these two topics to see how being trustworthy people and staying committed to marriage (if possible) should be marks of those who follow Jesus.
Lust and Adultery
Pastor Brent looks at Jesus’ teaching in the Sermon on the Mount to see what Jesus has to say about lust and adultery and how our lust can be a problem for us before we ever take our clothes off.
Anger and Murder
Someone cuts you off in traffic. Someone speaks ill of you or spreads lies about you. Someone hurts someone you love. All of us could fill pages of actions and incidents that cause us to get angry. But what does our anger and more specifically how that anger manifests itself say about our hearts? Pastor Amy continues looking at Jesus’ words in the Sermon on the Mount to see how closely our anger is tied to murder and how those…
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