We begin our next section as we work through the Sermon on the Mount, warning us not to be like the hypocrites. Our reminder in this next section is still for us not to do our righteous deeds to be seen by men, and this includes our prayer life. Matthew 6:5-15: 5 “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their ... continue reading...
EP 123: How Should We Give? (Matthew 6:1-4 – Sermon on the Mount Series)
When we grasp our relationship with God as our Father and rest securely in His care and love, it will change what we do and why we do it. We will not be looking for the approval of men but only of God, and there is where we receive the greatest reward that isn't lost because it is done out of love for our Father in Heaven, and He has seen it, and He will reward us. Matthew 6:1-4:"Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have ... continue reading...
EP 122: Love Your Enemies (Matthew 5:43-48 – Sermon on the Mount Series)
Our God has created us in His image and this image is stamped on every human being whether they are a child of God or not. But now as those who have come to be known by God through repentance of our sins and faith and trust in Jesus Christ alone for our salvation—we are now called to live in such a way as to mirror and reflect the character of God. We are to be imitators of Jesus who is God incarnate. And we are to reflect his image to a lost and dying world. And one way we do that is by ... continue reading...
EP 121: Have We No Rights? (Matthew 5:38-42 – Sermon on the Mount Series)
Today, we live in a culture all about self and our rights and self-esteem. Jesus desires those of us in Christ not to be self-focused and not to take offense so quickly that we immediately seek retaliation.Our hope is to have our eyes so focused on Christ and who we are in Christ and our purpose and mission that we don't let insults or criticism bother or thwart our mission. This is the fifth of Jesus' statements, "you heard that it was said but I say to you," where Jesus is calling for our ... continue reading...
EP 119: Tell the Truth! (Matthew 5:33-37 – Sermon on the Mount Series)
We're on the fourth of Jesus's illustrations of what true morality looks like to those that are in Christ. We talked about the sin of anger in EP 113 and dealing with our adulterous hearts or sexual purity in EP 115. Divorce and remarriage or better put our faithfulness in marriage in EP 117. Today in EP 119, we're going to work through telling the truth, and in the next couple of episodes, we'll get to the fifth and sixth illustrations of true morality as we'll work through selflessness and ... continue reading...