In Episode 9 of The Sermon, Pastor Michael Lowenberg tackles Jesus’ most counter-intuitive command yet: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matt. 5:43–48). Drawing us past the comfortable limits of “love your neighbor,” Michael shows how Jesus calls us to see every person—even those who’ve hurt us—as made in God’s image and worthy of our prayers and compassion. He unpacks the cultural backdrop of “hate your enemies,” explores the radical Good Samaritan story, and helps us understand what “be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect” really means: a heart of complete, boundless love.
Through authentic stories and practical steps, Michael invites us to identify the grudges and fears that hold us captive, to turn those hurts over to God in prayer, and to embrace the freedom that comes when God’s perfect love empowers us to love without limits. Whether you’ve been struggling with an old wound or simply want to follow Jesus more faithfully, this message will challenge and encourage you to live out the Sermon on the Mount in the hardest relationships of your life.
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