Jesus presents us with a critical choice between two gates and two paths in Matthew 7:13-14. The narrow gate represents Jesus himself and leads to a difficult path requiring individual commitment, humility, and intentional choice. This path involves loving God supremely, obeying His commands, and living counter-culturally. In contrast, the broad path offers self-determination and immediate gratification but leads to destruction. Wh...

Confessing our sins to one another brings spiritual benefits, including obedience to God's Word, the practice of humility, and the freedom from our past burdens. However, judgment often follows confession, creating barriers to vulnerability. Instead of judging others when they confess, we should extend the same grace and mercy God shows us. By prioritizing prayer, embracing silence with God, putting down our judgmental attitud...

Jesus's teaching on judgment in Matthew 7 isn't a prohibition against all discernment, but rather an instruction on how to judge righteously. We must first examine ourselves, addressing the 'logs' in our own eyes before helping others with their 'specks.' This self-examination fosters the humility necessary to approach others with love and a goal of restoration. Scripture calls believers to address sin...

Breaking free from the 'sin, hide, repeat' cycle requires honesty with God and others. Proverbs 28:13 reveals that covering our sins prevents prosperity, while confession leads to mercy. Like Adam and Eve in the Garden, we often hide our sins due to fear, shame, or pride, not realizing God already sees everything. When we harbor unconfessed sin, we give the enemy power over us. True freedom comes through specific confessi...

In this sermon, we will explore Matthew 6:25-34, focusing on Jesus' teaching about worry. He explains that worry, like materialism, can hinder our relationship with God by dividing our attention and distracting us from trusting Him. The sermon highlights three key points: the reality of worry in a fallen world, the uselessness of worry (as it subtracts from rather than adds to our lives), and how worry distracts us from focusi...

Jesus teaches in Matthew 6:19-24 that we should store treasures in heaven rather than on earth, where they're vulnerable to loss and decay. Our treasures reveal our heart's true desires. When materialism clouds our vision, our priorities become distorted, leading us to worship created things rather than the Creator. Jesus emphasizes we cannot serve both God and money—we must choose our master. As Christ became poor to mak...

Jesus teaches that in His upside-down kingdom, our worship practices should be motivated by pleasing God rather than impressing others. Examining charitable giving, prayer, and fasting in Matthew 6:1-18, Jesus challenges us to examine the heart attitudes behind these spiritual disciplines. When we perform religious acts to gain human recognition, we've already received our full reward. Instead, Jesus calls us to practice these...

Jesus offers a revolutionary approach to handling conflict in Matthew 5:38-42, challenging the misapplication of 'an eye for an eye' that had become a personal license for revenge. He teaches us to overcome evil with good rather than escalating conflicts through retaliation. This doesn't mean we should never resist evil or remain in abusive situations, but rather that we should break the cycle of vengeance in our per...

In Matthew 5:43-48, Jesus addresses a distorted interpretation of God's law that allowed people to limit their love to those like themselves. The religious leaders had twisted Scripture by adding 'hate your enemy' to God's command to 'love your neighbor as yourself.' Jesus corrects this by pointing to God's character, who extends care to all people regardless of their response to Him.Jesus gives s...

Finding freedom begins with vulnerability - laying our brokenness before God and trusting others. When we hide our struggles, we perpetuate cycles of pain that affect everyone around us. True transformation starts with genuine repentance and surrender, allowing God to break and reshape us. Through vulnerability, we experience healing, discover authentic love, restore relationships, and find the peace we've been seeking. God me...

Marriage represents a divine covenant designed to reflect Christ's relationship with the church, though human sinfulness has led to increased divorce rates. Jesus addressed this issue by clarifying that while Mosaic law allowed divorce certificates as a concession, God's original intent was for marriage to be permanent. Biblical grounds for divorce are limited to cases of sexual immorality and abandonment by an unbelievin...

Honoring mother figures in our lives requires putting God's love first and expressing that love through practical actions. This includes performing acts of service, speaking words of affirmation, giving quality time and attention, and teaching children to show respect. When we prioritize our relationship with God, we become better equipped to serve and honor the mothers in our lives through tangible expressions of love and gra...

This week, we examine one of God's most mysterious attributes: His Triune nature. Dive in with me as we examine Scripture and do our best to come away with a better understanding of our God and how He has revealed Himself!

More Than Sunday Morning Links

Trying to Understand the Trinity (Part 1): Three Distinct Persons

Trying to Understand the Trinity (Part 2): Each Person is Fully God

Trying to Understan...

Lust and pornography present significant challenges in today's digital world, particularly affecting Christian communities. Jesus teaches that lustful intent equals adultery in the heart, emphasizing the importance of addressing not just actions but thoughts. The harmful effects of pornography include damaged relationships, objectification of people, and violation of God's design for sexuality. Victory over these struggle...

Anger, like a small spark that ignites a wildfire, has the power to cause devastating damage in our lives and relationships. While not all anger is sinful, most stems from pride and selfishness rather than righteousness. Unresolved anger creates barriers in our relationship with God and hinders genuine worship. The path forward requires taking initiative in reconciliation, approaching others with humility, and extending the same gr...