City Church Boise Sermons

Scripture: Matthew 10:16-26 (ESV) 16 “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. 17 Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, 18 and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. 19 When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. 20 For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 21 Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, 22 and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 23 When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. 24 “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant[a] above his master. 25 It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign[b] those of his household.

"Eternal life flows from embracing God's economy as we increasingly live for Him and place our trust in Him." Scripture:  "These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, "Go nowhere among the Gentles and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And proclaim as you go, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay. Acquire no gold or silver or copper for your belts, no bag for your journey, or two tunics or sandals or a staff, for the laborer deserves his food." (Matthew 10:5-10 ESV) "And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." (Matthew 10:38-39 ESV)

In this message, Executive Pastor, Kyle Sale discusses the detail of the upcoming merge with Rev22 on January 10th. 

In this sermon, John and the Elders make a special and important announcement with regard to where the Lord is taking City Church Boise.  Scripture:  "So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:1-11 ESV)

"No matter what you're facing, how you're struggling, or believe you're failing, Jesus delights in you and always seeks your best." Scripture: "The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing." (Zephaniah 3:17 ESV) "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full." (John 15:9-11 ESV)

"Jesus calls us to follow Him in announcing and embodying the Gospel of God's Kingdom that has come, is coming, and will one day fill the earth." Scripture: Matthew 10:1-8 "And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction. The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And proclaim as you go, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay." 

"Jesus came to make all things new by making disciple who would follow him in doing the same." Scripture: Matthew 9:35-28 - "35 And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” Matthew 28:19-20 - "19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Sermon from Dave Gibson Scripture:  Psalm 73 Scripture: God Is My Strength and Portion Forever A Psalm of Asaph. 73 Truly God is good to Israel,     to those who are pure in heart. 2 But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled,     my steps had nearly slipped. 3 For I was envious of the arrogant     when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 4 For they have no pangs until death;     their bodies are fat and sleek. 5 They are not in trouble as others are;     they are not stricken like the rest of mankind. 6 Therefore pride is their necklace;     violence covers them as a garment. 7 Their eyes swell out through fatness;     their hearts overflow with follies. 8 They scoff and speak with malice;     loftily they threaten oppression. 9 They set their mouths against the heavens,     and their tongue struts through the earth. 10 Therefore his people turn back to them,     and find no fault in them.[a] 11 And they say, “How can God know?     Is there knowledge in the Most High?” 12 Behold, these are the wicked;     always at ease, they increase in riches. 13 All in vain have I kept my heart clean     and washed my hands in innocence. 14 For all the day long I have been stricken     and rebuked every morning. 15 If I had said, “I will speak thus,”     I would have betrayed the generation of your children. 16 But when I thought how to understand this,     it seemed to me a wearisome task, 17 until I went into the sanctuary of God;     then I discerned their end. 18 Truly you set them in slippery places;     you make them fall to ruin. 19 How they are destroyed in a moment,     swept away utterly by terrors! 20 Like a dream when one awakes,     O Lord, when you rouse yourself, you despise them as phantoms. 21 When my soul was embittered,     when I was pricked in heart, 22 I was brutish and ignorant;     I was like a beast toward you. 23 Nevertheless, I am continually with you;     you hold my right hand. 24 You guide me with your counsel,     and afterward you will receive me to glory. 25 Whom have I in heaven but you?     And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. 26 My flesh and my heart may fail,     but God is the strength[b] of my heart and my portion forever. 27 For behold, those who are far from you shall perish;     you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you. 28 But for me it is good to be near God;     I have made the Lord God my refuge,     that I may tell of all your works.    

"Biblical faith declares God is God and I am not, and thereby trusting Him to accomplish His good purposes in and through me." Scripture Reading: Matthew 9:27-31 Hebrews 11:1-3

"Though God doesn't always give us what we want when we want it, He always gives us what we need most: Himself." Scripture Reading: Matthew 9:18-26  

Jesus didn't come just to give us better lives, but to give us himself, and thereby make us new.  Mark 5:25–34 (ESV): 25 And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, 26 and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. 27 She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. 28 For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.” 29 And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. 30 And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?” 31 And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’ ” 32 And he looked around to see who had done it. 33 But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. 34 And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”  

Sermon from Derek Voorhees - President at the Boise Bible College "For Christ-followers, that which pulls us forward into the future is a compelling vision of what God is up to...that overrides the things we see at the moment" Psalm 91: 1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” 3 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. 4 He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. 5 You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, 6 nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday. 7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. 8 You will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked. 9 Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place— the Most High, who is my refuge[2]— 10 no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent. 11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. 12 On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone. 13 You will tread on the lion and the adder; the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot. 14 “Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. 15 When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. 16 With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”

Does the way we use words whether written or spoken by us or words we're ingesting from another source, do they line up with what God says in scripture about the use of our tongue? Scripture: Proverbs 18:21 (ESV) - "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits." 

This message was read from Ronnie Smith's book, "The History of Redemption". https://www.amazon.com/The-History-of-Redemption/dp/0982847009 You can also find the original sermon by him here: https://vimeo.com/17577695

Notes: God calls us to submit to him by obeying him. God calls us to submit to him by obeying others.  Make Sunday worship a priority Engage in Worship with those around you Invite others to Worship with you Discussion Questions: What is God teaching you during this time? What do you think He wants to teach us? How has your perspective been changing? Scripture References: Psalm 22:22 - I will tell of your name to my brothers;     in the midst of the congregation I will praise you: Psalm 35:18 - I will thank you in the great congregation;     in the mighty throng I will praise you. Romans 8:37-39 - No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:28 - And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.  Hebrews 10:24-25 - And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. Ezekiel 20:19 - I am the Lord your God; walk in my statutes, and be careful to obey my rules, Acts 2:46 - And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 1 Timothy 4:13 -  Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. Romans 13:1-2 - Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. Acts 5:29 - But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. Matthew 5:46-47 - For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?

Pursuing the way Jesus means responding to the brokenness of our fallen world Kingdom empathy and Gospel hope.  Scripture: Revelation 7:9 (ESV): After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands and crying out with a loud voice, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” John 13:35 (ESV): By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” Matthew 28:19 (ESV): ...make disciples of all the nations... Micah 6:8 (ESV): He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? Romans 3:10–12 (ESV): 10 as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;  no one does good, not even one.” James 1:19 (ESV): Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; Reflection Questions: Is this how the world sees and experiences you? Do people mostly hear you talk about your political passions or your gospel convictions? Do your words and actions point people to Christ alone or suggest the real hope for this fallen world is found elsewhere?

John 1:43-46 ESV (abridged) 43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” ... 45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” 46 Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”   Luke 7:31-35 ESV 31 “To what then shall I compare the people of this generation, and what are they like? 32 They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another, “‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not weep.’ 33 For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ 34 The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ 35 Yet wisdom is justified by all her children.”

John 8:12 ESV 12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 10:27 ESV 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. Matthew 9:9-13 ESV 9 As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him. 10 And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. 11 And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12 But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13 Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Matthew 4:19 ESV And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” John 8:12 ESV Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Matthew 9:9 ESV As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.

Matthew 9:1-7 ESV 1 And getting into a boat he crossed over and came to his own city. 2 And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.” 3 And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” 4 But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? 5 For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? 6 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic—“Rise, pick up your bed and go home.” 7 And he rose and went home. Hebrews 13:8 ESV 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Hebrews 9:24-28 24 For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. 25 Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, 26 for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, 28 so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

John 20:1-26 ESV 20 Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. 2 So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” 3 So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. 4 Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus'[a] head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9 for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. 10 Then the disciples went back to their homes. 11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. 13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” 14 Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic,[b] “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” 18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her. 19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews,[c] Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” 24 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin,[d] was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” 26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”

Matthew 8:28-34 ESV And when he came to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men met him, coming out of the tombs, so fierce that no one could pass that way. And behold, they cried out, “What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?” Now a herd of many pigs was feeding at some distance from them. And the demons begged him, saying, “If you cast us out, send us away into the herd of pigs.” And he said to them, “Go.” So they came out and went into the pigs, and behold, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the waters. The herdsmen fled, and going into the city they told everything, especially what had happened to the demon-possessed men. And behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their region. Mark 1:15 ESV and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand;repent and believe in the gospel.”

Matthew 8:18.… 23-27 Now when Jesus saw a crowd around him, he gave orders to go over to the other side…. And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they went and woke him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?”

Ephesians 1:11-12 ESV In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. Romans 8:28 ESV And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Matthew 8:18-22 Now when Jesus saw a crowd around him, he gave orders to go over to the other side. And a scribe came up and said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” Another of the disciples said to him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” And Jesus said to him, “Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead.”

Matthew 8:5-13 ESV When he had entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, appealing to him, "Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering terribly." And he said to him, "I will come and heal him." But the centurion replied, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes, and to another, 'Come,' and he comes, and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it." When Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, "Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith. I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." And to the centurion Jesus said, "Go; let it be done for you as you have believed." And the servant was healed at that very moment.

Matthew 8:1-4 ESV When he came down from the mountain, great crowds followed him. And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, if you will, you can make me clean." And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, "I will; be clean." And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. And Jesus said to him, "See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a proof to them." Matthew 8:14-17 ESV And when Jesus entered Peter's house, he saw his mother-in-law lying sick with a fever. He touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she rose and began to serve him. That evening they brought to him many who were oppressed by demons, and he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick. This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: "He took our illnesses and bore our diseases."

The wise build their lives on the bedrock of God, His Kingdom, and His Christ, and thereby enjoy eternal life forever, beginning now. Matthew 7:24-27 ESV "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it."   We build our lives on this bedrock by: 1.  Taking a God-centered view of holiness and sin 2.  Identifying the sandy values we tend to serve 3.  Finding HIM in every moment  

Jesus declares only he can bring us genuine spiritual life, and that anyone who says otherwise is peddling destructive lies. Matthew 7:13-14  13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.   To be discerners of error who flourish in truth: 1. We must fill our minds with truth (Mt 4:4, Ro 12:2)/ When do you fill your mind with God's word? We do this as individuals and together as God's people (Eph 4:15_;(2 Tim2:2). 2. We must learn to test/submit our beliefs and those of others (even the pastor's) to God's Word (2 Tim 3:16). In terms of evaluating your own beliefs, a great place to start is to ask others what the way you live reveals about what you actually believe.

Through the incarnation of the Son of God, Immanuel: God came near to sinners like us to befriend and thereby save us from sin. He is explicitly stating that He is the narrow gate. He, Jesus, is THE way, the only way to true life.   Matthew 7:12 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”   Crossroads   Is that me, Lord? Am I following the way of Jesus?   Are you entering the narrow way?  Are you following Jesus?  Are you taking his word, promises and warnings, with the seriousness they deserve?  Are you taking Jesus’ words and examining your life with them? or are you give mere mental assent to the things that he is teaching?   The Gospel Tells Us   “You are dearly loved, not because you are lovely, but because I have loved you. You are not a child of God because you earned it or deserve it but because of God’s kindness and grace.”    Jesus Christ came to rescue us and redeem us - through his life giving sacrifice on the cross - to save us from what we are, to make us into what we could never be on our own, to make us into something new, something beautiful, something glorious. People not of this world, people of His eternal Kingdom.    

Through the incarnation of the Son of God, Immanuel: God came near to sinners like us to befriend and thereby save us from sin.  The incarnate Son of God calls us to incarnate him, to bring God near to sinners like us, as we befriend and thereby point to him.    12 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. Matthew 7:12 ESV   18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20   How will you be a Jesus-like friend to them? How will you enter and listen to their story? Share your story? Look for opportunities to tell the Jesus story? Who is God calling you to engage this week? Someone within your circles or beyond? Will you follow Jesus in befriending someone who isn't like you as God gives opportunity? Will you lay yourself down to embody Kingdom justice in our city to point those around you to him? What lesser things will we give ourselves to instead?    

God calls all who are His to respond to His love for us, by loving one another as He loved us, thereby pointing each other and our world to Him.   Matthew 22:34-40 ESV But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him.  "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?"  And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.  This is the great and first commandment.  And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.  On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.   Matthew 7:12 ESV "So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets."   How has God loved us? 1. God chose to love us.     So we choose to love one another. 2. God gave Himself away for us.     So we give ourselves away to meet each other's needs.     So we selflessly extend mercy & grace to one another.     So we celebrate God's work in each other's lives.   We love God and others all and only because God first loved us.  The more we understand and experience God's love for us, the more compelled we will be to love others in a way that points back to Him.  So, instead of focusing on loving others better, I encourage you to focus on God's love for you in Christ.   If and when you find yourself struggling to love a brother or sister in Christ, lift your eyes to heaven and celebrate how God chose to love you, at immense cost to Himself.  As you do, ask Him to help you love Him in return by loving that person in a way that reflects His love for you.

Prayer isn’t about bending God’s will to ours, but about surrendering our wills to his and thereby thriving in him, as we tell his story for his glory and our best. Matthew 7:7-11 ESV "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! Jesus says, prayer involves: • Boldly asking God to tell his story, for his glory, in and through us • Earnestly seeking the restored life/purpose Jesus calls us to • Relentlessly knocking on the door of fellowship with him

As the right judgments of Jesus toward us flow from his proven love for us, rightly judging one another is a supreme act of love toward each other. Matthew 7:1-6 ESV "Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. "Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you. Taking the log out of your own eye in order to judge others rightly means: Remember we’re all equal at the foot of the cross Remember we’re all in (His) process Remembering each of us has the capacity to commit every sort of sin. The difference between “us” and “them” is often circumstances. Ensure we are motivated by love for the person

Discovering the biblical model for dealing with grief experienced through God's hiddenness.     1 How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?     How long will you hide your face from me? 2 How long must I take counsel in my soul     and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me? 3 Consider and answer me, O Lord my God;     light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death, 4 lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,”     lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken. 5 But I have trusted in your steadfast love;     my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. 6 I will sing to the Lord,     because he has dealt bountifully with me. Psalm 13

Anxiety happens when we pretend we are sovereign over our circumstances and know what's best for us. Peace happens when we rest in God's sovereignty over our circumstances and his commitment to our best.    25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?[a] 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6:25-34 ESV   In what areas of life do you need to obey Jesus's command not be anxious, by admitting you have far less control than you pretend and that God, not you, is in the best position to give you what you truly need? Most of us are ok with God's sovereignty, but we wonder if he's pursuing our best. If that's you, spend some time focusing on the cross; as the God who had every right to crush us for our rebellion against him, chose instead to become one of us in order to enter and experience evil at it's highest point (at the cross) to make us his as he makes us new. The more you focus on the cross, the more you will find yourself saying with the Apostle Paul, He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?

Anxiety happens when we see the good things of this world as our source of life.  Peace happens when we see the ultimate one as our source of life.      25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?[a] 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6:25-34   What good thing have you convinced yourself you must have to be ok? Comfort? Money? Relationship? Opportunity? How much time/energy do you spend thinking about how to get this good thing? How does this compare to the time/energy you spend pursuing the only one who can truly satisfy your soul? How much anxiety do you experience when or because you don't have this good thing? What does this reveal about your belief concerning this good thing? A spiritual exercise: Identify the good thing(s) you're hoping will fill your soul as only the ultimate one can. Admit this to the God who loves you and has proven he wants your best. Then ask God to help you desire and seek him above all else. As you do, watch how your priorities change and anxiety melts away. 

As God aligns our heart with His, we start to understand the depth of our need as we ask for daily spiritual and physical sustenance, a forgiven and merciful heart that is ready to forgive others, and strength in trials we will surely face as He moves in our hearts to resist sin.   11 Give us this day our daily bread, 12 and forgive us our debts,     as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation,     but deliver us from evil. 14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Matthew 6:11-15 ESV

Prayer is the act of aligning our hearts with God's heart and surrendering our will to God's will, to tell his story for his glory and our best.    7 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. 10 Your kingdom come, your will be done,     on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread, 12 and forgive us our debts,     as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation,     but deliver us from evil. Matthew 6:7-13 ESV      

God calls us who are His to live as reconciled reconcilers, by loving those who hate us, as God loved us when we hated Him.    43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers,[a] what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:43-48 ESV   Forgive your enemies Pray for your enemies Take a posture of reconciliation  Honor the image of God in your enemies by seeking to bless them   How is God calling you to live as a reconciled reconciler, by loving those who hate you, as God loved you when you hated Him? Is there an enemy you need to forgive as God forgave you when you were still his enemy? Is there an enemy you need to pray for as Jesus prayed for you at the cross? What enemy is God calling you to take a posture of reconciliation toward, as he did for you, while you were still rebelling against Him? What enemy is God calling you to bless instead of scorn, as God blessed you while you were scorning Him?      

Jesus calls us to follow Him in laying our rights down, to extend mercy and grace to others, in a way that reveals God's lavish mercy and grace towards us.    38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you. Matthew 5:38-42   How is God calling you to lay your rights down to extend mercy and grace to others in a way that reveals His lavish mercy and grace towards you? Who is He calling you to release from your vengeance by forgiving them, even if they don't deserve it? Who is He calling you to bless, even though they've shown they don't have your best in mind? Who do you have an opportunity to value and bless, even though their political views are stupid? Is your heart towards those of "lesser" status on of judgement or mercy? Condemnation or grace that invites them into a relationship with you that ultimately points to Him? 

When we do what we say we'll do, we embody God's promise-keeping faithfulness, thrive in Him, and point our world to Him.    33 “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ 34 But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil. Matthew 5:31-32     Would those who know you best say you generally do what you say, or that there's a disconnect between what you say and do? What have you said "yes" to without following through? (e.g. in a relationship, at work, financially, etc). Who is affected by your broken promise? What will you do to make things right, if possible? What specific "yes" is God calling you to follow through on today as you seek to make your "yes" mean "yes" and your "no" mean "no?" What things do you need to start saying "no" to because you generally don't follow through on things?

God's people are called to glorify Him in reflecting the beauty of unity in diversity that flows from His very nature.    17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 1 Corinthians 12:17

The Two Biblical Grounds for Divorce: 1. Adultery 2. Abandonment by a non-christian spouse who abandons because his/her spouse is a Christian    31 “It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery. Matthew 5:31-32 ESV

God instituted and deigned marriage primarily to reflect: 1. The communal oneness of His nature 2. His relentless, covenant love for His people   3 And Pharisees came up to him and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful to divorce one's wife for any cause?” 4 He answered, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, 5 and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? 6 So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” 7 They said to him, “Why then did Moses command one to give a certificate of divorce and to send her away?” 8 He said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. 9 And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery.” Matthew 19:3-9 ESV

Sexual purity is a matter of the heart. Our sexual behavior reflects how much of our hearts belong to Him.    Four disciplines that help us pursue sexual purity from the heart: 1. The Spiritual discipline of re-training our fallen affections to desire Christ and His Kingdom above all else. 2. The mental discipline of taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. 3. The circumstantial discipline of avoiding situations in which you will be tempted to sin. 4. The communal discipline of inviting others to help us follow Jesus from the heart. 

Sexual purity is a matter of the heart. Our sexual behavior reflects how much of our heart belongs to Him. 27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell. Matthew 5:27-30   By intentionally lusting after someone other than your spouse: 1. You dishonor the image of God in them, and in you. 2. You erode your ability to connect deeply with others. 3. You erode your relationship with God.    Do you see Christ and His Kingdom as the highest, best, and most desirable things you can pursue? Do you believe the life that comes from following Christ is the best life you can know? The more you do, the less you will be attracted to sin.  If you don't see Christ and His Kingdom in this way, but you'd like to, spend some focused time with God this week, meditating on His goodness (Psalm 23). Ask God to help you see Him as He is; to help you set your affections on Him; and to teach your heart to desire Him about all.  The more you do this, the more the allure of sin will fade, and the more you'll find yourself flourishing in Him and living a life that increasingly points those around you to Him.

Our Lord was not ashamed of us but suffered with and for us. in His suffering, He has abolished death and made His Kingdom of life and love available to us!     8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, 9 who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, 10 and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, 11 for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, 12 which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me.   2 Timothy 1:8-12 ESV

Because the covenant-keeping God is with us, evil doesn't have the final word in our lives; so we can rest in His presence, even in the face of evil.    4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,     I will fear no evil, for you are with me;     your rod and your staff,     they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me     in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil;     my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me     all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord     forever. Psalm 23:4-6 ESV

We enjoy deep, God-honoring contentment and soul-satisfaction, as we learn to rest in God's presence. Yahweh alone is the source of divine rest. Resting in Yahweh's presence is active, not passive.  The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2     He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. 3     He restores my soul. Psalm 23:1-3a   What's your default setting in your pursuit of soul-satisfaction? Are you looking to Yahweh or something less? What good but non-ultimate things are you chasing for contentment? How do you tend to strive after those things instead of the Ultimate One who alone can meet the deep longings of your heart? As we enter a new season together, how will your pursue God's presence above all else? Do you need to being or restart a regular quiet time? What rhythms or routines do you need to stop or start to practice and thereby rest in God's presence throughout each day?