Journey Church SC

Denton Lee continues our series on the Sermon on the Mount, diving into one of Jesus' most well-known teachings—what some might call His “Greatest Hits.” While all the Gospels share pieces of these teachings, Matthew gives us the most complete version, laid out over a few chapters.Jesus gives a powerful call: “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” From there, He lays out a radical way of life—one where humility, mercy, righteousness, and a pure heart define those who belong to His Kingdom. He blesses the poor in spirit, the mourners, the meek, and those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. He calls us to trust God instead of worrying and to seek Him in prayer.In this message, we focused on Matthew 7:6-12. These verses remind us that God is a good Father who invites us to ask, seek, and knock. Denton pointed us to Jesus' promise: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” God wants us to come to Him with boldness and trust, knowing that He gives good gifts to His children.We are reminded that God is infinitely strong, righteous, good, wise, and loving. Because of who He is, we can count on Him to:1. Keep His promises – God is faithful and never fails.2. Provide what we need – Even when we don't understand His timing or ways, He knows what's best for us.3. Prepare us for His Kingdom – Sometimes, that means He answers our prayers differently than we expect because He's shaping us to be more like Christ.Denton used the example of a good earthly father—how a loving dad provides for his kids, making sure they have what they need. If human fathers do that, how much more will our perfect Heavenly Father care for us? But God's goodness isn't just about giving us what we want; it's about forming us into who we were made to be.So, as we reflect on this passage, we're challenged to think about how we approach God in prayer. Are we coming to Him with trust, knowing He is good? Are we aligning our hearts with His will? Even when we don't get the answer we expect, we can be sure of this—God always gives us what we need most: Himself.Let's keep seeking, trusting, and leaning into our good Father.

Pastor Chris's message focuses on Jesus's teaching in Matthew 7, where Jesus talks about the difference between righteous judgment and hypocritical judgment.We've all heard the phrase “do not judge” thrown around, but it's often taken out of context. So, we take a step back to really understand what Jesus means. Pastor Chris reminds us that judging isn't always wrong—“to judge is to analyze or evaluate.” The key is how we do it. It's okay to form opinions, as long as we use them to help and build others up rather than tear them down. “There is a right way to judge and a hypocritical way to judge,” he says, challenging us to approach judgment with humility and self-awareness.We walk through three important steps to judging righteously. First, we watch our measure—making sure we're holding others to the same standards we hold ourselves. Second, we clear our own vision—dealing with our own issues before pointing out someone else's. Third, we discern our audience—realizing that not everyone will be open to receiving the truth.Jesus puts it plainly: “Why do you see the speck in your brother's eye but don't notice the log in your own?” His words remind us to look at our own hearts first before calling out someone else's mistakes.As we reflect on this, we commit to sharing truth wisely. Not everyone will accept it, so we approach others with humility and grace. Our goal isn't to condemn but to help each other grow closer to Christ with love, truth, and wisdom.

This week at Journey Church, Nathan Campbell (Pastor of Spiritual Formation) led us through Matthew 6:25–34, where Jesus directly addresses the weight of anxiety and the human tendency to worry about life's necessities—what we eat, what we drink, and what we wear.At the start of the message, Nathan reminded us why we stand for the reading of Scripture—not as a mere ritual, but as an act of honor, recognizing the power and truth of God's Word.Jesus' words are clear: “Do not be anxious about your life…” He challenges us to look beyond material concerns, calling us to a life that is rooted in something deeper than our day-to-day needs. Yet, despite advances in technology and access to resources, anxiety remains at an all-time high, particularly among younger generations. Nathan pointed out this irony, highlighting how “we have more than ever, yet we are more anxious than ever.”As a church, we were invited to confront our own anxieties and lay them before Jesus, who meets us with gentleness and compassion, not condemnation. Rather than being harsh with ourselves, we are encouraged to extend the same grace to ourselves that Jesus offers.Nathan also unpacked the deeper roots of our worries, explaining how much of our anxiety ultimately stems from the fear of loss—especially the fear of death. This perspective shifts our focus to the bigger question: What are we truly seeking?Jesus provides the answer: “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Nathan emphasized that our worries lose their grip on us when we prioritize God's kingdom. The promise isn't that we will never experience anxiety, but that by anchoring ourselves in God's care, we won't be controlled by it.We were challenged to reflect: What are we seeking? Where are we placing our trust? Anxiety may be a shared human experience, but through faith, we can find peace by resting in the care of our Heavenly Father.At Journey, we want to be a community that seeks first His kingdom—together, let's trust in His provision and walk in His peace!

Devotion is only devotion if it's exclusive.

Does your life reflect forgiveness as one who's been forgiven?

God-honoring prayer is about God and His Glory. It's not about us.

Our prayers aren't to impress God…they're to worship Him.

For the Jesus-follower, generosity isn't optional.

The gospel produces a life of thankfulness, growth, and endurance.

A changed heart leads to a generous heart.

Abundant life is only possible through Jesus.

Faith always expresses itself through love.In this message, we highlight the needs of local orphans and fosters, and the opportunities to serve through our J1:27 Ministry and Connie Maxwell Children's Ministries. Special thanks to Kat Deal and Tana Dukes for joining Pastor Chris and sharing with us.To download the J1:27 Monthly Prayer Guide, or to get more info about J1:27 or Connie Maxwell and how you can serve, visit the links below.

Walking in the way of Jesus is an active choice to walk against the way of the world.

Nothing but truth should ever come out of our mouths.

We can be faithful because God has been faithful to us.

The only one worthy of all our affection is Jesus.

Jesus doesn't call us to something he hasn't done himself.

True righteousness requires a heart oriented towards Christ.

You cannot live in isolation in the world because you have been placed on this earth for a reason.

If the kingdom of God is at hand, then the people of God cannot be complacent.

Ephesians 6:21-24

2 Timothy 4:1-5

Ephesians 6:10-20

Ephesians 6:12-18a

Ephesians 6:5-9

Ephesians 6:5-9

Ephesians 6:1-4

Ephesians 5:22-33

Ephesians 5:19-21

Ephesians 5:15-18

Luke 7:11-17. Teaching by Jamaal Williams, Guest Speaker. Jamaal is Lead Pastor of Sojourn Church Midtown in Louisville, KY (http://sojournmidtown.com).

Ephesians 4:17-24

Ephesians 4:15-16

Ephesians 4:7-14

Ephesians 4:1-6

Genesis 22:1-14

Easter Sunday Sermon | Romans 6:1-11

Celebrating Easter with Journey Church. Palm Sunday. Matthew 21:1-11.