WMBC - Sermons

The things that we often assume Jesus to be saying are, sometimes, not at all what He is actually saying. The meaning can be quite different than what we assume it to be – quite different than what we've often been taught that it means. And a big reason for this is the culture and context into which it was originally spoken. The original hearers would have understood what Jesus was saying by do not resist, turn the other cheek, give your coat, go two miles. The reality is, none of these statements are passive, none of them say, “give up” none of them are a charge to let yourself be walked over.Every single one of them is a non-violent way of confronting and dealing with the abuse that was rampant in that society. And everyone hearing Jesus say these things would have understood because they were a part of the culture and the context into which these things were spoken.

We live in a culture that in many ways celebrates anger – it is the performative emotion in the pursuit of social justice and societal change; we often use it as a virtue signal of our zeal for holiness. This Sunday, Jesus will teach us another way, why anger is so dangerous, and the high calling to live without anger. For Jesus, the Kingdom was not simply a nice idea, but a very real place – life with God, as God intended, a place where reconciliation reigns over rage.

“Matthew 5:17-20 is the most significant passage in the entire Bible on how to read the Bible, because Jesus tells us here how to read the Bible.” – Scott McKnightThis Sunday we dive into a key set of verses that will set us up for the rest of the sermon on the mount. In many ways, this is his thesis statement, the bottom line that ties everything together. Jesus-followers should be Bible-readers, because it is our clearest way to see Jesus, but Jesus is also saying how we read the Bible is just as important as actually reading it. See ya Sunday!

In Matthew 5, Jesus gives his followers two identity statements. You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world. Not only do these statements create a powerful image in our heads, they're also loaded with biblical meaning and provide a clear picture of how Christ followers relate to the world around them. Join us on Sunday as we learn what it means to be salt and light to the world around us. 

What does peace look like? What does it take to get there? Depending on who you are, your answers to this questions will change. The way to peace according to Jesus stands out from many others, and it promises His followers a difficult life. This week, we finish off the beatitudes and navigate the narrow way.

“The eyes that normally looked down in shame suddenly gazed at Jesus with hope and joy. Females, sick people, the second class half-Jews, the person whose life had been broken by bad choices—all heard the good news.  “Who me? Is he talking about me? I am welcome in the Kingdom of heaven? It is here, now?!” This was very good news.”  James Bryon Smith, The Good and Beautiful Life.  Join us as we continue to explore the revolutionary implications of the good news of the Kingdom, in part two of our study on the beatitudes.

What do you think of when you think of the good life? Whatever the words or pictures that popped into your head, it's probably not what Jesus describes in the beatitudes. His words shocked His listeners, forcing them to pay attention to something they didn't expect to hear. Hopefully, they will do the same for us.

If you had to summarize the whole of Jesus' message in a single sentence – what would you say? It's a worthwhile question to consider, because how we answer it affects how we think about and relate to Jesus, and what we believe he's up to in the world, and what we should be doing! Join us as we launch our new teaching series “Kingdom Come” and explore what is means to share the Good News!

Over spring break, I spent a week with fifteen of our high school students at Soar Heartland. Throughout the week, I saw students discover their gifts, encounter God in new ways, and give their whole hearts to being a part of God's mission. As I watched our students experience God and express their love for him in multiple ways, I found myself repeatedly saying “The future of the church is in good hands.” Join us for NextGen Sunday as our students lead us in a variety of ways, through worship, sharing, and serving. Also join us as Nasser al-Qahtani teaches on hospitality and the Bible.