Podcasts about Beatitudes

In this Episode, Lexie, Ian, and Jace discuss the opening section of the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5v2-12, which is historically known as the Beatitudes. Through this conversation, they unpack what Jesus means by “Blessed” and talk about how the beatitudes should permeate through all of life.

The Beatitudes in Luke's Gospel remind us to keep our focus on Christ throughout the changing landscape of our lives, grateful for our blessings and seeking grace in times of woe. (Lectionary #439) September 10, 2025 - Cathedral Rectory - Superior, WI Fr. Andrew Ricci - www.studyprayserve.com  

We have had a couple of requests for The Beatitudes which are at the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount. This is one of Jesus' most famous sermons and I'm thrilled to share this episode. There is a lot to unpack. It includes the Lord's Prayer (I get emotional reading that!) and teachings on loving our enemies and not worrying about tomorrow. I think it's important to mention that some of the teachings are metaphorical. Jesus does not want you to gauge out your eye. He is emphasizing the importance of eternal salvation over anything else--over any earthly sins or desires we may have.Again, I'm so blessed and excited to share this episode. We were in need of some red lettered words from Jesus. Thank you, God. Amen.We are reading Matthew 5 through 7 in the NIV. (I use some NKJV wording for The Lord's Prayer because it is how I learned it.)If you have been blessed by this podcast and would like toshow your support with a $1 donation, please go to paypal.me/hcharltoncrespin. Don't forget to Like and Subscribe on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/@BedtimeBibleStoriesforAdults 15% off ClevrBlends Sleeptime Latte and more: https://www.clevrblends.com/discount/BLONDE15?rfsn=6713548.9b6046f Cozy Earth Bamboo Pajamas and Loungewear 20% off! Use code: HEATHERChttps://cozyearth.com/heatherc

Friends of the Rosary,Today, as Christ Jesus delivers the Beatitudes, we are encouraged by St. Paul (Colossians 3:1-11) to “seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.”"Think of what is above, not of what is on earth.”"For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.When Christ your life appears,then you too will appear with him in glory.""Put to death the parts of you that are earthly:immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire,and the greed that is idolatry.Because of these the wrath of God is coming upon the disobedient."“You must put them all away:anger, fury, malice, slander,and obscene language out of your mouths.Stop lying to one another,since you have taken off the old self with its practicesand have put on the new self,which is being renewed, for knowledge,in the image of its creator.”“Christ is all and in all.”As the Apostle of the Gentiles instructed us, we walk in Christ Jesus the Lord, abounding in thanksgiving.Ave Maria!Come, Holy Spirit, come!To Jesus through Mary!Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.Please give us the grace to respond with joy!+ Mikel Amigot w/ María Blanca | RosaryNetwork.com, New YorkEnhance your faith with the new Holy Rosary University app:Apple iOS | New! Android Google Play• ⁠September 10, 2025, Today's Rosary on YouTube | Daily broadcast at 7:30 pm ET

The Beatitudes were the most powerful sermon given by Christ as he outlined the characteristics of a Christian. Join the Louhs as they go into the deep end of our faith, discussing the first Beatitude and how it applies in our lives today.

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Today we celebrate the canonization of Pier Giorgio Frassati, known as “the Man of the Beatitudes”, alongside Carlo Acutis. Frassati was not a priest or monk, but a normal young man who lived with extraordinary love, courage, and integrity. In this episode, you'll discover: How a young man from privilege chose to live with generosity and service.Why thousands of strangers appeared at his funeral, shocking even his family.The meaning of his famous motto “Verso l'alto”—to the heights.How his life challenges us today to commit to the highest goals and to become the best version of ourselves, despite our shortcomings.  

Read Online“But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. But woe to you who are filled now, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will grieve and weep. Woe to you when all speak well of you, for their ancestors treated the false prophets in this way.” Luke 6:24–26Is it dangerous to be rich, to be filled, to laugh, and to have all speak well of you? According to Jesus, it appears so. Why would Jesus warn against these things? And before that, why would He pronounce it blessed to be poor, hungry, weeping and insulted? Essentially, Jesus was condemning four common sins—greed, gluttony, intemperance, and vainglory—and promoting their opposite virtues.Poverty, in and of itself, is not sufficient for holiness. But in Luke's Gospel, Jesus declares it blessed to be poor, literally. This goes further than Matthew's Gospel which says it is blessed to be “poor in spirit.” To be poor in spirit is to be spiritually detached from the material things of this world so that you can be fully open to the riches of God. One common tendency among those with material wealth is to rationalize that even though they have many things, they are detached from them. Hopefully that is the case. However, in Luke's version of the Beatitudes, Jesus directly says, “Blessed are you who are poor” and “woe to you who are rich.” In this teaching, we discover a second blessing not found in Matthew's version. In addition to spiritual detachment (poverty of spirit) being identified as a blessing, literal poverty is proclaimed as the easier way to achieve this spiritual detachment. Material wealth, though not a sin in and of itself, brings with it many temptations toward attachment, self-reliance, and self-indulgence. Thus, spiritually speaking, it is easier to be detached when one is poor, rather than when one is rich. This is a hard truth for both the poor and the rich to accept. The poor often want to be rich, thinking that if they were, they would share their wealth with others and remain detached. The rich often enjoy being rich and believe that they are more spiritually detached than they actually are.Being “hungry” is also identified as a blessed state, whereas being “filled” is a dangerous state. When you are literally hungry, either from fasting or from lack of an abundance of food, it is easier to turn your hunger and thirst toward God so as to be filled by Him and to more easily trust in His providence. An abundance of food, especially fine food, tempts you with a gluttonous satisfaction that makes it difficult to hunger and thirst for God and His holy will in a complete way. Therefore, if you refrain from indulgence and experience hunger, you will be blessed to be free from gluttony and even the temptation toward it.“Laughing” and “weeping” in this case are not referring to joy and despair. Rather, they are referring to those who are always seeking fun and an indulgent life. Many people live for fun, entertainment, and momentary pleasures. Weeping refers to those who have discovered that the fleeting pleasures of the world can never satisfy. Constant entertainment, therefore, brings with it a real temptation, whereas the loss of that form of fleeting pleasure helps eliminate that temptation.Finally, Jesus declares it blessed to be hated, excluded, insulted, and denounced as evil on account of Him rather than being spoken well of by all. In this case, Jesus is referring to the praise that comes from things that mean nothing from an eternal perspective. When all speak well of us, praising qualities and accomplishments that are not true Christian virtues, we will be tempted to rely upon that praise for our satisfaction. But this form of satisfaction is nothing other than vainglory and never truly satisfies in the end. However, when one sees and praises the virtues of God within us, God is praised first and foremost, and we are blessed to share in God's glory. Reflect, today, upon whether you prefer to be rich, to indulge in the best of foods, to be constantly entertained and to be the envy of others, or whether you see the temptations this type of life brings. Reflect also upon the concrete spiritual blessings that come to those who are literally poor, hungry, temperate and humble. This is a very demanding teaching from Jesus. If it doesn't sit well with you, then know that it is a sign that you still have various attachments in life. Reflect, especially, upon the beatitude that is most difficult to embrace, and make that beatitude the source of reflection and prayer. Doing so with honesty and openness will result in you being among those who are truly blessed in the eyes of God. My blessed Lord, You were poor, hungry, temperate and humble to the perfect degree. For these reasons, You were filled with perfect virtue and were satisfied to the greatest degree. Please open my eyes to the deceptions of this world so that I can live with You a life of true holiness, experiencing the riches of the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus, I trust in You!Image: Sermon on the Mount by Danijel Dukić, license Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 InternationalSource of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Send us a textFollowing Jesus is a choice, not a feeling. In this conversation, we continue our look at the Beatitudes with a couple of new guests you're going to love! Chet Hunter and Madison Hunter have such great insight into what it means to hunger and thirst after righteousness throughout the seasons of life. 02:30 Recap & today's Beatitude 04:00 Defining Terms10:00 How our journeys began20:00 Going after the healthy food for your soul28:00 What does it look like to find satisfaction in God?30:00 Following God is a choice, not a feeling40:00 How do we identify what's missing?50:00 People can be weird, God is not55:00 The Power of Community___________________________________________If you're new to the Bible or want to take your study further, consider these free resources we use ourselves:Bible.com - A free, digital Bible with many translations from YouVersion that also provides hundreds of devotionalsBibleProject.com - A free resource from The Bible Project that provides in-depth overviews and studies of Scripture as well as key concepts and themes within the Bible.What Matters Most is a podcast from Faith Community Church. Connect on socials:FacebookInstagramYouTube channelNo matter where you're at on your journey, you are welcome here.Faith Community Churchinfo@faithcommunity.co636.671.4190

Building on the Rock: Living Christ's Words in a World of False Prophets Wise vs. Foolish Builders (Matthew 7:24-27, KJV): Jesus teaches, “Whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock” (v. 24). Obeying Christ's words builds a firm foundation that withstands trials, while hearing without doing, like the foolish builder, leads to collapse (v. 26-27). Beatitudes and Heart Transformation: The Beatitudes (Matthew 5) require a heart cleansed by Christ's blood to live out spiritual truths like humility and peacemaking. Only a transformed heart can practice Jesus' teachings, aligning with the wise builder. Building for the Church: Referencing Ephesians, believers build their spiritual “house” not just for themselves but to strengthen the church, the body of Christ, for others' benefit. Beware of False Prophets (Matthew 7:15-20, KJV): Jesus warns, “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves” (v. 15). Their corrupt teachings (evil fruit) deceive and exploit, driven by unregenerate hearts, unlike the good fruit of true believers. The Heart's Role (Luke 6:45, KJV): “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil” (Luke 6:45). False prophets' words reveal their corrupt hearts, while believers must guard theirs (Jeremiah 17:9). Call to Action for Believers: Christians must hear and practice Jesus' teachings to build a strong spiritual foundation. This requires willingness, honesty, and obedience to God's Word to resist false teachings and stand firm in faith. Perseverance in Trials: Like Job (Job 13:15, KJV), believers should trust God through storms, building on the rock of Christ's words to withstand Satan's attacks and false doctrines.

Today we begin to examine the Beatitudes, beginning with the Poor In Spirit. https://longhollow.com/theforgottenjesuspodcastshownotes

Elder Isaiah Lin speaks on the greatest sermon of all time - Jesus' Sermon on the Mount.

Matthew 5:1-12 Listen to other great sleep mediations on Amen.Sign up for a 7-day free trial of Formed.Support this podcast and the Augustine Institute by becoming a member of the Mission Circle.

Jesus flips our understanding of blessing upside down in the Beatitudes, showing that true blessing comes through humility, mercy, and even persecution for His sake. In this message, Executive Pastor, Glenn Goldsberry, breaks down Jesus's revolutionary teaching from the Beatitudes and dives into what it means to live as citizens of God's kingdom in today's world. #alloflifealltheearth #walkgrowlive #christian #church #jesus Renaissance Church - Richmond, Texas https://ren-church.org

8.31.25 Sermon by Rev. Erin Rugh, based on Matthew 25:31-40.

9.7.25 Sermon by Dr. Brad Clayton, based on John 8:1-11.

8.24.25 Sermon by Dr. Brad Clayton, based on Matthew 18:1-5.

8.17.25 Sermon by Dr. Brad Clayton, based on Revelation 21:1-4.

8.10.25 Sermon by Dr. Brad Clayton, based on Matthew 5:1-12.

Send us a textSolomon's shift from personal reflection to wisdom sharing in Ecclesiastes chapter 7 brings us face-to-face with mortality and meaning. What begins as almost funeral-like observations quickly transforms into profound insights about living well in light of life's inevitable end.I recently wrote my own eulogy – a strange exercise that forced me to confront uncomfortable questions. What legacy am I building? Would people speak of me as I hope they would? Most importantly, have I focused on what truly matters? Because as Solomon reminds us, "A good name is better than fine perfume, and the day of death better than the day of birth."This counter-cultural wisdom strikes at the heart of our pleasure-seeking society. Solomon insists that mourning is better than feasting, that sadness benefits the heart, and that wisdom is found in confronting life's difficulties rather than escaping them. These insights parallel Jesus' teachings in the Beatitudes, where blessings are pronounced on those who mourn and hunger for righteousness.Solomon also addresses our tendency to live mentally trapped between nostalgia for the past and anxiety about the future, missing the only moment we can actually influence – the present. This obsession manifests in our cultural resistance to change (like the recent Cracker Barrel logo outrage) while preventing us from investing deeply in relationships right before us.Perhaps most powerfully, Solomon acknowledges life's apparent unfairness. The wicked sometimes prosper while the righteous suffer. Yet even without the revelation of Jesus that we now possess, he concludes that pursuing God is what ultimately matters. For us today, this means recognizing our value in God's eyes beyond our brokenness – that we are loved, chosen, redeemed, and purposeful in His divine plan.Whether you're wrestling with mortality, questioning your purpose, or feeling distant from God, remember this truth: You are deeply loved. So much that even if you were the only person who needed saving, Jesus would have died for you alone. This is the message that gives meaning to everything "under the sun."

In this opening message of The Red Letters series, we begin with Jesus' iconic Sermon on the Mount — starting with the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:1–12. Jesus turns the world's definition of happiness and success upside down, showing us that true blessing comes not through power or achievement, but through humility, mercy, and a heart fully dependent on God. In this episode, we unpack the character traits of Kingdom citizens and what it truly means to live a life marked by spiritual depth and surrender. Main Takeaway: True happiness begins with spiritual humility and dependence on God — not status, success, or strength.

Scriptures: Matthew 5:8, 21-22, 27-28, 6:22-24, Psalm 24:3-6, Revelation 4Main Points:-Is purity unrealistic?-Idolatry and deceit corrupt the heart.-Anything I prioritize over God is an Idol.-The most beautiful views come at a cost.Idolatry Checkup:Am I making decisions about my finances based on God, or am I making decisions about God based on my finances?Am I making decisions about my life based on God or decisions about God based on my life?

The sermon on the mount is probably one of the best known and most recognisable teachings of Jesus. It has captured the hearts and imagination of believers over many centuries. It has inspired writings and has shaped western culture. Its influence and significance can not be over stated.John Stott writes: “The Sermon on the Mount is probably the best-known part of the teaching of Jesus, though arguably it is the least understood, and certainly it is the least obeyed. It is the nearest thing to a manifesto that he ever uttered, for it is his own description of what he wanted his followers to be and to do” We have already looked at the “door keeper” to this great body of teaching, namely “The Beatitudes”. Sinclair Furgeson says that “The sermon on the mount does not begin with what we are to do as Christians. In a sense it doesn't even begin with telling us what we are to be as Christians. It begins by telling us the blessedness of what we are as Christians.” In the Christian life being is the foundation for doing. Not the other way around. It is therefore important to keep that in mind as we approach the ethical part of the sermon. The ethics of of God's Kingdom flows from the blessed state of our becoming citizens and partakers in the new life of His Kingdom.

This sermon was preached by our Lead Pastor Paul Smith on Matthew 5:3–13 and is part of our series The Beatitudes.

During his ministry, Jesus repeatedly referred to himself as the Bread of Life. His words would have stirred echoes of the Torah: “Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.” Just as bread sustains the body, the words of the LORD nourish the soul. Yet, Jesus's teachings were not always easy to digest. His words could be unsettling and paradigm-shifting, turning long-held beliefs on their heads. Some who heard him turned away. But Simon Peter recognized the truth. When others left, he confessed, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” In this series, we will dive deep into one of Jesus's most famous teachings, the Sermon on the Mount. We will consider how these words of life nourish us, even as they challenge us, and how we might apply them to our lived stories today. This week, Rebecca invited us to see the Beatitudes through the lens of hope.  We practiced visio divina together with this painting. If The Practice Church is your home community, please join the Core Team. If The Practice Church has been meaningful to your journey, would you consider a tax-deductible gift? You can give at https://thepracticechurch.com/give/

Introduction: John 3:36 - whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. Ephesians 2:3 – were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. Enter By the Narrow Gate (Matthew 7:13-14) It's Hard to FIND. (Matt 7:14) John 14:6 – Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Luke 14:33 – So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple. It's Hard to WALK. (Matt 7:14) It's Hard to DISMISS. (Matt 7:14) Matthew 11:12 – From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANKHint: Highlight blanks above for answers! Small Group DiscussionRead Matthew 7:13-14What was your big take-away from this passage / message?How would (specifically) you answer this question: How do I know which gate I entered?We are saved by grace. But are things like repentance, counting the cost, and entering the kingdom violently considered “works”? Why or why not?BreakoutPray for one another. AUDIO TRANSCRIPT I'd like you to just bow your heads for a moment,and I'm going to ask that you would please pray for meto be faithful to communicate God's word accurately as I should.And I will pray for you to be ready to receivewhatever it is the Lord wants to teach you today.Alright? Let's pray.Father in heaven, you are greatly glorifiedas transformed people by the power of your Holy Spirit.Our obedient to what you've revealed in your Word.That's all I'm asking for today, Father,for your glory to be on display as we respondto what you've told us in your Word.Manifest your grace and your goodness here today, Father.We ask in Jesus' name, amen.If you haven't already opened up your Bibles to Matthew chapter 7,we're just going to be looking at two verses today.For some of you, these could be the mosttwo important verses you ever hear.When I was a kid growing up in Shakura,we attended the Little Methodist Church.And when you're - I don't know if it's still the case in the Methodist Church,but at that time, when you're 12,you go through confirmation classes.You go to the Methodist Church, and then they teach youabout doctrine and John Wesley and the books of the Bible.But one part of this confirmation class,it took place over several days,but one part was the pastor would take you into the auditorium,just you and him.And I'm assuming that his conversation with the others went as it did with me.I remember the pastor took me to the auditorium and he said,"Jeff, you don't want to go to hell, do you?"And I'm like, "You mean today?Because mom's expecting me home for dinner."He's like, "You don't want to go to hell, do you?"And I was just like, "No."He goes, "Well, then you want to accept Jesus Christas your Lord and Savior, right?"And I'm like, "Okay.""Great."And he sent me back with the other kids.And then every time this pastor saw me after that,he would say, "I remember the day you gave your life to Jesus.""Oh, Jeff, I remember the day you gave your life to Jesus."And I was like, "Yeah, that was awesome."Is that what it means to follow Jesus?You see, since February we've been going through the Sermon on the Mount,the greatest sermon ever preached.And over the next four weeks, we're looking at how Jesus closesthe greatest sermon ever preached.All of the content leads to this.Over the past several months, we've looked at the heart of the discipleand the beatitudes.This is what a Jesus follower looks like.We talked about the heart of the law.Jesus didn't come to get rid of the Old Testament.He said, "I came to fulfill it."We talked about the heart of religion.Look, it's not about doing things for showto get a pat on the back from people.We talked about the heart towards the world.How should we interact in this world with money and stuff and people?And now we get to the close of Jesus' sermon, and here he's saying,"Now what are you going to do about it?"Now that you know what I call you to,is your heart ready for judgment?Look at verses 13 and 14.Jesus says, "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.For the gate is narrow, and the way is hard,that leads to life, and those who find it are few."Everybody's heading to eternity.I don't need to sell anyone on that, do I?Everyone's heading for eternity,and Jesus said there are two gates.There's exactly two options,and here Jesus is calling for an urgent choice.He commands, that's the first sentence in verse 13,"Enter by the narrow gate."That's a choice literally between heaven and hell.Jesus says, "Make your choice."Who would choose hell?I mean, really.Who would choose hell?I mean, yeah, I've shared the Gospel with a lot of people over the years,and I've met the guy, probably you have to.It's like, "Well, I'm going to hell,and I know I'm going to hell, and I don't really care,because all my buddies will be there."But I'm like, "You are clueless."You meet that joker.But who would really, honestly, seriously choose hell?Why wouldn't you choose heaven?I mean, really.See, my friends, that's the thing.That's why this message is so urgent,because no one thinks they are choosing hell.Everyone thinks that they are going to end up in heaven.Somehow, some way, I'm going to end up in heaven.Everyone thinks that.Everyone is, according to Jesus.In fact, it's even worse than we think it is.As we saw in the video, we have this mindset that most of us are good,and we're going to heaven, and there's a few really bad people that are going to hell.Jesus didn't say that.Notice Jesus said the exact opposite.He said many are going to hell, to destruction,and he said few are going to heaven.Few find life.So do you know what you have to do to go to hell?Do you know?Nothing.You don't have to do a thing.And that's where you'll end up.John 3.36 says,"Whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life."Look at this."But the wrath of God remains on him."How do you get the wrath of God?He's already on you.Paul says the same thing in Ephesians 2-3.He says, "We were by nature children of wrath,like the rest of mankind."That was our default mode.And I want you to notice in these two verses,Jesus didn't say, "Choose which gate."He didn't say that.You already did choose a gate.There's no language here that says,"Well, tell me, how do I go through the wide gate?"You already did.Notice with the narrow gate, look at the very last phrase in verse 14.Jesus said, "Those who find it are few."The wide gate is something that has to be found.The wide gate, Jesus never said you had to find the wide gate.It's wide.It's easy.And you're already on it.Heading to destruction.So what we have here in these verses is a command.It's a command to enter the narrow gate.Look at verse 13 again.Enter by the narrow gate.It's a command. It's a call to action.Meaning it doesn't happen by accident.It's worth noting that Jesus,we're going to see this in these upcoming messages as well,there are people that are going to be shockedthat they're going to hell.But you know, the Bible never says that there are peoplethat are shocked that they end up in heaven.That guy doesn't exist.That guy doesn't exist where Jesus says,"Come on in to glory."Like, wow, I didn't know I was coming here.Wow.That guy doesn't exist.The gospel is a command.Listen, it's a command.It's not just an invitation.It's not just a suggestion.You really ought to think about maybe turning to Jesus.It is a command.Look at the words that are used to describe coming to Christ.They're all commands.Words like "repent."You're commanded to repent.Believe.Receive.Believe.Here, the command is "enter."This is the big takeaway from the Sermon on the Mountaccording to Jesus.Because of everything that He said,going back to the Beatitudes,leading to this point,Jesus commands us to choose narrow.It's not enough to listen to sermons about the narrow gate.It's not enough to study the narrow gate.It's not enough to even kind of like the narrow gate.Jesus said, "You have to make the choice to enter the narrow gate."Have you made that choice?I want you to jot some things downon your outline.This is the command, "Enter by the narrow gate."What does our Lord say about it?First of all, number one, write this down.It's hard to find.It's hard to find.Again, in verse 14, Jesus says,"For the gate is narrow, and the way is hard that leads to life.And those who find it are few."It's hard to find.It's narrow.What exactly do you mean it's narrow?Well, one thing that it means, that it's being narrow,is that it's the only way to be saved.Jesus made that claim.The Bible makes that claim over and over and over.In John 14.6, Jesus said,"I am the way and the truth and the life.No one comes to the Father except through me."The gate is narrow because it's the only way to be saved.Not every road leads to heaven.That doesn't even work in the physical world, does it?If you came to me after service and you're like,"Pastor Jeff, I really want to go to Cleveland.How do I get there?"First of all, I'm not sure you really do want to go there.But if you have to listen, you know how to get to Cleveland?Just pick a road. It doesn't matter.Get in your car and just pick a road.As long as you believe in your heart's that that road will take you to Cleveland,then you will get to Cleveland.Would that work?People are like, "I think I'll ask Pastor Taylor."Right?I mean, that's foolishness.So why do we think that any road is going to get us to heaven?Not every road will take you there.Because your problem is sin before a holy God,and the only way that that sin can be forgivenis through Jesus Christ, because He's the only onewho paid the penalty to take away your sin.It's narrow because it's the only way to be saved.It's narrow also because you're called to leave some things behind.You get a picture of this narrow gate almost like a turnstile,like walking into Kennywood.If you're going through that turnstile, you've got to leave some stuff behind.Like leave what behind?Your sin?Your self-centeredness?Your rights?Your pride?You've got to leave your old self behind,because listen, you're both not going to fit through the turnstile.You both won't fit through the narrow gate.Jesus said it costs to enter this gate.We don't have time today, but just write down Matthew 10, Luke 14.Jesus said there's a cost to entering the gate.Leave stuff behind.Like, well, what's the cost?Jesus said you have to love Him more than you love your own family.Jesus said you have to deny yourself.Jesus said you have to consider yourself a slave to Him.Oh, and you have to consider yourself a slave to everyone else.Jesus said things like you have to take up your cross.You have to be willing to lay down your life for Him.Listen, if you're unwilling to do any of that,then you're not going to get through the gate at all.To sum it up, Luke 14.33, look what Jesus says.Not the most secret, sensitive way to address a crowd.Jesus said, "So therefore any one of you who does not renounce all that He hascannot be my disciple."You willing to do that?You're like, "I don't know."Okay, then you're not going through the narrow gate.Back when I was in college, I had several jobs.Here's where two of them overlapped.I was pastoring a little country church,and I was also a magazine vendor for two Walmarts and two K-Marts.Is K-Marts still a thing?It was back then.But I would go in third shift to these stores,and I would stock the magazines.And at the one K-Mart, I got to be friends with some of the employees there.There were a couple cashiers that I invited to church.I'll never forget this.The one cashier, her name was Gina.And she came to church for probably three or four weeks,and then stopped.Well, the next time I saw her at K-Mart,I said, "Hey, I haven't seen you in church."I'll never forget what she said.She said, "I can't go to churchand live the kind of life that I want to live."It's sad.She got it.She got the fact that the gate is narrow.She got the fact that she can't come into the kingdom of heavenwhile carrying all her sin in with her.I don't want to talk about Gina though. I want to talk about you.What have you left behind to follow Jesus?Would you say that there's been a tremendous cost to youin deciding to follow Jesus?And if your answer is, "Well, you know,I haven't really given up that much to follow Jesus,really now that I think about it,I really haven't given up very much."Well, then you haven't found the narrow gate.It's hard to find.Secondly, write this down.Not only is it hard to find,it's hard to walk.It's hard to walk.The gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life.The way is hard that leads to life.You see what Jesus is saying?If you find it, and even when it's truly found,it's hard to enter.And when you enter it, it's hard to walk.And right now somebody's like, "Hard? Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait,hang on, hang on, hang on."I thought coming to Jesus was just belief.Just believe in Jesus.What are you talking about? Hard.It's just believe, right?Well, I would ask you,what do you mean by believe?Do you know how Jesus described what it means to believe?The Sermon on the Mount.This is how Jesus described what it means to believe.He described it with the beatitudes.When you're broken over your sin and you're meekand you desire righteousness and purity more than anything,you're a peacemaker.And then, if you're really living it, people hate you.That's what it means to believe.Jesus said believing is being salt and light.That means you're different than the world.You stand out because of what you believe.Is that what you mean by believe?Jesus said believing is turning from anger, turning from lust.Jesus said believing is a person who always keeps their word.Jesus said believing is never retaliating.Jesus said believing is when you love your enemies.Jesus said believing is when you choose to giveand to pray and to fast privately.So only God knows.Jesus says believing is giving to Godso that you lay up treasure in heaven.Jesus said believing is never worrying.Not being anxious for anything.Jesus said believing is not being critical of othersbut doing to others what you wish they would do to you.Now, you tell me what's easy about any of that.It's hard to walk.If you've been with us in any part of this journeythrough the Sermon on the Mount,has there been any of these sections that you've pointed atand went, "Oh, that's easy. I got that nailed down."Or have you been more like me every weektaken to the woodshed?Tour up?Or have you been more like meevery week taken to the woodshed?Or have you been more like me?Difficult is the standard.We're told on the front end,when you live different than the world,you're going to have people after you.You're going to suffer.It's hard to walk.That's why a lot of people bail, by the way.They weren't expecting it to be hard.They were believing in gospel that Jesus never taught.Because believing in the gospel,despite the lame way we want to package itin American churches,believing in the gospel is more than just acknowledging facts.And it's even way more than just agreeing with the facts.Believing in the gospel is having a faith in Jesus Christthat makes your decisions for you.Your life should be marked by this.Constantly saying, "You know what?I do this because of what Jesus said.This is why I do that."Your life should be marked by things you say,"You know what? I never do thisbecause God said I should never do that.My life makes my decisions for me."That's what it means to believe.In churches, dishonor the gospeland do a disservice to peoplewhen we make it easy to follow Jesus.Shame on us.We make it so easy for the peoplethat walk in the door and say,"Look, I just want to attend.I just want to come in on Sunday,in late, out early.I just want to attend.I don't want to get involved.I don't want to help out with the kids ministry.I don't want to be on the worship team.I don't want to give to the church.I don't want to do any of that.Look, just make it easy."Where did Jesus say the easy way leads?I want to talk about you again.You find it easy to follow Jesus?Maybe at 9 a.m. on Sunday.I want to ask about your Monday through Saturday.Is it easy for you to follow Jesus?And if your answer is, you know what?I don't know what he's talking about,but I haven't really found it to be that hardbeing a Christian.Then you haven't found the narrow gate.Because Jesus said it's hard.Enter by the narrow gate.It's hard to find.It's hard to walk.Number three, it's hard to dismiss.It's hard to dismiss.The gate is narrow.And the way is hard that leads to life.Man, this sounds like being a Christian is hard.Yeah, it is.So why would I enter the narrow gate at all then?Because of where it leads.And whoever doesn't think aboutwhere the path they are on is taking them is a fool.Throughout this section, throughout these verses,we looked at today Jesus said there's only two.There's two gates.There's two ways. There's two crowds.And there's two destinations.You're going to want to...Destruction and it's life.What's destruction?We've talked about that. That's hell.Yes, destruction here and now in this life,I've yet to meet the guy that has really benefited from their sin.But instead has experienced destruction in this life,ultimately it's destruction in hell.Why is hell referred to as destruction?Because it's eternally being destroyed,but never actually being destroyed.It's burning without being consumed.That's what hell is.And that's where the easy way leads.So if following Jesus sounds too hard for you,you have the option of having it a little easierin this life for 15 minutes,and spending eternity suffering.Not my opinion, Jesus' words.The other destination is life.Life, eternal, glorious life in heaven.Yes, of course, but also life here and now.Eternal life for the Christian isn't something that you get someday.It's something you experience now,and you take with you into eternity.This hard way is the way that Jesus took.And if we choose to follow in His footsteps,we will not only get heaven,but we will experience lifeas it was meant to be lived here and now.And that's hard to dismiss,just because it's difficult.It's over and over in the Gospels.Jesus challenged potential followers to count the cost.You have to count the cost of entering the narrow gatebecause there is a cost.But you also have to count the cost of not entering the narrow gate.You could leave here today and say,"I choose to stay on the wide gateway."What have you gained?What have you gained by staying on the wide gateway?An easier life here for however long that lasts.But what have you lost?You've lost eternity.So right now you need to ask yourself,"What way am I on?"Listen, you can't answer thatbased on something that happened in the past.That's what I mean for some people.It's like, are you a follower of Jesus?Well, I got baptized 30 years ago.That's not the test.The test is, how are we living right now?Are you seeking Jesus now?Are you turning from sin now?Are you denying yourself now?Your life right now proves what way you are on.I'd like to invite the worship team to come back up.We're going to have some folks join us up here.I'd like to invite them up too.We're going to have some people up here to pray,some elders, some members from our prayer team.I'd like you folks to make your way up here as well.In just a moment, the worship team is going to sing a song over you.But before we do that, I want us to consider one more verse.It's Matthew 11 and verse 12.Another staggering statement from our Lord.Jesus said, "From the days of John the Baptist until now,the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence."Look at his last phrase.He says, "And the violence, take it by force."Listen, because the gate is narrow,and because the way is hard,salvation is something that you have to go after violently.It's not, well, just put a check mark on this card and you're saved.Just bow your head and raise your hand and you're saved.Just repeat this prayer after me and you're saved.That's not it.It's something that you have to go after violently.Like why violently?Because the gospel calls you to forsake yourself.You have to go after that violently.Jesus calls you to give up your sin.It's not for weaklings.I'm going to give you a chance.I'm going to give you a chance to prove that you're not a weakling.I'm going to give you a chance today to do something violent.I'd like you to bow your heads, please,because what we're going to dois have a good old-fashioned, much-needed altar call.Bow your heads.Today needs to enter the narrow gate.Maybe there's somebody that walked in here todaythat said, "I know I'm not following Jesus,and I've been meaning to get around to it.Today's the day that you're going to go after this violently."Or maybe there's somebody here that's like,"Well, I don't really know if I follow Jesus."Then that means you don't.Because you can't have a relationship with the God of the universeand not know it.Because it's something you have to go after violently.Or maybe there's somebody here that says,"You know, I made a decision once upon a time,but whether I'm backslidden,or whether I was deceived or confused,I'm not really sure where I stand right nowbecause I'm so stuck in sin."You need to go after this violently.As an act of faith, as the worship team sings over you,we want to invite you to come up and pray.There is still someone here, someone else here,that wants to do business with God.I strongly encourage you not to leave until you do.You shrink back now.It's going to be way easier to shrink back the next timethat you feel called to follow Jesus.Father in heaven,we're not here to put on a show for anybody but you.We want to be sincere.We don't want to settle for some watered-down,sugar-coated version of the Gospelthat so many in our culture have made it.Father, let us go after you violentlywith the urgency that your Son has called us to.We do need to count the costs.I'm asking Father that you would give us the faith that we need.All glory and honor and praise and power be unto your name.We pray in Jesus' name.Amen.

As we start a new series on the Beatitudes, we look at what it means to be poor in spirit. To be poor in spirit is the foundation we build each beatitude on, and it is a way Christians learn to live so that we can experience the fullness of the Kingdom of Heaven.

Did you know that God has a biblical plan to help you recover from your hurts, habits, and hangups?  During this series we will look at the Eight Principles of recovery based on the Beatitudes. We hope that this ministry has blessed you in some way and that you would consider liking, subscribing, and sharing this channel with your friends, family, or a person God has placed on your heart. As always if you would like prayer please Text “Prayer” to 561.867.3400 and if you've made a decision to follow Christ today  or have more questions would you please consider  texting the word “Decided” to 561.867.3957  so that we can pray with you and provide you with  some resources to begin your journey with the Savior. Have a blessed day your family @ FBC Lantana Connect Card: Text "Connect" to 561.867.3353 Prayer Request: Text “Prayer” to 561.867.3400 I have decided to follow Jesus: Text “Decided” to 561.867.3957

This week, we started a new twelve week series on the Sermon on the Mount. Dennis Allan talked through Matthew 4:23-5:12 (NIV), describing the way Jesus' sermon is an announcement of the Gospel, the good news that a new King is being enthroned and a new Kingdom is being inaugurated. Jesus' teaching isn't a set of lofty ideals to aspire to, but a specific guide to how He expects His people to live in His Kingdom. That Kingdom is comprised of people from different racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, religious, and educational backgrounds. It's a Kingdom where the lowly, overlooked, marginalized, forgotten, and persecuted are elevated to equal standing with the wealthy, powerful, and influential. The Beatitudes are Jesus' invitation to see people the way He does, and to begin making sense of what life in His Kingdom looks like.

Men, are you ready to transform your life by embracing the virtue that unlocks God's grace? From the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Fr. Dom delivers a powerful homily on humility, the foundational virtue that keeps us grounded as sons of God. Drawing from the Book of Sirach and the Eucharistic liturgy, Fr. Dom unpacks how humility shapes every aspect of our lives; work, family, and faith. He challenges you to pray daily, “Lord, humble me today,” to see reality through God's eyes and break free from the grip of pride. Tailored for men striving to live authentically Catholic lives, this homily explores how humility in the Mass, from kneeling in prayer to offering your struggles at the altar, leads to a deeper relationship with Christ. Whether you're battling pride or seeking spiritual strength, hit play to discover how to live humbly and find favor with God.Resources:- Book of Sirach (Scripture reference).- Matthew 5:8 (Beatitudes, Scripture reference).- Psalm 69:32 (Scripture reference).- James 4:6 (Scripture reference).- Diary of St. Faustina (source of “I Will Not Retreat” prayer).- Revelation Chapter 8 (Scripture reference to incense and prayers rising to heaven).Powerful Quotes1. “My child, conduct your affairs with humility and you will be loved more than a giver of gifts. Humble yourself the more, the greater you are, and you will find favor with God.”2. “Humility is necessary for climbing the spiritual mountain. Humility is necessary to have a relationship with the Lord, to be filled with spiritual richness, and to be guided by God.”3. “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter unto my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.”Key Takeaway to Adapt Immediately:Pray daily, “Lord, humble me today,” to view your life through God's eyes, rooting out pride and aligning your heart with His will.#CatholicFaith#HumilityInFaith#CatholicMen#SpiritualGrowth#EucharisticLiturgy#LiveCatholic#FaithAndHumility#CatholicPodcast#ChristianMen#MassExplainedSend us a text Support the showPlease prayerfully consider supporting the podcast on our Buy Me A Coffee page. to help grow the show to reach as many men as possible! Thank you for your prayers and support. Be sure to follow us on X for more great content. As always, please pray for us! We are men who strive daily to be holy, to become saints and we cannot do that without the help of the Holy Ghost! Subscribe to our YouTube page to see our manly and holy faces Check out our website Contact us at themanlycatholic@gmail.com

Chris Sallade kicks off our fall sermon series on the Beatitudes with the question, "what is the good life?" He shows how Jesus's teachings present a surprising, counterintuitive, but trustworthy answer to this deeply significant question. Matthew 5:1-12Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.“Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so men persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Dr. Taylor Marshall joins John-Henry Westen to discuss his new book, Christian Patriot, and the controversy surrounding Pope Leo XIV's early papacy. Marshall argues that modern conservatism has failed because it severed itself from Catholic political philosophy, insisting true renewal must be grounded in Augustine, Aquinas, and the Beatitudes. He outlines a vision of Christian patriotism that defends marriage, family, and moral order while reviving authentic teachings on just war and liberty. The discussion turns sharply to Pope Leo's recent meeting with Fr. James Martin and approval of an LGBTQ+ pilgrimage, which Marshall calls “a punch to the gut” for faithful Catholics.Learn more about Christian Patriot, and the controversy surrounding Pope Leo XIV's early papacy, and get the book here: https://amzn.to/46kTqqU.S. residents! Create a will with LifeSiteNews: https://www.mylegacywill.com/lifesitenews****PROTECT Your Wealth with gold, silver, and precious metals: https://sjp.stjosephpartners.com/lifesitenews +++SHOP ALL YOUR FUN AND FAVORITE LIFESITE MERCH! https://shop.lifesitenews.com/****Download the all-new LSNTV App now, available on iPhone and Android!LSNTV Apple Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/lsntv/id6469105564LSNTV Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lifesitenews.app+++Connect with John-Henry Westen and all of LifeSiteNews on social media:LifeSite: https://linktr.ee/lifesitenewsJohn-Henry Westen: https://linktr.ee/jhwesten Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dive deep into Matthew 7:13-14 with Jon Rhoades on Biblically Literate Episode 4! Discover what Jesus really meant by "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. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few." As the Children and Family Minister at First Christian Church in Brazil, Indiana, Jon unpacks the Sermon on the Mount in its original context, connecting it to the broader story of Scripture like Deuteronomy 30:15-20, Psalms 1, Proverbs' Lady Wisdom vs Lady Folly, Isaiah 59:7-8, and Zephaniah 3:3.Explore key biblical concepts: the Golden Rule, Law and Prophets, fulfilling the Law, remazim (intentional nods to Old Testament passages), chiastic structure, heart transformation over outward obedience, the way of peace (shalom), false prophets as ravenous wolves, and the paradox of Jesus' easy yoke amid hardship (thlibo meaning affliction). Learn how Jesus critiques Pharisees' superficial righteousness and calls for genuine fruit-bearing faith, echoing James 2:14-17 and Matthew 5:20.Jon draws parallels to stories like the 12 spies in the Promised Land (Joshua and Caleb's faith), Moses' commands, and God's inclusive invitation yet exclusive truth in John 14:6 and Ezekiel 18:32. This isn't just Bible study—it's an invitation to examine your path: Are you on the narrow way of denying self, relying on God, and experiencing eternal rest, or the wide gate of cultural acceptance and destruction?Perfect for anyone seeking to become more Biblically Literate! Whether you're studying God's word, exploring Tanakh connections (Torah, Nevi'im, Ketuvim), or wrestling with spiritual principles like blessing vs curse, life vs death, this episode reveals God's nature as a holy, merciful Father desiring transformed hearts.Timestamps:0:00 - Intro & KidZone Story (Israelites, 12 Spies, Joshua, Caleb)2:45 - Sermon on the Mount Context (Matthew 5-7, Luke's Sermon on the Plain)5:30 - Golden Rule & Law and Prophets (Matthew 7:12, 5:17)8:15 - Fulfilling the Law: Heart vs Checklist (No Murder/Adultery Expanded)12:00 - Two Paths Tradition (Deuteronomy, Psalms, Proverbs, Remazim)16:20 - Isaiah, Shalom, Jesus' Yoke (Matthew 11:28-30)20:10 - Beatitudes & Persecution (Matthew 5:3-12)23:45 - False Prophets & Fruits (Matthew 7:15-20, Jeremiah 23, Zephaniah)27:30 - Narrow Gate as Jesus Himself (John 14:6, Ezekiel 18:32)30:00 - Application & Closing InvitationSubscribe for more episodes unpacking Scripture in context! Have questions or verse requests? Email jrhoades@fccbrazil.org or comment below. Listen on your favorite podcast platform or watch on YouTube. #NarrowGate #Matthew71314 #SermonOnTheMount #BibleStudy #BiblicallyLiterate #JesusTeaching #OldTestamentConnections #HeartTransformation #ChristianPodcast #FaithJourney

Adam Wright is joined by Joe Scherrer, a Secular Discalced Carmelite. But what is a Discalced Carmelite and how can they be secular? Joe enlightens us and shares who the Secular Discalced Carmelites are and what they do in the world. He then sets the stage with Adam for a coming series on the Beatitudes that will air on Roadmap to Heaven over the next several weeks. Fr. Joe Weber continues the week reflecting on the Gospel reading of the day! Download the Covenant Network app today! Pray the Visual Rosary at VisualRosary.org For more information on Covenant Network, visit OurCatholicRadio.org

Introduction: When my Father and I are in a good place… (Matthew 7:7–12) I ASK, knowing my Father's GENEROSITY. (Matt 7:7–8) James 4:2c – […] You do not have, because you do not ask. James 4:2c–3 – […] You do not have, because you do not ask. [3] You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. I TRUST, knowing my Father's CARE. (Matt 7:9–11) I LOVE, knowing my Father's LOVE. (Matt 7:12) Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANKHint: Highlight blanks above for answers! Small Group DiscussionRead Matthew 7:7-12What was your big take-away from this passage / message?What are you personally afraid to ask the Father right now?Share a time when you were disappointed in the moment, but now look back and praise God for not giving you what you wanted.What is your biggest challenge in treating others as you want to be treated?BreakoutPray for one another. AUDIO TRANSCRIPT Good morning.My name is Justin Cady. If we haven't met yet, I serve as one of the elders here at Harvest andas we prepare to get into God's word, I'm going to ask that you would pray for me toclearly and accurately communicate and I will pray for you to have hearts to receive. So let's pray.In Jesus' name, amen.If you have your Bibles, you can open them to Matthew chapter 7 andwe're continuing our journey this year through the Sermon on the Mount, but before we get there, I want to ask you.Can you remember a situation ever where you needed to call your dad for help?I'm blessed that by God's grace, I've always been able to go to my dad when I'm in a jam and in God's providence,He blessed my dad with a son who often got into jams.So I thought back, way back, to the first jam that I can remember. I was around five years old.I was playing Nintendo and I made it to the end of a Super Mario Brothers castle, but I couldn't defeat the boss.So I thought, I'll just ask my dad.But he was at work, so I paused the game andI closed the cabinet over the TV. In the 90s, we all put our TVs behind doors, right?And I thought what I was just going to leave it on all day and then when he got home, he could help me.But my mom found it. She didn't agree with my leave the TV on all day plan.So, but I know given the chance, I have complete confidence he would have delivered.Another jam later in life when I was a teenager with a driver's license.One year, we were just getting back from family vacation that very evening.And some of my friends were getting together for a back-to-school pool party.And my parents try to tell me, look, it's getting late, you're only going to be there for a little bit.Are you sure it's a good idea to go out there?But of course, I had to go.Now, not only am I old enough that I was playing the original Nintendo,I'm also old enough to have been operating a motor vehicle before the age of Google Maps.So as I was heading out to this party, I got lost.And while doing a three-point turn on some random street out in Murraysville, I slid my car over the curb.So I had to call my dad, who that day had packed us all up and drove us all home from the beachand explained that my car is now hanging halfway over the curb, stuck into somebody's downslope driveway.Dad, what do I do?Has anyone ever had to make a call like that?Or dads, have you ever received a call like that?At another decade or so, and I had to call my dad about a different car problem.Michelle and I were buying our first cars, a married couple, and I, knowing absolutely nothing about cars,I was totally panicked that we were going to buy a lemon or we're going to way overpay,or who knows what I'm going to get fleeced into.So in my panic, I called my dad.And I said, "Dad, could you come with me to negotiate on the car?"And he could have rightfully said, "You're on your own, son."But he came to help.And don't worry, that was a very long time ago, and since then I've purchased my vehicles all by myself.But I share those few examples to point out the reason that I always saw my dad's helpand the reason that he always gave it to me.Our relationship.The reason is our relationship.He is my father and I am his son.And my dad and I have always been in a good place.And I realize how blessed I am to be able to say that.And because of that relationship, I could always and did always ask my dad for whatever help I needed.I called to ask him for help yesterday.But for the moment, I want us to shift our view from earthly fathers to our relationship with our heavenly father.The Bible tells us that believers can address God as father because through Jesus we become children of God, amen?But if we didn't talk to our heavenly father for years, would our relationship be the same?And I'm not talking about a salvation issue.Once you are his child, that's that.I'm just saying, if you never spend time together or you never ask him for help, or you never trust anything he said,or you never listened to anything he tells you to do, what would that say about your relationship?You wouldn't say it's great, right?In that regard, how is your relationship with your heavenly father?Would you say that you're in a good place?Now, careful listeners this month might be wondering, our series the past few weeks has been about our heart towards the world.So in the last couple weeks we've talked about money, worry, judging others.What does my relationship with my father or asking of my father, what does that have to do with my heart towards the world?Well, it might seem like Jesus is taking a sudden turn at the start of this passage,but we're going to see how your relationship with your heavenly father, it absolutely affectsyour relationship and how you also ask him and approach him when you're in a jam.It absolutely affects your relationships with other people.So on your outline today, when my father and I are in a good place,number one, I ask, knowing my father's generosity.So in Pastor Jeff Sermon last week, if you were here, you know we saw a lot.We saw twigs and logs. We saw hogs and dogs.But primarily we saw Jesus telling us, do not do these things.This week we're going to see him telling us, do these things.And the week before last we studied Jesus speaking of the father's provision.If you remember him talking, Jesus talking about feeding the birds and clothing the flowers.We'll see some parallels to that today, but well, that section of Jesus teaching focused on worry.This passage starts out with a different focus. It's an invitation.So Matthew seven starting in verse seven, Jesus says, ask and it will be given to you.Seek and you will find knock and it will be open to you for everyone who asks receives and the one who seeks finds and to the one who knocks, it will be opened.Let's stop there.We see in verse seven, Jesus is inviting his followers to ask and we'll see in the following verses.He's talking about asking the father. So ask, seek, knock. All of these are referring to asking the father in prayer, asking continually according to the original language.And the repetition here emphasizes, we're not talking about half hearted by the way prayers.We're talking about passionate, all of me prayer.But you might be thinking, why does Jesus even tell us to ask?Because doesn't God already know what we need even before we ask him?And yes, he absolutely knows Matthew six, eight tells us that.But our heavenly father desires relationship.And here Jesus invites us into the same relationship he has with the father.Throughout Jesus ministry, we see him asking of the father, don't we?And again, through Jesus, we become children of God.And while inviting his followers to ask their father, Jesus gives encouragement that those who ask what receive verse eight for everyone who asks receives the one who seeks.Finds the one who knocks, it will be opened.But what does Jesus mean by that exactly?Because that might sound like Jesus is handing us a blank check, right?Ask for anything and it shows up like a supernatural prime day.And listen, sometimes it is like that. Amen.Sometimes God shows up and immediately answers prayer, just how we asked.And we stand there with our jaws on the floor like, what just happened?I've seen that as a church. We have seen that.But have you ever asked God for something and not received it?Or at least not yet.Yeah, that happens too.But if Jesus said everyone who asks receives, why does that happen?Now, we could spend a lot of time digging into that.Honestly, it's something we cannot fully understand this side of heaven.But scripture does give us some reasons that we do know.So why don't I get what I asked for?Number one, I don't ask.I don't ask.James four.Starting in verse two, the end of verse two tells us you do not have because you do not ask.Now it could be because you get so busy with other stuff.You don't spend time in prayer seeking the Lord wholeheartedly bringing your request before him.Or this is a big one.Sometimes we don't ask because of pride.I got this God. I'll let you know if I need you.Now, we probably don't say those words, but our actions do.We try to do whatever it is on our own without prayer.We try to fix it ourselves, whatever it is without seeking him.I mean, why does Jesus even have to tell us to ask?Pride because in our pride, we forget our need for God.And not just physical or material needs.We forget our spiritual needs.A struggle with a particular sin or an area where we need to grow like in patience or in wisdom, in joy.What about asking the Lord to equip us for all of Jesus instructions in this sermon?I don't mean today's sermon. I mean the whole sermon on the Mount.Do we ask our Father to help us be better disciples?Now, to clarify, physical and material needs are important.100% ask for them.Don't mishear me on that. It's a both and.But for all of the above, we don't ask.Another reason that we don't ask, we're afraid of the answer.We don't ask because we're afraid of being disappointed.So what are you afraid to ask God for right now?A health issue you've been dealing with for a long time?A lost family member that keeps making destructive decisions no matter how many times you try to help.A goal or a desire or something in your life that always seems like it's just out of reach.Think about it for a second.What are you afraid to ask God for right now?Now, we're going to get more into disappointment in a moment, but how would Jesus respond to you not asking out of fear?Based on this passage, he would say, ask whatever it is, bring it to your father.Why don't I get what I asked for?Number one, I don't ask. Number two, I ask wrongly.James continues, you do not have because you do not ask.You ask and do not receive because you ask wrongly to spend it on your passions.Okay, so first you don't ask, but when you do ask, do you ask wrongly?Now, in this context, wrongly means selfishly or sinfully.Like, Father, I'm asking for a Ferrari.I am seeking a Ferrari.I am knocking on the door of the Ferrari dealership.Now, God is certainly capable of that, but why?Is there any purpose beyond my passions?I hope you see what I mean.There's nothing wrong with owning that whip.It's about the heart.Is my request just for my glory?Instead of asking things so we can impress people or keep up with people,we should pray for God to get the glory in all things.God, will you bring healing to this person so that your name may be glorifiedbecause you're doing the healing?God, will you provide a new church building so that your name may be glorifiedbecause you're doing the providing?God, will you free my brother and sister, brother or sister from addictionso that your name may be glorified because only in you can they experience true freedom?Now, I'm not trying to prescribe exact words.I'm just saying our hearts should desire his glory instead of our own.Why don't I get what I asked for?Those are just two reasons.The point is we interpret Jesus' words here knowing he's not a Christian.Knowing he's not fully explaining all the details of God's provision in this passage.We understand from the rest of the New Testament that God is not a vending machine.If this was the only teaching in the whole Bible on prayer, then we might think he was,but Jesus is talking about one aspect of prayer.He's telling us we should have hearts that go to our Father and ask.He is inviting us to ask, knowing that there's no limit to our Father's generosity.Our Father wants to give to his children,but the answer we receive is not always the one that we expected.Why don't I get what I asked for?The hard truth is sometimes what we ask for is not what he wants for us.Our call is to maintain total confidence in our Father regardless of the answer,because point number two on your outline today,when my Father and I are in a good place, I trust knowing my Father's care.Let's continue looking at Jesus' words.We're going to pick it up in verse nine.It says,So Jesus paints a picture to help us understand more deeply.And there are some details we don't want to miss.Like in verse nine,if his son asks him for bread, we'll give him a stone.If you're hungry, what good is a stone?It's worthless.It does nothing.Or if you're verse 10,if he asks for a fish, we'll give him a serpent.If you're hungry, what good is a serpent?It's worse than worthless.It's harmful, right?Jesus is saying, and I'm paraphrasing,even you evil humans know these responses would be insane.So how will your Father in heaven, who is truly good in a way we never can be,how will he respond when we ask him?And that's the point.We can trust our Father because of who he is.He is a Father who cares for his children.Back in college, my friend Jesse and I would play pick-up hockey at the school ice rink.And hockey being a sport with a ton of equipment,they had lockers at the rink that you could rentso you didn't have to lug all of your stuff back and forth.So one day I was sitting in class and I got a text message from Jessewith these exact words,"Give me your hockey locker combination.Don't question me."Now, in that moment, I had a choicebecause college age males sometimes build friendship through destructive pranks.But I chose to trust, and I sent back the combo.And he did not prank me that time.As I later found out, as a birthday present, he grabbed my skates,took them to get sharpened, retaped my stick, stuff like that.It was very nice.But the point is, I responded to that textwithout knowing why he needed to get in the lockeror what he was going to do.I didn't know what to expect.But because of our friendship, I trusted him.Do we trust God like that?Do we trust our Father not because he tells us exactly what's going to happen,but because of who he is?Because our relationship is in a good place.Or let me ask in a different way.What do you expect from God?At times, especially around hard times,I think we expect stones and serpents.Again, we might not say it like that.We say things like, "Of course it would happen this way!That's how it always works out for me!"And that's because our expectations can be influenced by relationships with people.We don't trust God to give good gifts because we've been hurt by human relationships.Human fathers are not perfect fathers.Human friends are not perfect friends.Trust gets broken.You might say, "Justin, you don't get my situation.My life has been full of disappointment.Things have not turned out how I expected at all."And you're right.I have not walked in your shoes.I don't know your situation.And I cannot speak to your disappointment.But I know my Father.And He tells us to ask and to expect good things from Him.Because He cares for us as a Father cares for His children.So will hard times come?Oh yeah.Jesus tells us that elsewhere.And you won't always understand why.But here He tells you to trust your Heavenly Father.Trust Him regardless of what you expect and regardless of what you ask for.Because sometimes we ask for the wrong things and that's okay.What do I mean?We ask God for that house or that job or that anything.And we can and should freely ask for all of that because praise God,He does not always give us what we ask for.If my kids ask me to have dessert for all three meals,I'm not going to give them what they asked for.And I do that because I care for them, right?In the same way we can't see sometimes what that house or that jobor that whatever it is will ultimately do to us, but He can.So we trust Him to give good gifts.And we don't have to worry even about getting our request exactly right.So continually ask and totally trust.I know just continually ask and totally trust.It is incredibly difficult for us to do that.But do you trust Him?Is your relationship with Him in a good place?Because now we're going to see how that relationship affects our relationships on Earth too.When my father and I are in a good place,point number three, I love knowing my father's love.So we've been talking again about our heart towards the Father,but what about our heart towards the world?Let's read our last verse for today, Matthew chapter seven verse 12.It says, "So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them,for this is the law and the prophets."Now we know this as what rule?That's right.This is commonly labeled the golden rule, just like Grandma taught in Sunday school.This is how Jesus wants us to love, humbling ourselvesand doing what we would wish to others.Now verse 12 opens with a "so"and I believe this is another instance of Jesus' logical progressionthat we've seen in the Sermon on the Mount.He is connecting this verse to the verses that we just read.But how does Ask Seek Knock connect to Do unto Others?Again, our relationship with our Father influences our relationships with people.Jot down 1 John 419, it says, "We love because he first loved us."Understanding the Father's love for us is what motivates us to love.Now Jesus is also here pointing back to the entire Sermon on the Mount as in,so based on all of that, love others this way.I mean think back throughout the year, back in the Beatitudes,remember when we had all the congratulations balloons up here,to anger, adultery, retaliation,and on and on, so much of our study this year was about our relationships with others.And that all lands here.Verse 12 again, "So whatever you wish that others would do to you,do also to them for this is the law and the prophets."This verse summarizes Jesus' teaching on discipleship from the Sermon on the Mount,but as if that wasn't enough, Jesus says this statement is the law and the prophets.Now many might notice that the greatest commandment,"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind,"is not here because again Jesus is speaking of human to human interaction.But even limiting it to the scope of human relationships,think about how much is in the Old Testament law,how much is in the books of the prophets that were sent to Israel.Jesus is saying all of that is right here.How?Jesus is talking about the heart of the law rather than the letter of the law.The golden rule is the law and the prophets for one because Jesus says it is.That's enough, right?But if we want to totally lawyer it out,Jesus is saying this is the heart behind everything else in the law.It's the foundation.This is the ethics of Christianity compressed to a single statement.So the question to us is then, how do we do that?And I know what we're all thinking, "I already do that.I always treat others the way that I want to be treated."Let's think about that for a minute.When you're at work, do you always treat everyone with the attitude that you would like directed back at you?What about marriage?When there's a disagreement, do you handle yourself the way that you would want when you are wrong and you will be wrong?What about with family or our friend who just pushes your buttons every time you're together?Would your response be what you wanted if the roles were flipped?In church, I saved this one for last.When you are driving a car,do you consistently treat others with the same patience, understanding,and a benefit of the doubt that you want to receive as a driver?You're like, "What is this guy's deal with cars?"With just a little self-examination, we can see how far off we often are.And the standard is actually even higher than we might realize,because especially with the people that frustrate us, we set the bar at not hurting them.But look at what Jesus said, "Whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them."That is a higher bar than just not hurting.Jesus says, "Do. Take action. Actively put their needs ahead of yours."That is hard.It's also hard to come up with examples for something that affects basically everything we do,but we want to merge into traffic when we're behind schedule, right?So let others in when you see them trying to merge.I promise that's the last driving example.Or what would you want when you're in a stressful season?A card in the mail, meeting for coffee, bringing a meal or a tub of ice cream?When you know that someone is going through a stressful season of their own,take whatever it is to them.Or we want others to listen to us when we have something to say or just get off our chest, don't we?So listen to others instead of just waiting for your chance to say something.It's so difficult to live out things like that.So how can we love like Jesus commands?A few years ago, we had some people over for dinner, just low-key hanging out,and we were cleaning up afterwards and I was doing the dishes.And one guest asked me, "Why do you do the dishes?"I said, "I don't know, I just do the dishes to help out."And he asked, "Did your dad do the dishes?"And I thought back and answered, "Yeah, my dad did the dishes quite a bit growing up. He still does."And this guest said, "You do the dishes because your dad did the dishes."And that whole conversation was 20 seconds, but it's stuck with me ever since, because he's right.There are so many things in my life that I do as a father, as a husband, as a man, because that's what my dad did.So how can we love like Jesus commands?Because that's what our dad did.He loves us, and he proved that by sending his son.Jesus paid the penalty for our sin and gave us the right to become children of God.Through his death and resurrection, we can have a relationship with our father.God's love for us is not in question, yet so often our love for others is.But when we truly know the love of our father, how can we do anything else?Or in the language of this verse, in our hearts, we wish nothing more than to be loved, so we must do that unto others.So as we prepare to close for today, how is your relationship with God the Father?Maybe you're thinking, what if he and I are not in a good place?What if I don't have a relationship with God at all?If that's you, remember, God desires relationship, and Jesus made that possible.The Bible says if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart, that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.So repent, turn from your sin, and start a relationship with him today.And if you already have a relationship, but it's not in a good place, open the lines of communication to get it there.Now of course we cannot do any of this on our own, so we ask, seek, knock for help.Actually, let's go in reverse.We know we have to love, and we can't do it by ourselves, so do you trust in the care of your heavenly Father?Then he invites you to ask him.Let's pray together.Our heavenly Father, we come before you and follow Jesus' command to ask.We ask you for help, Lord God.We know that all of the things that we talked about today that we read from your Word, we can't do on our own power.We need you, God.We need you for the very breath we breathe.So I pray, God, that you would give us a renewed focus on deepening our relationship with you, Lord God.And I pray that as we are filled with your love, we would pour that out to others.God, in all the things that we ask, in all the things that we do in our lives as individuals and that we do as a church, Lord God, may you be glorified.We thank you and praise you in the name of Jesus. Amen.

This week, Pastor Abraham rounded out our Beatitudes series with a sermon on Matthew 13-16. Want to hear More? Tune in next week, or come visit us on a Sunday morning! We would love to have you worship the Lord with us.

In this message, we continue through the Beatitudes by exploring what it means to be a peacemaker and how to stand firm when facing persecution. Jesus calls us to reflect His heart by extending forgiveness, having brave conversations, and pursuing real peace even when it's hard. Discover how aligning with Kingdom values not only brings peace with God and others but also equips us to endure opposition with joy and confidence in Christ.

Recorded live at Beatitudes Church in Phoenix, AZ on 8.31.25Preaching: Pastor Jim MeadowsScripture: Psalms 127:1-2; 1 Corinthians 12:12-26If you like what you hear, consider donating at:  https://beatitudeschurch.org/donate/To watch the full service, click here: Service of Worship | August 31, 2025

In the finale of Upside-Down Summer, we're exploring how the Beatitudes are more than just words to make us better people—they're a call to become better servants. From living as salt and light to loving and discipling others, it's about letting what God is doing in us flow outward into the world around us. The real question is: what needs to change in you today so others can see Him through you?

Did you know that God has a biblical plan to help you recover from your hurts, habits, and hangups?  During this series we will look at the Eight Principles of recovery based on the Beatitudes. We hope that this ministry has blessed you in some way and that you would consider liking, subscribing, and sharing this channel with your friends, family, or a person God has placed on your heart. As always if you would like prayer please Text “Prayer” to 561.867.3400 and if you've made a decision to follow Christ today  or have more questions would you please consider  texting the word “Decided” to 561.867.3957  so that we can pray with you and provide you with  some resources to begin your journey with the Savior. Have a blessed day your family @ FBC Lantana Connect Card: Text "Connect" to 561.867.3353 Prayer Request: Text “Prayer” to 561.867.3400 I have decided to follow Jesus: Text “Decided” to 561.867.3957

Alan teaches on the Beatitudes from Yeshua's Sermon on the Mount, in Matthew 5:3-10.Blessed are the poor in spirit,for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.Blessed are those who mourn,for they will be comforted.Blessed are the meek,for they will inherit the Earth.Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,for they will be satisfied.Blessed are the merciful,for they will be shown mercy.Blessed are the pure in heart,for they will see God.Blessed are the peacemakers,for they will be called the Sons of God.Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.YouTube: https://youtube.com/live/NRyGS0lm9vwSend us a text

Jason Leonard preaches through Matthew 5:13-16.

This week, Pastor Jim leads us through the last few verses on the Beatitudes with a message on Persecution, Trials, and Hardship. Want to hear More? Tune in next week, or come visit us on a Sunday morning! We would love to have you worship the Lord with us.

What if the Kingdom of Heaven wasn't just for eternity—but for today? In this episode, Pastor Chris Maxwell brings the Sermon on the Mount to life, showing us that the Beatitudes are not just ideals to admire but a pattern of Kingdom living now. This message will challenge you to: Live with humility and purity of heart Extend mercy and be a peacemaker Embrace the upside-down, radical call of Jesus

Pastor Gregg taught that the Beatitudes reveal a radical, upside-down path to true joy and flourishing in God's kingdom through dependence on Him and Christlike character.

Today we begin a brand new series on the Beatitudes - straight from Matthew 5! This is our intro episode, laying the ground work for what the Beatitudes truly are. Let's get started! If you're looking for the link for the brand new Foundation Stones Devotional book, you can find it here: https://a.co/d/azTMHfMSupport the show

Brother Joseph here and today we want to discuss the Canonization of two new Saints - Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio FrassatiCarlo Acutis (1991–2006) was a British-born Italian teenager known for his deep devotion to the Eucharist and his passion for technology. At just 15, he created a website documenting Eucharistic miracles around the world, blending faith and digital creativity in a way that inspired countless others.He died of leukemia in 2006, offering his suffering for the Church and the Pope. Carlo was beatified in 2020 and will be canonized as the first millennial saint on September 7, 2025 A B. He's now a patron of youth and computer programmers, often called “God's influencer.”Pier Giorgio Frassati (1901–1925) was an Italian layman whose short life radiated joy, courage, and deep faith. Born into a wealthy family in Turin, he chose a path of radical charity and spiritual devotion, often giving away his possessions to the poor and spending hours in Eucharistic adoration and Marian prayer A B.A passionate mountaineer, Frassati coined the phrase “Verso l'alto”—“To the heights”—which became both his climbing motto and spiritual mission A. He believed holiness was not reserved for the cloistered but could be lived in the streets, classrooms, and mountains. Despite academic struggles and family tensions, he remained steadfast in his love for Christ and service to others A.At age 24, he died of polio, likely contracted while caring for the sick. His funeral was attended by hundreds of poor and marginalized people he had quietly helped. Pope John Paul II beatified him in 1990, calling him the “Man of the Beatitudes.” He will be canonized on September 7, 2025, alongside Carlo Acutis. Browse our Collection of Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio FrassatiJourneys of FaithBob and Penny Lord's StoreDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show

Dr. Crawford Loritts helps us see the potential for happiness in the Beatitudes of Matthew 5. It’s an insightful look at our life conditions and the resulting promise of God’s faithfulness.Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/livingalegacySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“The Beatitudes are at the heart of Jesus' preaching,” the Catechism tells us. Jesus' proclamation in Chapter 5 of the Gospel of Matthew purifies our hearts, sets a standard for earthly discernment, and directs our actions towards heaven. Fr. Mike invites us to choose God's ways and forsake our own ways. Today's readings and paragraphs 1716-1729. This episode has been found to be in conformity with the Catechism by the Institute on the Catechism, under the Subcommittee on the Catechism, USCCB. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/ciy Please note: The Catechism of the Catholic Church contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.