Podcasts about Matthew 7

“You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.” (Matthew 7:13–14 NLT) In our us-versus-them culture, the concept of Hell is reserved almost exclusively for “them.” Many people who believe in Hell believe in it for other people, especially for those who do awful things. They believe Hell is for people who commit horrible crimes without getting caught or punished in this lifetime. People can point to Hell and say, “Well, they’ll get theirs eventually.” They take a comfort of sorts that there will be a final judgment and that evil will be punished forever. However, the people who view Hell in these terms don’t like the prospect of facing judgment themselves. It’s okay for “them” but not for “us.” But the reality is that it won’t be just the master evildoers who are sentenced to Hell. It will be everyone who chooses to go there. And make no mistake, it is a choice. People who end up in Hell do so because they made a strategic decision to be there. Hell is not what God wants. He’s gone to unimaginable lengths to make sure that no one goes there. Yet people still choose to go. Hell is a prison in which the doors are locked from the inside. Well-meaning believers and nonbelievers alike tend to emphasize God’s love and mercy above all His other perfections. As a result, they conclude that Heaven is the default destination of every person. But such is not the case. Jesus said in His Sermon on the Mount, “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it” (Matthew 7:13–14 NLT). We go to Heaven because we make a choice to do so by putting our faith in Christ—and Christ alone. There is no other way to get to Heaven. No one is uniquely qualified to meet God’s righteous demands apart from Christ. No prophet, no guru, no religious system is going to do it. Jesus was fully God, and He was fully man. Thus He, and He alone, was able to stand in the gap for us and pay the price for our sins. That’s why the Bible asks, “So what makes us think we can escape if we ignore this great salvation that was first announced by the Lord Jesus himself and then delivered to us by those who heard him speak? And God confirmed the message by giving signs and wonders and various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit whenever he chose” (Hebrews 2:3–4 NLT). If you blow off God’s offer, that’s your choice. But you’re going to face the consequences. What will you choose? Reflection question: How would you explain the concept of Hell to an unbeliever? The Harvest Crusade is coming to Angel Stadium on July 11! Stay updated on all important event details. — The audio production of the podcast "Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known." All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock.” (Matthew 7:24–25 NLT) While spending time at the beach, I’ve watched people construct some very elaborate sandcastles that took hours and hours to build. I admired their creativity and persistence. But I also knew those impressive structures wouldn’t be around for very long. It was only a matter of time until either a tide came in and swept them away or a toddler appeared out of nowhere and demolished them. The builders could do little to prevent this eventual erosion or destruction because their efforts were doomed from the start. They used sand as their foundation. And though it may seem like an unusual analogy, I’ve seen many married couples make similar mistakes. They build their marriage on “sand,” like those impermanent sandcastles. They build it on fleeting emotions or sex or some other rash impulse. And they discover all too soon that a marriage must be built on something stronger that will sustain it. Jesus concluded His Sermon on the Mount with an illustration about the importance of building our lives on the right foundation. His illustration can be applied more specifically to the importance of building a marriage on the right foundation. Look at His words: “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock” (Matthew 7:24–25 NLT). Jesus didn’t speak of storms as something that might happen. He described them as something that will happen. Marriages go through changes. They go through trials. That’s why it’s essential to build a marriage on the right foundation. Those who do will come to know the truth of Proverbs 18:22: “The man who finds a wife finds a treasure, and he receives favor from the LORD” (NLT). When Jesus quoted Genesis 2:24, He placed God in His rightful position at the center of the union between a man and a woman: “Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together” (Matthew 19:6 NLT). And notice how many Scripture passages that deal with maintaining and thriving in a relationship all begin with the assumption that the Lord is at the center of it. The apostle Paul wrote, “Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace” (Ephesians 4:3 NLT). He also wrote, “Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others” (Colossians 3:13 NLT). Is your marriage on the Rock of Christ or on the rocks? If it’s built on the Rock, then it will stand the test of time. If it’s built on the Rock, then it will weather the storms. If it’s built on the Rock, then it’s built to last. Reflection question: How can you tell if a marriage is built on a solid foundation? Harvest Crusade tickets are fully claimed—but it’s not too late to participate and witness what God does on July 11. Invite your loved ones to watch online with you and make sure you join the waitlist in case more tickets become available. — The audio production of the podcast "Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known." All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Igor Bogun is an elder of Ocean Church, located in Estero FL. Ocean Church exists to partner with the work of God in people's lives. To stay connected to Ocean Church:Website: https://bit.ly/2vx8M2o Ocean Church Facebook: https://bit.ly/2IXUsTq Ocean Church Instagram: https://bit.ly/2vx8x7u

Choices (Matthew 7:13-29) by Faith Family Church Oak Grove

Bishop Hannington

In Episode #213 of the Way of the Bible podcast, Dr. Philip Zimmerman continues the mini-series Response to the Sermon on the Mount by examining Jesus' teaching about the wise man who built his house upon the rock. The focus of this episode is what believers are called to do when the storms of life arrive: stand and stand firm. The discussion begins with Peter's famous encounter with Jesus walking on the Sea of Galilee. After seeing Jesus on the water, Peter boldly asks to join Him. At Jesus' command, Peter steps out of the boat and walks across the waves. Yet after successfully reaching Jesus, Peter notices the wind, becomes afraid, and begins to sink.This moment serves as a powerful picture of the Christian life. Many believers begin their journey with enthusiasm and faith. They experience God's power and guidance. Yet when challenges, opposition, doubts, or distractions arise, their focus shifts from Christ to circumstances.The episode emphasizes that Peter's problem was not the wind or the waves. The issue was doubt. His attention moved from Jesus to the storm.Drawing from numerous passages throughout Scripture, the episode demonstrates that God consistently calls His people to stand firm. Moses instructed Israel to stand firm before the Red Sea. King Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah were told to stand firm and watch God fight on their behalf. The Apostle Paul repeatedly urged believers to stand firm in faith, freedom, grace, and truth.A major theme of the episode is spiritual warfare. Jesus prepared His disciples not merely for ministry success but for opposition. As believers mature in Christ and become more effective witnesses, they often encounter resistance from spiritual forces seeking to distract, discourage, and derail them.The solution is not retreat. It is steadfastness.The episode highlights Ephesians 6 and the armor of God, reminding listeners that they are engaged in a spiritual battle. Believers are called to put on truth, righteousness, faith, salvation, and the Word of God so they can withstand attacks and remain standing.The message concludes by challenging listeners to consider where Jesus may be calling them to step out of the boat. Faith is not simply believing Jesus can do the impossible. Faith is continuing to trust Him after the first step has been taken.The call of Christ is clear: hear His words, obey them, keep your eyes fixed on Him, and stand firm regardless of the storms that arise.For those who build their lives upon the Rock, the rain may fall, the streams may rise, and the winds may beat against the house—but it will not fall, because it has been founded upon Jesus Christ. 

Do to others as you would have them do to you. Regardless of our situation, how we're feeling, or how we've been treated, this is how Jesus, our King, has directed us to live.Tune in this week as Pastor Thomas Wootress-Reidt continues our series through Matthew, focusing on chapter 7, verse 12.If you would like to partner with BLVD Church and what we are doing in the community, you can make an investment of support at https://blvd.church/give

Igor Bogun is an elder of Ocean Church, located in Estero FL. Ocean Church exists to partner with the work of God in people's lives. To stay connected to Ocean Church:Website: https://bit.ly/2vx8M2o Ocean Church Facebook: https://bit.ly/2IXUsTq Ocean Church Instagram: https://bit.ly/2vx8x7u

Matthew 7:1-12 Life In Community SouthPoint/Brett Spross

Bishop Hannington

A Comedy That Will Make You Cry (Matthew 7:1-12) by Faith Family Church Oak Grove

The Narrow Junior High Ministry

Jesus has been talking about the upside-down way of the Kingdom of God. He has described a way of living that is challenging and difficult but that ultimately leads to the good life. Now, at the end of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says that it is decision time. Are we going to go the way of the world or the way of the Kingdom?  Our answer to that question makes all the difference. - Pastor Ron KoolSupport the show

Remember the tragic Sunshine Skyway Bridge collapse? 5.24.26

Remember the tragic Sunshine Skyway Bridge collapse? 5.24.26

Jun 7, 2026 - Pastor John Keen expounds on Matthew7:13-29

Matthew 7:28-29 – Authority

Matthew 7:24-27 – Foundation Building

Welcome to Episode #212 of the Way of the Bible podcast. This is our fourth of eight episodes in our Twenty-Seventh mini-series entitled Response to Sermon on the Mount. In our last episode, we discussed the Rain, Streams, and Wind, Jesus mentioned in Matthew 7:25; which beat against the house built on the Rock. We ended the episode, hanging, as we observed the consequences of Peter doubting. We'll pick up where we left off and keep going deeper. As a sidebar before we do that, let me encourage all believers to dig deep into any text in the Bible, and you will discover its inexhaustibility. We are admittedly picking at the surface here, but even at the surface, a myriad of encouragements pop up to give us confidence and renewed hope in the faith we hold in the return of Jesus Christ. What is that? Is the return of Jesus Christ not what you are hoping for? We've still got work to do, and this is just the place to do it.Let's hear the full text under consideration for this mini-series: Matthew 7:24-27 – “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”I made the case on our last episode that Jesus was possibly harkening back to the flood of Noah as the reference when contemplating the severity of rain, streams rising, and winds that would come against one's house. I made the case two episodes ago that the house Jesus was referring to was not a physical man-made structure, but the house God created in our mother's womb (our bodies), into which God put an individual spirit he's known since before the creation of the world. Paul says that within us is a temple of God, and Peter calls it a spiritual house, where the Holy Spirit is the resident. What that temple or house is, soul, heart, etc. is a topic for another episode. Let's just agree that the Holy Spirit is resident in us and is our source of eternal life given to us by our Father through Jesus Christ our Lord.On our last episode, I presented God's grievous state for making man. As a result of the wickedness of mankind, God sent a flood to destroy all living creatures on the face of the earth. Genesis 6:8-9 – But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God. There was an earlier prophet, Enoch, who also walked with God, Gen. 5:24 – Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him. God didn't translate Noah, as he did Enoch, to be with him, as God had other plans. It had never rained on the earth or flooded from the upwelling artesian waters that provided ample water for humans, animals, trees and crops alike. So what exactly happened? For that we go to the Scriptures.

Matthew 7:15-23 - Fruit

God loves his children and gives them good gifts. Do you believe God will answer your prayers?Tune in this week as Pastor Westley Henry continues our series through Matthew, focusing on chapter 7, verses 7-11.If you would like to partner with BLVD Church and what we are doing in the community, you can make an investment of support at https://blvd.church/give

Matthew 7:12-14 – Golden Rule

To become a follower of Jesus, visit: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/MeetJesus  (NOT a Morning Mindset resource)   ⇒ BECOME A MONTHLY PARTNER: (not tax-deductible) You can find out how to become a monthly partner including how to receive your "thank you" gift - our bonus podcast called "Digging Deeper." God t: https://mm-gfk-partners.supercast.com/ ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Matthew 7:21–23 - “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. [22] On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ [23] And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ (ESV) ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE MORNING MINDSET: (not tax-deductible) -- Become a monthly partner: https://mm-gfk-partners.supercast.com/ -- Underwrite one daily episode: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/daily-sponsor/ -- Give one-time: https://give.cornerstone.cc/careygreen -- Venmo: @CareyNGreen ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ FOREIGN LANGUAGE VERSIONS OF THIS PODCAST: Subscribe to the SPANISH version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Spanish Subscribe to the CHINESE version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Chinese ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ CONTACT: Carey@careygreen.com   

Matthew 7:1-6 - Judging

Willis Gammell opens up Matthew 7:7-11 and sees what Jesus wants us to do with our requests and desires

"Be Wise" Matthew 7:24-29Pastor Brandi Drake

Deuteronomy 30:15-29 | Psalm 1 | 1 Corinthians 3:9-17 | Matthew 7:24-27

The Bible teaches us that one of the main indicators of our spiritual health is how we treat other people.  If we have a healthy relationship with God, it will impact how we treat the people around us.  As Jesus prepares to conclude the Sermon on the Mount, He tells us what God wants from us in how we treat others. - Pastor Ron KoolSupport the show

Pastor Dan Belshaw shares a message titled, ‘Whatever Comes, I'll Be Okay,' from Matthew 7:24–27. Looking at Jesus' parable of the wise and foolish builders, Dan reminds us that everyone builds their life on a foundation, whether intentionally or not. In this message we are challenged to move beyond simply hearing Jesus' words and instead put them into practice through daily obedience and spiritual discipline. As storms come to every life, following Jesus doesn't remove suffering, but it does provide a firm foundation. Whatever comes, we can stand secure in Him.

The Gospel of Matthew is a wonderful book, the first text in the New Testament, which gives us an exciting shift from the prophecies of the Old Testament to the fulfillment of those very prophecies in the person of Jesus. You are sure to be equipped and inspired as Jesus Himself shares about the hope we have, gives practical lessons for how to live life the way God intended, shows the love of God through miracles and healings, and makes a way for you to be reconciled to God for all eternity.  Join Jerry as he dives into Matthew and walks us through the life, ministry and profound teachings of Jesus. There's no better day than today to take your daily reading to another level with The New Testament Daily with Jerry Dirmann—so grab your Bible and let's get started!  Thank you for joining us today! For more resources like this, or to support the ministry of Solid Lives, visit one of the links below:  « FREE MEDIA LIBRARY » To listen to or download more teachings from Jerry and others from Solid Lives ministries, visit our new media library at: https://app.jesusdisciple.com/jesus-way/media-library « THE NEW TESTAMENT DAILY PODCAST » https://thenewtestamentdailywithjerrydirmann.buzzsprout.com « SOLID LIVES » Find out more about the ministries of Jerry Dirmann and Solid Lives at https://www.solidlives.com/  « SUPPORT » You can help us get free resources like this out to more people. Visit https://pushpay.com/g/jdglobal Thank you for joining us today! For more resources like this, or to support the ministry of Solid Lives, visit one of the links below:FREE MEDIA LIBRARY » Download or listen at https://SolidLivesMedia.com/ ABOUT SOLID LIVES » Find out more at https://www.solidlives.com/SUPPORT » Help us get the word out at https://solidlives.com/give/

Welcome to Episode #211 of the Way of the Bible podcast. This is our third of eight episodes in our Twenty-Seventh mini-series entitled Response to Sermon on the Mount. In our last episode, we discussed The Rock, Jesus mentioned in Matthew 7:24 upon which Jesus mentions in verse 25, the foundation had been laid. That Rock, being specifically Lord God Almighty of the Old Testament, and the foundation being Jesus Christ as identified by Paul in 1 Cor. 3:10-11. The house being built upon the foundation is according to Paul a temple of God and to Peter a spiritual house of God. Let's remind ourselves of these passages. Matthew 7:24-25 – “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 1 Corinthians 3:10-11, 16 – According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. 11 For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. …16 Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?1 Peter 2:4-5 – As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.On today's episode, we're going to look at the significance of what we discovered as it relates to the house not falling as the rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew, beating against the house we're building. Let's first look to before the beginning of this current terrestrial existence we are now experiencing. I'm speaking of before the flood in Noah's days. Genesis 6:5-7 – The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And the LORD regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. 7 So the LORD said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.”I think it would be reasonable to say that at that time, man was in full-out rebellion against God. Inflamed with the lusts and desires of the flesh, man was drunk with unsatiated madness, questing to fulfill his yearnings and passions. We know nothing of this type of life beyond what is written in the Bible, as the antediluvian world was totally destroyed by the flood. The surface of the earth dramatically changed, and the ancestry of all mankind is tied to Noah's three sons and their descendants. We could spend a whole lot of time here, but we won't beyond mentioning Genesis 6:8 - But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD. The critical item we want to pick up about Noah is plainly stated in two short verses. Genesis 6:9 – These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God. Genesis 7:1 – Then the LORD said to Noah, “Go into the ark, you and all your household, for I have seen that you are righteous before me in this generation.The teaching of Righteousness is presented throughout the Scripture. It is not something petty or unimportant, but is critical for learning if one wishes to become mature in their faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and the knowledge of God. What we know of here at this point is that Noah was righteous before God in the generation in which he lived. 

Madi and Grant talk about one of the most convicting teachings of Jesus: the narrow gate. Following Him isn't the popular path, and it's not the easiest… but it's the one that leads to life.   This conversation challenges the idea of comfortable Christianity and calls us back to what it really means to count the cost and walk in obedience.   My prayer is that you would have the courage to choose the narrow way, even when it's hard, and trust that it leads to true life in Jesus. New episodes every Thursday at 7am EST

Title: The Kept and the Cast Out Passage: Matthew 7:21-23 The Fate What Shall I Do to be Saved?

What does it mean to not cast your pearls before swine?Tune in this week as Pastor Westley Henry continues our series through Matthew, focusing on chapter 7, verse 6.If you would like to partner with BLVD Church and what we are doing in the community, you can make an investment of support at https://blvd.church/give

"Be Watchful" Matthew 7:15-23Pastor Greg Doll

Pastor Dylan Dodson takes a look at what the Bible has to say about judging others and what we are supposed to do.

Beware of These 3 Eternally Destructive Deceptions (Matthew 7:13-23)1. Beware of the False Path (7:13-14)2. Beware of False Prophets (7:15-20)3. Beware of False Professions (7:21-23)

Pastor Justin Hall preaches from Matthew 7:24-29 in the series, Wisdom from the King: The Sermon on the Mount.

Series: 2026 - Living the Kingdom StoryService: Sunday WorshipType: Bible MessageSpeaker: Phillip W. Martin

“Matthew 7:7-11 | Ask and You Will Receive…Yeah Right” from Lakeshore Baptist Church by Pastor David Green. Released: 2026. Genre: Preaching. The post Matthew 7:7-11 | Ask and You Will Receive…Yeah Right appeared first on Lakeshore Baptist Church.

Welcome to Episode #210 of the Way of the Bible podcast. This is our second of eight episodes in our Twenty-Seventh mini-series entitled Response to Sermon on the Mount. In our last mini-series, we overviewed Matthew 7:24-27. In this overview, I pointed out how Jesus was saying something much greater than what appears on the surface. Of course, I could say this about any passage in the Bible, any word in the Bible, any Letter and even any space between the letters. While men and women have attempted to plumb the depths of what is hidden in the Scriptures, I can say without hesitation that no one has yet even scratched the surface of the treasures of wisdom and knowledge it contains. I doubt even the most powerful AI we could ever conceive would melt down long before the contents were fully revealed.All that to say, on this episode we also will only be scratching the surface as we look at the rock mentioned by Jesus in Matthew 7:24. Let's read the entire massage for context. Matthew 7:24-27 – “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”We got into this a little on our last episode when I read Paul speaking of the foundation of our faith in 1 Corinthians 3:9-17 – You are God's field, God's building. 10 According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. 11 For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— 13 each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. 14 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. 16 Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? 17 If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.Each of us are building a house, God's temple, where the Holy Spirit indwells us. Once we are reborn by the Holy Spirit, he will never leave us. Our life now and into eternity will be by empowered by the Holy Spirit. We are now and forever experiencing eternal life. Although now still residing in a body of death, at God's time and choosing, he will take us from our bodies and bring us to paradise until we receive our resurrection bodies at the return of Christ. When thinking about this, being with Jesus rather than remaining in the body, Paul noted in Philippians 1:23-24 – I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account.Paul notes our bodies being the temple of God also in 2 Corinthians 6:16 – For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.Peter also mentions Jesus as a living stone and we as living stones, each in spiritual houses of God. We'll see this stone imagery later in this episode. 1 Peter 2:4-6 – As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” This is a good time to repeat Matthew 7:24-25 – “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.Our foundation is Jesus Christ and him crucified for our sins/trespasses, raised from the dead for our justification, and ascended to the right hand of God in heaven. In 1 & 2 Corinthians, Paul says the house we're building is the temple of God. Peter, in 1 Peter 2,  says we are building a spiritual house and that we are a holy priesthood. John writes of Spirit Baptized believers in Revelation 1:5-6 – To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood 6 and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.  

To see clearly to take the spec out of another's eye, we must first deal with the log in our own.Tune in this week as Pastor Westley Henry continues our series through Matthew, focusing on chapter 7, verses 1 through 5.If you would like to partner with BLVD Church and what we are doing in the community, you can make an investment of support at https://blvd.church/give

Harvest is a church where we love to worship God together, where the transforming message of the Gospel is preached weekly, where authentic community can be found, and where we are intentional about making disciples of Jesus Christ. We'd love for you to join us on Sunday mornings at 9:00 a.m. or 10:45 a.m. Browse around our website for more information.

Preaching: Mike RothAt the center of the sacred story we tell, week in and week out, is the mystery of Resurrection: life from death, light from darkness, creation from chaos. This story has occupied a central place in the Christian imagination because it points to a new way to live. In this series, we are exploring the way of life Jesus sets forth in his Sermon on the Mount. Resurrection speaks over every life, “You, whoever you are, whatever your circumstances, you are blessed because Divine Love is with you.” This vision of the resurrection life opens up new ways of being such as belonging, love and trust in community, and non-anxious relationship with one another and with the Divine. This series will suggest practices for living Christ's wisdom within the texture of our ordinary lives.Pearl Church exists to express a sacred story and to extend a common table that animate life by love. A primary expression of our sacred story is the weekly sermon. If our sermons inspire you to ponder the sacred, to consider the mystery and love of God, and to live bountifully, would you consider supporting our work? You can donate easily and securely at our website: pearlchurch.org. Thank you for partnering with us in expressing this sacred story.