Podcasts about Sermon on the Mount

Introduction: 3 Self-Serving Reasons to Give to God (Matthew 6:19–24): So I Have TREASURE FOREVER . (Matt 6:19–21) So I Am ABLE to SEE . (Matt 6:22–23) So I Serve the RIGHT MASTER . (Matt 6:24) 1 Timothy 6:10 – For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANKHint: Highlight blanks above for answers! Small Group DiscussionRead Matthew 6:19-24What was your big take-away from this passage / message?Re-read Matt 6:22-23. Explain this in your own words. What does this have to do with money, and how does generosity affect spiritual perception?Is it wrong to be motivated by self-serving reasons to give to God? Why or why not?BreakoutPray for one another. AUDIO TRANSCRIPT Open up your Bibles with me please to Matthew chapter 6.Some time ago, I was at the funeral home for a visitation.And as I was leaving, there was a woman standing kind of in the lobby by the exit door.And she asked what my connection was to the deceased.And I said, "Well, I'm a pastor and I've known the family for quite a while."And she says, "Oh, you're a pastor."She said, "What do you think about what Joel Osteen makes?"You know, that's not really the time or the place to engage in a heated debate.I said, "What Joel Osteen makes is really none of my business."She goes, "Well, of course it is."I said, "Why?"I said, "What he makes and what he does with his money, it's not my business."And she goes, "Well, it absolutely is."And I said, "Well, man, with all due respect, if you don't appreciate his ministry, then don't give him money."But I walked out of there just sort of confused again as to why we are so concerned with what other people do with their money.When biblically, who should I be concerned about?Point to the person that you should be concerned about, right here.Right?And we're going through the Sermon on the Mount.In the last section we looked at Jesus, talked about giving and praying and fasting.And those are all the elements of our private spiritual life.But you know, you've got to deal with the world sometime, right?You've got to get out there.And this next section of the Sermon on the Mount is about that.How do we deal with the world?What is the heart towards the world?And today we're going to talk about money.And oh, I think we knew it had to come up in the Sermon on the Mount eventually.Like, well, if it's such a big deal, why didn't it come up sooner?Because Jesus has been going after our hearts, and when your heart is right, and only whenyour heart is right, will your view and use of money also be right.Look at, I just want to start, look at verse 20, just the first part here.This is absolutely astounding.Jesus says, "But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven."Just stop there for a second.That is absolutely astounding what He said.Right there, two things.Two things just blow me away about even that little part of the verse.It just blows me away.The first thing that blows me away is the fact that I can even put treasure in heaven.It's astounding that I have the ability to put stuff in heaven.But I got to tell you this past week, there's another little phrase in there that reallyjumped out at me.And it was the phrase, "For yourselves."So this treasure in heaven, who's it for?It's for me.This is going to benefit me.And you might be shocked to find out this morning that when you look in this sectionabout what Jesus says about money, there is a self-serving motive.Actually there are three self-serving motives at play.You know, we talked about money last fall.We had a whole series.What was that, Pastor in October?It was called "Right on the Money."Within that series, we talked about how to lay up treasure in heaven.Quick review, we said you got to give to God intentionally, willingly, and cheerfully.That's what the Bible says.That's how you lay up treasure in heaven.But here in this passage we're looking at today, Jesus doesn't talk about how.Okay, clearly here you're going to see that Jesus talks about why we should lay up treasurein heaven.And the why is for us.You know, after that sermon series last fall, oh, I preached my little heart out.What does God say about giving?Do you know what happened after that series?Giving went down in the church.I don't get it.I don't understand how we can see clear teaching from God's Word about money and we just thumbour nose at God and say, "Pshh, I'll show you, I'll give less."I don't understand that.You know, my wife, Erin, has a friend out of state that works in finance in her church.And she was sharing with Erin that every time my pastor preaches about tithing, giving goesdown.I don't get it.I just don't understand it.I just don't understand.You know, God says, "Everything is mine.I'm going to give some to you because I love you and as an act of love and worship, I wantyou to give back to me.And if you do, I will give you even more."And we listen to that and we go, "Nah."That's not for me.Well, I want to encourage you and the Lord to really change your mind about that becausehere in this passage, Jesus gives us why.And if you believe, you will be the beneficiary of giving.All right?So on your outline, I want you to write some things down.Here's three self-serving reasons to give to God.Very clear in the passage, self-serving reasons to give to God.Number one, write this down, "So I have treasure forever."So I have treasure forever.Look at the first part of 19, again, first part of 20.And Jesus says, "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth."But, verse 20, "But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven."Do you see there's a two-fold command there, right?Not hard.It's negative and it's positive.And then Jesus goes on to give the reason behind each of these commands.So let's take a look at them first.We have a negative.All right?Look at verse 19, the negative."Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth where moth and rust destroy and wherethieves break in and steal."Like what's treasure on earth?You know what treasure on earth is, right?Money, houses, cars, stuff, all of the above.Jesus is just simply saying, "Do not live your life accumulating for here."Like, why not?Jesus says, "How about common sense?"Because you know it all goes away eventually.It all goes away.Notice Jesus talks about moth and rust and thieves.Those weren't three arbitrary things our Lord just pulled out of the air.The reason He said those three things is because in those days you measured wealth by threethings.You measured wealth, first of all, by how many clothes you had.I know that sounds strange to us, but go to some other parts of the world.They measured wealth by how many clothes they had.They also measured wealth by how much food they had stored.Again, that's kind of lost on us in our culture, but in that culture, especially in that day,you were extremely wealthy if you had food in storage.And obviously, wealth was measured by gold, right?So now we understand maybe a little more why Jesus selects those three images, right?Moths.Moths speaks to clothes.You know something interesting about moths?Them dusty little butterflies.They only eat what's stored.Did you notice that?Moths typically don't eat what you're wearing.They eat what's stored.Oh, and it's kind of the same thing with food, right?When Jesus says rust, that's not a great translation of the word.The word literally in the Greek means eating.What happens to stored food over time?The varmints find it, don't they?The mice, the bugs, they find their way to it when you store it.And then obviously thieves, gold breaking into houses.In those days, people often bury their treasure in the ground.It was nothing for a thief to watch to see where somebody buried something and then goback later and dig it up, right?So despite mothballs, mousetraps, motion lights, Jesus here is saying very simply the stuffthat you stockpile can and will be gone in a second, right?It's like a flower.If I pick you a beautiful flower, it's beautiful when I pick it.But you realize over time, a very short amount of time, that flower is going to wither awayand turn to dust.And here Jesus is saying, oh, that's everything on earth that you try to hold onto.Now look, it's not sinful to have stuff.If we've learned anything from the Sermon on the Mount, what we've learned is it'sall about the motive of your heart.And if your motive is to accumulate for yourself, you're greedy and you're foolish.That is what your story will lose eventually.Unless you store it in heaven, because look at verse 20, Jesus says, "But lay up for yourselvestreasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not breakin and steal."Like well what is treasure in heaven?We talked about this in our series last fall.I'm going to give you a quick review.Here's what we said, still true.What is treasure in heaven?I don't think God's Word is very specific on what that is, because I think it's somethingthat we wouldn't understand fully.But there's a lot that we know about it.We do know that it's eternal, and it's better than stuff on earth.We know that.We do know that believers will have treasure based on what we've done with our resourceshere on the earth.Now to be clear, Pastor Taylor talked about this.Salvation is entirely based on the work of Jesus Christ.Let's be clear about that.Jesus Christ through His death and His resurrection provided salvation to those who will turnfrom their sin and receive Him.It's all based on His work.But treasure or rewards are based on our works, and in heaven there will be different levelsof rewards.Another thing we do know is there's no second chance for believers to earn rewards afterwe die.Basically this life on the earth right now is your chance to earn rewards.I'm talking so much about the heart through this series on the Sermon and the Mount.So when we get to this section, the question is, where is your heart?While Jesus tells us objectively, in case you're still wondering where your heart reallyis, do you want to know where your heart really is?You might think you know where it is.Jesus tells us exactly where it actually is.Look at verse 21, Jesus said, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."Your heart is wherever you put your treasure.In other words, look at how you spend your money, and that will tell you where your heartis.So if you come to me and you say, "Oh, you know what, Pastor Jeff, my heart's with thechurch.Oh, I just have a heart for this church.I just love this church so much.My heart is with the church."How much money do you give to the church?And you're like, "Well, I don't really give that much to the church."Well, then your heart's not with the church, according to Jesus.According to Jesus, you've deceived yourself into thinking your heart's with the church,but if your money isn't invested in the church, then your heart's not in the church.All right?Or if you're like, "Oh, Pastor Jeff, you know where my heart is, my heart of hearts.You know where my heart is?My heart's for missions.Oh, I see these pictures of Barnabas and I hear about these people going on these missiontrips.I just have, Pastor Jeff, I have such a heart for missions."Do you give to missions?Well, no, I don't really give to missions.Well, then your heart's not in missions, according to Jesus, that is.Like, well, maybe I'm not sure where my heart is.If you're struggling with that, I'll be glad to help you.What I need you to do is print out your bank statement, make an appointment, and we'llsit down and go through it.And I will show you very clearly where your heart is, because according to Jesus, whereyou put your treasure is where your heart ends up.Your heart follows your investments.You're either investing in the kingdom of God, or you're investing in stuff that you'reeventually going to lose.And if you're sitting here like, "Man, you know what?I really want my heart to be on the things of God."Or then invest in the things of God.Give to the things of God, and you will find that your heart will follow your investments.Your heart will be in heaven.And according to Jesus, you're going to have treasure that you'll enjoy for eternity.It's a pretty good self-serving motive for giving to God.Second one, right?This self-serving reason to give to God.So I'm able to see.So I'm able to see.Like, wait, wait, wait.That's what He says.Look at verses 22 and 23.Jesus says, "The eye is the lamp of the body."So if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light.But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness.If then the light in you is darkness, how great is that darkness?You're like, "Well, that's an unrelated tangent.We're talking about money."And all of a sudden, we're talking about eyesight.It's not an unrelated tangent at all.Jesus here is giving us another self-centered reason to give to God.And this is what I'm going to tell you what it is, and I'm going to explain it.Listen, only people who truly understand and obey what God says about money are able tosee things as they really are.Like, well, what do you mean?Jesus here is giving an illustration.The eye here illustrates the heart.And Jesus says the eye is like a lamp.And everything that we see, what we perceive and fill ourselves with is light.Okay?So look at verse 22 again.Jesus says the eye is the lamp of the body.So if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light.Now that word healthy in the Greek literally is the word generous.Literally that's what the word means.If your eye is generous.So Jesus is saying that if your heart is generous, your whole life is going to be filled withlight.In other words, your whole life is going to be filled with spiritual understanding.In other words, Jesus is saying that only generous people see things as they really are.It's only generous people who say everything is God's.I'm just a steward of God's stuff.In my office on the conference table, there's a big glass bowl and it's full of lollipops.This happens all the time.It literally just happened this morning where a little kid will come in and Pastor Jeff,can I have a lollipop?Absolutely you can.And they'll take a lollipop and they'll leave.This happens all the time.And about 10 or 15 seconds later, they come back in and they say, I need to get one forJoey.I need to get one for Mikey.I need to get one for Stacy.And they start and then they walk out with these handfuls of lollipops.Doesn't bother me at all because they're illustrating a very important biblical point.And that's this.I say it all the time.I'm like, you're awfully generous with something that's not yours.That's biblical.You want to learn how to be generous?It's not yours.Everything on this earth is a bowl of lollipops.It's all God's.So it's a lot easier to be generous with it when I realize it's not mine.I don't need to hold on to it.So I'm getting one for Mikey.Generous people see things as they really are.Generous people say things like, giving is worship.So I'm joyfully giving God first and best.Right?I'm not going to see how much money I have left after I buy all my toys and I'll giveGod a tenth of that and pat myself on the back for tithing.That isn't tithing and that's certainly not worship.Tithing worshipfully is when you receive, you say, okay, God gets first and God getsbest.That's worship.Some of you are like, yeah, I'm on board with that.Why doesn't everyone get that?Because of verse 23."But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness.And if then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness?"Some people don't get it because they're in the dark.Some people are just clueless because they can't see it because they can't see anything.Listen, when your heart is focused on the treasures of the earth accumulating for yourself,the blinds come down on spiritual perception.You are unable to see things spiritually.You know, some people go to church for years.Some people have been coming to this church for years and they do not change.They're still struggling with the same sin that they were struggling with two years ago,five years ago.Why?Because they can't see how great is the darkness.Some people have been coming to church for years and they don't grow.They're spiritually dull.At this point, they should be back teaching the kids.They should be leading a small group at this point.They should be in the preaching class, but they can't.They're spiritually dull.Why?They can't see.How great is the darkness?Some people never witness, never share Christ with anybody.Even talk about witnessing like, "Well, that's not for me."Why?They can't see.How great is the darkness?They come to church and they're like, "Well, worship is boring.The sermon wasn't for me.The prayer was too long."How great is the darkness?When your heart is purely focused on earth's treasures, when you live your life only thinkingand focused and spending on here and now, you will have no spiritual perception.Until you get your view of money right, you're never going to be able to deal with otherspiritual matters.So here's a self-serving reason to give.Maybe this church stuff will start to make some sense because the lights will come on.All right?Three self-serving reasons to give, number one, so I have treasure forever.Number two, so I'm able to see.Number three, so I serve the right master.So I serve the right master.Look at verse 24, Jesus says, "No one can serve two masters, for either he will hatethe one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other."You cannot serve God and money.Jesus here very clearly tells us that God and money are both masters.You are a servant to one of them.There's no third option.And in this context, you see, you look at stuff, and you say, "Okay, all this stuffthat I have, it's either God's for God's purposes, or it's mine for what I want."Those are your choices.Jesus said, you know, you shouldn't try to...You shouldn't try to...No.He didn't say you shouldn't try to serve two masters.What did He say?The last sentence, He says, "You cannot."You cannot.It's impossible to serve two masters.Why is that?The same reason a man can't have two wives.Because we have two masters here, and both of them demand total allegiance.Both of these masters, there's no compromise.There's no 50/50 here.You're going to be totally sold out to one of them.And right now, I'm sure somebody is saying, "Well, I'm not a slave to worldly things.I'm not a slave to accumulating."Some of you are way more than you realize.Because when you prioritize stuff over God, then money becomes your master.And Martin Lloyd-Jones told this story.I can't stop thinking about it.He told this story about this farmer that had two cows gave birth at the same time.So now we have two baby cows.What is it called?Just seeing who's still listening.And okay, so he had two baby cows.So the farmer excitedly goes to his wife and he says, "Okay, here's what we're going todo.I'm going to raise both of these cows.And I'm going to sell one and all the money is going to God.And then I'm going to sell the other and all the money we're going to use for our family."And his wife says, "Well, which cow is which?The white one or the brown one?Which one's God's and which one's ours?"And the man says, "Ah, you know what?We'll worry about that later.We'll take care of that down the road somewhere."Well, a couple days later the wife walks into the house and the farmer was weeping.And the wife says, "Honey, what's the matter?"And the farmer goes, "God's cow died."That's funny, isn't it?It's really not because it's always God's cow that dies.It's always God's cow that dies.You know, you've got a sports tournament and church at the same time.You've got to go with the sports.It's always God's cow that dies.I'm not saying you're anathema if you miss church.I'm saying it's a huge red flag as to the way you're discipling your children when youteach them that anything else takes priority over church.When does worship ever have the priority?Are you discipling your kids to that?It's always God's cow that dies.It's like, well, we have youth group tonight, but we also have a dance recital.We can skip youth group because it's always God's cow that dies.You know, I really wanted to join a small group, Pastor Taylor, but you know what?I got this hobby that takes up most of my nights.So it's always God's cow that dies.And oh, yeah, we're talking about money.When money becomes tight, giving to God is the first thing to go because it's alwaysGod's cow that dies.Who's your master?I'll give you a real easy test.I'll give you a real easy test that will tell you where your heart is.Has this sermon really bothered you?If this sermon is really grating on you, so long as I have accurately represented whatour Lord has said, if this sermon is really grating on you, according to Him, it's goingto be grating on you.That means you love money and you hate God.If you're sitting here, and if you're going to be totally honest, and you resent the truththat God has a total claim on your life, then that means, in the words of our Lord, you'redevoted to money and you despise God.But you know, if you're generous, it sort of works the other way.If you're generous towards God, you hate that the world is constantly trying to take moreof your money.You hate when gas prices go up, you hate when grocery prices go up, you hate when your taxesgo up, because you sincerely respond to that by saying, "Oh, I wanted to give more, andthat's keeping me from that."And you hate that because you love God so much.You've got a master.The stuff I have, the money I make, is it to serve God or is it to serve me?Because if it's to serve you, ultimately, you're serving it.Look, at the end of the day, money is just a tool.Money's not evil.Money's not inherently good.Money is just a tool.But money is the most dangerous tool that you possess, because Jesus said that is the toolthat you will use to replace God.You know, there's so many self-serving, personal benefits to giving to God.Oh yes, the opposite is true too.Nothing to God blesses you, but when money is your master, you hurt yourself.Literally hurt yourself.Look at 1 Timothy 6:10.God says through the apostle Paul, "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils.It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith."Look at this, "And pierced themselves with many pangs.The person who worships money by the way they live end up repeatedly stabbing themselves."So if you're sitting here at this point in the sermon and under your breath, in yourhead, in your heart, you're sitting here digging your heels in saying, "No one tellsme how to spend my money."Look, I earned this.It belongs to me.Okay.But I have an obligation to tell you that you're just stabbing yourself.So if God isn't your master, who are you hurting?On the other hand, giving it to God so I can keep it forever, letting the light shine inthat only comes to a generous heart, and serving a master who loves me and only wants goodfor me.I got plenty of self-serving reasons to give to God.Let's pray.Our Father in heaven, I'm sure this was a very uncomfortable several minutes for somepeople.That's okay.God, we didn't come here today for comfort.We came here to hear from You.And yes, sometimes God, You do comfort us with the truth.And Father, there are generous people sitting in this room that are comforted by all ofthe benefits that You have promised those who are generous.Father, I pray for those who are still holding on so tightly to stuff.I pray, Father, that this would be a time of some serious self-examination, and thatthey would not take the words of Jesus Christ lightly.But Father, I pray You would give them no rest until they seek to get this money issueright before You.It's worship, Father.It's worship.Let us worship You with the stuff that You've given us.We pray in Jesus' name.Amen.

The Narrow Way (Sermon on the Mount Series) Episode 32 - Sunday, 10th August 2025.Sermon on the Mount Series Episode 32 [Matthew Chapter 7; Luke Chapter 13 (KJV)]1. Will everyone be saved? - Matthew 7:13-14 "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."2. The gate to the Kingdom is Narrow - Matthew 7:14 "Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."3. The time for entering is now. - Luke 13:25 "When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:"4. Knowing about Jesus doesn't save you. Luke 13:26-28 "Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out."5. God opens His arms wide. Luke 13:29 "And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God."

The Golden Rule (Sermon on the Mount Series) Episode 31 - Sunday, 3rd August 2025.Sermon on the Mount Series Episode 31 [Matthew Chapter 7 (KJV)]Matthew 7:12 - Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.1. It's a positive command.2. It's an all-encompassing command.3. It's an inclusive command.4. It's an active command.5. It's the fulfilling of the law. 

A Sermon for the Eighth Sunday after Trinity Matthew 7:15-21 by William Klock In 597 b.c. the Babylonians conquered Judah.  The Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar, ordered the deportation of the ruling elite of Jerusalem.  That meant King Jehoiachin, most of the royal family, and thousands of others including many of the priests.  That included Ezekiel.  He had been born into one of the important priestly families.  He was twenty-five years old.  Had everything gone as expected, had everything gone to plan, he would have been ordained a priest at the age of thirty and gone on to serve before the presence of the Lord in the temple.  Instead, with the rest of those Jewish exiles, he sat down by the rivers of Babylon and wept as he remembered Zion—as one of the psalmists put it.  And he wondered how he and his people could ever sing the Lord's song in a strange land. And then, on Ezekiel's thirtieth birthday, he had a vision.  He saw the Lord enthroned in glory and the Lord commissioned him.  Instead of being a priest, the Lord ordained Ezekiel a prophet—a prophet to the exiles and to the people of Judah.  Ezekiel was to announce to his people why they had been defeated and carried off into exile.  He was to accuse his people of their idolatry and of their unfaithfulness to the Lord's covenant.  And he was also to announce that the Lord's judgement on Judah had only just begun.  And so Ezekiel's ministry began with a series of acted out prophecies.  He acted out the coming destruction of Jerusalem with miniatures.  He lay on his side for a year, acting the part of the scapegoat, while eating food cooked over human waste.  He cut off his hair with a sword.  Again, to announce the coming judgement on Jerusalem.  And all for nought.  The Lord told him that no one would listen and they didn't—because Israel's heart was hardened against the Lord. But just because the people wouldn't listen didn't mean Ezekiel's job as a prophet was done.  The Lord gave him another vision, this time of the temple in Jerusalem.  He saw his people worshipping idols in the temple court and then he saw the Lord's glory—the cloud that rested on the ark of the covenant in the holy of holies—he saw that cloud of glory depart from the temple.  And the Lord announced to him that the temple would be destroyed.  Again, because of Israel's idolatry and lack of covenant faithfulness.  Ezekiel accused his people of being like a rebellious wife and like a rampaging lion.  He described Israel and Judah as two shameless and reprobate prostitute sisters.  And he dragged his people into the divine courtroom and put them on trial before the Lord.  They could beg for mercy all they wanted, but the time for mercy had passed.  God's goodness and faithfulness demanded that he judge his people.  For centuries he had shown them his patient mercy, but now is was time for justice.  And that's when word reached Ezekiel that Jerusalem had fallen, the temple had been destroyed, and that the Lord's judgement had come on Judah. But that wasn't the end of Ezekiel's ministry.  The Lord would not leave his people in judgement forever.  If being faithful to his word meant judgement on their unfaithfulness, it also meant restoring them and making them faithful.  And so Ezekiel's prophetic messaged shifted from judgement to hope.  Through him the Lord promised the restoration of his people under a new king, under a David-like messiah.  And the Lord promised to breathe his Spirit into his people to take away their heart of stone and to give them a heart of flesh.  He gave Ezekiel a vision of a valley of dry bones and commanded the prophet to speak his word over those bones.  And the word of the Lord brought them back to life.  It was a promise of new creation.  But the wicked pagan nations still stood in the way of that new creation.  And so the Lord also gave Ezekiel a series of visions in which he defeated the nations.  And then, finally, Ezekiel had a vision of creation set to rights.  That vision begins with a temple.  Not the old temple, but a new one.  A new one infinitely grander and more beautiful than even Solomon's temple.  And after being given a tour of this temple, Ezekiel has a vision of the Lord's glory descending to fill it.  It's the Lord's way of saying that he will not abandon his people forever.  He will be with them again.  And out of this temple's gate flows a stream and as it flows down the mountain from the temple the stream turns into a great river.  Wherever it flows trees and lush vegetation spring up.  And eventually the river flow down into the desert and there it causes a lush garden to grow—Eden restored—a garden named “the Lord is there”. Now, everyone likes that last part.  Everyone wants to hear and to claim for themselves the messages of hope.  No one wants to hear the call to repentance and the warning of coming judgement.  No one would listen to Ezekiel's warnings.  It's not that they didn't hear them—or see them.  It was hard to miss the weird guy playing with action figures or hacking his hair off with a sword or laying on his side and cooking food over poop.  They saw it all.  But they refused to take it to heart.  They were convinced their exile to Babylon was an accident of history, not the Lord's judgement on their idolatry.  But once Ezekiel's prophecies of doom came true, I expect the people were hanging on his every last word of hope.  That's the test of a prophet, after all: does his word come to pass.  Ezekiel's did. And for that reason the people were still hanging onto his words when Jesus came, still looking for and longing for those divine promises to finally be fulfilled.  Because judgement had happened as the prophet foretold, that restoration of the people, that new creation, that new life with God would happen just as surely too.  It was just a matter of time.  So it shouldn't be a surprise that as Jesus preached he drew on the words of the old prophets like Ezekiel.  But it was the same old thing all over again.  The people gathered to hear Jesus preach good news.  They flocked to him for healing and deliverance and miracles that showed the kingdom of God was breaking in.  But they didn't want to hear the warnings.  They gasped when he told them that to see that coming kingdom, to know that garden called “the Lord is there”, they needed righteousness, they needed covenant faithfulness far beyond that of the scribes and Pharisees.  Judgement was coming on Judah again and Jesus was there to create a new people, a new community that would have that righteousness, that would be salt and light, that would be a city on a hill, that would come out the other side of God's judgement to see his kingdom.  The people in Ezekiel's day didn't want to hear that part of the message and neither did the people in Jesus' day.  Ed Stetzer likes to say, “If you want everyone to like you don't be a pastor, go sell ice cream.”  I think Ezekiel (and Jesus) would say the same thing about being a prophet. Our Gospel today is taken from the closing words of Jesus' sermon on the mount.  Jesus has spoken hard words—just as Ezekiel had.  But there was reason to hope.  In him the Lord was finally doing that new thing everyone had been waiting for since the prophets, but Jesus was also condemning their covenant faithlessness and announcing coming judgement.  And so he warns the people—this is Matthew 7:13—“Go in by the narrow gate.  The gate that leads to destruction, you see, is nice and wide and the road going there has plenty of room.  Lots of people go that way.  But the gate leading to life is narrow, and the road going there is a tight squeeze.  Not many people find their way through.”   In other words, “Yes, I know what I've been saying is hard.  Yes, I know it means repentance and turning away from sin and pursuing covenant faithfulness with everything you've got and even then you're going to need God's help, but that's the way to life.  Listen to me, because judgement is coming again and it's coming soon.  (He later told the disciples: before this generation passes away!)  And if you refuse to listen and if you keep going down the wide and easy path you're on, you're as sure to meet that judgement as the people of Ezekiel's day did. “Watch out for false prophets!” Jesus says.  There are people invested in the ways and the ideas and the systems of the present evil age.  They don't want to see you repent and turn back to the Lord.  They know everyone loves ice cream and they're going to show up with a cart full of it and everyone's going to listen to them—because ice cream is a lot more fun than calls to repentance.  “They will come to you dressed like sheep, but inside they are hungry wolves.”  Jesus draws on Ezekiel's condemnation of the leaders of Israel and Judah.  They were like wolves in the midst of the flock, tearing apart the sheep, shedding blood, all for their own gain.  It's always the way of false prophets.  They proclaim what people want to hear.  When the Lord desires repentance, the false prophets proclaim the status quo.  When the Lord desires sacrifice, the false prophets proclaim health and wealth.  When the Lord warns of judgement, the prophets proclaim “Peace!  Peace!”  And so Jesus warns in verse 16, “You'll be able to tell them by the fruit they bear: you don't find grapes growing on thorn-bushes, do you, or figs on thistles?  Well, in the same way, good trees produce good fruit and bad trees produce bad fruit.  Actually, good trees can't produce bad fruit, nor can bad ones produce good fruit.  Every tree that doesn't produce good fruit is cut down and thrown on the fire.  So you must recognise them by their fruits.”   There's never been any shortage of false prophets in the world.  In the Old Testament the test of a prophet was whether or not what he said came to pass.  The punishment for false prophecy was death.  Brothers and Sisters, claiming to speak the very word of the Lord is serious business.  His words are life.  When people claim to speak for the Lord, but speak falsely, it gives people reason to doubt his actual word.  But people took it lightly in Ezekiel's day, people took it lightly in Jesus' day, and far too many people take it lightly today.  The Old Testament test of a prophet still stands: Do his words come to pass?  But when Jesus warned the people, there wasn't time for that.  Judgement was coming soon.  So Jesus gives another way: look at the fruit.  It was a good test then and it's a good test now.  When someone says, “Thus says the Lord,” look at that person's life.  Does their life show the fruit of the Spirit?  Do you see things like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, and self-control?  Or are they just selling ice cream and getting rich?  It's always amazing to me how many people flock to men and women who claim to work miracles and who claim to speak for God, but the miracles are false, the words are heresy, and the things they say never come to pass.  But it is a testimony to just how much we like ice cream, how much we'd rather hear “Peace, peace!” than a message about repentance.  Look at the fruit.  If the fruit is bad, the tree is bad and there's only one destination for bad trees: the fire—judgement.  Don't end up in the same place. Look for the fruit.  I know the language of the fruit and the gifts of the Spirit is something that developed later with Paul, but I think it's worth noting that Jesus talks here about fruit.  Too many people look for signs—what Paul would call “gifts” of the Spirit.  But even Paul warns these things can be faked.  Signs and wonders aren't necessarily evidence of a true prophet.  Fruit is the evidence. And Jesus goes on, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven; only people who do the will of my Father in heaven.  On that day lots of people will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, we prophesied in your name, didn't we?  We cast out demons in your name.  We performed lots of powerful deeds in your name.'  Then I will have to say to them, ‘I never knew you.  You're a bunch of evildoers.  Go away from me.'”   “On that day.”  That's language right out of the Old Testament prophets about the coming day of the Lord, about the day of judgement when the Lord will punish evil and vindicate the righteous.  A lot of people thought that just being an Israelite and having the Lord as their God gave them a place in the coming kingdom, but Jesus says that, no, that's not enough.  In fact, he narrows it down even further: a lot of people will think that because they've thought of Jesus as their Lord and done amazing things in his name, that they'll have a place in the kingdom—and not even that will cut it. It's important, I think, to remember here that Jesus isn't talking directly to us.  He was talking to First Century Jews and the judgement he was warning about was the judgement that would come forty years later when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem and the temple.  Those who would survive, those who would see the birth of the kingdom, would be those who truly identified themselves with Jesus in faith.  The people who followed him in the new exodus through baptism and into whom God would pour his Spirit.  They're the ones—not the ones who merely had an appreciation for what Jesus was teaching or thought of him as a great prophet—but the ones who truly recognised the God of Israel at work in Jesus the Messiah and who became part of his family, this new Israel redeemed by his death and given a new heart of flesh by the Holy Spirit.  They would be the dry bones that lived again.  They would be the ones whom God would deliver from the coming judgement.  They're the ones who would live to testify to the nations of the glory of the God of Israel revealed in the cross.  They're the ones who would live to proclaim the good news to the nations. And so Jesus concludes his sermon with a final allusion to Ezekiel.  In verse 24 he says, “So, then, everyone who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.  Heavy rain fell; floods rose up; the winds blew and beat on that house.  It didn't fall, because it was founded on the rock.  And everyone who hears these words of mine and doesn't do them—they will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.  Heavy rain fell; floods rose up; the winds blew and battered the house—and down it fell.  It fell with a great crash.”   Ezekiel warned the false prophets about the wall they'd built.  It's a pretty clear reference to the temple just as Jesus' “house” here is, too.  The false prophets had built a wall and they'd whitewashed it and it looked great.  It looked like a wall for the ages.  But when the Lord's judgement came, when he sent the rains and the floods and the winds, that wall came crashing down and exposed its builders as the unfaithful and idolatrous false prophets they really were.  The same thing would happen again.  The people of Jerusalem and Judea looked up to the temple as their hope, but Jesus condemns them.  Not this time as whitewashed walls, but as whitewashed tombs.  They went through the motions of faithfulness, they maintained their ritual purity, they proclaimed their love for and their loyalty to God, but their hearts were far from him.  Because God's heart was in Jesus. Jesus had to come to fulfil the prophecies of hope and life.  He'd come to build God's new temple.  Not one whitewashed with false piety, but one washed with his own blood.  Listen to Peter's call in his first epistle: “Come to him, to that living stone.  Men rejected him, but God chose him and values him very highly!  Like living stones yourselves, you are being built up into a spiritual house—a new temple!—to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices that will be pleasing to God through Jesus the Messiah.  That's why it stands in scripture: ‘Look!  I am setting up in Zion a chosen, precious cornerstone.  Believe in him!  You will not be ashamed.'”   The false prophets, the wolves in sheep's clothing, the grifters selling spiritual ice cream, they whitewash false piety, they whitewash selfishness, they whitewash heresies—they whitewash the ugly things of the world.  They proclaim “Peace, peace” in the face of coming judgement.  Brothers and Sisters, don't be duped.  Listen to Jesus.  Stay focused on Jesus.  Think of Peter's confession later in Matthew's Gospel: “You are the Messiah, the son of the living God!”  This is the rock on which Jesus has built his church—his people, his new temple—and not even the gates of hell will overpower it.  Never forget that this is the temple in which his Spirit dwells. Never forget that this the temple from which God's new life flows to the world.  Never forget that this temple is the source of God's new creation.  And it's built on the rock and nothing but the rock that is Jesus. Come to the Lord's Table this morning and be reminded that in Jesus, God has given his own life for you—for us.  Come to the Lord's Table and be reminded that in Jesus, God has breathed his life into our dry bones and made us live again.  Come to the Lord's Table and be reminded that he's made us the precious stones of his temple.  Then be that Spirit-filled and life-giving water that Ezekiel saw flowing out from the temple into the world carrying God's life, carrying his new creation. Let's pray: Gracious Father, in Jesus you have washed us clean from sin and by your Spirit you have renewed our hearts and made the priests of your new temple.  Guard our hearts from the temptations of false prophets and false gods that our desires might always be for you and your kingdom, through Jesus our Lord.  Amen.

In the Sermon on The Mount, Yeshua gets into specific laws and principles and how to apply them to life. This episode is on "Do not murder." and the following verses about offenses, curses, and court. These principles are also applied to our assessment of the modern state and modern examples.    Check out the new Substack page and further writing on similar topics...   Our Foundations podcast:  - Website - www.ourfoundations.substack.com - Email - ourfoundations@protonmail.com - Twitter - https://twitter.com/Foundationspc - Bitcoin Address - 1AZFLCvmfXasChaaecgYMP3vtnUrnLJoY7 - Ethereum - 0x409D0F2766e208C1Ea97fF2429D38a3D9E3abd3a - Zcash - t1SZKfocBcghVMWVCsbSA9zAHr5fzsxi62H - Pivx - D7ziutb5gGNnJ5pXngwa3w9zJj2P1iNzUT - Nano - nano_16gh7igt8zb1cntbmq1hrnmnc9ea9qrj3zycscqywhak5dgtx1gwommekt7r - Music - Gregorian Chant Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License - The Road Home by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com, Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) - New Digital War by Groove Bakery | https://groovebakery.com, Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com, Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-ND 4.0) - Pied Piper by Shaolin Dub is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License. - Jet Fueled Vixen Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License - Hard Fragility by Bisou is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial License

Daily Dose of Hope August 8, 2025   Scripture - Luke 5:27-39   Prayer:  Holy God, Almighty Father, the Great I AM, Throughout all time, You are good.  Your ways are perfect.  Teach us your ways, Lord.  Help us to know you better, to know you more.  Lord, on our own, we are powerless.  We are desperate for your wisdom, love, and mercy.  More of you and less of me, Jesus.  Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts. Today, we finish Luke 5.   I realized when I sat down to write that yesterday I got a little bit ahead of myself.  Levi's banquet was supposed to be covered today.  I guess I got a little excited about Jesus dining with the tax collectors.  Jesus did some pretty powerful ministry around the dinner table.  Keep in mind, in ancient near-east culture, who you broke bread with was really important – it meant that you accepted those people, you were connected to them.  Respectable Jews would not eat with Gentiles or anyone deemed unclean.  But Jesus continually scandalized others by whom he chose to eat with, with who he allowed to be at his table.  He very strategically used the meal as a way to demonstrate who he is, what he values, and what we are to value.  Levi's dinner was no exception.  He scandalized the Pharisees by sitting and eating with the tax collectors.   There really is something powerful about sitting around the dinner table with someone.  Even when we don't agree with the people, sitting and chatting over a good meal, building trust, is absolutely worth it.  Who do you need to invite over for dinner?   The final portion of today's Scripture is about fasting.  We don't have a strong tradition of fasting, but it is definitely Biblical.  Let's think about the purpose of fasting.  It's a spiritual discipline that involves abstaining from food (or something else, but usually food) in order to focus more on God and grow spiritually.  There is a lot of precedent in Scripture for fasting.    Let me start by saying that Jesus is no way condemning fasting in this passage.  In verse 35, he is making it clear that his disciples will fast.  In Matthew 6, in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus states, “when you fast...” not “if you fast...”   But in this passage, Jesus is also teaching about feasting.  There are times to fast and there are times to feast.  When we feast, we celebrate what God is doing or has done in our lives.  We relish in the victory of Jesus Christ.    What is the occasion for the feast in today's passage?  Well, Jesus himself is there, present with his disciples.  They don't know it yet, but Jesus' coming marks the beginning of the New Covenant, which God had been promising for hundreds of years.  Jesus takes this a step further by giving some of the new vs. old comparisons.  He is doing a new thing.  You don't use new fabric to repair an old garment.  Likewise, you don't put new wine in old wineskins.  Jesus is doing something new and it will require a new way of thinking, a new way of doing life.  They are celebrating that new way of doing life with a big feast!   Blessings, Pastor Vicki        

This week we pause our Sermon on the Mount series for a baptism and dedication celebration, and Scott Woller shares a powerful moment from Luke 8. We see Jesus on the move, accompanied not only by the Twelve but also by three unlikely women—Mary, Joanna, and Susanna—each with their own story of brokenness and redemption. Together, they remind us that God's plan has always been people, and that discipleship isn't just about what we receive from Jesus, but also about the valuable role we play in His mission. In this conversation, we explore what it means to be needed, to invest in others' faith journeys, and to be part of the ongoing story of God's work in our city and our relationships.

Welcome back to the podcast. Today, we're diving back into the Sermon on the Mount, and Jesus is taking aim at our hearts. We'll be exploring Matthew chapter 5, verses 22 through 32, where he challenges the traditional understanding of murder and adultery, showing us that true righteousness goes far beyond our external actions.Sermon on the Mount Matthew 5, Jesus on anger and murder, adultery and divorce explained, Sermon on the Mount heart issues, Christ's teaching on righteousness#SermonOnTheMount, #Matthew5, #JesusTeachings, #BibleStudy, #ChristianPodcast

Today, as we slowly begin to settle into new routines after perhaps a slower, more spacious summer, I'm offering a simple reading of the Beatitudes, found at the very beginning of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. As I read it, you're invited to listen and notice what you notice. Once the reading is through, I'll offer a few questions for reflection, as you consider the reminders God might have for you in this passage.  I believe wholeheartedly that while these words were inspired and written a couple thousand years ago, God's Spirit is still inspiring us as its readers today. Feel free to pause, rewind, or revisit as you see fit. As always, I hope it serves you well.  Learn more about spiritual direction or book an appointment HERE Sign up for the monthly Re{collection} letter HERE Work with me as a speaker or workshop facilitator for your next gathering. Learn more HERE www.withjulianne.com 

We were adding onto our little house, and we were getting some help from good old Chuck. He's been a part of adding to our house; actually, he did most of the work. A wonderful Christian brother, skilled builder and handyman. He's like an everyday genius...which I am not. Now the days were pretty long and we'd be leaving the house earlier than Chuck got there and we'd return home after dark. So, I didn't get to see him much. But every day that front porch was noticeably farther along than it was when we left that morning. I actually did get to talk to Chuck on the phone one day, and I told him, in a way, he reminded me of the Lord. He was interested in how that happened. I said, "Well, I don't actually see him, but I see the difference he's made!" I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Living Proof of a Living Savior." There was a song years ago that said, "People need the Lord." Well, that's people you're around all the time. But they can't physically see Him, of course. They can't realize how real, how loving, and how powerful He is by seeing Him in person. But God's plan for introducing Himself to them is that, much like our friend's building work, they see the difference God makes in you. In 1 Peter 2:12, our word for today from the Word of God, Peter says, "Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they may accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God..." Here are people who may even be hostile toward you and toward your Lord. But they see such impressive living proof of the Jesus-difference in your everyday life - in what it says here your "good deeds" - that they end up glorifying God! Jesus made this same point in the Sermon on the Mount when He said, "Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:16). There it is again. They can't see your Lord, but they can see your good deeds that are there because He's in you. And that living proof can turn them to Him. Especially in a world that's more skeptical than ever of religious pitches, religious systems, or religious pitchmen. Notice, God doesn't say they'll be impressed with your arguments or your persuasive words. No, it's going to be your persuasive life. The random acts of kindness, the words of encouragement, your temper under control, the cleaned up mouth, the way you treat and talk about your mate, or your children, or your parents, your unselfishness, or the way you just put others ahead of yourself. One clarification: You can't just show them the Jesus-difference and that alone. You do have to tell them Who is making the difference! They can watch you for the next 50 years and they won't say, "Oh, you know, Joe is such a nice guy, I'll bet Jesus died on the cross for my sins." They're not going to figure that out. You have to tell them! So, the business of taking people to heaven with you is actually kind of like first grade...show and tell. That's why Peter says, right before his statement about them seeing your good deeds, that you are "belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness and into His wonderful light." They need to see it, but then you need to tell them. They'll never guess Jesus died on the cross for them unless you tell them. Our friend is a carpenter that I may not actually see, but I could see each day the difference he was making. You belong to a carpenter named Jesus, and whether or not the people around you will ever know Him may depend on whether or not they can see in you the difference that Jesus makes!

Send us a textThe battle between good and evil takes center stage in this powerful devotional as Dr. Papa examines the first murder recorded in human history. Exploring Genesis 4:8, he unveils how Cain's slaying of Abel reveals profound truths about our own struggles with sin and redemption.From the Garden of Eden to the field where brother slew brother, we witness how quickly human rebellion against God degenerates into violence against those who speak truth. Abel stands as a prophetic foreshadowing of Christ himself - the ultimate truth-teller rejected by those he came to save. Dr. Papa skillfully connects this ancient narrative to Jesus' teachings in the Sermon on the Mount, where anger and contempt are elevated to spiritual murder in the heart.Through rich biblical insight, we discover why transformation is impossible through willpower alone. Only when we're "transferred from the domain of darkness into the kingdom of God's beloved Son" do we gain spiritual power to choose righteousness. Dr. Papa vulnerably shares the universal Christian struggle - what Paul called "the war between our mind that wants to obey God and the flesh that wants to obey sin." Even a third-grade Sunday school student recognized our fundamental problem: "we are full of sin."Yet hope permeates this message as Dr. Papa proclaims the liberating truth of Romans 8: "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." For believers wrestling with temptation and failure, these words offer assurance that while the battle continues daily, victory is secured through Christ's finished work. Join us for this transformative teaching that addresses the heart of human struggle and points to the freedom found only in Jesus.Support the showhttps://www.jacksonfamilyministry.comhttps://bobslone.com/home/podcast-production/

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus famously tells His disciples to "turn the other cheek." What did the Lord mean by that? Is this an invitation for all Christians to remain passive victims of abuse? Is this teaching permanent non-resistance against violence? Is this an absolute prohibition against defending yourself in light of the sinful aggression of others? Or, does the Lord perhaps have another intent in His teaching? In this episode, Dr. Sadaphal will exposit Matthew 5:39 in an attempt to help you think and act biblically. Devoting attention to a proper understanding of the Lord's words is crucial because this text is commonly misunderstood.

Jesus said, “when you fast,” not “if.” From the Sermon on the Mount to Acts 13, Scripture describes fasting as a normal part of Christian life—joined always to prayer, directed always toward God. This episode unpacks the biblical foundations of fasting, its purpose in seeking God's presence and expressing repentance, and how to begin the practice faithfully and sustainably.

Our attitude to material wealth is not a peripheral concern to Jesus, but rather a central aspect of how we live as Kingdom citizens. Discover the importance of the location of our treasures, because where your treasure is will be where your heart is.

It's good to be back in Luke's Gospel, and today we're looking at Jesus' teaching on judgment in Luke 6:37–42. We started with a little fun—Jesus never called it the “Sermon on the Plain” or “Sermon on the Mount,” and He certainly didn't ask for red pencils! But the message is serious: we're not called to judge, because we're all carrying logs in our own eyes. We also talked about why karma doesn't fit in Christian theology—Jesus didn't get what He “deserved,” and neither do we. Grace, not karma, is our hope. We give, forgive, and show mercy because that's what we've received. And if we're going to point at anything, let it be toward Jesus—not at someone else's speck.Shameless plug: here's a link to Method(ist) to the Madness, our new, hopefully entertaining podcast about church history. - https://methodisttothemadness.buzzsprout.com/Join us for our daily reflections with Andy. In 10 short minutes, he'll dig a little deeper into Scripture and help you better understand God's Word.You can read today's passage here - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%206%3A%2037-42&version=NRSVUEClick here if you'd like to join our GroupMe and receive this each morning at 7:00 a.m. CST. - https://groupme.com/join_group/107837407/vtYqtb6CYou can watch this in video form here - https://revandy.org/blog/

Central Christian Church is a non-denominational church in Wichita, KS. We are happy to share the teaching of our pastors and friends with you through this podcast. If you have any questions or want to know more about us, visit https://www.ccc.org/ Sermon Notes: https://www.bible.com/events/49471115 Matthew 7:1-6

We appreciate you spending some of your valuable time with us. We are once again returning to the audiences of St. John Paul II that make up "Theology of the Body". In this show we are going to let JP II take us back in time to when Jesus gave "The Sermon on the Mount". In that sermon the beloved pope says Jesus was appealing to the human heart. The same human heart created by God in Adam and Eve, the same human heart that beat in the hearts of 1st century Jews and the same heart that beats in each of us today.

Send us a textThe tension between law and grace has challenged believers for centuries. What happens when someone claims they've actually kept all of God's commandments? We witnessed this extraordinary moment when a caller named Superwoman made this very assertion, sparking a riveting biblical examination that cuts to the heart of salvation.As the conversation unfolds, we explore how the Sermon on the Mount reveals the impossibility of perfect law-keeping. Jesus himself raised the standard to show that anger equals murder and lust equals adultery in God's eyes. This powerful teaching demonstrates why the law was never meant as a pathway to righteousness but as a mirror revealing our desperate need for divine intervention.Scripture speaks with remarkable clarity on this issue. The law functions as our tutor, pointing us to Christ by exposing our sin without providing the means to cleanse it. As one participant beautifully explains, "All the law does is give notification that something is broken within us that it cannot repair. The only repair package is God's grace." This aligns perfectly with Paul's teaching that we are justified by faith alone.Romans 11:6 establishes the stark incompatibility of grace and works: "If by grace, then it is no longer works; otherwise grace is no longer grace." There's no middle ground – salvation comes entirely through grace or entirely through works. Since Scripture clearly teaches that all have sinned, works-based approaches necessarily fail.The beautiful truth emerges: Christ has redeemed us from the law's curse by becoming a curse for us. As Galatians 3:3 asks, "After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?" Your obedience should flow from gratitude for salvation already secured, not as payment toward one you're still trying to earn.Join us for this compelling conversation that will challenge legalistic thinking and remind you of the liberating power of faith alone in Christ alone. After all, only one option is perfect and only one is alive and pleading on our behalf.Support the show

This episode of Systematic Geekology delves into the latest developments within our cherished fandoms, focusing on significant updates from San Diego Comic Con, the provocative new South Park episode entitled "Sermon on the Mount," and the much-anticipated Marvel Cinematic Universe film "Fantastic Four: First Steps." Our discourse endeavors to unravel the intricate themes and messages embedded within these cultural artifacts, all while examining them through a shared Christian lens, despite the diverse theological perspectives held by our hosts. We engage in a robust analysis of the ramifications of these narratives, contemplating their relevance to contemporary societal issues and our individual beliefs. Join us as we navigate these multifaceted topics, fostering a deeper understanding of the intersections between faith, pop culture, and personal identity.A comprehensive exploration of the latest developments in popular culture unfolds, characterized by a detailed discourse on the recent San Diego Comic Con, wherein the hosts delve into the myriad announcements and revelations that emerged from this venerable institution. They provide a thorough analysis of the new episode of 'South Park' titled 'Sermon on the Mount', examining its satirical take on contemporary sociopolitical issues and its implications for Christian discourse. The conversation progresses to an evaluation of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's latest offering, 'Fantastic Four: First Steps', where the hosts dissect its fidelity to the source material and its overall contribution to the superhero genre. They reflect on the thematic richness of the narratives presented, striving to extract messages pertinent to their Christian perspectives, while acknowledging their diverse theological viewpoints. Through an engaging dialogue, the hosts encapsulate the essence of fandom, revealing how these narratives resonate within the broader cultural landscape and the implications they bear on faith and belief systems.Takeaways: The hosts engage in a detailed discussion about the recent San Diego Comic Con, highlighting its historical significance as the origin of modern comic conventions. A critical analysis of the latest South Park episode, 'Sermon on the Mount,' reveals its bold satire and commentary on contemporary societal issues, particularly surrounding politics and religion. The episode offers a comprehensive review of 'Fantastic Four: First Steps,' evaluating its aesthetic appeal and character development, while acknowledging its shortcomings in narrative depth. The hosts express a shared enthusiasm for the various themes present in fandoms, exploring how they intersect with Christian perspectives despite differing theological views among them. The conversation underscores the importance of satire in addressing societal issues, using South Park's approach to critique both political and religious figures in today's context. Listeners are encouraged to reflect on the nuanced messages within their favorite fandoms and to appreciate the artistic choices made in the latest comic book adaptations. .We discuss all this and more in this one! Join in the conversation with us on Discord now!.Support our show on Captivate or Patreon, or by purchasing a comfy T-Shirt in our store!.Don't miss any of our What's News episodes:

As part of an ongoing series, this meditation inspired by Adyashanti invites you to relax and let go of ideas, assumptions, agendas, and self-orientation---to be what Christ called, "poor in spirit." This relinquishment allows you to enter the dark core of your being that is always and forever in direct contact with the mysterious, unknown dimension of Being. In this way, you become the space through which Eternity gazes into the world of time. Your eyes are the eyes of Eternity. The first of eight beatitudes taught by Jesus at the Sermon on the Mount, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" implies that through the surrender of self-preoccupation, we experience heaven in real time, here and now. Heaven is not "out there." Adyashanti echoes Christ's message: "The kingdom of God is within you."Theses practices build on each other, so you can listen consecutively, but if there is one in particular that speaks to you, feel free to stick with it. Based on the teachings of Adyashanti, they can be used alone or as a companion to his audio series, The 30-Day Wake Up Challenge, or his book, The Direct Way: 30 Practices to Evoke Awakening. This meditation correlates to Day 17. In some cases, the meditations are also loosely inspired by the teachings of Andrew Holecek, Pema Chodron, and Eckhart Tolle.  I hope you enjoy.Audio & Music by the stupendous Eric Fischer. Support the showHost: Tess CallahanSubstack: Writers at the WellInterview Podcast: Writers at the WellMeditations on Insight TimerMeditations on YouTubeTess's novels: https://tesscallahan.com/Music (unless otherwise noted above): Christopher Lloyd ClarkAudio Editing: Eric Fischer By tapping "like" and "follow" you help others find the show. Thank you for listening!DISCLAIMER: Meditation is not a substitute for professional psychological or medical healthcare or therapy. We do not accept any liability for any loss or damage incurred by you acting or not acting as a result of listening to this recording. Use the material provided at your own risk. Do not drive or operate dangerous equipment while listening. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or the management.

Jesus just finishes teaching us to how to pray and also to how to fast. It is here that the second half of his most famous Sermon on the Mount begins. Jesus starts landing the plane speaking about treasures. Matthew 6:19-21 is our main text in part 9 of our series “The Narrow Way." Join us for live worship every Saturday at 9am and 11:45am in Grand Terrace. Our address is 22633 Barton Rd, Grand Terrace CA, 92313--hope to see you soon! Connect with us: Instagram: @azurehills Facebook: Azure Hills Church Website: azurehills.org Podcasts: Spotify/Apple/PodBean @Azure Hills SDA Church Online Giving: If you would like to support Azure Hills Church and its ministries, visit Adventist Giving: https://adventistgiving.org/#/org/ANPMBQ/envelope/start

Join us today as we begin a discussion on what it means to be blessed by God. https://longhollow.com/theforgottenjesuspodcastshownotes

In this message, Pastor Craig explains how Jesus wants us to do good for the glory of God and not to glorify ourselves.

Sermon on the Mount: Kingdom Culture False Prophets Matthew 7:15-20 Christ Church Kingwood August 3, 2025 Preacher: Patrick Wimberly

Pastor Erin continues through the series on Matthew. Today he went over the final verses in Chapter 7 finishing up The Sermon On The Mount.

This morning we dove back into Luke 6:20–26, where Jesus lays out blessings and woes that flip the world's values upside down. On Friday, we looked at the big picture—how Luke's “Sermon on the Plain” compares to Matthew's “Sermon on the Mount.” Today we focused on the heart of Jesus' message: our Christian ethics aren't grounded in this world—they're grounded in eternity. Jesus says the poor, the hungry, the weeping, and the hated are blessed, while those who seem to have it all now—the rich, the full, the laughing, and the praised—should be warned. Why? Because worldly success is fleeting, but the Kingdom of God is forever. When we live for eternity, we gain purpose, freedom, and a deeper joy in the here and now. So let's aim at heaven—and trust that God will take care of the rest.Shameless plug: here's a link to Method(ist) to the Madness, our new, hopefully entertaining podcast about church history. - https://methodisttothemadness.buzzsprout.com/Join us for our daily reflections with Andy. In 10 short minutes, he'll dig a little deeper into Scripture and help you better understand God's Word.You can read today's passage here - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%206%3A%2020-26&version=NRSVUEClick here if you'd like to join our GroupMe and receive this each morning at 7:00 a.m. CST. - https://groupme.com/join_group/107837407/vtYqtb6CYou can watch this in video form here - https://revandy.org/blog/

We live in a city that is known for its ambition. People in DC from all walks of life have a level of hustle and an uncommon pace. It's important to step back at times and take stock of our lives. What is your ambition? What is it that drives you? What keeps you up at night, or consumes your thoughts in quiet moments? All of these are symptoms to get at the reality of our hearts.This Sunday we will get back into our series on the Sermon on the Mount, The Upside-Down Kingdom. Matthew 6:19-34 turns our attention to ambition. As with all things, Jesus turns the common wisdom of our world upside-down.  ------------------------------------------- Connect with us on Social Media ⁠Website⁠ | ⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠Threads⁠ | ⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠Vimeo⁠------------------------------------------- Download our App⁠Apple App Store⁠ | ⁠Google Play Store⁠

Every society on earth has always had groups of people in the social margins; people who are relegated to the edges of the larger community. It's a tragic symptom of living in this broken world, the ease with which we dehumanize others by categorizing them as unwanted or undesirable, or unuseful.Which is why Jesus' ministry is so arresting, simply because the majority of his messianic work was done with and for those who were designated as the outcasts of his time. When the Kingdom of Heaven began its invasion of this world, it wasn't focused in on the elites and powerful of Rome or even Israel. It was laser focused on the most vulnerable among us – revealing the heart of God and the nature of His healing work in this world.This Sunday we'll be reading Matthew 8:1-17 in our ongoing study of this Gospel. Chapters 8 and 9 of Matthew are arranged around two sets of three miracles, bridged by sayings of Jesus. This framework is meant to put the authority of Jesus on display after he had revealed his authority to teach in the Sermon on the Mount.V1-4 is the account of Jesus healing a leper. The Torah had very specific instructions on identifying skin diseases, and what to do if one was diagnosed on a person. It's clear that a person's life would be miserable with that affliction, especially on a social level – they would be mandatorily outcast. Does the leper demand a healing from Jesus? Why do you think he phrased his inquiry the way he did? What is the first thing Matthew describes Jesus doing, even before declaring him healed? What might a human touch have meant to someone who had been labeled as “untouchable”? What do we learn about the nature of our mission, as Jesus' representatives, from that?V 5-13 tells us about a request from a Roman officer. Rome was the occupying force in Israel – they were seen as the enemy, the oppressors of the Jewish people. I can't think of someone who would be more likely to be ostracized by the larger community than man who represented the Roman army. How resistant did Jesus seem to answer this man's request? What might have been the thoughts of the people around Jesus when this gentile soldier made this request? The officer gives Jesus a way out of coming into his house, and Jesus commends his faith. Faith in what, do you suppose?The last part of this section details Jesus' healing of Peter's mother-in-law from a fever. Women rarely took center stage in recorded events in the ancient world. This is highlighted in the Gospels for a reason. What was her response when she was healed, what did she do (hint: the words “a meal” are not in the Greek – she got up and diakoneō him)?I'm really excited to get into this text together – I hope you can join us this Sunday at 10 AM!Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow.

If you're ever tempted to play the judge, jury, and executioner in the courtroom of public opinion—you're not alone. In this week's message from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, we explore His sobering and freeing words: "Do not judge, or you too will be judged." It's a message that challenges our inner critic, helps us get off the ladder of assumptions, and sets us free to love like Jesus. Join us this Sunday—we promise no judgment.

The Radical Call of Jesus // Matthew 5–7 // CityBridge Community Church Jesus didn't come to lower the bar. He came to call people into a different way of living—His way. This week's message starts our Radical series with a walkthrough of the Sermon on the Mount. It's not about external rules. It's about a heart fully given to God. Sermon notes and discussion questions available at: https://www.citybridgechurch.org/messages Subscribe for weekly Sunday Messages on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. Questions or feedback? DM us @citybridgecc or email info@citybridgechurch.org. Enjoyed the message? Leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

Dive into a transformative message about the art of asking and receiving. This talk explores how approaching life with childlike boldness and curiosity can bring incredible opportunities. Discover the importance of persistence and seeking bigger dreams without letting realism dull your spark. Learn how genuine ask-and-receive energy, fueled by an expectation of good, can not only enhance your life but also impact the world around you positively.

Understanding Jesus' Teaching on Anger: More Than Just Words | Biblical Teaching Jesus' powerful teaching in Matthew 5:21-24 challenges our understanding of anger by equating it with murder. This eye-opening exploration reveals what Jesus really meant when He warned about anger, insults, and calling someone a fool. Discover the three tiers of anger Jesus describes and why God takes this emotion so seriously. Learn how anger creates spiritual strongholds, damages your relationship with God, and prevents you from seeing others as God's children. In today's culture, where anger is normalized and even celebrated, Jesus offers a radical alternative through forgiveness and reconciliation. This message unpacks the difference between forgiveness and reconciliation, explaining why both are essential for spiritual freedom. You'll receive practical steps to identify anger in your heart, confess it to God, release those who've wronged you, and move toward healing relationships. Perfect for anyone struggling with resentment, unforgiveness, or relationship conflicts. Discover how to break free from anger's bondage and experience the transformation Jesus offers. Keywords: anger management, Christian forgiveness, Matthew 5, Sermon on the Mount, biblical teaching on anger, spiritual growth, reconciliation, Christian relationships, emotional healing, Bible study, Jesus' teaching, spiritual freedom, overcoming resentment, Christian living, biblical wisdom

In Week 7 of our Summer on the Mount series, Pastor Casey Olsen unpacks Matthew 6:19–24, a powerful portion of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount that challenges our hearts, our habits, and our loyalties. Are we chasing fleeting treasures or investing in what truly lasts?Key themes:- What we pursue shapes who we become- Our vision determines our inner light- The master we serve defines our directionWith clarity and conviction, Pastor Casey calls us to examine our priorities, perceptions, and spiritual investments. Through stories, Scripture, and practical application, we're reminded that Jesus is the only treasure who won't rot, rust, or run—the only master who gave Himself fully for us.Main Points:1. Pursuit shapes the person – What we chase is forming our soul2. Perception fuels perspective – What we focus on fills us with light or darkness3. Priority reveals the master – You can't serve God and moneyThis sermon will help you:- Identify idols and misplaced trust- Reorient your life around eternal purpose- Learn to live with spiritual clarity and kingdom vision- Experience the freedom of wholehearted devotion to ChristHave you ever chased something that promised satisfaction but left you restless? This message speaks directly to that ache and invites you into a better way—a life centered on Jesus.

Village Church RolesvilleSunday Message, August 3rd, 2025Pastor Tyler WilliamsMatthew 5:1-12

Prayer often feels like the spiritual practice we “should” be better at and secretly avoid. In Red Letters, Pastor Mark Medley takes us into Matthew 7:7–11, where Jesus reduces the complexity we put on prayer to three verbs: ask, seek, knock. Mark shows that this isn't a technique but an invitation. The Father already knows our needs, yet He tells us to ask because prayer is relationship with His heart and partnership in His mission. Asking confesses our poverty of spirit. Seeking pursues God with hunger. Knocking persists when doors don't open on the first try, not to wring blessings from a reluctant deity but to stay near a generous Father. Mark addresses delayed or denied requests through the lens of adoption and abiding: the Father sometimes says no, slow, or grow before He says go, shaping us for joy. Through the story of Elizabeth and Zechariah, we see that God remembers prayers we've forgotten and weaves answers into a larger plan. This message urges holy discontent in spiritual things, a renewed appetite to be with the Lord and then be sent by Him. In Jesus' own words, the way forward is simple and sturdy: ask, seek, knock.We are Trinity Community Church in Knoxville, Tennessee.Subscribe to our Podcast & YouTube channel to find past sermons, classes, interviews, and more!Find us on Facebook & Instagram

Keywords: Matthew,Book of Matthew,Revival, Character Of God,Free Sermons, Video Sermons, Jesus Christ, What Is The Gospel, Sermon Index, What Is The Truth, kjv bible, Audio Bible, Bible, God, God's Love, Scriptures, Holy Bible, Prophets, Apostles, KJV, Jesus,Christ, audiobook, book, holy life, love, bible verses, king james bible audio, audio bible KJV, king james bible online audio, bible audio, online bible kjv, audio bible kjv, daily bible verse, bible verse of the day, KJV audio, Remastered, Best Version, Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit, Holy Ghost, The Chosen, Salvation, Saved, Christian, Suffering Servant, Arm of the Lord, Plants Roots, Despised Rejected, Sorrows, Peace War, Crucifixtion, The Cross, Violence, Judgement, Master Servant, Life Death, Old Testament, Exposed, Music, Education, Great Tribulation, Endtimes, Top Bible Verses, Bible Topic Prayer, Evangelicalism, bible study, Word of God, scripture, scriptures, Matthew Henry's biblical commentary, bible commentary, Matthew Henry commentary, God's Word, Matthew Henry, studying the Bible, understanding the Bible, God, Father, Son, Holy Spirit, Spiritual, Hope, Jesus Answers Prayer, Answers to Prayer, Prayer, Pray, God Answers Prayer⚠️ Support our ministry: https://ko-fi.com/jesusanswersprayers❓️ How does this chapter apply to you?

Pastor Matt concludes the series on the Sermon on the Mount.

Some two thousand years ago, on a hillside overlooking the Sea of Galilee, Jesus delivered the longest recorded message in the Bible. Today, Ron takes us to the Sermon on the Mount and the Beatitudes of Jesus Christ. It's all part of his continuing series, “Highway To Happiness: Living The Beatitudes of Jesus,” and it starts right now.  

There's a significant difference between hungering and thirsting for righteousness and striving to fulfill our own desires. Today on The Bible Study Hour, Dr. Boice will reference the Sermon on the Mount as an ultimate guide for finding lasting happiness. If you've ever longed to live above your circumstances and find the secret to true contentment, you've tuned in at just the right time! To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/81/29

Central Christian Church is a non-denominational church in Wichita, KS. We are happy to share the teaching of our pastors and friends with you through this podcast. If you have any questions or want to know more about us, visit https://www.ccc.org/ Sermon Notes: https://www.bible.com/events/49467722 Matthew 6:25-34

Romans 3:31 — The law of God condemns but the grace of God saves. So what room is there to boast? There are three deductions that Paul is drawing with his description of salvation: there can no longer be any boasting, the gospel is for all people without distinction, and the gospel establishes the law. Some Jews may feel that with this new message about receiving salvation through faith means that their law is void, but Paul says that is unthinkable. This salvation is a justification whereby God has declared His people as righteous in His sight. In this sermon titled “The Law Established” from Romans 3:31, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones says that Paul is repeating what the Lord said in the Sermon on the Mount. The Lord honored the law in His active obedience and nothing that He would do would prove the law void. Dr. Lloyd-Jones provides seven points of how the cross and salvation honors the law and discusses reasons why people would reject this teaching.

Romans 3:31 — The law of God condemns but the grace of God saves. So what room is there to boast? There are three deductions that Paul is drawing with his description of salvation: there can no longer be any boasting, the gospel is for all people without distinction, and the gospel establishes the law. Some Jews may feel that with this new message about receiving salvation through faith means that their law is void, but Paul says that is unthinkable. This salvation is a justification whereby God has declared His people as righteous in His sight. In this sermon titled “The Law Established” from Romans 3:31, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones says that Paul is repeating what the Lord said in the Sermon on the Mount. The Lord honored the law in His active obedience and nothing that He would do would prove the law void. Dr. Lloyd-Jones provides seven points of how the cross and salvation honors the law and discusses reasons why people would reject this teaching. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/603/29

It's one thing to ask me to not make an idol, or profane the Lord's name, or work on the sabbath, or dishonor my parents, or murder, or break my marriage covenant, or steal, or lie, but it's quite another when you look at the hidden motives of my heart and command me to be content with my lot in life. Now you're in an area inside of me I hardly understand myself. You're asking me to control something that in reality seems to have control of me. Yet, the tenth commandment tells me not to covet, meaning I shouldn't desire things that belong to others, I'm told to be totally satisfied with the gifts God has given me, and delighted when others appear to have more blessings than I do. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus explained that each commandment reaches beyond our actions to the attitudes within our hearts. But this last commandment starts there, telling us to be selfless and humble, and that's something no human can do without a miracle. Even St, Paul tells us this was the commandment he was helpless to obey before he was born-again (Ro 7;7-12), When he tried he found compulsive attitudes in him that only got worse when he tried to bring them under control. But whenever God asks us to do something He always provides the help we need to succeed. So, let's look in His Word today to find the provisions he's made that will set us free from coveting. To receive a free copy of Dr. Steve Schell's newest book Study Verse by Verse: Hebrews, email us at info@lifelessonspublishing.com and ask for your copy at no charge!  Also check out our website at lifelessonspublishing.com for additional resources for pastors and leaders. We have recorded classes and other materials offered at no charge.  

This Sunday we'll be concluding Jesus' most famous teaching, the Sermon on the Mount, in our ongoing series studying the Gospel of Matthew. We'll be reading ch 7:13-29.Jesus wraps up his instructions with a series of contrasts between two choices. Only two. Two gates, two roads, two types of spiritual leaders, two types of disciples and two different foundations (as well as a sub-set of two fruits and two trees).All of this is intended to emphasize an “either/or” proposition concerning how we live. We are either following Jesus by mirroring his values into the world, or we are not following him at all. There doesn't appear to be a third way.Some things to think about for Sunday: When you read about two trees and two kinds of fruit, what other famous Bible story has a choice between trees in it? Can that give us a clue as to the what doing God's will might look like? According to Jesus, can a person be representing God's purposes if they reject in their lifestyle his teachings about greed, forgiveness, love for our enemies, rejecting lust, and not judging others?Jesus describes people doing some really powerful works and yet declares he never knew them. This clearly indicates that a relationship with Jesus is upmost importance. What might motivate a person to do spectacular things besides a desire to please God?What would constitute a sandy foundation, that is, what would be something unsuitable to build our life and identity on? What, or who would be a rock-like foundation on which to establish our lives and priorities?I hope you can join us as we dive into this text on Sunday!Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow.

The trouble with the Sermon on the Mount is it's so familiar that almost nobody listens to it, almost nobody knows what it's saying. How do we know that? At the very end of the sermon, it says the crowds were amazed at Jesus's teaching. And that word, “amazed,” in Greek meant thunderstruck, shocked, astounded. That's the prevailing way people responded. Have you been thunderstruck? Are you shocked by it? If you're not astounded, you haven't listened to it.  So let's listen to it. There are basically three great things Jesus says that are utterly astounding: 1) that there are two ways, two options spiritually, 2) that at the end of those two ways, there's a judge, and 3) that at the end of that judgment, there's a sentence. This sermon was preached by Dr. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on May 23, 1999. Series: The Mount; Life in the Kingdom. Scripture: Matthew 7:15-29. Today's podcast is brought to you by Gospel in Life, the site for all sermons, books, study guides and resources from Timothy Keller and Redeemer Presbyterian Church. If you've enjoyed listening to this podcast and would like to support the ongoing efforts of this ministry, you can do so by visiting https://gospelinlife.com/give and making a one-time or recurring donation.

There's no one section where Jesus lays out how a relationship with him radically changes our human relationships and forms a new, deep, radical human community in Christ. It's not in one place — it's all throughout the Sermon on the Mount.  The Sermon on the Mount is really a description of a new kind of community. What does Jesus teach us about this radical new community that is formed by his gospel message? When it comes into your life, how does it create this new community between those who believe in Jesus?  Jesus teaches us four things: 1) the necessity of this new community, 2) the intensity of this new community, 3) the symmetry of this new community, and 4) the causality of this new community. This sermon was preached by Dr. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on May 16, 1999. Series: The Mount; Life in the Kingdom. Scripture: Matthew 5:21-24, 45-48; 7:1-6. Today's podcast is brought to you by Gospel in Life, the site for all sermons, books, study guides and resources from Timothy Keller and Redeemer Presbyterian Church. If you've enjoyed listening to this podcast and would like to support the ongoing efforts of this ministry, you can do so by visiting https://gospelinlife.com/give and making a one-time or recurring donation.

When people say, “I've tried prayer, and it didn't work,” what Jesus is saying is, “You used prayer, not the way I designed it, but with a false model of spirituality.” For Jesus, the importance of prayer is revealed in a little unobtrusive word at the beginning of this passage in the Sermon on the Mount: the little word “and.” Right before Jesus talks about prayer, he talks about our engagement with the poor and the needs of the world. Then he says, “And when you pray …” Because in Jesus' understanding, it's the people who are characterized by the most radical interiority who have the most courageous, visionary engagement with the needs of the world. And before Jesus gives us a model of prayer, the famous Lord's Prayer, he tells us two other models of prayer that we should avoid.  Let's look at 1) the two false models, 2) the true model, and 3) a few practical ideas on how to go about it. This sermon was preached by Dr. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on May 9, 1999. Series: The Mount; Life in the Kingdom. Scripture: Matthew 6:5-13. Today's podcast is brought to you by Gospel in Life, the site for all sermons, books, study guides and resources from Timothy Keller and Redeemer Presbyterian Church. If you've enjoyed listening to this podcast and would like to support the ongoing efforts of this ministry, you can do so by visiting https://gospelinlife.com/give and making a one-time or recurring donation.

If we actually take the gospel, the essential message of Jesus Christ, and we live it out, what will it look like? That's what the Sermon on the Mount is about.  And in this part of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, we get to the area of money and possessions.  Jesus tells us three things we can draw out here: 1) how money exercises power over us, 2) why money exercises power over us, and 3) how we can break the power. This sermon was preached by Dr. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on May 2, 1999. Series: The Mount; Life in the Kingdom. Scripture: Matthew 6:19-34. Today's podcast is brought to you by Gospel in Life, the site for all sermons, books, study guides and resources from Timothy Keller and Redeemer Presbyterian Church. If you've enjoyed listening to this podcast and would like to support the ongoing efforts of this ministry, you can do so by visiting https://gospelinlife.com/give and making a one-time or recurring donation.