Podcasts about Sermon on the Mount

Jesus continues the Sermon on the Mount, addressing key themes of righteousness, the Law, and the kingdom of heaven. He describes His followers as "salt and light," emphasizing their role in preserving society. Jesus clarifies His relationship to the Mosaic Law, stating He came to fulfill, not abolish it. He challenges the superficial righteousness of the Pharisees, revealing that true obedience begins in the heart.Support the showRead along with us in the Bible Brief App! Try the Bible Brief book for an offline experience!Get your free Bible Timeline with the 10 Steps: Timeline LinkSupport the show: Tap here to become a monthly supporter!Review the show: Tap here!Want to go deeper?...Download the Bible Brief App!iPhone: App Store LinkAndroid: Play Store LinkWant a physical book? Check out "Bible Brief" by our founder!Amazon: Amazon LinkWebsite: biblebrief.orgInstagram: @biblelitTwitter: @bible_litFacebook: @biblelitEmail the Show: biblebrief@biblelit.org Want to learn the Bible languages (Greek & Hebrew)? Check out ou...

Matthew 6:19-24; Charles Johnson, Senior Pastor at RMC; the 12th sermon in the series on the Sermon on the Mount, "He Sat and Taught."

Matthew 5:31-3231 “It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.' 32 But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery. English Standard Version (ESV)The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

In this episode , we delve into the Sermon on the Mount, specifically focusing on the Beatitudes. We explore the concept of true happiness and blessedness as spoken by Jesus, contrasting it with worldly pursuits of happiness. The episode examines how Jesus addresses the universal human desire for joy and fulfillment, offering a counter-intuitive path to lasting happiness rooted in spiritual poverty, meekness, and righteousness.Support the showRead along with us in the Bible Brief App! Try the Bible Brief book for an offline experience!Get your free Bible Timeline with the 10 Steps: Timeline LinkSupport the show: Tap here to become a monthly supporter!Review the show: Tap here!Want to go deeper?...Download the Bible Brief App!iPhone: App Store LinkAndroid: Play Store LinkWant a physical book? Check out "Bible Brief" by our founder!Amazon: Amazon LinkWebsite: biblebrief.orgInstagram: @biblelitTwitter: @bible_litFacebook: @biblelitEmail the Show: biblebrief@biblelit.org Want to learn the Bible languages (Greek & Hebrew)? Check out ou...

Week 7 | The Sermon on the Mount (1995)This week on the podcast, we're in Week 7 of a 6-month series on the Sermon on the Mount. The text discusses the sixth Beatitude, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." This beatitude points to a profound mystery. Purity of heart is not about perfection, says Darrell, but integrity and a sincere desire for truth - qualities that come from being gospelized, and not through personal effort. The pure in heart are blessed because they see God, not through their own merit, but by fixing their gaze on the grace and compassion of Jesus.__⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Bible Course⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Darrell's Books⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Give to the Ministry of Darrell Johnson⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠—⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to Darrell's Mailing List⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠darrelljohnson.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠youtube.com/darrelljohnson⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Joining us tonight is Senior Pastor of Calvary Corvallis, Rob Verdeyen. Pastor Rob opens up the Sermon on The Mount tonight exploring the Lord's Prayer and fasting. Thanks for listening!

The holidays are approaching, which means conversations around the dinner table. Are you looking forward to them or dreading them? We can prepare mentally and spiritually for those moments, by choosing the opposite of our natural inclinations. Jesus calls us to be peacemakers, but often we don't feel like it when our buttons are being pushed. So how? How do we choose the opposite of anger, and gotcha, when that is what our instincts are indicating?   On the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches us to not only consider the opposite, but also practice it. Tammy Melchien, a teaching pastor at Community Christian Church in Chicago, joins us as we consider what it means to be people of peace this holiday season. We do not need to meet anger with anger. We CAN make different choices with the help of the Holy Spirit. We can allow God's goodness to work in us, and therefore through us. Push play to listen in.   FIND MORE ABOUT TAMMY MELCHIEN Tammy's- Website and Instagram   Tammy's Book- Choosing the Opposite   A FEW THINGS MENTIONED Finding Nemo Movie   QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE Where is a place in your life where you could choose the opposite? Is there a person you will see over the holidays that may cause you to respond in a way that is not aligned with who you want to be? How can you prepare now to practice healthy detachment in the moment when you are with them? How can you cultivate becoming more of a person of peace both internally, what you're experiencing in your soul and externally how you respond to other people? LET'S CONNECT! Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend. Or message us on Instagram – we'd love to hear from you! Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will imme  

November 3rd, 2025 Pastor Cody Abrahamson

This week, Pastor Jesse continues in Matthew chapter 5. We continue through Jesus' Sermon on the Mount and discover what true righteousness really looks like. It's not about managing outward behavior—it's about letting God's grace transform our hearts. We'll talk about how sin starts within us, why reconciliation matters, and how only Jesus can bring […] The post Matthew 5:21-32 – The Anatomy of Sin: How Grace Stops the Spiral appeared first on Sierra Bible Church.

In this week's sermon, I explore Jesus' closing challenge in the Sermon on the Mount - will we build our lives on the rock of actually doing what he says, or on the sand of merely hearing and looking religious? (Matthew 7:24-29). We look at why The Salvation Army says it is a holiness movement, but why so many Salvationists still drift or give up, and how daily obedience, clear faith goals, and accountable community keep us storm-proof.

In this week's sermon, I explore Jesus' closing challenge in the Sermon on the Mount - will we build our lives on the rock of actually doing what he says, or on the sand of merely hearing and looking religious? (Matthew 7:24-29). We look at why The Salvation Army says it is a holiness movement, but why so many Salvationists still drift or give up, and how daily obedience, clear faith goals, and accountable community keep us storm-proof.

In this episode, we will discuss the book of Matthew with questions centered around the genealogy of Christ, the sermon on the mount, the gifts of the magi, and the Kingdom of Heaven. Join Karla and Mike as they converse with Dr. David Capes to get your questions answered!   To check out Dr. David Capes' resources mentioned in this episode, visit:   Website/ Podcasts: https://davidbcapes.com/   Courses: https://catalog.awkngschooloftheology.com/courses/the-divine-christ/ A Course on the Book of Matthew (coming to AWKNG in early 2026)   Books: https://amzn.to/3Xasb2c https://amzn.to/4qHG2uw

Debbie continues our series on the Sermon on the Mount.

from Matthew 6:22-24 Jesus' teaching in Matthew 5-7, we know as The Sermon on the Mount…but it is so much more than just a collection of wisdom and challenge and instruction from Jesus. It is at the heart of it, an invitation from Jesus to consider that there is another way, that there is a better way. To … Continue reading "(November 2, 2025) “Sermon on the Mount: Which Master?”"

Chapters (00:00:00) - A Warning About Prayer(00:03:00) - Matthew 6: Don't Be Like the Hypocrites(00:10:47) - Pray in Secret(00:11:59) - Your Prayer Closet(00:18:38) - Don't Pray Like the Heathen(00:26:13) - Jesus' Warning about Prayer(00:33:27) - All the Prayer Closets

Store up treasures in Heaven

Gregg Matte, Senior Pastor of Houston's First Baptist Church, taught on Matthew 7:24-29, where Jesus finishes the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus teaches the people that he is the solid rock and a firm foundation, unlike anything else we may attempt to build upon.

Jesus invites us into a different kind of life, one that may feel upside down to the world but leads to real joy and lasting peace. In the Sermon on the Mount, He shows us how surrendering step by step to God's way is the path to the good life we've been longing for.

This Red in 30: Red State Of Mind episode continues the journey through Matthew 4–6, where every person and place in Scripture is seen as a reflection of thought and mentality. The wilderness becomes the landscape of the mind—a place where thoughts are tested and stripped down. The temptation of Jesus is revealed as an inner dialogue, where false suggestions try to reshape perspective and redefine identity. The “devil” isn't an external enemy as much as a lower influence—an unripe thought urging the mind to act beneath its true nature. The victory comes not through resistance or panic but through recognition: answering every lie with identity, every suggestion with truth.Fasting, in this framework, is more than abstaining from food—it's a mental detox. It's allowing the mind to digest what it has consumed and to quiet the constant scroll of good and bad conversations. The process exposes inherited mentalities—family patterns, generational beliefs, cultural voices—that have layered over the pure mind of Christ. The Christ-mind isn't missing; it's simply buried under noise. Fasting becomes the stripping away that lets that divine awareness reemerge. Once those false voices are silenced, the soul begins to hear the Master thought again: Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand—a call for every thought in the mind to turn toward divine order.The reading unfolds as a vision of the kingdom within. Jesus calling His disciples becomes a metaphor for thoughts aligning with purpose—ideas in the soul recognizing their true leader and following the higher consciousness of Christ. The miracles that follow—healing every sickness and disease—symbolize the restoration of distorted mentalities. The Sermon on the Mount then reads like a “State of the Union” address for the soul: every “Blessed are they” targets inner attitudes, every correction reaches internal behaviors before they ever appear outwardly. Lust, anger, envy, or fear—all are confronted as thought patterns to be healed and transformed.The episode closes with the practical outcome of this revelation: inner order. The “society of the soul,” as it's described, must be restructured from within so that peace, not chaos, rules. Thoughts that offend, accuse, or distract must be plucked out and replaced with the steady rhythm of divine awareness. Real change never happens on the outskirts of life but in the innermost place—the closet of consciousness where the Father sees in secret. When Jesus says, Take no thought for your life, it's not a call to apathy but to freedom: to stop letting stray thoughts run your world and let the kingdom rule from within. Get full access to REDIN30 at redin30.substack.com/subscribe

Gregg Matte, Senior Pastor of Houston's First Baptist Church, taught on Matthew 7:24-29, where Jesus finishes the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus teaches the people that he is the solid rock and a firm foundation, unlike anything else we may attempt to build upon.

Welcome to River of Life Church's podcast! We are a body of believers who gather together to worship God & grow in His grace. We are a church of His presence, His promises and we are for all people. More info can be found at www.rol-ag.com.

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

November 2nd, 2025 | Seek ONE | Matthew 6:19-24In this message from the Seek One series, Pastor Todd Kaunitz challenges us to examine who—or what—truly masters our hearts. Continuing in Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, we dive into one of His most penetrating teachings: “You cannot serve both God and money.”Through Matthew 6:19–24, Pastor Todd unpacks three powerful truths Jesus gives about money: -Money is the greatest indicator of what has your heart. -How you view money will shape how you view everything else. -You either serve money as god or serve God with money.This message reminds us that generosity isn't about losing control—it's about surrendering to the One who deserves first place in everything. From the principle of tithing in Malachi 3 to the preeminence of Christ in Colossians 1, Pastor Todd shows how life works best when Jesus is first in our families, our time, our gifts, and our finances.“God can do more with 90% surrendered to Him than you can with 100% in your control.”Tune in and discover what it means to live with One Master—seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.Do you know JESUS?: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nblongview.org/do-you-know-jesus⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Need PRAYER?: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nblongview.org/pray⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SUPPORT through giving: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nbbctx.org/giving⁠⁠

Bob Schwahn | Lead Pastor | November 2, 2025 Referenced Scripture: Romans 8:1, Romans 8:38-39, Romans 8:22-25, John 1:14, 1 Corinthians 6:19, Matthew 6:9-10, John 14:12, Romans 8:29, 1 Corinthians 3:16-17, Acts 1:8, Matthew 13:31-33, John 14:4-5, John 18:36 Reflection Questions: 1. Read Romans 8:22-25 Paul describes that we along with the whole creation groan inwardly for the redemption of all things. How specifically have you experienced the groaning of this life? How have you experienced the longing for heaven and redemption of all things? How have you experienced times of the Kingdom of heaven breaking into your life? 2. 1 Corinthians 6:19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? In this current age we are the temples of the Holy Spirit and God's plan to bring heaven to earth.How do you see God using you to bring heaven to earth? What makes that challenging for you? What would you need to change in order to see God use you more? 3. John 14:12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. What did Jesus mean that we would do greater things than he had been doing? 4. Take some time to read briefly over the Sermon on the Mount. (Matthew 5-7) This is Jesus teaching on what the Kingdom of Heaven looks like. What are some things you observe as values of God's Kingdom? Where do you see places that God needs to change you to reflect these values? What is the role of the Holy Spirit in bringing about this change in the life of a follower of Jesus? 5. What is one tangible way you can bring the Kingdom of heaven to earth in every area of your life? (Friends, Family, Work, Church, School, Neighborhood, etc.) What's your next step? * Connect: We'd love to connect with you! Fill out our Connect Card to receive more information, have us pray for you, or to ask us any questions: http://journeybozeman.com/connectcard * Connect: Get your children connected to our children's ministry, Base Camp: https://journeybozeman.com/children * Connect: Our Student Ministry is for High School and Middle School students: https://journeybozeman.com/students * Give: Want to worship through giving and support the ministry of Journey Church: https://journeybozeman.com/give * Gather: Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/JourneyChurchBozeman * Gather: Download our app: https://journeybozeman.com/app * Gather: Join our Facebook Group to stay connected throughout the week: https://facebook.com/groups/JourneyChurchBozeman  Chapters (00:00:00) - The tension between heaven and the world(00:05:14) - Romans 8: The Message(00:14:57) - The Greater Things of His Kingdom(00:21:28) - Bringing Heaven to Earth(00:29:23) - The kingdom of God vs the kingdom of this world(00:34:42) - Bringing the Kingdom of Heaven to Earth(00:36:38) - Prayers for the Kingdom of Heaven

The opening of the Sermon on the Mount presents a profound choice between remaining in the crowd as casual observers or answering the call to true discipleship. When Jesus went up on a mountain to teach, this wasn't merely a geographical detail but a spiritual invitation. Throughout Scripture, mountains represent places of divine encounter and revelation, where God meets with His people and reveals His ways.The distinction between the crowd and the disciples is crucial for understanding this passage. While multitudes surrounded Jesus, the disciples made the intentional choice to draw near and position themselves to learn. They weren't content to observe from a distance or treat Jesus as merely another interesting teacher. True disciples are learners, apprentices, and followers who maintain humility and teachability rather than approaching faith with an attitude of already knowing everything. The nine Beatitudes that follow represent the complete journey of discipleship, not personality types to choose from. The first three involve emptying ourselves - being poor in spirit, mourning over what grieves God, and embracing meekness. The remaining six involve being filled with God's character - hungering for righteousness, showing mercy, maintaining purity of heart, making peace, and even facing persecution for following Christ. This upside-down kingdom challenges worldly values by offering true blessing through spiritual transformation rather than material success, creating disciples who change their environment rather than simply reflecting it.

We continue in our series on the Sermon on the Mount and then have a little chat about the church in lieu of our normal membership series. Learn more about […]

Leviticus 19:9-18 | Psalm 15 | Romans 13:8-10 | Matthew 7:12

Learning from the Scripture of Nature, with Prof. Richard Groves. Series: Spacious Christianity, Spacious Hearts A Spacious Christianity, First Presbyterian Church of Bend, Oregon. Scripture: Matthew 6:26-29.Discover the sacred wisdom of nature this Sunday! Join us this week online as we explore how the seasons, scriptures, and soul intertwine. Experience a message that will reconnect you with the divine in the world around us.Join us each Sunday, 10AM at bendfp.org, or 11AM KTVZ-CW Channel 612/12 in Bend.  Subscribe/Follow, and click the bell for alerts.At First Presbyterian, you will meet people at many different places theologically and spiritually. And we love it that way. We want to be a place where our diversity brings us together and where conversation takes us all deeper in our understanding of God.We call this kind of faith “Spacious Christianity.” We don't ask anyone to sign creeds or statements of belief. The life of faith is about a way of being in the world and a faith that shows itself in love.Thank you for your support of the mission of the First Presbyterian Church of Bend. Visit https://bendfp.org/giving/ for more information.Keywords:Hospice chaplain, Sacred art of living, Nature as scripture, Sermon on the Mount, Spirituality, Celtic tradition, John Philip Newell, Environmental needs, John Muir, Ecological consciousness, Sequoia strength, Soul force, Climate change, Spiritual literature, Pilgrimage., presbyterian, church, online worship, bend, oregonFeaturing:Rev. Dr. Steven Koski, Rev. Sharon Edwards, Becca Ellis, Brave of Heart, Prof. Richard Groves, GuestsSupport the show

A Sermon for All Saints' Day St. Matthew 5:1-12 by William Klock What does it mean to be “blessed”?  In today's Gospel we hear St. Matthew's telling of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount—or the beginning of it, at any rate.  Blessed is this person and blessed is that person.  But what does it mean to be blessed?  And what's Jesus really getting at with this list: being poor in spirit, mournful, meek, merciful, and so on?  And who is the promise of blessing for?  This past Monday I found myself listening to a sermon by one of these woke, “exvangelical” guys whose ministry is about walking people through the deconstruction of their faith.  If you haven't come across it yet, “deconstruction” is a trendy euphemism for apostasy.  You throw away all the bits of Christianity that you can't harmonise with the secular world, leaving behind a gospelless gospel—like the security blanket I had as a toddler.  I wouldn't get rid of it, so my mom slowly cut it down, a little bit at a time until all I had was a little bit of fabric I could hold.  It wasn't a blanket anymore, but for some silly reason I still found security in it.  These folks do that with the gospel.  This preacher was preaching on the Sermon on the Mount and he started out by holding up Mohandas Gandhi as the one man who followed Jesus better than anyone else in the Twentieth Century.  Gandhi heard these words of Jesus and faithfully followed him.  Never mind that he was also a devout Hindu.  This preacher reduced the Sermon on the Mount to a bracing ethic.  It's Jesus teaching us how to be good and, through that, how to make the world a better place.  It doesn't really matter, he said, if you're Christian or Jewish or Muslim or Buddhist.  Jesus just wanted people to live this way and in doing so, we'll know the blessings of a better world.  He took the gospel and turned it into law.  And not even a good law.  The Old Testament law—the torah—has a lot more gospel to it than I think we often realise.  At its heart was that first and greatest commandment: You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.  The God who reveals himself in the scriptures.  Not Zeus or Jupiter.  Not the gods of Gandhi's Hindu pantheon.  Not Mohammed's corruption of the biblical God.  Only the God who has made himself known through the law and the prophets, the evangelists and apostles, and most of all through his son, Jesus the Messiah.  Without love for him, no amount of loving your neighbour as yourself will truly heal the hurts of the world.  There is no blessing apart from him—and, more specifically, apart from loving him with all our being. Why?  Because it was our rejection of him that brought sin and death into the world in the first place.  Idolatry—whether it's the worship of false gods or the worship of ourselves—idolatry is the first sin from which all the others and all the world's misery cascade.  This is why God's gracious plan to set his creation to rights began as he reestablished our relationship with him. If we look to the scriptures we see that blessing comes through being in relationship with the God of Israel.  Specifically—because “relationship” is such a squishy modern idea—specifically blessing comes through being in covenant with him.  Think of Abraham.  The Lord established a covenant with him.  The Lord promised Abraham a family and a land and great name.  In a word: blessing.  In return Abraham was to trust him—to live by faith and to give the Lord his allegiance.  And, centuries later, when the Lord delivered Israel from slavery in Egypt, consider what he did.  He revealed his glory by defeating Pharoah, his army, and his gods.  He revealed his glory in signs and wonders the likes of which no one had ever seen.  And then he met his people at Mt. Sinai.  He made them a promise: to make them great, to give them a land, and most important of all, to live in their midst.  Their end of the covenant—their promise to God—was embodied in the law.  Like Abraham, they were to live by faith and obedience and to give him their full allegiance—to love him with all their being and to love their neighbours as themselves.  And not just for their own benefit.  The Lord had a greater purpose.  He wanted the nations not only to see his glory, but for them to see the blessing that comes through living in fellowship with him. And so, before he died, as Israel was encamped in Moab and ready to cross the Jordan River to conquer Canaan, Moses assembled the people and reiterated the covenant.  “If you faithfully obey the voice of the Lord your God, if you carefully do all his commandments, the Lord will set you high above the other nations…Blessed shall you be in the city and blessed shall you be in the field.  Blessed shall be the fruit of your womb…and blessed shall be your basket and kneading bowl.  Blessed shall you be when you come in and blessed shall you be when you go out.”  And Moses reminded them that this was no mere “duty”.  This was no mere exchange of works in return for a declaration of righteousness.  This was grace.  Through Moses, the Lord reminded the people of all he'd done for them.  He'd rescued them from Egypt.  He'd defeated Pharaoh.  He'd done signs and wonders.  Their clothes had not worn out.  He'd provided every last morsel of food that they'd eaten for forty years.  All so that they would know that “I am the Lord your God”.  In other words, to reveal his love, his grace, his glory, and above all else his faithfulness—to enter into relationship with them and to give them every reason to have faith in him and to give him their allegiance.  To keep the law was to live by faith in the character and promises of God—to love him in return for his love. And this theme rings through Israel's history and Israel's scriptures.  This is what blessing means in the biblical economy.  Think of David's words in Psalm 1: “Blessed is the man that hath not walked in the counsel of the ungodly, not stood in the way of sinners, and hath not sat in the seat of the scornful.  But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law will he exercise himself day and night.  And he will be like a tree planted by the waterside, that will bring forth his fruit in due season.”  The prophets use this same language of blessing when they rebuke Israel for having strayed from the Lord.  Blessing isn't just some nebulous idea of things being good—as a lot of people use it today.  Blessing is about creation—and humanity—being set to rights.  If you want to picture “blessing” in your mind's eye, picture Adam and Eve, in the garden, all their needs provided, as they faithfully steward God's creation and live in his immediate presence.  Brothers and Sisters, that's blessing.  David wasn't posting #blessed on Instagram with a picture of his pumpkin spice latte next to the fireplace.  For David it was #blessed with a picture of the tabernacle radiating the visible presence of the Lord in the midst of a people serving and loving and taking care of each other. This is what we've got to have in mind as we listen to Jesus begin to preach his great sermon in Matthew 5.  And we have to remember that it wasn't the reality that Israel knew.  This is why the people were so desperate for the Messiah.  The world is not as it should be.  Israel was most definitely not as it was supposed to be.  They wanted to know God's blessing—not just in the sense of material prosperity—above all, they longed for his presence.  And so, Matthew writes, “Seeing the crowd, Jesus went up the hillside and sat down.  His disciples came to him.  And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Do you want to see God's kingdom, to know him as Father, to know creation set to rights, your sins forgiven, and your tears wiped away?  This is the way.  And it's not a set of ethical guidelines.  Too often we think of it that way.  It's character.  It's a mindset.  It's the character and the mindset of men and women who know desperately that the world is not as it should be.  But not just that.  Gandhi knew well enough that the world is not as it should be.  This is, first and foremost, the mindset of people who know the world as it should be is centred on the living God who created and sustains all things and us living joyfully, lovingly, and faithfully in his presence.  This is the mindset of people who have that image of Adam and Eve in the garden walking with the Lord in the cool of the day in their mind's eye and the longing of their hearts.  It's the mindset of people who have that image of tabernacle full of God's presence in the middle of a people who love him with all their being and their neighbours as themselves. And so it's the mindset of men and women who are not only outraged over sin and evil and longing for God's justice to fall on the people who have done them wrong.  It's the mindset of men and women who know that they've done wrong themselves—who know their own poverty of spirit.  Of men and women who mourn not only the sinful state of the world around them, but who also mourn their own sinfulness and the contributions they've made to the world's sick and sorry state.  It's the mindset of men and women who are meek, because they know that pride and selfishness do nothing more than deepen the world's darkness—who know that pride and selfishness are rooted in the very idolatry that drives God to the margins.  It is the mindset of men and women who, knowing the injustice and the unrighteousness of this broken world, hunger and thirst for God's justice and righteousness.  They long for his return as king to bring an end to evil and to rule with justice, because they know that we can never fix the world on our own and in our own power.  It is the mindset of those who are have known God's mercy and are therefore merciful themselves.  Of those who understand the ugliness of sin and idolatry and run from it, who are pure in heart.  It's the mindset of men and women who know the story and know of God's grace and how he loves sinners and desires above all else to be reconciled with them, and so they themselves become peacemakers and reconcilers. I don't think Jesus' list here is by any means exhaustive.  He preached this sermon more than once.  I expect he preached some version of it just about everywhere he went and it was a little different every time, which is what we see in the parallel passage in Luke's Gospel, where the list of beatitudes is shorter and a little different.  Jesus is describing a mindset using characteristics that resonated with his fellow Jews in that specific time and place.  These were the attitudes needed to counter the problems that infected First Century Israel.  Notably, these are all characteristics deeply rooted in Israel's prophetic tradition.  And I can't help but wonder if he learned this mindset, this character from his mother.  She sang her song, the one we call Magnificat and sing at Evening Prayer, when Elizabeth blessed her on hearing the news she was pregnant with the Messiah.  I wonder if Mary sang that song to Jesus when he was a boy, because we can hear echoes of it in his beatitudes: “My soul doth magnify the Lord and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.  For he hath regarded the lowliness of his hand-maiden.  For behold, from henceforth all generations shall call be blessed.  For he that is mighty hath magnified me and holy is his name.  And his mercy is on them that fear him through all generations.  He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.  He hath put down the mighty from their set and hath exalted the humble and meek.  He hath filled the hungry with good things and the rich he hath sent empty away.  He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed, forever.”  Can you hear the echoes? But that's not the end of Jesus' beatitudes.  There are two more and I think they give us the key to how this works.  In verses 10-12 he continues: “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of justice [or righteousness—the Greek word means both and there's no easily drawn line between justice and righteousness], for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are you when people slander you and persecute you and say all kinds of wicked things about you falsely because of me.  Celebrate and rejoice!  There's a great reward for you in heaven.  For that's how they persecuted the prophets who went before you.” And as we read that we should start to realise that while Jesus is talking about “them”, what he's also doing is outlining his own vocation and ministry.  Jesus would stand weeping over Jerusalem, mourning the unfaithfulness of his people and the judgement that was hurtling towards them like a freight train.  He would let himself be arrested and then stand, unresisting and refusing to retaliate or even to defend himself as he was mocked and spit on and beaten to within an inch of his life.  He would, beaten and bloodied, carry his own cross through the streets of Jerusalem and out to Golgotha.  His clothes would be stripped from him by the soldiers.  And as he breathed his last and died, one of those very soldiers would declare, “Surely this man was the son of God.” We think that when God comes to set the world to rights he'll send in the cavalry.  Most of the Jews in Jesus' day thought the same thing.  The Messiah would come like David, riding at the head of a great army to crush the heads of the Gentiles.  But instead the Messiah went humbly to Calvary.  He let sin and death rise up to their full height and strike him down so that when he rose from the grave three days later, he crushed the serpent's head and overturned the victory of sin and death. Brothers and Sisters, this is how God takes his throne and sets the world to rights.  This is how Jesus becomes Lord.  This is how blessing comes.  In poverty and meekness, bringing mercy and making peace.  And giving his life for the sake of his enemies.  Because any other way would simply perpetuate the very things you and I have done to get the world into the mess it's in. And now that Jesus has done it, our calling as his people is to keep doing it.  As St. Paul says, we're to have the mind of the Messiah.  This mindset has always been the mindset of the faithful people of God and it will be until the mission is one day done.  I suppose if he wanted to, God could simply save his people from their bondage, set the world to rights, and set them free to live in it, but that's not how he does things.  From the beginning he created Adam and Eve to bear his image—that means to be his stewards, to act as the priests of his temple.  And so when he delivered Israel from Egypt, he showed the people his glory and gave them reason to love and trust and obey him.  He established a covenant with them.  He took up his dwelling in their midst so that they would be his light in the midst of a dark world—so that the nations would see and come to give him glory.  He made them stewards of his glory and his grace.  And, Brothers and Sisters, in Jesus he has done the same for us. I started slowly reading through Ephesians this week—which might give you a hint of things to come—and the first thing I was struck by in the very first chapter was how, over and over, Paul proclaims the glory of God that has been revealed in Jesus and the Spirit—and that is also revealed in us.  I couldn't help but think how Jesus goes on after the Beatitudes: “You are the salt of the earth…You are the light of the world.  A city can't be hidden if it's on top of a hill…That's how you must shine your light in front of people!  Then they will see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.  This is what we see at the end of Revelation: the nations seeing the glory of God revealed in Jesus and his church and streaming to the New Jerusalem to worship him.  Brothers and Sisters, God's glory revealed in us, because he's made us new, and God's glory revealed by us, as we go to live and to proclaim his new creation. It is no easy task, but it is the only way to know and to make known God's blessing.  We go out, knowing our own poverty of spirit, but also the riches of God's grace.  We go out meek and mourning, but also knowing the joy of being coheirs with the King.  We go out hungering and thirsting for justice, but we do so having experienced mercy ourselves.  We go out to battle, paradoxically, with the intent to reconcile.  And as we do this, we also transpose this Messiah-like character into the key necessary to meet our own culture.  In a world of ugliness where truth is now defined as whatever we want it to be and politicians try to win our loyalty with lies and appeals to our greed, we go out knowing that blessed are those who hunger and thirst for truth, beauty, and goodness.  In a culture obsessed with consumption and debt, we go out knowing that blessed are those who are satisfied with the riches of God.  However we do it, Brothers and Sisters, our calling is to go out into the world as light in the darkness, knowing and confident on the one hand that Jesus is Lord and has won the battle, but also going out with the same humility of spirit that took him to the cross.  Knowing that when God rides out to war to set the world to rights, it's not with the cavalry, but to the humility of Calvary.  So, too, must it be with us. Let us pray: O almighty God, you have knit together your elect in one communion and fellowship in the mystical body of your Son Christ our Lord: Give us grace so to follow your blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those inexpressible joys that you have prepared for those who truly love you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting.  Amen.

This week, Pastor Shaq Hager walks through Matthew 6:19-24, a portion of the Sermon on the Mount where Jesus warns His disciples not to store up treasures for themselves. Because, where our treasure is, our hearts follow. Jesus challenges us to examine what we truly value—what we love, pursue, and depend upon. He warns that the pursuit of wealth can distort our vision and divide our loyalties. Kingdom people are marked by a different economy— one defined by generosity, simplicity, and trust. We cannot serve both God and Mammon. Our lives must reflect the values of the Kingdom we belong to.

How we react to mistreatment is a heart thing. Pastor Angela looks at how Jesus talked about retribution and how we, as Christians, are called to respond to insults and anger with restraint and humility, because members of Christ's kingdom know that love is stronger than revenge. Speaker: Angela Mason Publication: November 2, 2025

Pastor Erick Schuringa continues the Sermon on the Mount series with a message entitled “Choosing a Path.” He will be looking at Matthew 7:13-23. Jesus is calling us to action. He wants us to move forward. We are called to choose a path, and the path is determined by who our leader is, by who we follow. Jesus is inviting us to a difficult but life-giving journey of following him

A series on the Sermon On The Mount, by Simon Manchester of Hope 103.2's Christian Growth podcast and pastor at All Saints in Woollahra, Sydney. Listen to more from our Hope Podcasts collection at hopepodcasts.com.au. And send the team a message via Hope 103.2’s app, Facebook or Instagram.Support the show, a product of Hope Media: https://hope1032.com.au/donate/2211A-pod/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

November 1, 2025Today's Reading: Matthew 5:1-12Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 34:1-12; Matthew 21:1-22“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” (Matthew 5:8)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Imagine the disciples and the huge crowd gathered around Jesus for the Sermon on the Mount. They nod to each of the Beatitudes, maybe with a little less boldness as Jesus continues. Perhaps they even look around to see how the other 11 are reacting. “Maybe I'm not perfect, but I've been pretty good at this one or that.” “I think I'm good enough; I don't talk without thinking. Like Peter.” “I think I'm good enough; at least I haven't cheated people in the past, like Matthew.” But Jesus isn't talking about being good enough in other people's eyes, He is speaking of holiness before God – pure in heart – a holiness in the heart.The thing is, there is nothing pure in your heart. The Lord declares, “Out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery,  coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness.” (Mark 7:21-22)  There is One who is pure in heart. Jesus Christ, our Holy God in the flesh – He alone is truly pure in heart. At your Baptism, in the Blessed Exchange, the Lord cleansed you entirely, taking all of the filth and wretchedness from your heart and trading it for all the righteousness, holiness, and purity of Jesus' heart!That Baptism was “not just plain water, but it is the water included in God's command and combined with God's word.” (Small Catechism, Baptism, 1). So with God's Word, that water delivered Jesus and His forgiveness, rescue, and salvation. You were made blessed and holy by the Holy Spirit. There is daily war against the new creature – the saint that God made at your Baptism. You face horrible hardships all of the time; some of them known only to you in the recesses of your emotional health. Non-Christians harass the Church and her baptized saints. We are weak when facing temptations. We all have our great afflictions. Before Christ returns, the afflictions will increase.You are not good enough. But Christ is perfect and pure. And He gifts you with being pure in heart, holy, and blessed. You belong to Him as His baptized saint. You sing with those saints now in the Church Militant, and one day, Christ will resurrect you and gather you with all His saints to stand before Him, arrayed in white, washed in the Blood of Jesus, and singing His praises forever.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Behold a host, arrayed in white, Like thousand snow-clad mountains bright! With palms they stand; Who is this band Before the throne of light? These are the saints of glorious fame, Who from the great affliction came And in the flood Of Jesus' blood Are cleansed from guilt and shame. They now serve God both day and night; They sing their songs in endless light. Their anthems ring As they all sing With angels shining bright. (LSB 676:1)Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, Lowell, IN.Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Harrison Goodman is the Executive Director of Mission and Theology for Higher Things.Step back in time to the late Reformation and learn about a divisive yet inspirational figure: Matthias Flacius Illyricus. His contributions to Lutheranism still echo in our teachings today, from the Magdeburg Confession to parts of the Lutheran Confessions. Learning about Flacius's life will help you understand more intricacies of the Reformation than ever before.

I went to a Catholic all-boys high school run by the Christian Brothers, a teaching order founded by St. John the Baptist De La Salle. I will give them credit for giving me great preparation for future academic success, and even maybe this podcast. So at the foundation of Experience by Design are the Christian Brothers. But that wasn't my first brush with Catholicism. I did a fair number of the sacraments growing up and into adulthood, a process which included learning about the tenets and history of such central figures like Jesus. One of the things I recall learning about was the Sermon on the Mount and the Beatitudes. I also preferred the Beatitudes to things like the Ten Commandments. In a way the Commandments can read like the rules of a HOA of all the things you can't do. It is important to remember things like “Thou shall not kill” and not to “covet thy neighbor's wife.” But I liked the Beatitudes because they gave props to people already doing good things.A really good one is “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”Regardless of your religious or spiritual beliefs, I think we can all get behind that, especially at a time when there is so much conflict. The Armed Conflict Location and Event Data global monitor organization states, “Recent levels of violence have been unprecedentedly high, with several ‘record-breaking' months in the past year.” But this just doesn't mean armed conflict on the international stage. Things are tense all over with all kinds of conflict everyday.Which is why we have Josh Gordon as a guest on Experience by Design. I've known Josh for a long time, but primarily in the capacity of a fellow runner and training partner. Josh also is a faculty member at the University of Oregon, a leader in the area of sports mediation, and the founder of the Sports Conflict Institute. In his career, Josh has done work with FIFA, Major League Baseball, Court of Arbitration for Sport, and others. We talk about fairness and equity in sports, and why emphasizing the opportunities provided by sports are meaningful and should not be derailed. We explore how we can build inclusive cultures through sports. He takes us into his work at the collegiate level, and how setting expectations ahead of time can produce greater satisfaction and happiness with ensuing experiences. We also talk about the difference between ‘distress' and ‘eustress', and why a little bit of friction can be essential to growth. Finally we explore how we can create equitable organizational cultures, and why the perception of fairness can be more important that the presence of outcome.Sports Conflict Institute: https://sportsconflict.orgJosh Gordon: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuagordonSports Conflict Institute TV: https://sportsconflict.org/sci-tv/

Thursday October 30, 2025XX Week After PentecostIn today's readings, we see what it means to build our lives on a foundation that lasts — one grounded not in fear or pride, but in faith and obedience.

In The Choice Ep. 3, Ghost and Ashe in America explore The Chosen's third episode, “Jesus Loves the Little Children,” unpacking its hidden symbolism, scriptural depth, and emotional impact. The hosts dive into how this episode reveals Jesus' humanity for the first time, working, laughing, and teaching children in the wilderness, while echoing the seven days of creation through his lessons and labor. They examine how childlike faith contrasts with the cynicism of adults, and how innocence, obedience, and love form the foundation of the Kingdom of God. From foreshadowing Jesus' ministry and the Sermon on the Mount to powerful reflections on humility, morality, and divine purpose, Ghost and Ashe connect the dots between Scripture, storytelling, and real-world faith. The discussion flows from laughter to reverence, highlighting why this “simple” episode might be one of the most profound portrayals of Christ's character ever filmed.

Our first mailbag installment with returning co-host Ronni Kurtz! On this installment of the FTC Mailbag, the guys discuss responsible introversion, membership covenants, preaching the gospel from the Sermon on the Mount, and fiction recommendations for ministry leaders. As always, if you have a question or topic you'd like to hear on a future installment of the FTC Mailbag, email us at mailbag@ftc.co

Week 6 | The Sermon on the Mount (1995)This week on the podcast, we're in Week 6 of a 6-month series on the Sermon on the Mount that Darrell preached in 1995. The text discusses the fourth Beatitude, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied." Darrell's key insight is that righteousness is not about rule-following, but about restoring right relationships - with God, with others, and with ourselves. Sin has distorted our natural longing for this kind of righteousness. But Jesus comes to transform our deepest desires, satisfying the hunger and thirst of those who crave a life of relational wholeness and integrity. Darrell invites us to align our appetites with God's own passion for a world made right.__We also wanted to remind you that we are excited to be celebrating a new book release from Darrell. "Awaken Wonder" is a 4-week journey through the Advent season and is born of Darrell's desire to help you encounter Jesus afresh in the weeks leading up to Christmas. It is now available on Amazon in paperback and Kindle versions.⁠⁠⁠Purchase Awaken Wonder.⁠⁠⁠We've also launched a giveaway of 3 personally signed copies of the book. To enter, all you need to do is be subscribed to our mailing list. Deadline for entry is October 30.⁠⁠Sign up now.⁠__⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Bible Course⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Darrell's Books⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Give to the Ministry of Darrell Johnson⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠—⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to Darrell's Mailing List⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠darrelljohnson.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠youtube.com/darrelljohnson⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Jason Leonard preaches through Matthew 7:1-6.

Justin continues our series on the Sermon on the Mount.

A Joyful Opportunity On a certain level, we human beings are quite an accomplished species. And this is because there is a key part to our consciousness that is always trying to improve, always trying to make things better. We call this our striving mind and without it, we'd still be living up in trees, let alone in caves. But like every other part of our awareness this can be a real double-edged sword, causing us every bit as much suffering as it does happiness. But when it comes to striving, it so happens that we have another part of our awareness that is on a completely different wavelength and we're going to examine this unique level of awareness in our episode today. The Transformative Value of Making Effort To begin, I once read of a conversation between Ted Turner and Captain Jacques Cousteau. They were traveling together on the Calypso, and everywhere they went, they saw the same thing — garbage and pollution everywhere, forests stripped bare, and the ocean losing its color along with its sea life. Turner turned to Cousteau and said, "Captain, I'm getting discouraged." And Cousteau, as I remember it, responded with something like: "Don't do that. Even if we knew without a doubt that we were going to fail, and that our efforts would be to no avail, we would still carry on — and we would do it with joy in our hearts, grateful for the blessing of having been given the gift of serving the highest good." I have no idea how long ago I read that or where, but as you can tell, I placed it on a high shelf in my mind's personal hall of fame. The simple truth of that idea has never left me, because it brings up the essence of what is known in Universal Wisdom as selfless service — the act of doing something purely for the sake of serving the higher good. And that kind of action can be transformative on many levels. When we serve something larger than ourselves, the very act of making our best effort — regardless of whether or not it will succeed — becomes the place where meaning and grace merge. There's a particular kind of beauty in that moment when a person realizes that the offering of trying itself is sacred. What Cousteau offered Turner, and what is being offered to us still, is not merely an argument for optimism but a reminder of the sacredness and purity of serving the highest. Even when the world may seem irredeemably broken, the act of caring — of showing up, of doing one's part with the highest intention, even with love, if possible — has the power to change the very fabric of our own being. It can turn despair into service, and on some deep level, the river of service eventually flows into the river of joy. The Meaning of Effort This kind of effort is very different from the frantic strivings of self-serving ambition. It's more like a deliberate and wholehearted engagement with life itself. Although we live in a culture that tends to measure worth by results: grades, profits, likes, followers, medals and the like, there is a deeper truth beneath those surface metrics. On a neurological level, the right kind of effort can lead to a profound biochemical affirmation of purpose. Every time we take action toward something meaningful, the brain's reward system releases small waves of dopamine, which noticeably increases when we are engaged in an activity for the higher good. This is what neuroscientists call the reward prediction system. It's the brain's way of saying: keep going — this really matters.   The Inner Alchemy The transformative value of effort lies in this invisible alchemy: we are changed not by the reward, but by the rhythm of trying. Each time we resist the pull of doubt, resignation, or failure, we strengthen the neural pathways that connect intention to perseverance. It is the inner moral equivalent of muscle growth. Within the framework of neuroplasticity, the fibers of attention, will, and patience are slowly woven together through repetition and sincere effort. The ancients knew this long before neuroscience gave it language. The Bhagavad Gita reminds us, "You have the right to your actions, but not to the fruits of your actions." Krishna's counsel to Arjuna was not a cold command of detachment—it was a revelation of liberation: that freedom is born when effort itself becomes an offering, a form of devotion. When we engage fully, without clinging to the outcome, we step into a sacred rhythm of creation. In that rhythm, the mind begins to quiet, the heart steadies, and the soul recognizes itself in the very act of striving with surrendered effort. The Sacred Practice of Trying Sometimes we come to believe that trying and failing is our lot in life—that, like Sisyphus, we are doomed to endless futility. Yet the capacity to keep trying, especially when the outcome is uncertain, is one of the most noble signs of an awakened life. The Stoics taught that to love the effort itself—even when the result remains unseen—is to live in harmony with the deeper order of things. To persist with grace is not naïve optimism; it is a conscious alignment with what is true and life-giving. When we learn to love our higher efforts, our joy is no longer hostage to the world's approval. Instead, we begin to feel a quiet, inner strength in the act of being faithful to our own higher purpose.   The Neuroscience of Purpose Modern neuroscience offers an intriguing mirror to these timeless truths. Studies from Stanford, Harvard, and the Max Planck Institute reveal that when people engage in purposeful effort—especially acts rooted in compassion, creativity, or mastery—the brain's prefrontal cortex begins to synchronize with deeper limbic structures such as the amygdala and hippocampus. This state of alignment produces what researchers call harmonic resonance—a condition in which emotion and reason cease to be adversaries and become partners in coherence. This, at its essence, is what the NeuroHarmonic Method is all about: aligning the hemispheres, unifying the self, and transforming the inner world into a harmmonic field of peace. The effect is truly transformative on every level of life. A Story of Renewal Over the past several years, I've been a consultant to a halfway house for men in recovery from substance abuse and alcoholism and have been privileged to witness this profound change with many of them. The recovery process can often feel exhausting because so often, it involves the process of beginning again—to stand once more at the foot of the mountain after another slipup or setback. But once the neurology is in place, beginning again stops feeling like failure. It becomes an empowering expression of perseverance, expressing the resilience of inner faith in motion. With that change, each new beginning continues to rewire the brain and the days become less defined by the past and more attuned to the present. In short, the brain learns hope by practicing it. The NeuroHarmonic View From the NeuroHarmonic perspective, the right kind of effort is the music of transformation. The circuitry of the self begins to shift from fragmentation to harmony. The fear of failure grows more quiet and the higher mind, which delights in growth, begins to lead. The surrendered act of trying becomes a note in the great symphony of becoming—proof that the universe responds not to perfection, but to sincerity. The Gift of Serving the Highest The words attributed to Cousteau remind us that joy can coexist with uncertainty. We don't serve because we know we will succeed or because we anticipate the rewards of success. This is larger than just the striving mind. We act because we feel called to serve. To act on behalf of life, love, and truth—even in a broken world—is to affirm the sacred pulse of existence itself. The paradox is that in surrendering, we become most effective. Our energy stops fragmenting into worry and begins to flow as calm, clear intention. In this way, the wave finds peace by realizing it belongs to the ocean. And in that recognition, effort transforms into offering, and service becomes joy. Closing Reflection So, when you feel weary of trying—when the world's noise or your own doubts pull you toward hopelessness or despair—remember this: according to the universal wisdom of human growth, effort is never wasted. Every time you offer your best, no matter how small the act, something deep within you expands and grows. The act of trying is itself a prayer. It aligns you with the rhythm of creation, the current of compassion, and the unseen architecture of renewal. To make effort in this way—with joy in your heart—is to live as if the Divine were watching from within, and not only watching, but smiling. Because in the end, the one who makes effort in this surrendered way has already succeeded in the only way that truly matters. The NeuroHarmonic Perspective On the deepest level, neuroscience reveals that the process of making meaningful effort activates the same neural pathways associated with pleasure and purpose. The act of trying itself sends a signal to the brain that life still holds meaning. It's as though the brain whispers, "You are alive, and your choices matter." When we understand this, even small acts—cleaning a space, comforting a friend, or returning to a state of inner balance regardless of externals, become deep neurological affirmations. Each one reinforces a living pattern that says, "I am engaged with life. I am participating in something greater than guilt, doubt, or fear." The Higher Labor of Liberation This is why the great spiritual masters of every age have emphasized right action over right results. The Gita, the Tao, the Sermon on the Mount—each reveals the same paradox: that higher labor leads to liberation, and serenity is born through sincere effort. When we act with a purity of intent untethered from personal gain, something profound occurs within us. The brain begins to synchronize effort with meaning, generating a sense of coherence that modern psychologists now recognize as essential to well-being. It's not merely what we do, but the state of consciousness in which we do it that determines the depth of our fulfillment. The Gentle Nature of True Perseverance Now, when discouragement arises—as it inevitably will—it is not a failure of strength, but a momentary forgetting of this higher truth. And here's the wonder if it all: the human nervous system is built for adaptation. It can absolutely remember to walk on the high road again. That's why true perseverance can be so remarkably gentle, rather than forceful. It listens inwardly. It knows when to rest, when to breathe, and when to begin again. And in that transformation, we witness the remarkable miracle as the brain literally rewires itself for resilience, encoding the pattern of true inner evolution. And perhaps this is the quiet secret behind every genuine awakening: the recognition that persistence, when joined with grace, is not about merely enduring — it is transforming. The Company of Saints and Scientists To make effort without attachment in this way is to walk in the company of saints and scientists alike for both seek truth beyond outcome. Both are fueled by creativity as well as devotion. When a musician practices scales, a gardener tends the soil, or a recovering soul makes it through another day sober — each is performing an act of faith disguised as making effort. And the joy lies not only in successful resolution but more importantly, in active participation. In the willingness to be part of the unfolding harmony of life.   The Neurology of Wholehearted Effort As a kind of neural validation, imaging studies reveal that in moments of wholehearted effort, there is increased connectivity between the anterior cingulate cortex—the region responsible for emotional regulation—and the insula, which monitors bodily awareness. This means that surrendered effort literally harmonizes thought and feeling, creating what might be called a neurological symphony. In these states, time itself seems to soften. Effort and ease merge. The boundary between the doer and the doing begins to dissolve, and we experience what mystics have long described as unity: the seamless flow in which action, awareness, and presence become one. Neuroplasticity in Motion In essence, this is neuroplasticity in action. Each new beginning sends a small electrical signal through the prefrontal cortex, quietly strengthening the pathways of intuitive understanding. Even in moments of weakness, the brain begins remembering strength. Even when a certain part of the ordinary mind generates doubts, the neurons keep learning hope. That's how transformation really happens through faithful and surrendered repetition of meaningful effort. The Quiet Joy of Service And over time, we begin to understand that serving the highest does not require heroism. More often, it reveals itself in small, unseen acts of kindness, in quiet endurance, or in the patient willingness to keep learning. In those humble moments, the joy Cousteau spoke of—the joy of service—rises like a tide. It is the joy of knowing that life itself is the master artist, and we can be the masterpiece. For when we stop trying to control the painting and instead give ourselves wholly to each stroke, the brush moves through us with grace. Effort becomes art, and service becomes beauty in motion.   Love in Motion So if you'd like, consider this larger understanding — drawn from Universal Wisdom and now validated by modern brain science: real service is higher love in motion. Every breath that reaches for harmony, every attempt to mend what is broken, every act that restores humanity, is all part of a greater intelligence continuously unfolding through us. When we make our efforts with conscious awareness, we become conduits for grace. And even if the outer world never notices, the inner universe expands just the same — because nothing is ever lost wherever love is expressed through our thoughts, our words, and our deeds. Closing Well, this has been a lot to digest, so let's end the episode here. As always, keep your eyes, your mind, and your heart open — and let's get together in the next one.

In this episode of Beyond the Letter, Adam is joined by Sammy for a powerful conversation on the intersection of faith, thought life, and technology. Drawing from Jesus's words in the Sermon on the Mount, the discussion explores how sin begins not with our actions, but with the thoughts we allow to take root in our minds.As AI and digital media increasingly blur the lines between fantasy and reality, this message couldn't be more relevant. The group unpacks the pattern—head, heart, hands—revealing how our thoughts shape our hearts and eventually guide our actions. From virtual temptation to mental renewal, the call is clear: transformation begins with a renewed mind. Inspired by Romans 12 and the Greek idea of metanoia (a complete change of mind), this conversation challenges believers to guard their thoughts, resist digital distortion, and pursue holiness from the inside out.-Connect with:Adam Mesa https://www.instagram.com/amesa/Sammy Rodriguez https://www.instagram.com/samuelmrod/--Don't forget to stay connected with us:Youtube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4OvpFp9OB9_DgVdVVbXhFgInstagram https://www.instagram.com/beyond.theletter/Tik Tok https://www.tiktok.com/discover/beyond-the-letter--Get Aaron Levy's book, JOHN: 21 Daily Drips of Dialogue: https://a.co/d/7lGB90i--Have a question? Submit it TODAY, by clicking the link below! ***SUBMIT YOUR QUESTION HERE: https://patria.church.ai/form/BeyondtheLetterQA--Get to know the team:@amesa https://www.instagram.com/amesa/@verlonbakerofficial https://www.instagram.com/verlonbakerofficial/@nancysnavas https://www.instagram.com/nancysnavas/@alizee.kayy https://www.instagram.com/alizee.kayy/@andytakesl https://www.instagram.com/andytakesl/

Send me a Text Message!If we look at Jesus' example we would have to say that of all his names, Father is God's favorite.  In the Old Testament God was called Father, only 7x.  Jesus refers to God as Father 17x in the Sermon on the Mount alone! The gospels record over 200x's that Jesus called God Father. God's our Father. In Jesus day, those words were  revolutionary. Never before had that been the primary way of viewing God, but it shaped everything Jesus said and did, especially his prayer life.  And then this amazing thing happens, he passes it on to us. "Not only my Father," Jesus says, "your Father. He's your Abba, Papa, Daddy God." Prayer may at times be more than, but it will never be less than an on-going and on-growing personal relationship with your Father God. So climb up on his lap and pray!

Jesus teaching, Matthew 6, motives, hypocrisy, secret reward, judgment seat of Christ, righteousness, spiritual disciplines, fasting, prayer, giving, Pharisees, Sermon on the Mount, eternal rewards, Pastor Brandon Holthaus, Rock Harbor Church, Tip of the Spear Ministries, Free Grace, grace teaching, living for God, Christian discipleship, faith that pleases God

Have you lived in fear of wondering whether God has forgiven you because you've had struggles forgiving others? This is often related to a "scary" statement Jesus made to His disciples during the "Sermon on the Mount." But we need to consider why Jesus said what He said and to whom He was speaking. In the previous chapter during His talk with these Jewish disciples who were still under an impossible law, He explained their righteousness will need to exceed that of the Pharisees—the assumed pinnacle of dedication to God at that time. Ultimately, Jesus summed it up by saying they would need to be perfect in all that they did when it came to the law. What Jesus said after providing them with instructions for praying was not a threat for us who live in a different covenant of grace. "Forgive others or God won't forgive you." This was based on the law they were under at that time ... a completely different system. But without the knowledge of differentiating between two different covenants, Bible verses will be misapplied. Now, in order for us to forgive others—which is important—we begin to grow in our understanding of how God *has* already and completely forgiven us through Jesus Christ and His blood. With the help of God's Spirit from within, we have been empowered to forgive in the same way God has forgiven us. But let's not allow religion to burden people by getting this backwards. It's not a *have-to* or a requirement, but a response out of love and grace. --Available on Amazon - "Clash of The Covenants: Escaping Religious Bondage Through the Grace Guarantee" https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0713ZSKY7

Jim K (he got sober in 1980 at 17 years old) is leading a meeting from WACYPAA15 held in Las Vegas from 2012 on the topic of The Sermon On The Mount, a book written by Emmet Fox and first published in 1935. It is one of the books used by folks in the earliest days of AA before the Big Book was written.  There is some Q & A at the back end of this workshop, some of the comments are difficult to hear...fyi If you are interested in reading Sermon On The Mount, you can pick up a copy here ( https://amzn.to/2SB5cLT) Support Sober Cast: https://sobercast.com/donate Email: sobercast@gmail.com Sober Cast has 3000+ episodes available, visit SoberCast.com to access all the episodes where you can easily find topics or specific speakers using tags or search. https://sobercast.com