Sermons from February 2016
The Road Less Traveled | Matthew 7:13-23
In Matthew 7:13-23, Jesus uses three lessons to teach his followers how to distinguish between his true followers and those that pretend or are just going through the motions. He uses the lesson of the broad path and the narrow path in verses 13-14, the lesson of the wolves and fruit trees in verses 15-20, and the lesson of calling on Jesus as Lord, but not really knowing him in verses 21-23. These verses are a challenge to really follow…
Judgmentalism | Matthew 7:1-6
In Matthew 7:1-6, Jesus challenges us not to have a judgmental heart-attitude. He warns us not to judge others unfairly but instead to treat others with the grace we’d like God to show you and me. He also calls us to examine ourselves honestly before examining others. Like the disciples, we are all blind to our own sin, but Jesus can take away any blindspot. Jesus also advises us to share the truth thoughtfully. We speak truth graciously, honestly, and thoughtfully because that’s what Jesus…
Courage, Dear Heart | Matthew 6:25-34
In Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus tells us not to live in a state of worry or anxiety. It’s a challenge to all of us as we all fear the future at some level. Long before the movie Frozen came on the scene, Jesus told his followers to “let it go.” The anxieties he calls us to let go are personal, future, and relational (F.E.A.R. = False Expectations Appearing Real). But we don’t just want to let our anxieties go and fill that space with another…
Heavenly Banking | Matthew 6:19-24
In Matthew 6:19-24 Jesus raises an issue of the heart, our money. Just like prayer and fasting help us grow in relationship with God, so does how we use our finances. Jesus teaches that we should invest in eternity today, and that we should do so for several reasons: 1) Heaven offers an imperishable reward; 2) It helps us live the right way now; and 3) It frees us to fully love and serve God. We can invest in eternity…