The persecuted church is the place of God’s blessing. That is what Jesus says in Matthew 5:10-12
. This passage tears down the strongholds of easy believism, prosperity gospels and American values. It replaces them with something eternally meaningful and delightful – the privilege of suffering for the gospel. I hope we will all listen to Jesus as He tells us about the blessings and joys of persecution.
What does real peace look like? And what are the necessary spiritual commitments of lasting peace? Who brings peace in our lives? Every epistle in the New Testament commands that we live at peace with one another. It is another staple of the Christian community that we are pursuing peace in gospel reconciliation.
Our church did a study on peacemaking in 2008, using Ken Sande’s masterful book, The Peacemaker. In that study we learned what biblical peace looks like, both between God and other people. This weeks message from the Sermon on the Mount reinforces the central truths of a peacemaking ministry. I have included some additional resources from Sande’s book on peacemaking for you to print and keep in your Bible to remind you of these great truths. May God make us a people who seek peace and pursue to the glory of Christ.
What does purity really mean and is this attainable? Can Christians actually be “pure in heart” in this lifetime? Is Christ demanding moral perfection? This message is the heart of the gospel. No one can see God who is sinful. Therefore it is imperative that we understand and apply Jesus’ teaching to be pure in heart. Come see the inadequacy of worldly substitutions for purity (in religion and tradition), the essence of heart purity (and how to obtain it), and the blessings of a pure heart. Don’t miss this message!
Mercy is what the makes the ugliness of the cross beautiful. Mercy is the reason that I (and you) will not be eternally damned. God’s mercy is what brings Him to pity our helpless, destitute spiritual condition and pour out His grace. Without mercy, mankind is lost forever. Thomas Watson, the great Puritan preacher, said “Every time you draw your breath, you suck in mercy. Every bit of bread you eat, the hand of mercy carries it to you. You never drink but in a golden cup of mercy.” Come see what Scripture has to say about mercy. Particularly, we will focus on the meaning of mercy, the portraits of mercy, and the promises of mercy. I apologize that no recording is available, but you can follow the logic of the message in the manuscript.
“All men seek happiness. This is without exception. Whatever different means they employ, they all tend to this end. The cause of some going to war, and of others avoiding it, is the same desire in both, attended with different views. The will never takes the least step but to this object. This is the motive of every action of every man, even of those who hang themselves.” Blaise Pascal
This sermon is designed to stir your deepest affections to desire the righteousness of Christ above everything. In this phrase, we see Christ in all His glory, because it is HIS righteousness that we are filled with when we desire it above all other things. Come learn what righteousness really means and how to attain it through the cross.
Happy Are Those Who Are Desperate for Righteousness: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
Happy Are Those Who Are Desperate for Righteousness: Download
Huh? What in the world is meek? It isn’t a word we use much today – if ever. But according to Jesus, it is the secret of inheriting the earth. Wow! We had better understand what this word means then. Come take a journey through the Bible with me to discover the real meaning of meekness.
This message is intended to help you receive the eternal comfort of Jesus Christ through embracing godly sorrow. What is the difference between worldly sorrow and godly sorrow? What does real repentance look like? How can you tell if someone is just “sorry” or if God has really convicted them of their sin and they are turning from it? These questions have massive implications for life, marriage and ministry. Repentance is one of the prerequisites of saving faith. So how do we discern it? How do we pursue it? Let’s see what Jesus says.
Happiness Through Godly Sorrow: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download Happiness Through Godly Sorrow: Download
These are the words that begin the greatest sermon in history. He begins by telling us how to achieve eternal happiness in His kingdom – through spiritual poverty. First, the text speaks about the nature of true happiness. What does it really mean to be happy? How does the happiness Jesus speaks about differ from the happiness we speak about? Second, the Scripture shows us the way to receive true happiness. How is this happiness secured? Third, the Bible speaks of the security of true happiness. What does the promise “for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” mean, both now and in the future? Come find out as we begin to delight in this wonderful verse!
Kingdom Happiness Through Spiritual Poverty: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download Kingdom Happiness Through Spiritual Poverty: Download
This Sunday, we began our journey into the greatest sermon of all time – the Sermon on the Mount. This is the greatest summary of the teaching of Jesus in all the Bible. It has been called “The Magna Charta of the Kingdom.” This first message seeks to set the stage for the sermon. What we are trying to do is understand the big picture so we can make sense of the details and verses that follow. We also examine the background of how first century Jews viewed the kingdom and what they were expecting. You will be amazed at the parallels to our own culture. There are three principles of the kingdom taught here – the world’s misconception of the kingdom, the true members of the kingdom, and the spiritual nature of the kingdom. I hope you will join us as we study this magnificent teaching!
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