As Jesus continues his "Sermon on the Mount" he gets to the topic of prayer and fasting in Matthew 6:5-18. Just like he says when talking about generosity, he says of these two topics, they are private matters between us and God. We are meant to have a personal and private prayer life before God.

Wrapping up this series, we look at what Jesus says about the worries of this world. We all have them. Will we have enough? Where will our provision come from? What about the needs I have, or the ones I can't even see yet, or my retirement? Jesus does not want us to live in fear or worry!

As we continue our series, Money Matters, we get to the point where Jesus says that it's impossible to serve money and God at the same time. Something's going to win our affections, and if we don't choose God, we will end up being divided and following the ways of the world.

Jesus starts by talking about generosity, and that our motives matter. But then he talks about what we hold on to, about when we do not give away, but have things in our possession. Why do we hold on to them? Is it out of fear? And if so, are we truly trusting in God?

In our new series, Money Matters, we are looking what Jesus says about money and possessions in the Sermon on the Mount. The first thing...giving to those in need. Jesus was specific in explaining what our motives should be when we give to those who are in need.

Jesus said if we are to be perfect, as our heavenly Father is perfect, we must learn to love our enemies, and pray for those who persecute us. It might just be one of the hardest thing there is. But through Christ's accomplishing the purpose of the law, we are able to rely on Him for where we fall short.

Our words are not just important, but powerful. Proverbs tells us that there is life and death in the power of the tongue. So what we say matters! And Jesus brings some correction to how people had been interpreting and using the law of Moses to their own advantage. Vows aren't bad, but if you make them, you have to stick with them. Better to not make a vow and not have a promise you can break!

God did not intend for people to suffer heartache in their marriages. God did not intend for marriages to fall apart. Marriage is one of the greatest blessings on this earth. But for the best marriage to happen, we have to be healthy, whole, and following Jesus.

I don't know if I've met anyone that doesn't deal with these simple, yet potentially devastating issues: Anger & Revenge. Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount challenges both of these. Anger and revenge start in the heart, but lead to so much more, and Jesus came that we would experience life, not death.

In this first week of a new series, we are going to be looking at what Jesus says about the law and what we should focus on when it comes to the law and righteousness.

Join us as John shares a word that he's got on his heart!

Today we celebrate our risen Savior and King, Jesus Christ, who declared, as he hung on the cross, “It is finished!”

As Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem, just a few days before the people would be shouting at the top of their lungs, "Crucify Him! Crucify him!", they praised, "Behold, Jerusalem, Your king is coming to you! Humble, riding on a donkey!" How drastically things changed. This king, willing to lay down his life, had come for the salvation of all mankind.

No one likes going through hard times, or dealing with people treating them differently. And sometimes we get ourselves into those situations, and other times it's like Jesus said, the world won't understand why we follow Him, and because of that, they will persecute the church. Sure, we've all done things we shouldn't have that got backlash, but what about when we are doing everything right, and we are treated poorly because of that?

Jesus said that those who make peace are blessed. He also said that it was a clear sign that they are the sons of God. He who is the Prince of Peace, leads us into a life of peace, for the purpose of creating peace around us. But the question is, do we have peace?

How does our heart affect our actions? What is the connection? Scripture tells us that out of our hearts flow all things, both evil and good. That a good heart can't produce bad fruit, and a bad heart can't produce good fruit. So our heart is very important.

When bad things happen to us we have a choice to make, do we give mercy, or demand justice? Karma might sound like it is the better option, but Jesus had a better way, "Blessed are those who are merciful..." the end result? We will also receive mercy when we mess up.

Jesus didn't call us to follow a set of rules, he calls us to follow Him. Jesus himself had a hunger and thirst for righteousness, and he calls us to the same as we become more like him. To do what is right, out of our love for, and for the sake of the One who is righteous!

In the third beatitude Jesus calls us to be like him, meek. He would later say that he is lowly and gentle of heart. Meek, gentle, humble. They all call us to a different way of living. The Jesus way!

In the first words of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount he challenges the people to ask if they recognize that they need something. They need Him. They need the Messiah. And he's come to give them the Kingdom. He's come to teach them how to live.