Matthew 7:15-20, “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly...
Sermon On the Mount
A Narrow Gate; a Hard Way
Matthew 7:12-14, “12 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this...
The Goodness of Our Father
Matthew 7:7-11, “7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will...
Don’t Be Anxious
Matt. 6:25-34, “25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither...
The Telling Tale of Your Wealth
Today, I would ask you to consider the question: Where are you spending yourself for that which does not profit? A close examination of where you expend the most energy, time and resources will reveal quickly what you prize the most. For some of us, this can be such a...
When You Fast
Matthew 6:16-18, “16 “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,...
Forgiveness and the Child of God
Matthew 6:14-15, “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” God’s gifts to His children require something of them. As...
Prayer and Temptation
Matthew 6:13 “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” In verse 12 Jesus taught His disciples to ask for forgiveness when they have broken their relationship with the Father. Because God forgives us, we are to be forgiving toward others. Being...
Forgiven by Christ to Forgive Others
Matthew 6:12, “and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” Jesus’ main idea in His teaching on prayer is that prayer is about God. Prayer is God-centered because it is communion with Him, it is one way His children develop and strengthen their...
Our Daily Bread
Matthew 6:11 “Give us this day our daily bread.” Up to this point, we have learned from Jesus’ teaching on prayer that it must be God-centered. We pray to our Father is reigning in Heaven. We are to honor the name, the character of our great Father in prayer. Our...
Pray Like This: The Kingdom Come
Matthew 6:10, “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” In Matthew 6:9 Jesus taught His disciples that prayer is God-centered. Prayer is offered to our Father who reigns from heaven, and we come to our Father to honor Him. Jesus continues...
Pray Like This: Hallowed Be Your Name
Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. The Lord’s prayer is part of Jesus’ extended teaching on prayer to His disciples. They are not to be like the hypocrites who pray to be seen by others but should pray in quiet (6:5-6). He urges His...
Prayer and Intimacy with God
Perhaps more than anything, our prayer life reveals the true state of our relationship with God. Because this is so, Jesus wants everyone who follows him to understand the nature of prayer and to practice it in such a way that it glorifies God and nourishes their...
Sound No Trumpet Before You
Matthew 6:1-4, “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the...
Who is My Neighbor?
Matthew 5:43-48, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the...