You were never meant to attend church and simply be a spectator. God has given each of us gifts, talents and abilities so that we can all work together to make a difference in the church, our community and our world. When Paul taught about the church, the body of Christ, he stressed that each person plays a vital part in accomplishing the mission of strengthening the body and spreading the gospel message. Every person has been given a spiritual gift and a place to use it for the love of others. How are you making a difference?

The church is not a building as most people refer to it. In scripture, the word church comes from the Greek word "ekklesia", a general term referring to a gathering or assembly. Second, church is not an event or something for which people assemble that takes place at a specific time. Instead of focusing on an event in which people gather, church is centered on THE event—Christ saving a people to Himself. The church is a people gathered in all of life to Jesus; the ones who build their whole lives around Jesus as King, Lord and Savior, loving each other in dramatic ways. You do not go to church, you are the church whenever and wherever you go in the world.

The church is not a building as most people refer to it. In scripture, the word church comes from the Greek word "ekklesia", a general term referring to a gathering or assembly. Second, church is not an event or something for which people assemble that takes place at a specific time. Instead of focusing on an event in which people gather, church is centered on THE event—Christ saving a people to Himself. The church is a people gathered in all of life to Jesus; the ones who build their whole lives around Jesus as King, Lord and Savior, loving each other in dramatic ways. You do not go to church, you are the church whenever and wherever you go in the world.

In His closing, Jesus is exhorting the people to enter the kingdom of heaven through the narrow gate. The gate to heaven is narrow in the sense of having a particular requirement for entrance—faith in Jesus Christ. Salvation is found only in the Person of Jesus Christ; He is the only way. The wide gate, which leads to destruction not life, is non-exclusive; it allows for human effort and all other of the world’s religions. Jesus says that the narrow gate will take us through hardships and difficult decisions. Following Jesus requires crucifying our flesh, living by faith, and living a lifestyle separate from the world; it requires that we allow God to reign in our hearts allowing us to do His will and not ours

In His closing, Jesus is exhorting the people to enter the kingdom of heaven through the narrow gate. The gate to heaven is narrow in the sense of having a particular requirement for entrance—faith in Jesus Christ. Salvation is found only in the Person of Jesus Christ; He is the only way. The wide gate, which leads to destruction not life, is non-exclusive; it allows for human effort and all other of the world’s religions. Jesus says that the narrow gate will take us through hardships and difficult decisions. Following Jesus requires crucifying our flesh, living by faith, and living a lifestyle separate from the world; it requires that we allow God to reign in our hearts allowing us to do His will and not ours

Jesus does not mean that we should never make judgments. Obviously, we make judgments every day. We judge between right and wrong, dangerous choices from safe ones, etc. Jesus is cautioning us not to judge others in a self-righteous, hypocritical way. We shouldn’t be habitually critical of someone when our own sin needs correcting as well. By judging others in an unbiblical and hypocritical way, we pay an enormous price. Ridiculing others exposes us to the righteous judgment of God, and most of us are not really aware that we bring more suffering on ourselves by our complaints against one another. Judging and accusing is what Satan does.

Jesus does not mean that we should never make judgments. Obviously, we make judgments every day. We judge between right and wrong, dangerous choices from safe ones, etc. Jesus is cautioning us not to judge others in a self-righteous, hypocritical way. We shouldn’t be habitually critical of someone when our own sin needs correcting as well. By judging others in an unbiblical and hypocritical way, we pay an enormous price. Ridiculing others exposes us to the righteous judgment of God, and most of us are not really aware that we bring more suffering on ourselves by our complaints against one another. Judging and accusing is what Satan does.

We all struggle with worry and anxiety—some with more depth of despair than others. The simple truth is the more we worry, the more we worry. Jesus starts addressing this issue by telling us to not let anxiety about food and clothing distract us from more important things in life. We cannot affect anything by worrying, and it does us no good. Jesus recognizes the very real struggle most of us have with anxiety and worry. He not only encourages us not to be anxious, but He gives us an antidote to the worry, stress, and anxiety that we all face: seek first God’s kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

We all struggle with worry and anxiety—some with more depth of despair than others. The simple truth is the more we worry, the more we worry. Jesus starts addressing this issue by telling us to not let anxiety about food and clothing distract us from more important things in life. We cannot affect anything by worrying, and it does us no good. Jesus recognizes the very real struggle most of us have with anxiety and worry. He not only encourages us not to be anxious, but He gives us an antidote to the worry, stress, and anxiety that we all face: seek first God’s kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

In this part of Jesus’ sermon we learn that we must have our priorities concerning material things properly aligned if our relationship with God is going to be what it should. If your focus or “your eye” is on treasures on earth, your heart will experience great disappointment because the things in which you find your joy will not last. The enemy wants us to be consumed with earthly things, whether it be material possessions or internal issues like praise of men. He wants to steal our joy and peace. But, if you are storing up treasure in heaven, meaning you are living for God’s glory and the good of others, whatever happens on earth will not devastate you