In Matthew 5:38-42 Jesus teaches us how to respond with surprising grace when we’re faced with challenging people or unwanted circumstances.

In Matthew 5:27-32 Jesus teaches that his kingdom design is for faithfulness in marriage. This includes resisting adultery, removing lust, and avoiding divorce.

In Matthew 5:21-26 Jesus teaches us that his kingdom is one of internal transformation. In this passage he encourages us to let go of anger and pursue reconciliation with others.

In Matthew 5:17-20 Jesus promises that he can come to fulfill the law. In doing so, he secures our identity, guarantees our salvation, and invites us into a life-giving experience of following him.

Transformation is rooted in becoming like Christ, and allowing the Holy Spirit to renew our mind daily as we root ourselves in the Scriptures.

This week, Jonathan Rivers, Pastor of Destiny Church in Broken Arrow, walked us through the story of Ruth—not just as a story of redemption, but through the lives of the people who lived it. From Naomi’s heartbreak to Ruth’s loyalty, Boaz’s kindness, and God’s quiet faithfulness behind it all, we’ll explore how each character reveals something about God’s grace in our own stories.

In Matthew 5:13-16, Jesus tells us that his followers will always make a difference in the world. As we are transformed by his grace and mercy, our lives becomes platforms to share that good news with others.

New life in Jesus is thrilling and should be celebrated. However, when we take our place in God’s kingdom, our new way of life can create conflict in a world opposed to Jesus. This can cause us to experience everything from indifference to determined opposition and even persecution. Jesus reminds us that this should not surprise us or stop us.

This week we discussed the seventh Beatitude, “Blessed are the Peacemakers.” Every one of us experiences lack of peace due to sin. The good news is that Jesus is the answer to our lack of peace, and this is part of our identity in becoming children of God.