There’s a saying that cryptically asks “if a tree falls in the forest, and no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound?” That question has been used in many different debates, but we’re going to look at one way it can be applied. People like for others to see when they perform well. It feels good to be noticed, and it feels like it actually makes more of a difference when our good deeds or achievements are recognized. But there’s a dark side to that tendency; it’s called self focus. We start to move from doing what is right simply because it is right, and instead, we begin to want an audience so that we get credit. Jesus addresses this tendency in the Sermon on the Mount and recommends some pretty surprising approaches to doing what is right. Can we take to heart what He teaches?

For our last Sunday of the year, we have a special treat: we get to have Lauren Pupchik come and share with us about her ministry in Guatemala, and to introduce us to an opportunity that we have to send some Hopers to work with her for a week in the new year. You don’t want to miss Lauren – she is always such an incredible blessing to us, and her heart for Jesus shines through so clearly. Then we’ll take a look at Paul’s story in Acts 26 and let the Holy Spirit remind us what naturally should happen when we meet Jesus!

When someone damages you in any significant way, it not only causes you suffering, it also can make you feel powerless. The natural anger or sadness that comes from loss joins together with a desire to regain control of your life. So often, we think through ways to get revenge. It may not bring back what we’ve lost, but it will definitely give us the sense that we’re back on top. Jesus, our King, has a different approach. He starts by talking about the law and how it requires justice. But then Jesus says that we are to forgo payback. Instead, He asks us to do the unthinkable. How can we live out what Jesus says? Let’s take the morning and explore this together.

Who would like to be the perfect mom? Or dad? We long to measure up to the highest standard in roles that matter to us. So whether we are trying to be the perfect student, teammate, employee, or citizen, we can all understand the desire to eliminate mistakes and do everything right. But the nature of being human is that we all mess up – no one escapes this reality! So we come to the end of the first chapter of the Sermon on the Mount, and Jesus makes a statement that simultaneously challenges us and makes us feel defeated. What is Jesus trying to get across and what does the rest of the story teach us about this statement? Let’s look at how Jesus summarizes His declaration that He has come to fulfill the law.