What if we were all motivated by love rather than selfishness? What if we loved those that hurt us as much as those who love us? Imagine what the world could be like. But that concept is Upside Down from how the world works.

A recap of this year's mission trip to the Navajo reservation.

Time magazine in August of 2000 stated that 67% of all first marriages fail within 4 years. The divorce rate for second marriages is even higher. So today's study on what Jesus had to say on the subject of marriage, divorce and remarriage is going to hit very close to home for many of us today.

The Old Testament laws had been passed down generation to generation, and the Pharisees streamlined them to the bare minimum to make them easier to live by. The focus was on the act, not on the thought or emotion behind it. But Jesus taught us that the thoughts or feelings have the same consequences as the act itself.

As we look at the world around us, we see that things are changing. Things that were acceptable a few years ago are now unacceptable. Things that were unacceptable are suddenly becoming the norm. Rules are changing, making it difficult to navigate the world today. How are we to live right side up, when what was ok yesterday, today is suddenly unacceptable?

Christians can be a godly influence on the world when we commit ourselves to being authentic and available. We are in the second week of our summer series on the Sermon on the Mount, called Upside Down: Living right side up in an upside down world. Last week, Pastor Mitch spoke about the beatitudes. This week, we are covering the part of the sermon that is about being salt and light.

Our summer series, based on the Sermon on the Mount from Matthew 5-7, is called Upside Down: Living Right Side up in and Upside Down World. In the first of the series, we start with the beatitudes.

Our final area of emphasis moves away from gifts and amounts and centers on what God sees as more important: the condition of our hearts. If the heart is not right, the gift is unacceptable...even if it matters to us...even if the amount is right...even if it stretched our abilities and was sacrificial. Our sermon today explores four heart conditions that cannot please God no matter what our gift.

Last week, we learned the first of four truths about giving - that the amount matters. This week reveals two more truths. The second is that we determine the amount. This leads to the third one, in that we are to give according to our abilities.

Gifts...We know they are important. Just ask the parent of a 3-year-old that has "made" them "tea", or given them a plastic donut. Sometimes the value in the gift is the heart behind it. In this series, we seek a fresh perspective on gifts and the power of a pleasing gift. In the first week, we talk about giving gifts that make God smile.