Do we pray to be heard by God or to be overheard by others? A look at The Lord’s Prayer.

Special Guest Don Wiehe joins us to teach on hypocrisy and doing things for the right reasons.

Matthew 5:33-48

The Pharisees had relaxed the law, hoping it would become more manageable.This produced an EXTERNAL relationship with God, and wasn’t enough. They DESTROYED the law. The rest of Matthew 5 is Jesus DEEPENING the laws they DESTROYED. The result is conviction that we can’t live like this on our own. The hope of the Gospel is that Jesus saves us and helps us to live according to the way He wired the universe to work.

The Old Testament is the Gospel in the bud, the New Testament is the Gospel in full flower.

Salt is needed where there is corruption.  Light is needed where there is darkness. Salt stops the spread of evil. Light promotes the spreading of truth, beauty, and goodness.

Persecution is the world’s endorsement that you’re living a Biblically normal life.

The critical test for the maturity of a follower of Jesus is whether they are a peace maker or peace breaker. Our Father has gone out of His way to make provide peace and forgiveness. When we don’t, we’re missing God.

Technological advances have allowed us to lift tall buildings into the air, and even elevate people to space, but we still have not been able to elevate our soul to purity and righteousness without Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

As we are emptied of our self, God fills us up with His character. Mercy is kindness or good will towards the miserable and the afflicted, joined with a desire to help them. Mercy is compassion for people in need.