God Centered Life

This series emphasizes that words matter, and we see that in these oaths that Jesus talks about. "Let your yes be yes, and your no be no." Don't varnish it, don't make it sound better than it is; let's be straightforward and clear with our words.

Our typical assumptions about freedom today have to do with politics or economics or morality. We need to hear what God means by real freedom, and Paul discusses that in Galatians.

We need to approach this passage with humility so as not to miss something that may be lurking in our lives. This pertinent passsage examines our lives, and we need to come to it with humility, openness, and an acknowledgment that it comes from our loving Lord Jesus.

Worship is very important, but here Jesus is placing a high premium on reconciliation before worship. It all comes back to the issue of not being individualistic in our idea of God. Our relationships with other people actually matter in our act of worship because we go to church as a community.

Righteous anger is an expression of love. Unrighteous anger is not. If there's any doubt as to which you are feeling, it's more likely your anger is unrighteous, especially if you stand to gain by its expression and the other person will lose.

There can be chaos in the state of higher biblical learning today with many opinions and people taking sides. But it is wonderful to sit at Jesus' feet and listen to his teaching, which is very clear in the Sermon on the Mount.

Be encouraged! Don't let anyone tell you that your role as a Christian at home or at work is insignificant. It has global, salt-of-the-earth, light-of-the-world significance! This means that everything we do as a Christian has purpose and a global impact.

If you are being persecuted for being a child of the promise, it is a telling identity marker that you are His. Who are you really? Are you defined by your parents, where you live, your gender, or by your relationship with Christ?

We tend to rely on authorities and look for footnotes, but the Sermon on the Mount is the King teaching about the Kingdom. When Jesus says, "I tell you," it's a claim to supreme authority.

The idea of meekness is power under control. So it's not weakness, and it does include boldness. A meek person has been well trained; he or she is not easily frightened or apt to run away.