Imagine you're watching Jesus heal the blind, walk on water, and raise a boy from the dead. In Bible times, the three virtuous practices of the Jews at the new year were: giving to the needy, praying in secret, and fasting. Jesus opened up these works to expand them to bringing righteousness and justice to all He came in contact with. If you had been there, what would you want Him to do for you?

Why did the hope of the World and the Messiah of humanity come in the form of a baby? Pastor Mike Patz answers this question and more through the words in Luke 2:8-14 as we approach Christmas day.

Pastor Oscar Roche continues our School of Jesus series, with a look at Matthew 7:7-12. These words in the Sermon on the Mount can be viewed as the Constitution of the Kingdom. "Ask and you shall receive; seek and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened..." The word "ask" is an invitation to come into the presence of God in relationship. Don't be lax in your relationship with the Lord! Our prayer time is essential to building a deep relationship with our Holy King!

We bet you've used, or heard, the phrase from the Bible, "do not judge." What does this actually mean? Is there a way to "judge" while actually loving someone? Pastor Andrea Sarafan teaches from Matthew 7:1-5 as we continue in our School of Jesus series and the answer may surprise you!

We are all treasure hunters! But what is the treasure that you are seeking? What is the motivation of your heart? As we continue our School of Jesus series, a verse by verse look at the Sermon on the Mount, Pastor Oscar Roche shines the light on Matthew 6:19-24. In these words we're hearing, we must remember who is speaking! Jesus asks some hard questions. What are you consumed with seeking? What is the condition of your heart? The constant pursuit of wealth and possessions will never truly satisfy. Earthly things will face death, decay, and destruction. We can be a conduit of the Kingdom, treasure hunters who believe that what we give today will turn into great exploits. The Sermon on the Mount lifestyle is an invitation to greatness in God's kingdom!

There has always been so much more meant for our life, a true connection between God and His people. We can have access to the promises of God. Yet things may seem out of reach to us. There is a ladder that gives us access, and this ladder is fasting! As we continue our School of Jesus series, a verse by verse look at the Sermon on the Mount, we welcome Ruth Patz to the pulpit. In Matthew 6:16-18, we see Jesus teaching a divine principle that brings rewards from our Father. When you fast... The question is not "if", but when. We should be doing much more fasting than we are.

When you pray, is it difficult, or are you excitedly expectant? Jesus said, "Don't be like the pharisees." As we continue our School of Jesus series, a verse by verse look at the Sermon on the Mount, Pastor Mike Patz opens Matthew 6:1-7. There is a key to being rewarded in your prayer life. Meet with God in the secret place! God has not left us as orphans, and He longs for us to be attached to Him. This happens in the place of prayer. When we use prayer for religion, we always come up empty. When we use prayer for relationship, it always leaves us full. Our desire is to be a body of people that wake up believing we are meeting with the God of the universe, because we are!

We welcome Pastor Joel Romelus to the pulpit, for a continuation of the School of Jesus series. In the Sermon on the Mount, we see a different realm of God's kingdom. In Matthew 5:43-48, the sobering words of Jesus challenge us to "love our enemies!" It's like a final exam; will you make a passing grade? God's plan is for love to be a bridge bringing peace, justice, and connection to our world. Loving our enemies means choosing to reject the us vs. them mentality. Embrace others the way Jesus has accepted you. Choose the way of love! 

Has someone ever really done you wrong? The Old Testament taught "... an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth." In our School of Jesus series, we continue our verse by verse look at the Sermon on the Mount, with Matthew 5:38-42. These verses are an expansion on "blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy" from the Beatitudes. When we're offended and angry we will often make the wrong choice in responding to others. If the devil can stir up our rage, he's got us! Pastor Mike Patz admits that many times we may want to pass out the death sentence judgment for low-level crimes. But revenge is not justice. It is not the way of Jesus if it does not include the mercy of Jesus. Let's live a surprising life filled with mercy!

Everything sounds good until you hear the rest of the story. We have become very comfortable with lying. In the School of Jesus series, as we go word by word through the Sermon on the Mount, Pastor Mike Patz unpacks the words of Jesus found in Matthew 5:33-37. According to Jesus, deception is from the evil one. You were made in the image of God, and you will only thrive when you're moving in the nature of God. He is truth, goodness, kindness, and we must live like Him. Tell the truth, and the truth shall keep you free!