If you were to make a list of those most likely to be chosen as disciples by Jesus in Capernaum, Matthew would have been at the bottom of the list. Disliked by all. Dishonest in his work. Disrespected by most who knew him. Yet today we’ll see that Jesus calls Matthew’s name and Matthew joins the disciples. - Pastor Ron Kool

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If someone were to ask you, “What’s the biggest problem in your life right now?” how would you answer?  Would you mention a physical problem? Financial difficulties? Some person? This morning, Jesus challenges us to recognize that the biggest problem in our lives is not one we necessarily think about that much—but it should be. - Pastor Ron Kool

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Almost everyone wants to change.  We want to have more joy and peace. We want to be a bit nicer or gentler. We want to change, but many of us don’t want to change too much. And that can be a problem with Jesus, because when He comes into our lives, He wants to change everything. - Pastor Ron Kool

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Matthew has been telling us about Jesus—that He has the power to heal and to drive out demons. Now Matthew takes it a step further and tells us that Jesus has power over nature itself.  He speaks and the wind and waves obey. - Pastor Ron Kool

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Following the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus started attracting large crowds that would follow him and watch him perform miracles. Some in the crowd were so amazed by his miracles that they wanted to become his disciples. What they learned an important lesson that we'll discover together. Faith comes at a cost, but discipleship costs us everything. - Pastor Arek O'Connell

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What do we do when we're out of options? Who do we turn to for help when we've tried everything in our power and still come up empty-handed? A leper and a centurion turn to Jesus in Matthew 8, hoping that he can help them. What we'll learn in Jesus' interactions with these two men is that in times of desperation, Jesus is the only one who is able and willing to heal our deepest pain and problems. - Pastor Arek O'Connell

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One of the major challenges facing Christians in our day is the challenge of finding unity in a very divided world.  It is not easy. But the Bible calls us to unity over and over and over again.  This morning, we’ll look at what King David had to say about unity in Psalm 133. - Pastor Ron Kool

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Jesus has been talking about the upside-down way of the Kingdom of God. He has described a way of living that is challenging and difficult but that ultimately leads to the good life. Now, at the end of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says that it is decision time. Are we going to go the way of the world or the way of the Kingdom?  Our answer to that question makes all the difference. - Pastor Ron Kool

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The Bible teaches us that one of the main indicators of our spiritual health is how we treat other people.  If we have a healthy relationship with God, it will impact how we treat the people around us.  As Jesus prepares to conclude the Sermon on the Mount, He tells us what God wants from us in how we treat others. - Pastor Ron Kool

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Of all the commands Jesus gives us, the command not to worry is, for many of us, one of the more difficult ones. Is that even possible?  This morning, we’ll look at what Jesus meant when He called us to set aside worry, and we’ll think about how we might begin to do that. - Pastor Ron Kool

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