MAPS Global Sermons

One of the first effects of the fall of humanity was the experience of shame. Adam and Eve hid their faces from the Father and covered themselves with the fig leaves of performance. Through the finished work of the cross, Jesus has broken the power of shame and delivered us from all of its deadly effects. There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. He is raising up a church that will be a shame-free environment as He calls His people to come out of hiding and lift their heads in confidence to be present with Him and with each other in a culture of freedom and authenticity.

Jesus returns to His hometown in Nazareth after His baptism and reads the scroll aloud in the synagogue out of Isaiah, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me…" Isaiah 61 was Jesus' mission statement that He began with his ministry and what he handed to His church in Acts 1:8, "the Holy Spirit will come upon you…" R.A. Martinez dives into Isaiah 61 - Jesus' mission statement, the baptism of Jesus, and the passing of the Isaiah 61 mandate from Jesus to us with the promise of the same Spirit to rest upon us to carry that mandate to the ends of the earth.

The Sermon of the Mount, recorded in Matthew 5-7, is Jesus' first public sermon and longest recorded in the gospels. Jesus' main focuses in these chapters is what we belong to (the Kingdom), who we belong to (the Father), and how we interact with both (love and obedience). It is the constitution of the "upside-down Kingdom". Here, losing is winning, suffering is joy, and enemies are loved. When people persecute us they get blessed. When there is division and strife, we stand as peacemakers. When we are struck with insults, we refuse to retaliate but instead manifest a crucified lamb. It is a kingdom where our time is not devoted to how much money we can make but how obedient we can be to the Father. It is where the meek inherit the earth not the strong and the politically savvy. In this kingdom, we give, pray and fast in secret and there is no need for anxiety concerning tomorrow. This is the only way of life for the Church and what it looks like to be a disciple of Jesus.

The Sermon of the Mount, recorded in Matthew 5-7, is Jesus' first public sermon and longest recorded in the gospels. Jesus' main focuses in these chapters is what we belong to (the Kingdom), who we belong to (the Father), and how we interact with both (love and obedience). It is the constitution of the "upside-down Kingdom". Here, losing is winning, suffering is joy, and enemies are loved. When people persecute us they get blessed. When there is division and strife, we stand as peacemakers. When we are struck with insults, we refuse to retaliate but instead manifest a crucified lamb. It is a kingdom where our time is not devoted to how much money we can make but how obedient we can be to the Father. It is where the meek inherit the earth not the strong and the politically savvy. In this kingdom, we give, pray and fast in secret and there is no need for anxiety concerning tomorrow. This is the only way of life for the Church and what it looks like to be a disciple of Jesus.

Many of us have a dull view of Jesus. Many of us are familiar with the Person of Christ but not the personality of Christ. Religion has actively worked to erase the personality from the Jesus of the gospels. The Lord is intimately involved with weak human beings to bring forth the promises of God and has done so joyfully. Listen as R.A. Martinez teaches on how to behold the joy of Jesus.

The Sermon of the Mount, recorded in Matthew 5-7, is Jesus' first public sermon and longest recorded in the gospels. Jesus' main focuses in these chapters is what we belong to (the Kingdom), who we belong to (the Father), and how we interact with both (love and obedience). It is the constitution of the "upside-down Kingdom". Here, losing is winning, suffering is joy, and enemies are loved. When people persecute us they get blessed. When there is division and strife, we stand as peacemakers. When we are struck with insults, we refuse to retaliate but instead manifest a crucified lamb. It is a kingdom where our time is not devoted to how much money we can make but how obedient we can be to the Father. It is where the meek inherit the earth not the strong and the politically savvy. In this kingdom, we give, pray and fast in secret and there is no need for anxiety concerning tomorrow. This is the only way of life for the Church and what it looks like to be a disciple of Jesus.

The Sermon of the Mount, recorded in Matthew 5-7, is Jesus' first public sermon and longest recorded in the gospels. Jesus' main focuses in these chapters is what we belong to (the Kingdom), who we belong to (the Father), and how we interact with both (love and obedience). It is the constitution of the "upside-down Kingdom". Here, losing is winning, suffering is joy, and enemies are loved. When people persecute us they get blessed. When there is division and strife, we stand as peacemakers. When we are struck with insults, we refuse to retaliate but instead manifest a crucified lamb. It is a kingdom where our time is not devoted to how much money we can make but how obedient we can be to the Father. It is where the meek inherit the earth not the strong and the politically savvy. In this kingdom, we give, pray and fast in secret and there is no need for anxiety concerning tomorrow. This is the only way of life for the Church and what it looks like to be a disciple of Jesus.