Matthew 5:43-48

We are to be in the world but not of it.  We are called beyond our nature to love not only those who love us but even to love those who oppose us.  Jesus brings a new covenant and a deeper truth than our nature calls us to.  He brings sanctification and a new nature, a renewal to God’s image and a restoration to relationship with our Father.  Our part is to commit to following Jesus, to give up our own desires, to love radically, and to honor our Lord.

2 Peter 1:3-4.  Colossians 4:5-6.

Matthew 20:20-28

Jesus at one point corrected the selfish ambition displayed by two of His disciples and their mother however He did not say that all ambition was bad.  We are to take pride in serving faithfully and sacrificing for each other.  Two Godly ambitions in particular come to mind, to seek to become more like Christ, and to accomplish what God has called us to do.  We are to prayerfully seek out God’s purposes and goals in our own lives and to support our brothers and sisters in Christ as they seek to do this as well for the glory of God.

The Vegas updated us on their ministry in Cusco, Peru and encouraged us to carry the message of the Gospel to the world around us.  We must trust in the word of God and share the good news.  We must carry the banner of Jesus.  God is on our side and His power is with us!

 

Matthew 5:21-24

Jesus brought up the words of the old testament but then added insight and depth to the words that are in it.  Jesus cautioned us about having hard hearts and justifying our behavior and words to those around us.  We can be guilty of choosing anger and resentment and giving the devil a foothold in our lives.  We are asked to chose reconciliation rather than our own interests and in this way glorify God.

Luke 15:1-7

When Jesus welcomed sinners and ate with them the Pharisees criticized Him but Jesus pointed out to them through a parable of a lost sheep that God rejoices more about a sinner’s repentance than when a good person does the same.  God wants us to live in eternity with Him and He is overjoyed when we accept His gift of salvation.  We have gone astray and Jesus wants us back.  He loves us and He yearns to be with us but the choice is ours.

Matthew 13:11-18

Today, Pastor Kyle presented on behalf of the elders the “Onward and Upward Proposal”. This proposal is about strengthening our elder board and restructuring our pastoral staff to maximize their giftedness. Kyle also shares some of his personal perspective on the proposal and the process, asking the church to have “eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to understand” the intent behind the restructuring, which is ultimately all about the grace of God changing lives through the work of Jesus.

Matthew 4:18-22

Being a follower of Jesus is not just an intellectual pursuit, it is a commitment of your life and dedication to His cause.  It may require sacrifice but it will always require faith and a willingness to change.  However God’s work in us doesn’t stop with us, it radiates out to those we know and love.  We were created in God’s image for a purpose and it is up to us if we will accept that purpose.  There is no better time than today to follow Him.

Matthew 4:17

Repentance involves turning away from the kingdom of this world and instead turning towards God and His kingdom.  Being bombarded by the world and its “gospels” can taint us and our view of redemption and what it really means to be saved from the corruption of sin.  Repentance is not a one time event, it is a lifelong process of transformation and growth.  It is honesty about our shortcomings and a willingness to purge our lives of the idols that can take God’s place in our hearts.

Luke 11:11-13

What is it about fatherhood that is so meaningful and powerful in our lives?  It should be about love, humility and commitment.  When we restrict ourselves through our commitments, our lives do not in fact get smaller as one might think, they instead grow bigger and more important.  How great is the love our Father has lavished on us, that we can be called children of God.  Our God is the God who makes promises to us and who was willing to give His own Son on the cross for our sins.

Matthew 6:25-34

We are charged not to worry and not to life as the world does but instead love unconditionally and care for and build up those around us.  We are not meant to be petty and small, to follow after mere humans or to try to achieve the goals of men but rather to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness.  We are meant to be prepared for good work.  We are meant to live a “big life” with the proper priorities and God’s purposes in clear focus.  We are meant to live for more than this world; we are meant to live for Christ!

Deuteronomy 9:1-6

In honor of graduation Sunday 2019, Kyle takes us back to one of the most epic graduation speeches ever: the discourse recorded in the book of Deuteronomy as the Israelites “graduated” from the wilderness wanderings and prepared to cross the Jordan into the Promised Land. However, Moses’ speech would probably not be received well today because rather than praise the graduates, he recounts all of their failings and expresses his lack of faith in their ability to obey. His main point was to humble the people, so that they would not forget that it was God who brought them into the land, and not their own merits. His hope was that their humility would convince them of their need to cling to the Lord and depend on His power and direction for their journey ahead, and that’s something we all need to hear.