Jesus teaching in the Sermon on the Mount confronts us at every turn. There's no escaping the universal truth that Jesus puts before us. As he teaches, he shows us the nature of sin and, in turn, the nature of our own heart and the power of God. Sin is a powerful foe that relentlessly attacks us. Our priority is to fight it with all we have and to trust the one that has ultimately defeated sin and Satan.

Inside out- that's the essence of Jesus message in the Sermon on the Mount. Checking boxes and looking like a good guy just isn't enough. Jesus begins the process of tearing down the external religion built by the pharisees and showing us that God demands more. It's challenging teaching, but it's the heart of holiness. Jesus wants us to see just what it means to live in his kingdom.

Easter is the day that changed the world. When Jesus walked out of the tomb, he accomplished more than we can ever fully understand. What we do know is that his crucifixion and resurrection were the picture of a kingdom that is both victorious and unexpected.

There is no greater example of how unexpected this kingdom is than the events of Palm Sunday and the week that follows. A beautiful picture of how Christ fulfills the law in perfection, Palm Sunday shows us the King on the way to take his throne---it's just not the throne we'd expect.

The Gospel According to Matthew sounds so familiar, but there's nothing expected about the man writing this book. Being a tax collector made him an odd choice to join a group of other Jews and certainly wouldn't be the first choice for his moral choices. So what does Matthew's story tell us about our own lives? How can we learn the power of grace and redemption from Matthew's own story? Al Lang teaches us that there's a powerful story behind the one writing the story.

Jesus teaches us that his role here on earth was not to abolish, but to fulfill the Old Testament. What did he mean by that? Does this mean that we are to practice everything in the OT? If not, then what did Jesus have in mind? It's the difference between shadows and substance.

Two simple word pictures provide us with a clear mission and some important warnings. What do two common things like salt and light have to do with eternity? What is the Christian's role in the world? Should we run and hide? Dive right in? Try to play both sides? Jesus gives us a clear mandate that shows the reality that we have a dual citizenship, but only one ultimate allegiance.

The Sermon on the Mount is some of the most profound teaching the world has ever known. What makes these lessons so powerful? Jesus begins with the beatitudes which set the stage for everything else that follows. Listen to find the heart of this teaching that is so life-giving and completely unexpected.

Follow me. Two words that have tremendous implications for us and for the world. Matthew continues to drive home just who it is that we're following...the messiah, the promised one, the king. As Jesus begins his ministry, he sets out to establish this group of men that would be his disciples. What does it look like to be one of those that call ourselves followers? Matthew helps us as he paints this picture.

As we look at Jesus third temptation, we get a look at our hearts and the nature of sin. This exchange makes it clear: it's more than just breaking rules, it's choosing who we worship. What we value goes a long way to determining what we worship.