Redeemer Church of Castro Valley Podcast

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. — Matthew 5:4

Our instinct is often to escape what hurts—to distract ourselves, numb the pain, or simply move on. But Jesus offers a different way. In this message from Matthew 5:4, we explore why mourning is an essential part of being human, how the brokenness we see in the world ultimately leads us to confront the brokenness within ourselves, and why Jesus is the comfort God promised to those who mourn.

The better way to be human is not to escape what is broken, but to mourn it—and receive the comfort of Jesus.

What if Jesus actually knows a better way to live than we do?

In this introductory message to the Sermon on the Mount, Pastor Jason Wigand explores Jesus’ invitation to another way of being human. We all spend our lives trying to find the right path to happiness, meaning, and flourishing—but Jesus challenges our assumptions about what the good life really looks like.

Matthew 5:1–2; 7:28–29

Blessed Are the Poor in Spirit | Matthew 5:3

What does Jesus mean when he says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit”? In this message from the Sermon on the Mount, Pastor Jason Wigand explores Jesus' surprising description of the person who belongs to the kingdom of heaven—and why recognizing our spiritual poverty is actually the doorway to receiving everything in Christ.

Preached at Redeemer Church in Castro Valley, California.