Psalm 11 might be short, but it's power-packed. We might find ourselves in the midst of turmoil, and yet, nothing escapes God's notice. He reigns supreme, and that should bring us great comfort.

It’s so fascinating that most of the commands of Jesus that we’ve been studying have been taken from the Gospel of Matthew, who was intent on showing the Jewish people that Jesus was the King – the Messiah – that they were waiting for. Kings often foisted heavy burdens on their subjects, a point not lost on the oppressed Roman world. Imagine then, Jesus calling everyone to willingly go under the yoke of another. Has he gone mad?

Yes, a layup will get you two points, and maybe draw a foul for two more, but that’s not what we’re talking about here. We’re talking about storing up wealth. Maybe talking about money is awkward, but that’s all the more reason to discuss it. Nothing is off limits to God, and Jesus made that perfectly clear.

What does it mean to belong to the family of God? There are many ideas of what a church should be, but what's important is what God says it should be. Why? Because He's the One who created it. (And we are so thankful He did!)

Empty promises – the world is full of them. From a co-worker who swears they’ll get the job done on time, to a politician who makes campaign promises to get elected, we’ve been conditioned to distrust anyone who makes personal guarantees, and their vows come off as premeditated lying.

Most people expect children to obey or honor their parents. It seems reasonable. But waters turn cloudy when we try to apply this principle to adults. Let’s see what Jesus has to say on the matter.

The apostle Peter lived in a tumultuous time when Christian persecution raged throughout the Roman Empire. As it is today, it was very easy to champion efforts, to protest, to fight against an evil regime. Peter, however understood the bigger picture – that of holding fast to the Word of God, and leaving a legacy that transcended time itself. Simply put – be confident in the character and promises of God.

Isn’t it exasperating when someone misunderstands you? Jesus often taught his disciples important life lessons, and the guys often missed the point. When Jesus warned them about leaven, Peter and the boys thought Jesus was giving them healthy eating advice. No, gentlemen. Let’s try this again.

There are many critics of Christianity who claim that if one is a believer in Jesus, then they've essentially checked their brains at the door. Not only does God in Isaiah 1:18 invite us to reason together, Jesus commands us to be wise as serpents. Now serpents get a bum rep because of the garden of Eden stigma. It’s clear that he doesn’t want us to be “crafty” or deceptive, so let’s learn what wise like a serpent means.

Today, Mike and Heather and Grant decide to let the listener decide the conversation. Right away, the two biggies that vex most everyone surface: forgiveness and dealing with difficult people. And yes, these issues are opposite sides of the same coin!