The Well: Sermon Video

As James is writing, the Church is dispersed abroad and, in many places, unable to meet together. His encouragement to fellow believers is to find joy in trials and to authenticate their faith by their deeds. During COVID-19, this is a unique opportunity for us to authenticate our faith by taking the gospel that we proclaim and actually living it out in our community.

After hearing Jesus talk about the last becoming first and the first becoming last, the disciples try to wrap their minds around what it means to live under a king's rule. However, what we have seen in earthly kingdoms around us is not sufficient for understanding what Jesus is bringing with His kingdom.

There is no special place of influence or honor in the kingdom of heaven. Jesus uses two parables to communicate the lavish grace and incredible love of God that blows away our paradigms and shows us that He should be the chief of our affections above anything else.

When asked about grounds for divorce, Jesus refers back to the creation account. He shows us that understanding God's original design for marriage is key when discussing this topic.

When asked how often we should forgive others, Jesus delivers a challenging parable about an unrepayable debt. Ultimately, forgiveness isn't about us but rather The One who has already forgiven us all.

In one of the most misunderstood passages in the Bible, Jesus discusses how we as the Body of Christ should pursue one another when we begin to drift away from what is right. Jesus walks us through a process that ultimately shows us that the highest expression of love is not letting them go, but rather intervening and bringing them back into the fold.

Jesus discusses sin in a community context. In a family, our actions affect others, giving us the ability to either encourage or entrap one another. God wants us to deal with sin and pursue each other the way that he pursues us.

In three different pericopes, Jesus teaches about true authority and influence. Even though He had the ultimate authority, Jesus laid it all down for the betterment of others.