In Matthew 19, the Pharisees come to Jesus with a question—but it isn’t an honest search for truth. It’s a test.

They’re looking for a way to trap Him, asking a question they know will stir emotion and division: “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?”But instead of avoiding the tension, Jesus uses the moment to speak clearly about God’s design for marriage, the seriousness of divorce, and the condition of the human heart behind it all.

In this episode, Pastor Mike begins walking us through Matthew 19, helping us see not just the question being asked, but the deeper truth Jesus is revealing.

How do we know if we’ve truly understood the love of God?

It’s one thing to say we believe it—but the real indicator shows up in how we treat other people. In this section, Jesus tells a parable that exposes the connection between receiving God’s compassion and extending it to others. And In this episode, Pastor Mike helps us see how God’s love is not only something to believe, but something that must be lived out.

How do we handle conflict in a way that truly reflects the heart and will of God?

In Matthew 18, Jesus speaks about authority that had previously been given in the context of teaching and doctrine. But here, he applies it in a different way. This time, the focus is on how we live it out—how we navigate relationships, conflict, and restoration within the body of Christ.

In this episode, Pastor Mike begins working through this section, helping us understand not only what is true, but how to faithfully apply that truth in our relationships.

Jesus repeats a striking warning—if something causes you to sin, remove it. But unlike earlier in His teaching, the emphasis here is not just personal holiness. It’s about how our actions impact others, and the seriousness of leading someone else into sin.

In this teaching, we explore what Jesus is calling us to, and why the way we live matters not only for ourselves, but for those around us.

What does greatness really look like in the kingdom of God?

The disciples come to Jesus with a question that reveals how they were thinking—and in many ways, how we often think as well: “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” But what follows is a redefinition of greatness that challenges a worldly perspective and calls us into something entirely different.

In this episode, Pastor Mike walks us through this section, helping us see the true nature of God’s kingdom and what it requires of those who belong to it.

What does it really mean to have faith?

When Jesus tells His disciples that nothing will be impossible for those who believe, it’s easy to misunderstand what He’s saying. Many people assume faith means believing strongly enough that something will happen — that if we just trust harder, pray harder, or believe more, the outcome will follow. But that’s not what Jesus is teaching. 

As we continue in Matthew 17, Jesus begins to show His disciples that the issue wasn’t the size of their faith — it was where their faith was placed.

In the Christian life, there are mountaintops — and there are valleys.

In Matthew 17, the disciples have just witnessed the glory of Jesus revealed on the mountain. But now the scene shifts. Where the mountain revealed the glory of Jesus, the valley now exposes the weakness of the disciples. And in many ways, that’s the rhythm of the Christian life. Joy and sorrow are both part of the journey. But often it’s the valleys that help us understand the mountaintops. It’s in the difficult places that what God revealed in the high places begins to make sense.

As Jesus comes down from the mountain of Transfiguration, He begins preparing His disciples for what lies ahead. While there is glory in the kingdom of God, that glory must come in the right manner and at the right time. Walking with Jesus does not only mean suffering — but it also does not mean shortcuts to power either. The way of the Messiah is cross before crown… surrender before reward.

What if God has already prepared you for the hardest season of your life — and you just didn’t realize it?

In this section Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up a mountain… and for a moment, His glory is unveiled. Moses and Elijah appear. The Father speaks from heaven. This powerful moment would stay with the disciples for the rest of their lives, strengthening them through persecution, suffering, and deep trials.

In this episode, we’re reminded that God often speaks before the trial comes. The question is — are we listening when He does?

The Christ Redefined

In this section, Jesus begins to reveal that His mission would include suffering, rejection, death, and resurrection. The disciples finally know who Jesus is and then He tells them not to tell anyone. Why? Because they didn’t yet understand what the Messiah came to do.

In this episode, we explore why Jesus kept His identity quiet for a time, what it really meant for Him to be the Messiah, and how God’s plan often confronts our expectations.