True Roots

In this episode Dan and Andy discuss Matthew 6:19-20 (ESV)?

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven."

This is an episode that all of us can relate to. Are we thinking and believing eternally or temporarily?

When we think and act in the temporary, it can make it easy to think God isn't with us, or for us, or loves us...but it's because we're storing up treasures in things that are temporary and not in Him.

This doesn't always mean we are 'doing bad things' or even running after bad things, but just treasuring the temporary over the eternal.

Dan and Andy discuss marriage, kids, etc. as they share about how to shepherd these areas while still not holding onto them as the ultimate thing.

Check out the PDF that goes with this episode here.

In this episode Dan and Andy discuss Matthew the 6:1:

"Watch out! Don't do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven."

They discuss having a focus on eternal rewards vs. temporary ones, and the temptation, that we can all struggle with, of seeking man's approval or recognition over God's.

Check out the PDF worksheet here!

In this episode Dan Cox and Andy Harris discuss:

Matthew 5:48 (ESV):

"You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect."

They discuss this with an emphasis on:

Hebrews 10:14: "For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified."

Jesus calls us to perfection, knowing that we cannot acheive this by our own power, and this is the call of Jesus with any of His commandments...He knows that the only way to become perfect, or walk in the commands He gives, is by coming to Him, knowing Him, and allowing Him to empower us, through His Holy Spirit dwelling in us, to walk out what He's called us to.

Jesus gives impossible commands, because with Christ all things are possible...and without Him, it is unachievable...it literally cannot happen.

And this is the crux of this command...in order to become perfect, we must walk in His finished work, by His power, through relationship with Him...it's not by earning or striving for perfection, but by surrender and allowing His Spirit, to give us His Power in our weaknesses, so we can walk the path of sanctification. His power, our surrender.

This is a great episode, check it out and download the PDF worksheet that goes with it here

In this episode Dan and Andy discuss Matthew 5:44, in part 2 of: Love your enemies. This episode focuses on praying for those who persecute us.

When we follow Jesus, this will happen. Its a biblical truth that Jesus talks about. We will have opposition. But Jesus doesn't ask us to fight this opposition with anger, frustration, crafty words, etc., it doesn't mean we won't feel these things as arrows are thrown our way, but God calls us to pray...and prayer changes our hearts...it changes our perspective...and it allows us to forgive and to love as Jesus does, through His power...and gives God the opportunity to move and takes it out of our hands.

This is not an easy ask, but it's a freeing one. To pray and let God shape and move in the ways He needs to, rather than taking vengeance into our own hands. It's different than how the world says to handle it...and again, when we pray for people we don't want to, God changes us and moves in ways we often cannot see.

Check out the PDF in our here!

In this episode (Part 1 of 2): Dan and Andy Matthew 5:39b-41 ESV:

"...if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles."

Dan and Andy discuss letting go of our right to defend ourselves and leaving it in Jesus's hands...not out of vengeance, but out of faith and trust in God.

They talk about Romans 12:21 as well:

'Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.'

This verse, done in action, creates a pause in others. It's compelling, because it's the response of Jesus and not the response of worldly wisdom.

Check out the PDF here that shares a story about a coke bottle incident that reflects overcoming evil with good!

In this episode, Dan and Andy discuss Matthew 5:37:

"Let what you say be simply 'Yes' or 'No'; anything more than this comes from evil."

This is a great episode about our words matching our actions, and how important that is in building trust with people and being who God has called us to be.

Check it out and download the PDF here!

In this episode Dan and Andy discuss Matthew 5:28-30:

"But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell."

They get into the topic (off air at the end of the 'official' episode) of surrender and wanting God more than our sin...and how surrender and giving Him everything is truly the way out of lust.

However, in that discussion they also discuss how God will reveal patterns and doesn't want us to fear sex, which has typically been the church's approach to getting rid of lust (lust management), which doesn't work long term.

Check out this whole episode, PDF in bio!

Check out the link to the book Unwanted here as well!

In this episode Dan and Andy discuss Matthew 5:24 (ESV)

"Leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift."

Be sure to check out the PDF this week, link here!

The question this week is a great one to ponder and ask Jesus about!

In this episode Dan and Andy discuss Matthew 5:17-19:

"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven."

This is a discussion that can easily get into the weeds and become legalistic, but that wasn't Jesus's point either.

He's not calling us to a Pharisee type of faith, but is explaining that He wasn't getting rid of His standards, but that He came to fulfill everything, and now we look to Him to see what way to walk.

Since Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, we look to how He lived to see how we need to walk/live.

Check out the PDF worksheet that goes with this episode here!

In this episode, guest host Matt Patterson and Andy Harris discuss Luke 9:23:

'And He said to all, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.'

Jesus is consistently after our whole heart, all of it.

Not just pieces of it, He wants it all...but He also gives an invitation in this surrender: Freedom, Joy, Peace, Love, etc. T

his process, at times, can be incredibly painful and difficult (the cross is/was excruciatingly painful), but it's in that death to self, that true life comes in Christ.

Check out the episode and click the link here to download the PDF worksheet that goes with the episode!