Sermon Audio from September 6, 2026. Logan Barkman preaching.

“Be perfect.”

Those words from Jesus can feel impossible. But what if perfection isn’t about never messing up? What if it’s about learning to love like God loves—even when it’s difficult, even when someone is your enemy?

In Matthew 5:43–48, Jesus challenges us to move beyond rule-keeping and behavior modification into a life transformed by God’s love. Because before we can reflect God’s love, we have to receive it.

What does it look like to follow Jesus when someone hurts you?

“An eye for an eye” sounds a lot more natural to us than “turn the other cheek.” In Matthew 5:38–42, Jesus challenges our instinct to retaliate when we’ve been insulted, mistreated, or taken advantage of. But Jesus isn’t calling us to become weak or to simply check off a list of impossible commands. He is inviting us to become a different kind of people—people who respond to evil with love instead of retaliation.

Jesus himself showed us what this looks like. He had the power to retaliate against those who mocked, abused, and crucified him, yet he chose forgiveness.

So how do we actually live this way? How do we stop trying to get even? And what does it mean to trust God enough to respond with love when we have every reason to fight back?

This message explores what it means to live as citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven in a world of retaliation—and to become people who respond like Jesus.

What does it say about us when we have to swear that we're telling the truth?

In Matthew 5:33–37, Jesus challenges the religious loopholes people had created around oaths and promises. But his teaching goes deeper than simply telling us when we can or cannot make a vow. Jesus calls us to become the kind of people whose simple “yes” and “no” can be trusted.

In this message, we explore what it means to live honest to God—not manipulating others, exaggerating our words, or adding spiritual weight to our promises in order to convince people to believe us. Because when we recognize that people are precious to God, we should treat them with honesty, integrity, and respect.

The goal isn't merely to keep our promises. It's to become people who don't need elaborate promises in the first place—because our lives make our words believable.

What if the biggest problem in your marriage isn’t your spouse?

Jesus’ teaching on divorce in Matthew 5 is uncomfortable, challenging, and easy to misunderstand. But beneath His words about broken marriages is a deeper issue: hard hearts.

We can do everything “right” on the outside and still be far from the heart of God. We can justify our actions, find loopholes, and even win the argument—while completely missing what Jesus is after.

Because the goal isn’t simply to become a better husband or wife. The goal is to let Jesus change your heart.

And when Jesus changes our hearts, He changes the way we see our spouses, our relationships, and every person around us.

Because people aren't disposable. People are precious.

Guest speaker Amy Miller shares about John 1:3-5 and gives an update on the ministry at Crossroads Pregnancy Center.

Have you ever caught yourself asking, "Where's the line?" How close can I get to sin without actually crossing it? In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus asks a completely different question: "Who are you becoming?" In this message from Matthew 5:27-30, we discover that Jesus isn't merely interested in managing our behavior—He's after the transformation of our hearts. This sermon explores why following Jesus is about becoming the kind of person who naturally desires what is good, rather than simply avoiding what is wrong.

You've probably never murdered anyone. Jesus says that's not enough.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus moves beyond outward behavior to expose the attitudes that destroy relationships long before any physical act. This message explores how anger, contempt, and unforgiveness keep us from experiencing God's kingdom—and why reconciliation is one of the highest priorities of the Christian life.

How do you enter the Kingdom of Heaven? Jesus' answer is both comforting and unsettling. In Matthew 5:17–20, He declares that our righteousness must surpass that of the Pharisees—a standard that seems impossible to reach. But what if Jesus wasn't calling us to try harder, but to become different? This message explores how Christ fulfills the Old Testament, why willpower can never transform the human heart, and how true righteousness grows from abiding with Jesus rather than merely following rules.

Who is the Kingdom of God for? Who gets to live in His kingdom? Does the church reflect that reality?