Did you know Jesus' command "do not judge" is an often-misunderstood teaching from the Sermon on the Mount? This command still aligns with other New Testament teachings–if we understand the crucial difference between harmful judgment and righteous discernment. Listen now as we examine our own hearts, and build relationships that reflect Christ's lo…

Jesus calls his followers to not be overly consumed with their own lives, but instead to value life in the kingdom of God. The prior can be clouded by worry, while the later affords a certain freedom. Is worry a sin? Where does it come from? And how do we shift out of it? In this teaching we aim to answer those questions and others as we look inter…

We look at Jesus' teaching on the reality and location of our treasures. Rather than entrusting our treasures to this earth, Jesus calls us to place them in heaven. What does this mean and how do we do it? We will aim to answer those questions and others as we look internally at our hearts and consider their condition.…

We continue our look at the Sermon on the Mount by considering Jesus' teaching on how to carry out our spiritual disciplines (Matt 6:1-18). While the Pharisees and religious leaders liked to flaunt their spirituality, Jesus is calling his followers to a heart-based spirituality that seeks God's glory above man.…

How are we supposed to love those who are not so easy to love? We look at Jesus' teaching from Matthew 5 about loving your enemies–a command that challenges everything our culture tells us about relationships and justice. It offers a fresh perspective on handling conflict, rising above division, and experiencing true spiritual transformation in you…

What if true strength meant responding to wrongs with grace? Here we look at Jesus' teachings on retribution and mercy from the Sermon on the Mount. Find out why how "turning the other cheek" isn't about weakness, but a powerful transformation of the heart. We also cover what it means to go the extra mile in a world fixated on fairness. This isn't …

How do Jesus' comments on divorce go beyond marriage? We take a deeper look at Matthew 5:31-37, beginning with the historical context of divorce laws and the importance of truthfulness and fidelity in all relationships. Jesus urges us to let our "yes" be "yes" and our "no" be "no." So listen now and be inspired to build a life and community defined…

What if Jesus' teachings on lust could change our view of desire? Let's look at the Sermon on the Mount's radical perspective on adultery and the heart. We cover how God supports us even in our struggles, and why desire itself isn't the enemy. This isn't about guilt—it's about finding true fulfillment in Christ. Listen now and be inspired to align …

What if anger was just as serious as murder in God's eyes? We continue to explore Jesus' radical teachings in the Sermon on the Mount. Listen now and be inspired to embrace a new way of living, rooted in love and grace, that starts with genuine heart change and impacts every relationship in your life.…

How does Jesus' fulfillment of Old Testament law change our understanding of righteousness? Here we explore a righteousness that goes deeper than simply following rules. It's about embracing a profound shift from self-reliance to Christ-dependence. Listen now and explore how Jesus' grace can reshape your approach to faith and daily living.…

What does it truly mean to be salt and light in today's world? We take a deeper look at the Sermon on the Mount and unpack the profound wisdom of the Beatitudes. Learn how mercy, purity of heart, and peacemaking can shape your character. This sermon will challenge you to live boldly, embracing Kingdom values in a world that often pushes against the…

Are you building your life on solid ground or shifting sand? Join us as we kick off an exciting new series on the Sermon on the Mount, exploring Jesus' powerful metaphor of life foundations. This sermon digs into what it means to intentionally construct our lives based on Christ's teachings, and the stark contrast with lives built on shaky ground. …

What if God's generosity doesn't match our ideas of fairness? This sermon looks at the provocative parable of the workers in the vineyard, wrapping up our summer journey through Jesus' teachings. This story challenges our notions of reward and calling. And we can contrast it with the rich young ruler's struggle to follow Jesus. At its heart, this p…

What does it truly mean to forgive? This episode explores the parable of the unmerciful servant from Matthew 18, using relatable experiences with financial debt as a metaphor for sin and forgiveness. True forgiveness involves releasing someone from the obligation to repay a debt, often requiring us to absorb the cost of the wrong done. The parable …

What makes the Kingdom of God so valuable that one would give up everything for it? This episode explores the parables of the hidden treasure and the pearl of great price from Matthew 13:44-46. The Kingdom of God is both a future promise and a transformative present reality. Some discover it by chance, others through active seeking, but both requir…

How does the parable of the mustard seed explain the nature of God's Kingdom? This sermon looks at Matthew 13, exploring the themes of growth, hope, and inclusivity. Like the mustard seed, the Kingdom of God starts small but grows significantly over time. The expansion is gradual yet unstoppable. Through biblical stories and historical references, …

What does the parable of the talents teach us about stewardship and faith? This episode examines Matthew 25:14-30 and its far-reaching impact on our lives. God places immense trust in us by investing gifts, abilities, and relationships in our care. It is crucial to actively engage with these investments, overcoming fear and laziness. We can use our…

Jesus told a story about a persistent widow who pleaded with a judge and finally received justice. And Jesus told his disciples this is how they should pray. Persistent prayer is important. More specifically, though, he is urging them to pray persistently for the return of Jesus and the fullness of the kingdom of God. Persistent kingdom prayers sho…

Jesus tells a compelling story of an entitled and prideful son who demands his inheritance, runs away and spends himself into poverty. Upon his return home, he is met in compassion and abounding grace by his father. Far from humiliating, he is welcomed by a celebration. His brother, however, is irate. Unlike his brother he was being a "good" son, b…

Kirjoittanut Dean Gaul

Wealth can certainly be dangerous, but it is not wrong, nor does Jesus condemn it. Rather this parable is about greed, thinking only of self and hoarding. And while greed certainly pertains to money, it also pertains to every facet of our lives. Jesus shows us that greed actually comes from our inner soul talk about what we need to be satisfied. Th…

Pastor Jim explores the well-known parable of the Good Samaritan, cautioning against the oversimplification of its message and stressing the importance of understanding its deeper meanings and context. He discusses how the parable intertwines the law, eternal life, and the notion of being a good neighbor, urging listeners to reflect on their relati…

Jesus tells the parable of the sower to show two important truths. First, God faithfully and generously sows the seed of the gospel for all of humanity, without precondition or prejudice. Second, the soil, or human heart, on which a seed lands is important for its growth. The faithfulness of the sower is a constant, but the human heart is not. What…

Jesus concludes his prayer by praying for all who come to believe. He prays for unity - that the church would be one like he and the Father are one. In fact, he says that it is unity that will enable the world to know Jesus and the love of God. This reality of unity is only possible when believers collectively see the glory of Jesus above all else.…

Jesus sends his disciples into the world in the very same way the Father sent him. They are agents of the gospel for the glory of God. His prayer for them is for their protection from wandering and from the evil one who seeks to destroy. Moreover, he prays that they would have joy and be set apart.Kirjoittanut Pastor Adam

Jesus begins his prayer by asking to be glorified. He is praying for the reality of resurrection in the face of the cross. This resurrection will not only glorify Jesus, but also the Father. And it will bring eternal life to all who are in Jesus. Eternal life is knowing God - both then and now, in both quality and quantity.…

When Jesus tells his disciples he is going away, he also urges them to abide or remain in him. Not only is this counterintuitive, but it seems impossible. Yet Jesus is talking about being so immersed in his love that they live his way and follow his commands in this world and in so doing glorify God. We glorify God by remaining in Jesus. And we rem…

Jesus tells his disciples that the Spirit will come to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. The Spirit exposes the truth about sin and the emptiness of human effort or religion so that there might be repentance. The main modes of this testimony are the Scriptures which the Spirit will lead the disciples to write and ongoing witnes…

Jesus is careful to tell his disciples that the world will be resistant the gospel message. If the world hated Jesus, they will also hate those who follow him. This rub comes when his followers refuse to give full allegiance to anything other than Jesus. In the midst of this, Jesus reminds them that he has intentionally left them in the world to te…

Intimacy with God and obedience to him are inextricably bound together. If we want the full life that comes from seeing and knowing God, then we have to follow his commands. And if we want to follow his commands, we must grow in our love for him. Thankfully, we have been given the Spirit as an advocate to help us grow in our love for God and thus p…

True and full life only comes from intimacy with God. And the only way to access this kind of relationship is through Jesus. In him, we discover new creation truth and life that makes the original relationship of God and humanity possible again. Though we await this experience in it fullness, we have it now through Jesus. It is the only way to have…

The gospel of John winds down with the beautiful story of Peter's restoration by Jesus. Peter is led to feel the weight of his sin so he can feel the even greater weight of God's grace. The forgiveness offered through Jesus overcomes our shame, sets us back on course, and transforms us to live in light of the gospel.…

Thomas is famously and wrongly demeaned for doubt. In fact, what Jesus warns Thomas about is how to process doubt. We are all constantly moving either toward belief or unbelief. So it matters profoundly where we intentionally place ourselves to engage our questions. The church is meant to be a place where we can ask honest questions and pursue the …

As Mary stands outside the tomb, twice she is asked, "Why are you crying?" Of course she is upset about Jesus, but also about what she has lost - a new life and a new identity. But with the sound of her name from the lips of Jesus, everything changes. Mary's identity is settled, her eyes are opened to see a bigger pictures and she is given a renewe…

The resurrection of Jesus is not just a Christian doctrine or even simply a fact. It is the central truth to a whole new reality of life. The resurrection of Jesus means new creation. Ever the master storyteller, John makes poignant connections between the original creation and the implications of Jesus resurrection. Sin and death are defeated. Sha…

As Jesus welcomed the disciples to the table, he also bowed low to humbly wash their feet. But it wasn't feet he was actually offering to wash. It was hearts. Jesus has invited everyone to his table, but in order to be with him we have to be washed clean. This would ultimately happen on the cross for anyone who would confess him as Savior. Do you u…

Upon his entry into Jerusalem, Jesus embraces the hoped fo- posture of an incoming Messianic king of Israel. However, as John has reminded us form the beginning, Jesus follows God's plans not those of men. And so, Jesus comes on a donkey announcing peace not judgment and spreads his arms open wide to the whole world, not just the Jewish nation. He …

As much as Jesus loved Lazarus, he also hates death and all the chaos it brings to our lives and world. Yet, he cares for Martha and Mary in very specific ways to meet their personal needs. In raising Lazarus from the dead, Jesus is engaging a direct battle with death (and sin) which will cost him his very life. Ultimately, Jesus raises Lazarus so …

Jesus is moved by his love for Lazarus and his sisters to help him. However, if that is true, then why did he make the strange choice to wait a few days before going to them? He wants people to believe. Not just in the future or the abstract, but believe in him. When Jesus says that he is the resurrection, he is boldly declaring that he is God and …

Sheep are at their core incredible helpless and incredibly valuable. That's why they need a shepherd. As humans, we inherently know that we are sheep in need of a sheered. The question is which shepherd will we give ourselves to? As the Good Shepherd, Jesus reminds us that we already belong to him. He has named us and leads us because he loves us, …

John sets Jesus' miraculous healing of a blind man right in the midst of the continuing unbelief of the religious leaders. Their pride left them unable to see the scope of the human problem and unable to see Jesus for who he is. This is spiritual blindness, a far more crippling disability than that of the man. Jesus was offering healing to both, bu…

When Jesus tells his Jewish audience that they can experience freedom, they are quick to dismiss him. As children of Abraham, they are already free. However, Jesus tells that that they are enslaved to sin. This is the human condition. But true freedom can be found when we remain in Jesus' teaching. He shows us who we are and how we are meant to liv…

Jesus' brother encourage him to go to Jerusalem during the feast and gather a crowd and further his ministry. John tells us they say this because they don't believe in him. They want Jesus to prove himself. On the other hand, Jesus is seeking the glory of the Father, not his own. He speaks the words and follows the timing of the Father. For this re…

Though the miracle of feeding 5,000 is a blessing to the crowds, its intent is largely for Jesus' disciples. It is an invitation to join him in the new and ultimate exodus he is launching. In the past people ate miraculous bread in the wilderness, but now the bread maker is with the people. And he offers bread that will satisfy our true hunger and …

Jesus intentionally crosses paths with a Samaritan woman at a well and offers her living water that would quench her thirst. Is he really capable of digging a better well than Jacob? Jesus offers full access to God who no longer is restricted to a holy mountain. Jesus is the better well that meets the deeper thirsts of our soul. His offer of living…

John lets us eavesdrop on a private conversation between Jesus and a religious leader named Nicodemus who wants to know if Jesus is the promised Messiah. Jesus confounds him by saying he cannot know unless he is born again. While Nicodemus, like many religious people, spent his time building a resume fr morality and external performance, his true p…

Jesus' miraculous turning of water into wine at the wedding in Cana serves as the perfect opening to the ministry of Jesus in the gospel of John. Far more than simply meeting a temporary need for wine, this story sets forth all that Jesus intends to do. Namely, he is here to launch a new covenant that will enable new creation allowing broken, uncle…

The incarnation is a grand invitation to come and see Jesus for who he really is and what he intends to do. He does not fore himself on us, instead he asks us what it is that we want and invites us to come and be with him. This invitation is for those who believe and those who are skeptical. And it comes with a promise to enlighten and transform us…

The whole ministry of John the Baptist was about pointing people to Jesus. He was a voice, but Jesus was the Word. In the same way, the church functions today as a forerunner of the second advent of Jesus.Kirjoittanut Pastor Adam

The incarnation is the stunning truth that God himself came to the mess of this earth in order to set it to rights. The Word became flesh and moved into our neighborhood. Inherent in this truth is the offer of forgiveness from God to humanity. Moreover, it announces his intent to dwell with his people forever. The questions John asks us are do we r…