Preview: How to be Perfect

“Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”  In Matthew 5:38-48, Jesus set forth some pretty high expectations for our behavior as his followers.  Turn the other cheek…go the extra mile…love your enemies…  What kind of lifestyle is this?  And then – we have to be perfect while we do it?  Come worship with us on Sunday as we investigate this passage together.

–Pastor David

Preview: High Stakes

When Jesus taught his disciples about the true requirements for God-pleasing choices, he went beyond the simple commandments “do not murder” and “do not commit adultery.”  But he seemed to raise the stakes to an incredibly high level.  Are we really in danger of the fire of hell for calling someone a name or for “looking” at someone with desire?  Come worship with us on Sunday morning as we tackle this important passage:  Matthew 5:21-30.

–Pastor David

Preview: Bright and Salty

“You are the salt of the earth.”  “You are the light of the world.”  Are these familiar words to you?  What did Jesus have in mind when he called his followers to be bright and salty?  And what does this have to do with his claim that he came to fulfill the law, not to abolish it?  Come worship with us on Sunday morning as we investigate Matthew 5:13-20 together!

–Pastor David

Preview: Who Needs to be Baptized?

In Matthew 3:13-17, Jesus appears on the scene as an adult – and his first action is to be baptized by John at the Jordan River.  Does this situation seem strange to you at all?  It sure did to John the Baptist!  What does this story have to say about our involvement in the mission of Christ?  Come worship with us on Sunday, and we’ll investigate together.

–Pastor David

Preview: Revealed to the World

Today (Thursday, 1/6) is Epiphany, the day on which Christians around the world celebrate the visit of the Magi to see Jesus, the newborn Savior.  This coming Sunday, we will study Matthew 2:1-12, the story of that ancient visit, as we begin a new series of sermons on “The Mission of Christ.”  What is the significance of Jesus being revealed to foreign dignitaries in this way?  Come worship with us on Sunday as we discover this together!

–Pastor David