Jesus tells us to ask God to not lead us into temptation. Does God do that? Does God tempt us? Test us? Put us through trial? For what purpose would He do that? Or is there more to the story?

In the middle of this prayer that Jesus is teaching his disciples, he includes that if we want to be forgiven, we must choose to forgive those who have sinned against us. Is this really an ultimatum? Is Jesus saying we can't be forgiven until we choose to forgive? And is this judgment or justice?

Jesus doesn't start with, "Ask God for things..." He starts with, "Honor your Father, who He is, and His kingdom. Invite His plan, over yours..." Then he adds, in Matthew 6:11, to ask God for provision. God invites us to talk to him about our needs. He is provider. He is sustainer. He is our help in times of trouble. And He is our good and perfect Father, who already knows what we need, so we don't need to worry, but can confidently approach His throne of grace to receive mercy!

In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus isn't just teaching a model prayer to use, but he's teaching the heart behind prayer. What we pray, why we pray, who we are praying to is all of great importance. And when we pray, we are inviting God into our circumstances, but, are we willing to step into His purposes?

Jesus, after giving some instructions on how not to pray, and that in the private place is the best place, he continues on to the "model" of prayer, starting with, "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name..." In that one line he encourages the availability of God the Father to all mankind. You have a Father! He loves you. He accepts you. He is waiting to embrace you! And He is also God Almighty, Creator of the universe!

As Jesus continues his "Sermon on the Mount" he gets to the topic of prayer and fasting in Matthew 6:5-18. Just like he says when talking about generosity, he says of these two topics, they are private matters between us and God. We are meant to have a personal and private prayer life before God.

Wrapping up this series, we look at what Jesus says about the worries of this world. We all have them. Will we have enough? Where will our provision come from? What about the needs I have, or the ones I can't even see yet, or my retirement? Jesus does not want us to live in fear or worry!

As we continue our series, Money Matters, we get to the point where Jesus says that it's impossible to serve money and God at the same time. Something's going to win our affections, and if we don't choose God, we will end up being divided and following the ways of the world.

Jesus starts by talking about generosity, and that our motives matter. But then he talks about what we hold on to, about when we do not give away, but have things in our possession. Why do we hold on to them? Is it out of fear? And if so, are we truly trusting in God?

In our new series, Money Matters, we are looking what Jesus says about money and possessions in the Sermon on the Mount. The first thing...giving to those in need. Jesus was specific in explaining what our motives should be when we give to those who are in need.

Jesus said if we are to be perfect, as our heavenly Father is perfect, we must learn to love our enemies, and pray for those who persecute us. It might just be one of the hardest thing there is. But through Christ's accomplishing the purpose of the law, we are able to rely on Him for where we fall short.

Our words are not just important, but powerful. Proverbs tells us that there is life and death in the power of the tongue. So what we say matters! And Jesus brings some correction to how people had been interpreting and using the law of Moses to their own advantage. Vows aren't bad, but if you make them, you have to stick with them. Better to not make a vow and not have a promise you can break!

God did not intend for people to suffer heartache in their marriages. God did not intend for marriages to fall apart. Marriage is one of the greatest blessings on this earth. But for the best marriage to happen, we have to be healthy, whole, and following Jesus.

I don't know if I've met anyone that doesn't deal with these simple, yet potentially devastating issues: Anger & Revenge. Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount challenges both of these. Anger and revenge start in the heart, but lead to so much more, and Jesus came that we would experience life, not death.

In this first week of a new series, we are going to be looking at what Jesus says about the law and what we should focus on when it comes to the law and righteousness.

Join us as John shares a word that he's got on his heart!

Today we celebrate our risen Savior and King, Jesus Christ, who declared, as he hung on the cross, “It is finished!”

As Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem, just a few days before the people would be shouting at the top of their lungs, "Crucify Him! Crucify him!", they praised, "Behold, Jerusalem, Your king is coming to you! Humble, riding on a donkey!" How drastically things changed. This king, willing to lay down his life, had come for the salvation of all mankind.

No one likes going through hard times, or dealing with people treating them differently. And sometimes we get ourselves into those situations, and other times it's like Jesus said, the world won't understand why we follow Him, and because of that, they will persecute the church. Sure, we've all done things we shouldn't have that got backlash, but what about when we are doing everything right, and we are treated poorly because of that?

Jesus said that those who make peace are blessed. He also said that it was a clear sign that they are the sons of God. He who is the Prince of Peace, leads us into a life of peace, for the purpose of creating peace around us. But the question is, do we have peace?