In part 2 of True or False we look at what it means to bear good fruit. If Jesus says beware those who produce bad fruit, then we should both be on the lookout for those producing good fruit, and we ourselves, recognize that we are meant to produce good fruit. What does that look like? What is good fruit? And how does it grow?

Sometimes Jesus would bring a strong word of warning. In Matthew 7:15 he tells his followers to beware those who would come preaching and prophesying something other than the truth of God. "Beware the false prophets!" He says. Was that just for that time? Are there false prophets today? Is this just a warning against those who would call themselves "prophets", or is there more to it?

Most people don't argue with you when you say life is hard. And most people agree that the "easy way out" isn't always the best way. So, when Jesus says that it's actually the hard road that leads to a narrow gate that leads to life, should we be all that surprised? On the other side of remaining comfortable is usually where we find our greatest breakthrough in life. Big decisions make for big steps forward. Hard choices face us all the time. And this is most true when talking about the Kingdom of Heaven and what it looks like to be a follower of Jesus, who said, "If you want to be my disciple, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow Me."

Starting our new series, Kingdom Ambassadors, we are looking at what Jesus says in Matthew 7:12, what we often call "The Golden Rule". Jesus wasn't the first to say something like this, and he wasn't the last either, but the message of Jesus is not only good information, it's the Good News! It's the gospel that transforms lives. The Love of God, expressed through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit is what gives us the ability to love God, and love others. We love because he loved us first!

As we saw last week God the Father is faithful to us. He is our Father and He is trustworthy, faithful and true. And it is that faithfulness that invites us into being faithful to him.

In a short two week series we are looking at the simple reality that God is faithful, and in that faithfulness it should inspire our faithfulness toward God. Jesus said in Matthew 7:7-11 that our pursuit of God will not go unnoticed and unanswered. That if we, who are human and prone to imperfection, know how to give good gifts to our children, how much more will our Heavenly Father, who is perfect, give gifts to those who ask him. Or in another gospel he says that the gift is the Holy Spirit. But to trust that God gifts good gifts we have to trust that God is good. That God the Father is trustworthy, loves us, and as Hebrews 11 says, rewards those who seek him.

Jesus makes what could be seen as a pretty confusing statement. It seems like he's calling people dogs and pigs! What does it mean? Why is he saying it? Does he mean something else, and if so, what? And does it apply for us today at all? He is saying something quite deep, quite profound, and it can be hidden in the confusing words, but is worth looking at.

As we continue our series on Playing God and we look at Matthew 7:1-6, Jesus continues to tell us that we must deal with the issues we carry so that we can help others in their journey. Judging, condemning, pointing out someone else's flaws or difficulties when we are burdened with the same does no good for either of us. But when we allow Jesus to heal us, we can be a resource and helper to those who need healing.

In this new series we are looking at Matthew 7:1-6, where Jesus talks about making judgments. First things first, he tells us not to judge. It's not our place. Even he said that he hadn't come to the world to judge it, but to save it. Does that means there's no judgement? No. Not by any means. It means that we are in the time of salvation, where the good news of the gospel is that God's desire is that none should perish, but all come to repentance and receive eternal life through Jesus Christ!

There are three things in Matthew 6 that Jesus seems to simply just assume we will do: Give, Pray & Fast. To each he says, "When you...." Not if, but when. Fasting is meant to be a regular part of our discipleship to Jesus, yet for many, it isn't. It can be a topic of confusion, bring up feelings of religiosity or a burden to carry, and yet, Jesus says that the Father is looking to reward us when we participate in this spiritual practice in following Him.

Jesus tells us that we should be praying for God to rescue us, to deliver us from the work of the devil. We should pray for God to protect us, keep evil far from us, and when it comes to deliver us from it. Psalm 34 says we can call on the name of the Lord and he will hear us and respond! We are called to pray. Not just to ask God for help in our time of need, but everyday, "God, keep evil far from me!"

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?