The Subtle Negligence in the Church

Text: Mark 10:13-16

There are many ways that Satan attacks the Church and seeks to bring about her demise, but one of the most powerful and potent attacks he brings is spiritual complacency that leads us to neglect the next generation. This neglect is rarely intentional, but it is seriously subtle and extremely dangerous. This message points us to the example of Jesus as He models what it means to care for children and point them to Him. We invite you to listen today and consider what role God is leading you to take in leading the next generation to Him.

The Blessed Life: Blessed Are the Persecuted

Text: Matthew 5:1-12

Jesus closes His statements on “The Blessed Life” with this final beatitude: “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness.” This, though, sounds absurd and is directly opposed to our cultural norms and personal wants. We have often come to believe that the truly blessed ones are those who are rich, who have everything they want, and who live life to the “full.” However, Jesus shows us once again that the life blessed in Him is very different than the world. In this message, God shows us plainly that there are deep, profound, and rich blessings in store for those who experience persecution in Christ, and this truth leads us to experience rejoicing and gladness in Him.

The Blessed Life: Blessed Are the Peacemakers

Text: Matthew 5:1-9

This message explores the next to last beatitude and is vitally connected to those coming before and after. This beatitude perhaps gives us the greatest glimpse at how we can reflect the character and mission of our heavenly Father. In this beatitude we are reminded that those who have experienced true peace through the Prince of Peace become the ambassadors for peace in a world desperately seeking peace in their own hearts and in the world around them. The peace He provides is a peace to be shared even, and perhaps especially, with those at odds with us. We invite you to listen today and invite the God of peace to fill your heart with His peace so that you can share that peace with others around in living in strife and conflict.

The Blessed Life: Blessed Are the Pure in Heart

Text: Matthew 5:1-8

This message concerning the sixth beatitude is of vital importance. Writers have called this verse “the most comprehensive of all the beatitudes” and “one of the greatest utterances in all the Bible.” The reason this has such significance is that Jesus immediately addresses what is most important. We often get distracted by all the external happenings in our lives, both good and bad, but Jesus shows us emphatically that God is looking at the heart. He desires and requires that we must be pure in heart, but this is impossible with man. We invite you to listen today and invite the Great Physician to examine your heart so that He might bring the cleansing and healing that He alone can bring.