Unmet Expectations (Mark 11:1-11)

A remarkable aspect of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem was that He entered Jerusalem on a colt (a young donkey). Have you ever wondered why Jesus did not walk into Jerusalem as He had always done before? With the exception of traveling by boat, this is the only instance recorded in Scripture of Jesus notContinue reading "Unmet Expectations (Mark 11:1-11)"

A Strong Foundation (Matthew 7:24-29)

While professional boxer “Iron” Mike Tyson was never considered a great philosopher, he did have some poignant insight when asked about his opponents plan to defend against his left hook. Tyson responded, “Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.” In other words, if your plan does not help you navigate adversity,Continue reading "A Strong Foundation (Matthew 7:24-29)"

A Call for Christian Discernment (Matthew 7:15-23)

Since the 2016 Presidential Election, we have heard a lot about “Fake News” with both sides of the political aisle accusing one another of being behind it. There are some websites such as Snopes.com & Politifact.com that tout themselves as “fact-checkers”. But, lately many “fact-checkers” have come under fire for deliberately misrepresenting or misreporting theirContinue reading "A Call for Christian Discernment (Matthew 7:15-23)"

The Narrow Gate (Matthew 7:13-14)

Jesus was once asked, “Lord…are only a few people going to be saved?” Jesus replied, “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because I tell you, many will try to enter and won’t be able” (Luke 13:22-24). In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus has spoken about the character of a disciple andContinue reading "The Narrow Gate (Matthew 7:13-14)"

The Golden Rule (Matthew 7:12)

Too often we react rather than respond. It is tempting to think of these two words synonymous, but they are not actually the same. A reaction is an immediate type of response. In many cases, it is a bad type of response because it is instantaneous. For example, if we receive bad news, we mayContinue reading "The Golden Rule (Matthew 7:12)"

Do not Judge! (Matthew 7:1-6)

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus addressed the issue of judgment. He said to His disciples: “Do not judge, so that you won’t be judged.” We must be extra cautious in how we understand this verse because it has been greatly misused over the years. Let us consider: Stop Judging One Another Jesus toldContinue reading "Do not Judge! (Matthew 7:1-6)"

The Cure for Anxiety (Matthew 6:25-34)

God hasn’t told you that you have nothing to worry about; He told you that you shouldn’t worry about anything (John 14:1). Let me explain. There are a lot of things in this world that you can worry about. You can worry about your job, family, marriage, taxes, etc. Nowhere in the Bible does GodContinue reading "The Cure for Anxiety (Matthew 6:25-34)"

A Biblical Perspective of our Possessions: Saving Wisely and Living Appropriately (Matthew 6:19-24)

Photo by rawpixel.com on Pexels.com Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount, teaches His disciples about how they should live in the kingdom of God. In our current section of this sermon, Jesus speaks of the importance of having a biblical perspective of possessions. If your perspective is not biblical, it is worldly. A worldlyContinue reading "A Biblical Perspective of our Possessions: Saving Wisely and Living Appropriately (Matthew 6:19-24)"

A Biblical Perspective of Possessions: Give Generously (6:19-24)

While the vast majority of born-again Christians want to give generously, very few actually do. According to a recent study , only 10–25 % of Church members regularly give. Religious giving is down 50% since 1990 and Christians are giving around 2.5% of income. Compare this to 3.3% given during the Great Depression. One statisticContinue reading "A Biblical Perspective of Possessions: Give Generously (6:19-24)"

A Biblical Perspective of our Possessions: Part 1 (Matthew 6:19-24)

It is one thing for you to own possessions, but possessions should not own you. When that happens, they’re no longer possessions; they’re idols. We must repent of and fight against a lifestyle of self-indulgence which is contrary to the Gospel. Self-indulgence breeds a hard heart towards God and others. Over the next five weeksContinue reading "A Biblical Perspective of our Possessions: Part 1 (Matthew 6:19-24)"