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)”
Tag Archives: Sermon on the Mount
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)
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 worldly perspective is that all myContinue 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)”
Fasting that is Pleasing to God (6:16-18)
Cornelius Plantinga once said, “Self-indulgence is the enemy of gratitude and self-discipline is usually its friend and generator.”1 This is because the more you indulge in something, the more likely you are to take it for granted; but, the more you discipline yourself with something, the more likely you are to appreciate it. This bringsContinue reading “Fasting that is Pleasing to God (6:16-18)”
Prayers of Confession (Matthew 6:12,14-15)
In this section of Jesus’ prayer, He tells His disciples to pray “and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” In this prayer Jesus teaches them about Prayers of Confession: the need to be forgiven and to forgive. Forgive Us Our Sins When we become a Christian, God forgives all ourContinue reading “Prayers of Confession (Matthew 6:12,14-15)”
Prayers of Dependence (Matthew 6:10-11 Luke 11:2-3)
After instructing His disciples to pray “Father, hallowed be Your name”, He tells them to pray “Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread.” In this section we shall learn about Prayers of Dependence. Let’s take a closer look at this prayer. YourContinue reading “Prayers of Dependence (Matthew 6:10-11 Luke 11:2-3)”
First Baptist Scott City, MO 