Revealing Christ

Sermon On The Mount Series Matthew 6:1 Don't do charitable deeds to be seen by others; examine your motivations for giving.   Alms was money, but in the OLD Testament, tithe laws were ONLY food, not money. You don't need to be a theologian to figure that out. I've been to churches where they have everyone march up the isle waving their money and lay it at the pastors feet... can you say cringe wor...

Sermon On The Mount Series Matthew 5:48 You Shall Be Perfect.  Did Jesus mean that? Good luck. The Greek meaning of the word "perfect" is simply "being mature" or "growing up",  not about flawless performance.  Your proximity to Christ makes you holy.  Claiming exclusive connection to the "first-century church" does nothing.  External religious practices do not make you holy. Maturity means:   * B...

Sermon On The Mount Series  Matthew 5:41 "Whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two" Originally there was a Roman law allowing soldiers to conscript civilians to carry their armor for one mile... think about the context!  Think about the abuse that Rome inflicted on Israel! Would you obey this? Again, Jesus teaches a fundamentally different approach to dealing with enemies. The Kingdom o...

Sermon On The Mount Series  Matthew 5:38-40 Jesus's teaching on nonresistance. Jesus teaches-and demonstrates- a radical approach to handling conflict by commanding followers not to retaliate against PERSONAL offenses. We are to respond with gentleness and spiritual strength instead of violence. This involves more transformation than most people (especially men) than we wish to endure. Important n...

Sermon On The Mount Series Matthew 5:33-37 Jesus teaches against making oaths, especially potentially life-or-death scenarios!  What's the context?  Marriage!  There is no biblical command to take an oath 'to death', but some men kill their wife, and wrongly use the Bible to do so!   Great opportunity to look at the Jephthah Story (Judges 11). Jephthah made a rash vow to God: Sacrifice the first t...

Sermon On The Mount Series Matthew 5:31-32 Divorce Shaming. Traditional church teachings shame divorced individuals, especially women. God made laws allowing for divorce, therefore divorce is not inherently sinful but abusing the law is. God's intention in allowing divorce was to set people free from bondage to abusive relationships. SELAH. It doesn't take much study to see discrepancies between G...

Sermon On The Mount Series Matthew 5:27 - Lust and Spiritual Adultery Jesus defines adultery beyond physical act to include mental/spiritual intentions. The Devil's strategy is convincing people they know better than God. Temptation often starts with dissatisfaction and the belief "I deserve more" Cell phones make temptation easier, but there's no such thing as a 'private browser'- God sees everyt...

Sermon On The Mount Series Matthew 5:25-26 Agree with your adversary quickly while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny." Your main adversary is "the law", not the devil.  We make ourselves enem...

Sermon On The Mount Series Matthew 5:21 - "Murder in Your Heart".  Jesus teaches that murder begins in the heart, with emotions like anger, bitterness, and a desire for vengeance. if you long to see the demise of another instead of their salvation, then you have murder in your heart. Jesus uses the law to reveal the thoughts and intentions of the heart and serve as a "tutor" to bring people to rep...

Sermon On The Mount Series Matthew 5:20 - "Unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven." The biggest mistake people make is comparing themselves to others as a standard of goodness.  Religious observance does not equate to true righteousness, and sometimes fosters pride and self-righteousness. True righteousness...

Sermon On The Mount Series Matthew 5:17-18: "Do not think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill." Romans 10:4: "Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes." The term "end" or "fulfillment" of the law does not mean abolishment, but culmination. The Greek word "teleo" is central to understanding this concept. "Teleo" mea...

Sermon On The Mount Series  Matthew 5:14-16 - "You are the light of the world"  Wait what? Me? Kinda...Christians are called to REFLECT Christ's light in the world through their actions and character. Being a "light" isn't just about proclamation, but about living out Christ's teachings authentically, even when no one is looking.  We can expose darkness through our example of genuine Christ-like b...

Sermon On The Mount Series Matthew 5:13 "You Are The Salt Of The Earth". Christians are called to be "salt of the earth" - Just because you're salt doesn't mean you can't become quite useless.  Salt can lose its effectiveness if you don't engage with the world outside your "Christian compound". The people who need Christ are the ones on the outside. Salt does not change anything until it comes in...

Sermon On The Mount Series  Matthew 5:11-12 "Blessed Are Those Who Are Persecuted For His Name's Sake" This usually occurs in personal settings like workplace or family, sometimes from those who also name Christ.  Surprisingly, it often happens for believing in Christ's teachings of non-violence and loving enemies. Forgiveness is crucial, but it doesn't mean continuing to enable abuse, but we must...

Sermon On The Mount Series Matthew 5:10 "Blessed are those who are persecuted" Persecution means you're being 'persued' and Satans best trick is to persue you with spiritual confusion about what God's kingdom is. Satan persues believers with carnal means of spiritual growth through materialistic, carnal substitutes. True persecution is about maintaining spiritual integrity, denying self, and follo...

Sermon On The Mount Series  Matthew 5:9: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God" Where are the peacemakers? They're out there but their efforts just don't make the news.  James 3:18 says "The fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace" We know Christ laid down His life in order to make peace, but many Christians would rather kill... even each ot...

Does the cross change God, or does it change us? Where was the Holy Spirit during the cross?  Did Jesus drink the cup of Gods wrath or was it something else?  Is it reasonable to infer our own interpretation as 'gospel truth'.  Why did it take 1,000 years for the doctrine of PSA to become accepted as mainstream theology? What did theologians believe before that?  How does the wrath view of the cro...

Have you ever wrestled with any of these questions? Was the wrath of God put on Christ? Does God need an object to put His punishment on? Did God forsake His Beloved Son so He wouldn't need to forsake you?  Did Jesus become 'sin'?  Was the Trinity broken during the cross? Was the cross punishment or a demonstration of grace?  Was the cross retribution or redemption? It takes a good study and some...

The moment when Jesus cried out in Matthew 27:46 "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" He couldn't feel the presence of God for the first time in all eternity past, or future. This cry is often interpreted as confusion, but I believe it is a deliberate quotation of Psalm 22.  Jesus knew exactly why. What do you think? Did God "turn His back" on His Only Son? Or was the Father broken also? Ps...

Shaming Eve for humanity's fall from grace is an lame excuse for yourself. Adam and Eve were responsible for their own actions not yours.  Using scripture to shame or blame others, especially women, highlights your own hypocrisy. 1 Timothy 2:14 shows us: Adam was not deceived- he knew exactly what he was doing was wrong- Eve was decieved- but he still blames her!  Don't fall into that trap!

Luke 24:13-35 God meets us in our deepest moments of doubt and despair. Christ draws near to the broken-hearted, even when we fail to recognize Him. Jesus doesn't force Himself on those who aren't seeking Him and He would have passed by if the disciples hadn't constrained Him to stay - a sobering reminder that encountering Christ requires a genuine desire to know Him.

The Ark (coffin) of the Covenant reveals the attributes of Jesus Christ.  The acacia wood, beaten gold, the manna, the angels, the mercy seat, Aaron's rod, it all points to Christ. The Ark also symbolizes our need for mercy, transformation, and the danger of religious performance without genuine relationship.

God didn't dismantle the Most Holy Place to be replaced with religious trinkets, but with something far more profound: Christ in you, a living, breathing sanctuary in human hearts. The torn temple veil reveals God's ultimate plan, how through faith in Jesus, every believer becomes the new holy place, in dwelt by the living God. Hebrews 10:19-20 declares, we now have boldness to enter His Presence...

Christ's ministry began with turning water into the finest wine at Cana, surrounded by joy and love, yet ended with unbearable bitterness, receiving sour wine from those who hated Him, all to fulfill Scripture and accomplish our redemption with a triumphant "It is finished!"

When Christ died, the earth itself trembled. Discover how one moment of ultimate sacrifice shook the world—literally and spiritually—and how sometimes it takes an earthquake to transform a soul.