Chapel in the Hills

Jesus concludes His sermon with a fourth call to action, this time focusing on the foundation upon which one builds. Those who hear His words and do not apply them are those who remain on the broad way, while those who hear His word and do them are followers of The Way.

Jesus makes one of His most shocking claims in the Sermon on the Mount regarding tares who believe they are saved but are not. Jesus calls His true followers to live lives of holiness and to repent of their sin. Tares, however, love their sin and are deemed workers of lawlessness.

The narrow way is an unpopular way that many false teachers will try to get you off, and Jesus reminds us to critically think through a teachers life, doctrine, and congregation. Wolves are all around us, but Jesus' way is clear and is found in His Word

Jesus sums up His teaching on the Sermon on the Mount with the Golden Rule. As Disciples we are called to enter through the narrow gate (Jesus) and then walk in the way of Jesus (The Golden Rule).

John seeks to give the Church assurance of salvation through three important points: obedience, love, and the process of spiritual growth.

In Psalm 28, David gives us a picture of the believer pleading for God's mercy, petitioning for God's perfect justice, and praising Him for His strength. If we believe in and call on God, he will save us now and for eternity.

After hearing Jesus' high standards for His disciples in the Sermon on the Mount, the only question the believers are left with is, "How can I meet these standards?" Here, Jesus provides the key to discipleship: persistent prayer. We can only meet these standards in Christ with the help of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus teaches His disciples not to Judge. Specifically, He teaches that we are not to usurp God's authority in judgment. Nevertheless, He also instructs how Christians are to properly judge other Christians and also how to discern in our judgment of non-believers.

Jesus commands His disciples to not be anxious three times in this passage, and provides His disciples the key to overcoming anxiety. Anxiety is a sin of infirmity or weakness that requires absolute dependence upon God's grace and mercy, recognizing His providential care in every area of life.

Jesus moves from discussing secret acts of religious piety to a further discussion of heavenly reward. For His disciples, He calls us to store our treasures in heaven and not on earth.

Jesus deals with the third religious practice that was being abused by the Jews during his day, fasting, and calls His followers to reject being hypocrites. Rather than fasting for man's attention, we are called to fast for an audience of One, God. Fasting is the key tool for breaking idols in our lives.

Jesus gives us the Master's Plan for Prayer, and He expects His disciples to pray according to how He taught us to pray. Pray then like this, pray to honor God by thoughtfully praying the petitions of the Lord's Prayer.

In the final petition of the Lord's Prayer, Jesus teaches that His disciples ought to pray defense against sin. Pray that you will not fall into trials where you are likely to fail, and that God would continue to provide a hedge of protection against Satan.

Jesus teaches us to confess our sins and to ask God forgiveness of our debts. Likewise, we are called to forgive others who have sinned against us, demonstrating that we are followers of Christ.

Jesus call His followers to rely on God for their daily provision. Like manna, God wants us to depend on Him for our needs and to be content with all that He provides.

The first three petitions in the Lord's prayer focus on God and His Glory. In the second and third petition, Jesus is focusing His disciples on the coming Kingdom. Our prayers must always be centered on His Kingdom come.

Jesus sets the example for prayer and teaches His disciples how to pay. In this sermon, Jesus begins by focusing His disciples' attention on God the Father and His glory in prayer.

Jesus teaches His disciples to pray, not so that other people notice them, but knowing the Father already knows their needs because He cares for His children. In condemning vain glory and vain repetition, Jesus moves to teach us how to pray and to inform us what we should pray.

Jesus begins to teach His disciples how they are to pray, and he begins by dealing with hypocritical prayer. Prayer, by definition, is talking to God. The goal of prayer, then, should not be to be seen by others but to be seen by God.

In the second major section of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, He discusses His disciples' religious practices. He focuses on giving, prayer, and fasting in this major section. In the first topic of giving, He explains that His followers must live for the reward of the Father versus the temporary reward that comes from man's applause.

This 30,000-ft. flyover of the Book of Song of Solomon will help to demonstrate romantic wisdom. Solomon's greatest weakness was women, and he reflects on the love he ought to have enjoyed—the wife of his youth.

It is vital for us today to learn from Solomon's life and writings in biblical sexuality and romance. For someone who experienced everything under the sun, his discoveries of wisdom are crucial for modern-day Christians who seek to navigate a sexually confused world.