Contrast Church

The type of community Jesus is revealing is one that tears down cultural, social, and moral barriers so that all may find freedom and belonging in Him.

By healing a paralytic and forgiving his sins through his authority, Jesus shows us that he became the walking temple for our sins and brokenness.

As Jesus is ushering in the light of his Kingdom, the enemy will try and stop it-- but Jesus has true power and authority over any spiritual oppression.

Jesus’ bluntly says that following Him requires all of us, and he won’t allow our own brokenness and excuses to get in the way of him loving us.

By following Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, he moves from words to action by revealing the true authority his kingdom has over pain, suffering, and racism by loving the disadvantaged.

Jesus ends his sermon on the mount with four haunting warnings every follower of Jesus must understand and consider.

Jesus is revealing to us that God the Father wants us to be in relationship with us and for us to ask for things in prayer trusting him in the process.

As followers of Jesus, we must discern our own faults before we humbly examine the faults of others followers.

Jesus reminds us that our priority is to seek Him and his Kingdom, and everything will fall into place.

Jesus thought very differently about money than we do.

Jesus’ prayer shows us all we need to focus on in prayer with the Father.

Jesus shows us that followers of Jesus pursue the things of God (giving, prayer, fasting) for God and not for ourselves or others.

The way of Jesus is not just love for your neighbor, but love and prayer for your enemies. Love must be given to all by those who follow Jesus

The way Jesus retaliates is far different than the way we and the world thinks we should retaliate. For Jesus, retaliation is filled with a ridiculous abundance of grace & love.

Jesus cares deeply about our words, especially when we spin and manipulate our words to elevate our agendas at the cost of relationships.

Jesus shows his heart and passion for God’s creation of marriage while humanity has tarnished this through divorce and hard hearts. However, ultimately Jesus’ heart is for reconciliation and grace towards any of us who have been divorced, adulterous, and sinful.

Jesus boldly proclaims that though God has given us sexual desire for good, the sin of lust will consume us if we don’t realize the severity of it, nor confront/dealt with it.

Jesus reveals that we must dig even deeper than the external sin of murder towards a heart of anger that must be dealt with. Even the smallest sins are an injustice towards God and his kingdom.

Jesus reveals that he has come to fulfill the law in its entirety. From this reality, he calls his followers to dive deeper into the heart of the law as they follow him.

In Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, he reveals that the DNA of those in his Kingdom are Salt (which preserves and enhances), and Light (which illuminates and expels darkness) for the world.

Jesus’ first priority in his Sermon on the Mount (Hill) was to reveal that those whom the world least values, respects, and understands are the first people welcomed and blessed in His kingdom.

Jesus starts his public ministry with proclaiming the need for repentance because the Kingdom of God is here.

Jesus reveals to us that ultimate trust in God is not contingent on our circumstances, ability to play God, or own power.

John the baptist was the forerunner for Jesus who proclaimed “Repent, for the kingdom of God is near.” The kingdom of God is God’s presence in our reality.

Matthew is drawing on the Old Testament prophecies to show how Jesus will fulfill the need for a Messiah to come and save and restore the people of Israel in a way we would hardly want or recognize.