Cross Church Winnipeg Sermon Podcast

Jesus’ teaching is just as relevant today as it was 2,000 years ago. He tackles tough issues head on. When we think of the wonderful things that God has given us, we know that the gift of Jesus Christ and the salvation that comes through Christ is the greatest gift humanity has ever received. Perhaps the second greatest gift humanity has ever received is this magnificent prayer called the Lord’s p...

Jesus’ teaching is just as relevant today as it was 2,000 years ago. He tackles tough issues head on. Here is what Jesus says about HOW to pray: Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us today the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. And do...

Jesus’ teaching is just as relevant today as it was 2,000 years ago. He tackles tough issues head on. Before our Lord Jesus tells us how to pray, first He tells us HOW not to pray: “When you pray, don’t babble on and on as the Gentiles do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even befo...

Jesus’ teaching is just as relevant today as it was 2,000 years ago. He tackles tough issues head on. Here is what Jesus says about how NOT to pray: “When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut t...

Jesus’ teaching is just as relevant today as it was 2,000 years ago. He tackles tough issues head on. Here is what Jesus says about giving to the needy: “Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. 2 When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to ca...

Jesus’ teaching is just as relevant today as it was 2,000 years ago. He tackles tough issues head on. Here is what Jesus says about what to do with people who are, or seem to be, our enemies: “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in...

Jesus’ teaching is just as relevant today as it was 2,000 years ago. He tackles tough issues head on. Here is what Jesus says about revenge and how Christians cope with the yearning to get even: “You have heard the law that says the punishment must match the injury: ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer...

Jesus’ teaching is just as relevant today as it was 2,000 years ago. He tackles tough issues head on. Here is what Jesus says about makes vows and taking oaths: “You have also heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not break your vows; you must carry out the vows you make to the Lord.’  But I say, do not make any vows! Do not say, ‘By heaven!’ because heaven is God’s throne. And do not say,...

Jesus’ teaching is just as relevant today as it was 2,000 years ago. He tackles tough issues head-on. In an age when marriage is no longer revered as sacred and holy, and in a time when divorce is just as prevalent among Christians as non-Christians, it's important to remember that God says that He hates divorce and to hear what Jesus says about it: “You have heard the law that says, ‘A man c...

Jesus’ teaching is just as relevant today as it was 2,000 years ago. He tackles tough issues head on. Here is what He says about lust and sexual purity: “You have heard the commandment that says, ‘You must not commit adultery.’ But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. So if your eye—even your good eye—causes you to lust, gouge it o...

A special Thanksgiving message reminding us to be thankful in all circumstances.

The Kingdom of God and the personal life of the Christian are described in the highest standards. It is a standard that is impossible for mere humans to live up to. But Jesus lived up to His own standards perfectly and then He insists that His followers also live up to these standards. Thank God that by His grace and the empowering of the Holy Spirit, we can live out these perfect standards. Jesus...

Most Christians are quick to declare, “I’m under grace; I’m not under the Law.” But Jesus emphatically declared, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” The law of God given to Moses is a set of guidelines to ensure that the Israelites' behavior reflected their status as God’s chosen people. It encompasses moral...

In the beginning, God said, “let there be light.” In darkness there is death. In the light there is life. The Jewish people were supposed to be the light of the world. To the Jews, God said, “I, the Lord, have called you to demonstrate my righteousness. I will take you by the hand and guard you, and I will give you to my people, Israel, as a symbol of my covenant with them. And you will be a light...

Jesus says, “Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.” We crave the praises and the glory that humans give. It’s a sign of the sin that resides in every human. Since the fall of humanity, we have wanted to be like God. In fact that was the very temptation: “You shall be like God.” The follower of Jesus Christ understands that it is God’s praise...

Jesus says, “Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep.” Our Lord’s brother, James reminds us of this when he says, 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. (James 4:9-10) The world loves comedy and loves to laugh. We all know that laughter is like a drug. It cheers us up and helps...

Jesus says, “Woe to you who are full now, for you shall be hungry.” In the parable of the sheep and the goats in Matthew 25, Jesus is speaking about the judgment of God. Those who refuse to meet the needs of the hungry and the thirsty, the imprisoned and the sick and the naked will be rejected by God. Jesus says, “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” We...

Jesus says, “But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.” Jesus teaches the Beatitudes in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. In Matthew it is part of the Sermon on the Mount. In Luke it is part of the Sermon on the Plains. But our Lord adds four woes, or words of sorrow, immediately following the beatitudes in Luke. The woes are a warning to all who reject or disregard Chris...

heaven.” All the Beatitudes demonstrate God’s reversal of the world’s values, but perhaps none so markedly as this eighth one. How can being persecuted be “blessed”? Persecution is never pleasant but involves suffering and often severe pain. The key is Jesus’ qualification that the blessed persecution comes “for righteousness’ sake.” Jesus wasn’t offering a general blessing to all victims of perse...

Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Traditionally, "peacemakers" has been interpreted to mean not only those who live in peace with others, but also those who do their best work to promote friendship among humans and between God and humanity. In the fourth century, St. Gregory of Nyssa, interpreted it as "Godly work", which is an imit...

Jesus said, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.”  The Greek word for “pure” is katharos. It means to be “clean, blameless, unstained from guilt.” Interestingly, the word can refer specifically to that which is purified by fire or by pruning. John the Baptist told people that Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire. Malachi speaks of the Messiah as being like a “refin...

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. To be merciful is to show forgiveness and compassion to those in need. Jesus frequently spoke of this trait. In the Lord’s Prayer, He says, “Forgive us our sins, as we also have forgiven those who sin against us.” Jesus instructs the Pharisees, “Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the ri...

King Jesus always begins with the heart, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. When He pronounced a blessing on those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, He touched on the inner condition of our hearts. Those listening were living under the oppressive rule of the Roman Empire. They were experiencing excessive taxation, denied freedoms, and pe...

Jesus said, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Meekness is submissiveness and humility. It’s easy to see how people would naturally reject this as a way of life. Although this Beatitude concerning being meek has been much praised, even by many non-Christians, such as Mahatma Gandhi, some view the admonition to meekness with great skepticism. Friedrich Nietzsche in his book ca...

Jesus said, "Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted." It is important to remember that this portion of Jesus’ teaching was directed toward His closest friends, not the general population. The beatitudes are the opening words of Jesus’ sermon on the Mount and is a collection of truths designed to prepare His followers for His kingdom, which involved a lifestyle radically...