Midtown Church Podcast

In general, many of us are hypercritical, unaccepting of differences, and quick to pass judgment. In Matthew 7:1-6, Jesus confronts that hypercritical posture, not with undisciplined acceptance, but by first taking a hard look at our own life. The Sermon on the Mount is not an isolated speech. The whole sermon is Christ describing what life in the kingdom and allegiance to him looks like. Obedienc...

At surface value, Jesus’ words in Matthew 6:25-24, “do not be anxious” can seem dismissive. Upon further investigation, within the context of his life, Jesus is offering us a framework of faith to not just cope with the anxieties of life but to truly become a non-anxious presence. The Sermon on the Mount is not an isolated speech. The whole sermon is Christ describing what life in the kingdom and...

Monetary dissatisfaction and the desire for more possessions are not new phenomena. in Matthew 6:19-24, Jesus gently confronts his disciples’ desire for more beckoning them to redirect their desires’ toward those things of eternal value. King Midas and the Golden Touch Retold by Pamela Oldfield The Fellowship of the Ring, The Shadow of the Past, JR Tolkein, pp. 60-62 Theranos, American Scandal, na...

To be human is to experience a complex web of appetites and desires. Many of those desires are healthy and natural; while others are more nefarious, corrosive, and wrong, and in many ways, those desires can master us. For millennia, fasting, going without food and drink for a period of time, has been a core practice of the Church. This is in part because it brings our body and spirit into alignmen...

Jesus envisions a life energized by prayer for his disciples, so much so that it is difficult to imagine a life of apprenticeship to Jesus absent of a healthy prayer life. But if we are honest, most of us would acknowledge that prayer is a weak point in our apprenticeship to Jesus. In Matthew 6:5-15, Jesus comments on two misunderstandings of prayer and then will give one of the most profound teac...

There is a distorted vision of righteousness that puts performative action over sincere motivation. In Matthew 6:1-4, Jesus addresses our righteousness prompting us to ask the question, “what’s is my motivation?” Three Reminders about the sermon on the Mount The Sermon on the Mount is not an isolated speech. “[Jesus’] life is but a commentary on the sermon and the sermon is the exemplification of...

We struggle with the idea of sharing the Gospel because even that phrase has been co-opted by the misguided, the manipulative, or just tone-deaf to the moment. They mostly feel like a bait-and-switch or a multi-level marketing scheme, then a Jesus’ invitation into a new kingdom. What if sharing the Gospel could look like inviting a neighbor over for dinner? Or taking a Saturday to serve our city i...

As city dwellers, we've learned to remain anonymous; from our neighbors to our barista, we can navigate life without knowing the name or story of people we interact with on a daily basis. We believe that the vision of community that Christ has in mind is far more costly, far more intimate, far messier, and far more beautiful than what we’ve settled for. We believe that we start to become hospitabl...

We exist in this moment were using a term like justice is just good branding; which of our favorite brands hasn't made a statement condemning something or advocating for something? For the people of God to embody holistic justice, we must recognize that justice is not an auxiliary topic to the Gospel– justice is how the Gospel is lived out amongst the community. It is our conviction that justice i...

Intentional formation is to be deliberate and purposeful with the people we are becoming. As followers of Christ, we’ve been given specific direction for our change by the Incarnate One, Jesus. His life and ministry provide a clear pattern for the Kingdom of God. We believe that the first step in our formation is becoming people of prayer. The value of intentional formation is being deliberate and...

The feast of Epiphany– A holiday commemorating the Magi's visit to the baby Jesus and the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist. It is this beautiful reminder that the gift of Christ is one that goes beyond the borders of the Jewish people and has become a gift to all people. Paul quoting the prophet Hosea writes– “In order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has pr...

As we move closer to Christmas we consider the love of God demonstrated in the incarnation of Christ. A love that enters into the chaos of our world and invites us to be a part of its healing. 01. ADVENT PROVIDES US FOUR WEEKS TO REFLECT ON THE ARRIVAL OF OUR MESSIAH. Advent consists of the four Sundays preceding Christmas Day, and is observed by Christians all over the world as a season of antici...

On the third Sunday of Advent we reflect on the joy of Christ. After the last few years, joy has not been easy to find. But in Christ, we find the courage to laugh, to smile, and to hope despite the chaos around us and in us. We don’t have to look farther than the pandemic to know we have a hard time waiting. I remember when we were in lockdown how many people struggled with waiting: waiting for p...

The Second Sunday of Advent is a reminder of the Peace our God promises. But this peace is achieved only after we give up our commitment to the status quo. We need prophets to upset business-as-usual and push us to pursue flourishing for all. We need messengers that call our sins into account and beckon us towards repentance. We need provocative messengers to prepare the way for our Messiah. 01. T...

In a world in which we are encouraged to hate our enemies, Jesus offers a radically different way. His instructions, and his example, are to love those who hate you and to pray for those that actively plot your demise. Jesus commands us to… Love through the obedience of the scriptures as fulfilled by Christ. Love by reconciling with all avoiding contempt or long lasting anger Love image-bearers of...

Humanity has long suffered under the perpetuation of violence and revenge. Jesus desires for his followers to take action that breaks this cycle of violence, and create opportunities for those who were once our enemy to be transformed into our neighbor. On The Lex Talionis 38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ In Latin this is the lex talionis, or t...

In the first century, the Jewish community had developed a complex hierarchy of oaths and half-truths to get around the command to manipulate and lie to their neighbor. Jesus confronts these practices by compelling his followers to be committed to simple, straightforward honesty. 01. A Culture of Spin The spin room is an area set aside for media representatives to ask debate participants or their...

Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 5:31-32 confronts the easy divorce culture of his day, and our own, that oppresses women and weaponizes divorce. The announcement of his coming Kingdom is always good news for those who have been wounded by divorce. The Four Challenges of Matthew 5:31-32 Scripture appears to be inconsistent The meaning of the word used for sexual immorality is unclear Our cultural unders...

Some of Jesus’ harshest criticism and difficult instructions center on the topic of sexual immorality. In Matthew 5:27-30, Jesus extends the divine prohibition on adultery and extends it to our hearts and imagination. We are continuing to sit at the feet of Jesus and to reflect on his description of what life as his people and in his upside-down kingdom is like. This sermon is Jesus’ description o...

We live in a moment that can be described as the "Age of Outrage". Harboring anger, retaliation, and contempt for others has become normalized. However, Jesus calls his followers to a different way of embracing reconciliation over outrage. In the words of Ed Stetzer, “it is a warning that we need to understand the risks and threats associated with new habits and tools before we allow them unfetter...

At the heart of the culture wars, church division, and Christian conflicts lies the Bible. The most well-read book in human history. Jesus shares his understanding of the Bible in Matthew 5:17-20. Jesus leads us into a fresh appreciation of the scriptures 17 “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. 18 For trul...

In Matthew 5:13-16, Jesus describes his followers as salt and light in the world. This metaphor articulates a Jesus-vision for his followers to be visible disciples showing up to the places we live, work, and play. NOTE: Pardon the sound quality, there was a technical issue that will be corrected for next week's episode. Sermon Notes– “According to the influential historian Frederick Jackson Turne...

Jesus' Sermon on the Mount begins with the discourse commonly known as "the Beatitudes"; a list of eight types of people who are blessed by God, and it isn't those we expected. Sermon Notes– As we prepare to explore Christ’s Sermon on the Mount, here are a few things to keep in mind –  1. The Sermon on the Mount is not an isolated speech; “[Jesus’] life is but a commentary on the sermon, and...

The words that begin the ministry of Jesus are “Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand”. Repentance has come to mean something like be more spiritual, clean up your act, or a moral revival. While repentance may include those things – they are an incomplete depiction of repentance. As Jesus used it, “repent” is to change your mind or to rethink–– it is a rethinking that has a profound impact...

1. Devotion conotates both persistence and perseverance. 2. Devotion to prayer requires we check the posture of our hearts 3. Devotion to prayer requires glorifying God. 4. Devotion to prayer requires dependence on God Prayer of Confession Most merciful God, We confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not lov...