Why pray if God already knows everything that is going to happen? Why pray if God has a Sovereign Will that will be done no matter what? Yet Jesus doesn’t just invite us to pray but commands it. He then even gives us a model. By understanding the Lord’s Prayer not only can our own prayer lives be transformed but our very friendship with our heavenly Father.

ON SUNDAY February 22, the message is called KINGDOM-FORMED PEOPLE, with Beth Anderson. In Matthew 6, Jesus challenges His followers to examine not just what they do, but why they do it. As He teaches on giving, prayer, and fasting, Jesus shifts the focus from outward appearance to inward formation. Kingdom-formed people don’t practice their faith to be seen by others, but to be shaped by the Father who sees in secret. Spiritual disciplines, practiced with the right heart posture, lead us toward wholeness, integrity, and true flourishing.

*Please note that this sermon has experienced audio issues so you might hear an echo. We have tried our best to reduce it post production. We appreciate your patience.

People have a default way of dealing with problems. Especially today, it feels like you can’t believe what anyone says and at the slightest hint of offense people explode in rage. We’re not just talking about outside the church; this happens inside too! What if we really thought of everyone as our neighbors, and by neighbors we mean those we truly loved?

Matthew 5:21-32 | True faith isn’t performance based. Jesus doesn’t want our rote obedience and conformity. His Kingdom bears both a perfect design for the world and for each person within. We must be diligent, then, at surrendering even our emotions and desires to Him!

Matthew 5:6-8 | How common it has become to hear people talk about “My truth”, or to say “Well, that’s just your truth”? The standards of right and wrong have seemingly become subjective. Jesus reveals to us, though, in the Beatitudes, that there is a singular standard and it is God Himself. God is a God of justice, but He is also a compassionate and loving God. If we seek His Kingdom, therefore, we must seek Him first and emulate these virtues as well.

Matthew 5:3-5 | If you wanted to give a picture of the best of the best or define the criteria of a utopian community, what would be included? Jesus begins the Sermon on the Mount defining just that, but warning that His disciples will not fit the criteria the world will offer. But because they seek Him and His Kingdom above all, they are blessed.

Matthew 5:13-20 | God didn’t design us to just get by and make it through life. Since Genesis 1 He has had big, good plans and invites us into them. By understanding His mission and how we can join in through Jesus, even the ordinary routines of life become a part of something bigger than we could ever imagine.

Human conflict abounds in our world, even in our churches. Whether we have been wronged, someone has wronged us, both, or just because of our pursuit of Jesus, peace is not something that just comes naturally about. Only by focusing our hearts, however, on how Jesus has reconciled us to Himself and has overcome the world can we enjoy the flourishing of relationships He designed us to have.