SERMON SUMMARY:

In the conclusion of the series "We, the Kingdom", Brad emphasizes the transformative nature of Jesus' teachings, highlighting that they are often challenging and can feel overwhelming. He argues that true understanding of righteousness is not about adhering to rules, but about embodying the character of Jesus in our lives. Jesus offers an invitation to rethink our approach to living, prioritizing our inner transformation rather than mere behavioral compliance. Ultimately, the objective is to reflect the goodness of God through our character, enabling us to respond to chaos with love and righteousness in our actions.

5x5 Challenge:

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Sermon Summary:

Jesus opens the doors of His kingdom, offering a new way of life to those who have been deemed by the world to be unworthy. Accepting Jesus means recognizing Him as both Savior and Lord, which involves a choice between continually submitting to worldly powers or embracing the transformative life found in Jesus’ kingdom. Jesus speaks openly about the pressures and oppositions believers will face while living in a culture that often contradicts His values. Jesus urges us to remain steadfast and courageous, by reminding us that He has already conquered the world. Because of that, we are freed up to live in such a way that our Kingdom values transcend partisan agendas. Our word (a simple yes or no) should stand on our character because it is being shaped and molded into the image and likeness of our King. According to Jesus, attempting to use God's name or His word to manipulate people for personal or political gain, is not only a form of lying, it is a diabolical evil that makes God an accomplice to an intentional act of injustice.

5x5 Devotional:

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SERMON SUMMARY:

Jesus’ teaching from the "Sermon on the Mount," reveals the stark contrast between God's Kingdom and cultural norms concerning sexuality and moral integrity. Jesus raises the standard of purity, asserting that lustful thoughts are equivalent to adultery, calling for a deeper understanding of our heart's condition rather than mere compliance with the law. Healthy sexual intimacy is sacred and intended to reflect God's design for relationships. This is why Jesus strongly condemns the objectification (seeing someONE as someTHING) that can arise from lust. Ultimately, Jesus encourages His listeners to take drastic measures against harmful thoughts and habits that degrade personal and relational integrity, advocating for a radical transformation in their understanding of sexual desires as both precious and sacred.

5x5 Devotional:

Click HERE for this week’s 5X5 (5 min per day for 5 days) devotional

SERMON SUMMARY:

While the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1 - 20) serves as a preamble to Jesus' Kingdom Constitution, what follows functions more like the Kingdom's Bill of Rights. Jesus establishes a new culture emphasizing truth over technicalities, specifically addressing how anger can lead to contempt and harm to ourselves and others. According to Jesus contemptuous anger is equally as serious as Murder. Both reveal the heart’s condition toward others and our belief that we have the authority to devalue the worth and dignity of another person.  Reconciliation and resolution underscore the importance of recognizing the true worth of others by demonstrating love and actively seeking to mend relationships by prioritizing the care and dignity of those around us.

5X5 Challenge (5 min a day for 5 days)

Click HERE to download this week’s 5x5 Challenge

SERMON SUMMARY:

Jesus came bringing clarity to confusion, providing answers to life's big questions by teaching about the nature of God's kingdom and the true meaning of righteousness. As disciples, we cannot seek fulfillment in political systems but must live as citizens of God's kingdom, offering peace and joy that transcends worldly struggles. We must respond to Jesus’ higher calling and live for something greater than a 2 party system.

5X5 Challenge:

This challenge is designed to take around 5 min per day for 5 days. Click HERE to download this week’s challenge.

Sermon Summary:

As Kingdom citizens, believers are called to be salt and light in society, promoting the King's agenda and manifesting goodness in a world filled with darkness. Jesus' message about the Kingdom was revolutionary, challenging the oppressive systems of the Roman Empire and calling for active participation in God's redemptive work. The metaphors of salt and light serve to illustrate the distinct role of followers of Jesus in cultivating hope and positive change in their communities through their actions. Ultimately, believers must embrace their calling because neglecting this responsibility leads to cultural suffering and disconnection from God's purpose.

5X5 Challenge:

Click HERE for this weeks 5X5 challenge (5 min per day for 5 days)

Sermon Summary:

This week highlights Jesus’ transformative message, contrasting cultural ideals of success and happiness with the values of God's Kingdom, as expressed in the Beatitudes. We are encouraged to reorient ourselves towards accepting our current state and finding comfort in God's promise to meet our needs, this allows us to embrace this radical and freeing perspective.

5X5 (5 min for 5 days) Challenge:

Click HERE to download this week’s 5X5 challenge

Sermon Summary:

This week highlights Jesus’ transformative message, contrasting cultural ideals of success and happiness with the values of God's Kingdom, as expressed in the Beatitudes. We are encouraged to reorient ourselves towards accepting our current state and finding comfort in God's promise to meet our needs, this allows us to embrace this radical and freeing perspective.

5X5 (5 min for 5 days) Challenge:

Click HERE to download this week’s 5X5 challenge

SERMON SUMMARY:

In the final week of the Say “Yes!” series, we explore the concept of true obedience, and that it goes beyond mere compliance to authority; it stems from love, respect, and trust, requiring vulnerability.  Obedience to Jesus is essential for experiencing a transformative life, as it involves surrendering our hearts and resources to Him while acknowledging His divine authority. "The Great Commission",  empowers us to make disciples by living obediently and reflecting Jesus’ teachings in our lives. Saying "yes" to obedience brings the safety and presence of Jesus' power and authority, while the cost of nondiscipleship and lack of obedience, leaves us exposed and vulnerable.

Discussion Guide:

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The Gospel of Jesus is best shared in intentional relationships where people know that you care and care about what you know.

Saying “Yes!” in obedience when it comes to stepping into the mess of other people’s lives and living on mission means that instead of asking “Who is my neighbor?” we must ask “Who am I neighboring?”

We were not created to "do life" alone. Part of our very good (as it's meant to be) design is to be in authentic community with others.

Obedience is the vehicle that brings our values and priorities into alignment with Jesus.

Gentleness & Self-Control are the mindset and the muscle that bring our passions and desires into alignment with the passions and desires of Jesus.

In order for faithfulness to be born in our character and integrity, we must allow Jesus into every part of who we are, not just the parts that we like and accept.

This week we are pressing pause on unpacking the individual elements within The Fruit of The Spirit, to talk about the lifelong partnership between Jesus and us in cultivating fruit in our lives.

This week, special guest Rick Kyle walks us through what it looks like to bear the fruit of Goodness in our lives.

This week begins with a very exciting announcement before we unpack the fruit of kindness. Kindness shows up in our lives through authenticity (truth) and empathy (grace).

When our lives are rooted in the Holy Spirit, the fruit of patience is born in contentment and compassion.

Jesus once told a story about "healthy" and "diseased" trees to help us get a better idea about the current state of our lives and also to point us toward God's desire for us to bear the fruit of the Spirit. The Fruit of The Spirit are not circumstantial or influenced by emotions; instead, they are the outcome of deep-rooted faith that can flourish regardless of our life situations. Joy differs from happiness; rather, it has its roots firmly planted in the certainty of our relationship with God, ensuring its existence even amid trials. Peace, is not just the absence of conflict. It indicates a state of completeness that arises when one is firmly rooted in the Holy Spirit—real peace results in reconciliation and unity. Active peacemakers, intervene in situations of conflict to restore what's broken.