What becomes of those who do not heed Jesus’ teaching? As Jesus wraps up the Sermon on the Mount he turns to his hearers and presses home the urgency of his teaching and the danger of being entertained by Jesus’ words and yet holding his demands at arms’ length. Four illustrations drive home the importance of heeding Jesus’ words and not merely hearing them. Let us not be like the crowds who are astonished at one moment and cry out “Crucify him!” the next.

Ephesians 3:14-21 Today our conversation began in Ephesians 3, moved… read more

How do I love my neighbor as myself? Just as Jesus leaned into our love for God, so now he turns to press us with regard to our love of neighbor. As he begins to draw the Sermon on the Mount to a close he reveals the hypocrisy of a condemning spirit, the necessity of discernment, the help the Father is ready to provide, and a handy rule of thumb to help guide our interactions with one another. Misunderstandings multiply when we consider parts of this passage in isolation; let us give attention to the flow of Jesus’ thought.

→ Samuel Review – Handout ⃪ Tonight we reviewed the… read more

Join us as we consider timeless truths contained in these questions from the Westminster Larger Catechism

How does Jesus help calm our worries? Like a tender shepherd Jesus knows his sheep, and he knows his preceding words about worldly wealth may exacerbate our anxiety. Join us as we see him remind us of the fullness of our life, our value in our Father’s eyes, and the futility of our anxiety to give us anything of value. Drawing on his words in this and earlier paragraphs we also consider the practical means he provides us to combat the worry and anxiety that beset us. May God increase our faith!

Census, pestilence, sacrifice, curtains. Why does the book of Samuel draw to a close in such an odd way? How does the ending shape what we make of David? How does it contrast him with Saul on the one hand, and point forward to Jesus on the other? Join us as we wrestle with a perplexing conclusion.

Hard words from Jesus about where our hearts lie as he confronts us with two treasures, two visions, and two masters. While we may think we can follow Jesus part time, he bids us choose—and reveals to us the slavery inherent in pursuing earthly wealth. Join us as we weigh his words and their challenge, and join us next week as Jesus goes on to address the anxiety that his commands may produce in us.

Join us we consider more of what the Westminster Larger Catechism has to teach us.