March 2022

Humility

One of the problems for the scribes and Pharisees in Matthew 23 is their pride. Jesus talks about the need for humility. Scripture even commands humility. There are many examples throughout the Bible of humble people of God. Our greatest example of humility is Jesus, and His humility is probably best explained in Philippians 2. […]



Woah!

In Matthew 23, Jesus give one of His most direct, convicting messages in the form of seven woes to the scribes and Pharisees. It is easy to see from His words, that their biggest problem is the focus on appearances. Because they are so concerned about the outward, they often miss the spirit that underlies […]



Purpose

This week we look at three stories in Matthew 21 and 22 that remind us that God designs with a purpose in mind. How are we living out our purpose?  



February 2022

Forgiveness

If you follow Jesus, learning to forgive is not optional. It is required. We have to let go of grudges and forgive others in the same way we want God to forgive us.  



Reconciled

In Matthew 18 and 19, there are several stories related to our relationships and how we handle being wronged by others. Jesus teaches that the main purpose of forgiveness in those situations is the reconciliation of relationships.  



Sincerity

Paul brings up the character trait of sincerity several times in his writings. We can learn from him what sincerity looks like, and we can follow the example of sincerity in the life of Jesus.  



Facades

The Pharisees knew scripture and the oral traditions that accompanied it. They wanted to make sure the details were right. Somewhere in their focus on detail and tradition, they lost sight of the word of God and the Spirit behind it. God’s desire is not simply rule keeping, but transformed hearts.  



Consistency

So many people we encounter change their behavior based on time, circumstances or who is around. God calls us to live consistent lives that will honor Him and care for others.  



Signs

In Matthew 12, the way the Pharisees focus on the letter of the law causes them to miss the purpose behind it. God wants them and us to move past following rules to changing our hearts.  



Go Tell John

While in prison, John begins to question what he knows about Jesus. When our circumstance do not go the way we plan, we often do the same thing. Jesus responds by remind John that God is in control, and His plan is still intact. The same things are true for us today.