In this week’s message, Pastor K. Paul walks through Matthew 6:1–4, where Jesus warns us to “be careful not to do your acts of righteousness before men.” In a culture obsessed with being seen, Jesus invites us to something deeper—giving not for recognition, but from a heart transformed by grace.

Learn how to examine your motives, understand the difference between empty and eternal rewards, and rediscover what it means to give from love, not out of duty or prestige.

In this week’s message, Pastor K. Paul unpacks one of Jesus’ most radical teachings — “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” He challenges us to step beyond comfort and convenience into a love that reflects the very heart of God.

Loving our enemies isn’t weakness; it’s maturity. We’re called to be tools in the Maker’s hands — bringing light where there’s darkness and healing where there’s division. Pastor K. Paul closes with Corrie ten Boom’s powerful story of forgiveness, revealing what supernatural love looks like in action.

This week, Pastor K.Paul unpacks Jesus’ radical teaching from Matthew 5:38–42. In a world obsessed with payback, Jesus calls us to live free from retaliation. Drawing from the oldest law known to humanity—“an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth”—Pastor K.Paul shows how this ancient rule was actually a starting point for mercy, not revenge.

This week, guest speaker, John Suciu, unpacks one of the most challenging passages in Scripture — Matthew 5:17–20. In it, Jesus declares that He didn’t come to abolish the Law, but to fulfill it. What does that mean for how we live today?

Through humor, honesty, and deep biblical insight, John reminds us that Jesus is our Creator, our Destiny, and our Purpose — and that He has the audacity to tell us how to live. This message challenges us not to lower God’s standards for our comfort, but to live in the fullness of His righteousness.

This week, Pastor Kodi unpacks the difference between a private and personal faith. A private faith is silent—kept hidden between you and God. But a personal faith impacts everyone around you, shining brightly for others to see. From Isaiah to Revelation, the story of the light points to Jesus, the true source of life. And now, we—the Church—are called to reflect that light. So wake up, repent, and declare the goodness of God wherever you go.

This week we kicked off our Live Free series with Jesus’ words: ‘You are the salt of the earth.’ Salt preserves, flavors, and purifies—but only when it leaves the shaker. Discover what it means to live as salt in the world and bring real impact in Christ.

October 5, 2025 • K.Paul Maurer • Matthew 5:13

This week at Avalon we closed out our Beatitudes series with a challenging message: Blessed Insults. Jesus reminds us that persecution is not a sign of failure, but a mark of faithfulness. From the slander faced by the early church to the pressures we face today, following Christ will cost us something — but it’s worth everything. In this message Pastor K.Paul explores what it means to live as ‘activated Christians,’ why the world won’t always like us, and why we must always choose Christ over Caesar.

Persecution is not the end of the story—it’s part of faithfully following Jesus. In this message, Pastor Bob Smith unpacks Matthew 5:10–12, reminding us that persecution is not a sign of failure but of faithfulness. Discover why Jesus calls the persecuted ‘blessed,’ how the kingdom of heaven sustains us in trials, and how to rejoice when the world pushes back against the light of Christ.