Episodes

  • Summer on the Mount - Matthew 7:15-23

    Summer on the Mount - Matthew 7:15-23
    Aug 4 2025
    Matthew 7:15-23Student Pastor Jason SalyerThe Sermon on the Mount concludes much in the same way it began. Jesus reminds us that the Kingdom that is coming is right side up in an upside down world. Those who are in this new Kingdom are those who have been transformed from the inside out. He demonstrates this new reality by pointing to two different kinds of trees and a picture of judgment day.
    Inside Out FruitIn the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus contrasts two different ways. The deception of the religious leaders Jesus warns us about promotes outward action without inward transformation. God doesn’t want us to simply go through the motions of doing “good things”. Instead, we produce fruit out of a heart that the grace of God has truly transformed.
    Inside Out Faith Rather than relying on our ability to work for God’s favor, we can live from God’s favor by stepping into a relationship with Jesus Christ by grace through faith. Just as there are false sheep, there are others who will call out “Lord, Lord” only to be told that Jesus never knew them. We must each look at our own lives and ask ourselves if our faith is in our works or the finished work of Christ on the cross.
    For Discussion:
    1. What makes false teaching and false teachers so attractive to others?
    2. Read Deuteronomy 6:5. Why does God care so much that outward actions are reflections of inward transformation?
    3. Do you believe Jesus knows you and that you will spend eternity with him? What do you base your response on?

    Resources: How Can I Be Sure I’m Saved? - Jeremy PierreVery short booklet that helps believers who struggle to receive the love and grace of God.
    Stop Asking Jesus Into Your Heart - JD GreearHelps believers find a settled confidence in their salvation, based on the promises of God rather than on the fleeting feelings of a prayer or ritual.
    How Can I Be Sure I’m A Christian? - Don Whitney More detailed book covering many common struggles of Christians experiencing doubt about their salvation, offering guidance on how to find assurance through biblical truth.


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    29 mins
  • Summer on the Mount - Matthew 7:7-14

    Summer on the Mount - Matthew 7:7-14
    Aug 4 2025
    Matthew 7:7-14Senior Pastor Alex KennedyIn this section of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus is commanding us to pray. He is commanding us to keep on asking, keep on seeking, and keep on knocking. There is an upward urgency in each of these actions.
    Keep on askingKyle Mercer said, "I don't think we struggle wo much with unanswered prayer; we struggle more with unoffered prayer." When we ask, we show a dependency on God and a humility. Asking is welcomed by Him because it is based on a relationship.
    Keep on seekingWe look for things that are valuable or missing. If we have a right relationship with the Lord, then we should seek to know Him more. (Psalm 105:4; 119:2; Matthew 6:33)
    Keep on knockingThere is an idea of persistence here. Knock until there is an answer. Jesus speaks directly to this in the Luke 11:5-8 parable of the persistent friend.
    In verse 8, it says, "For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks it will be opened." Experience does not seem to bear this out in our finite understanding. We must choose to pray while trusting in God's goodness and willingness to answer. (Matthew 6:7-8)
    How long should we ask, seek, and knock? We do this until we get an answer of yes, no, or wait. If you haven't heard yes or no, then you keep asking.Being good, our heavenly Fathergives only good gifts to His children.Being wise as well, He knowswhich gifts are good and which are not.We must always remember that prayer is relational, not transactional.Verses 9-11 show a very practical way that this works. Children will ask their parents repeatedly for things until they receive a reply. Parents, even with an imperfect sin nature, want to give good gifts to their children, but must discern what is best for them. God, who is perfect in love and understanding, doesn't give harmful things in response to prayer. He gives what is best from the perspective of an all-knowing Creator.Verse 12 is known as the Golden Rule - "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." Jesus actually (brilliantly) turned around an old saying that everyone would have known. That saying was, "Don't do to others what you would hate to have them do to you." What is so compelling about this is that the old saying didn't require someone to do anything, while the positive version requires action to honor another person.What Jesus is saying to love peopleany way you can.Jesus turns a corner in verse 13. He compares 4 sets of pairs (gates, trees, responses, foundations). He is saying, "Now that you've heard all of this, what are you going to do about it?" Jesus showed up, rescued us, and calls us to follow His way. He is worthy of our devotion, our trust, and our love. His way is not the easy way in the world's eyes, but it is the way to eternal life!We will quit if we focus onthe unanswered prayer instead ofthe Father who is worth trusting.


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    40 mins
  • Summer on the Mount - Matthew 7:1-6

    Summer on the Mount - Matthew 7:1-6
    Jul 21 2025
    7:1-6Matthew 6:25-34Worship Pastor Justin TaylorWhen Jesus says, "judge not", He's not talking about judgement in terms of discernment, making good decisions, or even matters of church discipline. He is talking about condemnation.
    Jesus doesn't say, "be slow to judge", or "you can judge as long as you're right". The New Testament authors are unanimous on this point, as far as believers are concerned, condemnation is completely out of bounds. We are not allowed to do it. It is a sin, which grieves the Holy Spirit.
    Condemnation is a legitimate form of judgment, but it's the last one. Condemnation is final and without hope. Only God has the authority to condemn, and He has decided to wait for the last day! (2 Peter 3:15)
    Judgement is for restoration...not condemnation.1 Corinthians 5:3-5
    What is "condemnation"?
    Dallas Willard says, "When we condemn another, we really communicate that he or she is, in some deep and just possibly irredeemable way, bad-bad as a whole, and to be rejected. In our eyes, the condemned is among the discards of human life. He or she is not acceptable. We sentence that person to exclusion."
    In other words, today we would say that the person or group is "cancelled". This is the same thing that the Pharisees were doing in the day of Jesus. They were notoriously judgmental, and this is what Jesus was always addressing with them.
    The word "judge" means to discern, literally "to separate". A judge discerns (or separates) truth from lies, innocent from guilty, etc. But what the Pharisees did was not simply separate sheep from goats, but they would separate between you and me. At the core, it was pride - they thought they were better than someone else. (Luke 18:9-11).
    This was self-righteousness. Instead of me standing alone before a Holy God, I stand together with you. I may not be completely innocent, but I'm innocent by comparison. You become the standard by which I justify myself. The Pharisees had a list of people like that...and most of us do as well.
    When we justify by comparison, it is hypocrisy. At the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus begins His message by blessing the very people the Pharisees were most inclined to judge. Jesus says to not be like them!Jesus is the One who will separate (Matthew 25:31-32), and He will do so precisely according to how we treat the very people we are most inclined to judge (the hungry, the thirsty, the foreigner, the stranger, the sojourner...)Jesus gives us a very practical way to avoid judging others. He says, "Whenever you feel condemnation coming on, just pretend it's me, and treat them accordingly".In essence, we are to love others well. Condemnation is without care. Love cares about your Christlikeness (1 Cor 13:4-6).Discussion Questions:
    1. Our culture is very judgmental. Where do you see this the most?
    2. Is there someone (or a group of people) in your life you feel judgmental towards? Who is it? Why?
    3. Take some time to think about them, but put the face of Jesus on them and see how you would respond differently.
    4. As a representative for Christ, how will you let this Truth impact your life this week?

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    40 mins
  • Summer on the Mount - Matthew 6:25-34

    Summer on the Mount - Matthew 6:25-34
    Jul 14 2025
    Matthew 6:25-34Student Pastor Jason SalyerWorry or anxiety is something we all experience to some degree, but in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus shows us how to find true peace and rest for anxious hearts and worried minds. Jesus points us to the sources of our anxiety as well as the answer to it.
    Not all responses to stress are bad, but when things turn into the kind of worry Jesus speaks of here, they can also reveal to us where we have misplaced our faith. The good news answer for anxious hearts is that we can trust in the love of God and seek first His Kingdom.
    Trust in the Love of GodJesus makes an argument from lesser to greater. God cares for the birds and flowers, and we are so much more valuable. Our worth is not measured in what we do for God but in what God has done for us. We can trust that God’s love for us is the defining story of our lives and find true peace (wholeness) when we are pulled in opposite ways by our worries. One way we do this is by coming to God often in prayer and thanksgiving.
    Seek First His KingdomWhile we need to increase our faith in God’s love, the second problem is that we have a misplaced faith. Jesus challenges our priorities, showing us that we must keep first things first. We can walk by faith by identifying where we are placing our devotion and redirecting our hearts to the Kingdom of God in our daily lives.
    Jesus is inviting us to live in the present. Remember, God is reigning over all creation and He loves you. Let that truth adjust your mind and heart so that you can live in peace (shalom).
    Note: If you are experiencing consistent patterns of anxiety that affect your ability to function or impact your relationships with others, you may want to consider speaking with a counselor or a member of our care and counseling team. We do not have to walk through these struggles alone.
    Discussion Questions:
    1. What in your life causes the most worry? How does the truth of the gospel change how you see that area of your life? How can we pray for one another in these areas?
    2. How does trusting God’s love and seeking first His Kingdom help us deal with worry?
    3. How can a deep trust in God and peace in difficulties provide a unique witness to the world around us?
    4. How can we recognize when second things have become first things? Use an example and share how we can adjust our focus when this happens.


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    36 mins
  • Summer on the Mount - Money Danger: Matthew 6:19-24

    Summer on the Mount - Money Danger: Matthew 6:19-24
    Jul 7 2025
    Money Danger - Matthew 6:19-24Pastor Alex KennedyJesus moves from speaking about the private life we should have (giving, praying, fasting) to the public business we have with the world (possessions, food, drink, clothing).
    The Pharisees believed the Lord materially blessed all He loved, so they were intent on building great treasures on earth. Jesus specifically begins this portion of His message with "do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and thieves break in and steal". Everything we have in our physical possession will eventually deteriorate and be thrown away. If our happiness depends on possessions, they could be gone at any moment. (Luke 12:15)
    In reality, we must remember, "It's not what you own, but what owns you". 1 Timothy 6:10 says, "For the LOVE of money is the root of all kinds of evil."
    Jesus shows us a better way when He says, "but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven." Use your money now to send ahead into heaven treasures waiting for you and your heavenly reward. Use your money now for kingdom purposes by doing God's work. (1 Tim 6:17-19)
    Your heart will follow your treasure,and Jesus was denouncing a lifefocused on hoarding and selfishness.
    When we make wealth our master, we'll be lured deeper and deeper into blind loyalty to it. It will change us.
    He goes on to talk about having a good eye vs a bad eye (vs22-23). In Jewish writings, a good eye represented a generosity and a bad eye represented a stingy, miserly attitude.
    Finally, Jesus speaks of loyalty in vs 24, "No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money."
    It is estimated that half of the population in the Roman Empire were slaves, so they would have definitely understood what Jesus was talking about. If you were a slave, you were completely, utterly, and totally controlled by another will. In other words, you cannot be a part-time Christian.
    Having a lot of money was/is not the problem. The danger is when money has you-that's when the physical becomes more important to you than the spiritual.
    Remember, when you understand that you own nothing, but steward everything, all of this becomes easier. None of it...from your heartbeat to your breath to your family to your 401K is yours. It is all His, and you have a responsibility to use it and enjoy it for His glory!
    Questions to consider:
    1. Are you living an unselfish lifestyle? Why?
    2. How do you demonstrate care and generosity for others?
    3. Do you know when enough is enough in acquiring possessions?
    4. Where is the danger for you that can lure you into a materialistic lifestyle?
    5. Are you content with what God has given you and satisfied with His provision for your simple needs? How does your life reflect this?


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    35 mins
  • Summer on the Mount - Prayer: Matthew 6:5-13

    Summer on the Mount - Prayer: Matthew 6:5-13
    Jun 30 2025
    Prayer - Matthew 6:5-13Pastor Alex KennedyJesus continues to teach as it relates to prayer. He begins by reminding us to not be hypocrites (a theater term for an actor or mask-wearer). First he warns us to not be like the Pharisees, who loved to show people how righteous they were. They focused on showing others how good they were at praying.
    Although there is definitely a place for public prayer, it is about the heart and motive of praying publicly that matters. First, prayer should be "in secret". When Jesus says, "go into your room and shut the door", He is referring to the common store room in a home that has the "treasures" in it. The heart of prayer is to seek God. He is the treasure, and the purpose of "secret" prayer is to purify our motives in praying. Then, our public prayers will be an overflow of our personal prayers.
    Secondly, Jesus speaks about the Gentiles (pagans) when He says, "do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do". In other words, think about what you are saying.
    Martin Luther said, "By our praying...we are instructing ourselvesmore than we are Him."
    Jesus goes on to teach us how to pray:
    Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
    This includes:
    • The right mindset and heart
    • Reminding ourselves
    • Coming with humility and confidence

    Your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
    To pray that His kingdom may come is to pray:
    • Both that it may grow, as through the church's witness people submit to Jesus,
    • and that soon it will be completed when Jesus returns in glory to take His power and reign.

    In other words, it is our posture to yield and surrender to the character of God.
    The rest of the Lord's Prayermoves from a vertical focusto a horizontal focus.Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.We should be dependent on God and trust Him for today. We must be careful to not take what He has given us and try to be self-reliant.We should remind ourselves daily of how much we have been forgiven for our lifetime of rebellion to a Holy God and then from a posture of humility forgive others that have wronged us.The Lord's Prayer can be prayed:
    • hypocritically - obsessed with self-glory
    • mechanically
    • or both
    True prayer is obsessed with God's glory!Questions to Consider:
    1. How comfortable are you in praying with others out loud? Why?
    2. How can you pray for Kingdom impact?
    3. What areas do you need help in fighting against temptation?
    4. Will you commit to pray the Lord's Prayer daily this week?
    5. Will you pray for our mission teams that are serving in Peru, Kenya, Poland, and Charlotte?

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    48 mins
  • Summer on the Mount - Proper Generosity: Matthew 6:1-4

    Summer on the Mount - Proper Generosity: Matthew 6:1-4
    Jun 23 2025
    Proper Generosity - Matthew 6:1-4How we give matters. Of course, giving matters to God, but Jesus reminds us that how we give matters even more. The passage today goes back to the words of Jesus that we must exceed the righteousness of the Pharisees. We do this in type, not degree, meaning we live out of the righteousness we have received in Christ, not to prove ourselves righteous before others.
    Anytime we meet a need or give to others, we must be careful that it is not for outward show. God cares deeply about the heart’s motive in why we do what we do. It all comes back to the heart.
    People who originally heard Jesus saying this would have been familiar with the language he used, but challenged deeply by his words. Jesus addresses something familiar to many Jewish families, the giving of alms to care for the poor and others in need. While being instructed to give to the poor is a good thing, the religious leaders failed to address the mindset of the giver.
    Pointing beyond outward actions, Jesus borrows from a language familiar to those who went to the theater and watched actors. The term for “hypocrites” points to the role of actors who pretend to be someone different than who they truly are. Jesus’ warning is strong here because any of us can do good things to put on a show, but it is not a show God wants to see.
    You can even give generously and still be doing so with selfish motives. In Matthew 5:16, Jesus reminds us to “let our light shine before others,” so that they will “give glory to your Father in heaven.” In carrying out good works, for some the struggle is boldness, and for others the struggle is pride. We are to shine when tempted to hide. We are to hide when we are tempted to shine.
    Before giving, Jesus wants us to consider the why. He illustrates this by saying we are not to let our left hand know what our right hand is doing. That means it is about more than what our hand is doing, it is about what are heart is thinking. Lack of focus in self in giving is like trying to clap with one hand, meaning we can give in a way that doesn’t applaud ourselves, but glorifies God. May God be glorified in how we live, love, serve, and give!
    Discussion Questions:
    • Are there places in your life that this passage speaks to or challenges you specifically?

    • You have probably heard the quote from Shakespeare saying, “all the world’s a stage”, but how can we use the stage of our lives for God’s glory and not our own?

    • Many times, we can give and not be aware of our heart posture. Proverbs 4:23 says, "Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” How can we practically carry this out in areas of giving and serving others?

    • Every act of real love is rewarded when a need is met. How can we seek out and meet the needs of someone else this week?

    • Giving to the Pharisees became more about a means of earning our salvation. How should we reverse that mindset and see it as an overflow of God’s gift of salvation in our lives?



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    26 mins
  • Summer on the Mount - Loving Hard People: Matthew 5:38-48

    Summer on the Mount - Loving Hard People: Matthew 5:38-48
    Jun 16 2025
    Loving Hard People- Matthew 5:38-48Conflict has been a part of the world since the sin was introduced to the world in Genesis 3. There has always been conflict between man and man, God and man, and the nations of the world. In Matthew 5:38-48, Jesus shows us a radical way to love difficult people.
    In the times of the Old Testament, there was a saying, "eye for an eye, and tooth for a tooth." When a law was broken by a nation against another nation, the punishment should level out. There should not be more retaliation than was given. But the religious leaders, over time, added more rules to the laws, which made it almost impossible to follow.
    Jesus moved this from nations to neighbors and said, "Do not resist (retaliate) an evil person." Instead, do good back! He then gave four examples:
    • Example 1 - If someone slaps you - in the day, a backhanded slap to the cheek was a strong and powerful insult. Jesus is saying to "turn to them the other as well". In other words, be vulnerable to be insulted again. (He is NOT saying to stay in an abusive relationship - get out asap.)
    • Example 2 - If someone sues you - The average person had 2 shirts and 1 coat. Someone could sue you and "take the shirt off your back". Jesus tells us to not only resist suing back, but up our most valuable clothing - our coat. In Christ, we can "absorb the blow".
    • Example 3 - If someone asks you to go 1 mile - It was lawful for a Roman soldier to require a person to carry their gear (70 lbs) up to a mile, and the people hated the soldiers for this. Jesus is saying to volunteer to go 2 miles! In other words, "Go the extra mile".
    • Example 4 - Give to whoever asks - Give generously and don't question someone who asks to borrow. Let them borrow without obligation to return.
    In our lives, we have done far more to God than others have done to us. We need to remember that God has not treated us our our sins deserved! Why do we think we can treat others more harshly than God treated us? Verse 48 is the key, "Be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect."Remember:
    • We have sinned - He gave His Son
    • We turn away again and again - He is patient with us
    • We take His name in vain - He is kind to us
    • We have served idols - He loves and welcomes us
    "You have heard it said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy, but I tell you love your enemies and pray for those that persecute you'". Hating your enemy was never in the OT. It was added over time and became a mantra for the people. Jesus gave us 2 ways to love our enemy:
    1. Love your enemies - Do loving things for that person. We see a great example of this in Romans 12:14-20 (work at it, revenge is God's responsibility, do what is honorable in public, etc.)
    2. Pray for those that persecute you. We should pray beneficial things for those that are against us. It will change our heart towards them.
    A Path Forward
    1. Keep your heart (Proverbs 4:23) - Keep keeping your heart
    2. Guard your words (James 1:19-20) - Slow it down
    3. Trust your Shepherd (Psalm 23:1) - I am satisfied with God's management of my life
    4. God is at work (Galatians 4:19) - He is always at work, and uses frustrating people to disciple me.

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    42 mins