We would like to ask you all:

• What is your life built on? If you could think of your life in terms of having a foundation what would that foundation be? Picture it. Name it.
  
  
  
• What happens when storms come—social, financial, emotional, relational, spiritual, or legal?
  
  
  
• Will your life stand or collapse built on your named foundation? Where and to whom do you turn when you are in a violent emotional storm?

Jesus speaks directly to this in Matthew 7:24–29:

(24) “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
(25) The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.
(26) But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.
(27) The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
(28) When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, (29) because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.” This is God’s word

John talked about the names of God and that He alone is to be worshipped. We are worshipping all the time, like a garden hose…it is what we aim it at, what we think will save us is what we worship. Our master is what we worship. We are building on this thought: Jesus is Lord, and Lord is not his first name, but his title. MASTER. Which we have recently defined and discussed.

Now we are back to the sermon on the mount, and like we have said over and over it builds on itself…Jesus warns us to avoid the destruction of the wide path, but to CHOOSE the straight and narrow path. Then goes into details about the difficulties of doing so…He is warning that we are in great danger of being led astray by false teachers, he calls them ravenous wolves in sheep’s clothing. Because of their attractive character, that successful personality, and easy doctrine, which is more prevalent than ever… it is so deceiving and so subtle. Now Jesus shows us the danger not of false prophets out there but inside right here in ourselves, it is the terrible danger of self-deception and self-delusion.

Matthew 7:21–23 (NIV)

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”

Samantha Testimony

The Manchineel Tree looks like a tropical apple or guava tree, and its fruit looks enticing. This tree, by appearance, is beautiful. They are found in Florida, the Caribbean, and Central America, mostly in coastal regions.

This tree, by appearance, is quite nice. But never stand under one or even touch it. Its sap is poisonous and will cause blistering of the skin upon contact.

And if it’s raining and you’re standing under it for shelter, you might as well call 911. By the way, eating its fruit will kill you. The Manchineel tree is the most dangerous tree on earth, so beware.

Why do I mention this? Because we are talking about that which is destructive yet doesn’t look like it could lead to destruction: false prophets. They are everywhere today and prophet btw does not necessarily mean telling the future, its a person who speaks with spiritual knowledge claiming to be from God.

Sermon Title: Discerning Truth in a Deceptive Age"

Matthew 7:15-20

(15) Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. (16) By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? (17) Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. (18) A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. (19) Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. (20) Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

Let’s read it! Matthew 7:12-14 (NIV):

(12) So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

(13) Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.

(14) But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Matthew 7: 6-11 - Keep asking, seeking and knocking

Good morning, church. Today we continue our journey through the Sermon on the Mount—a teaching from Jesus that turns worldly thinking upside down and invites us into the kingdom of God. Growing up, I thought these were one-off lessons that I was to obey or try to obey. As we have been journeying through learning this Sermon Jesus preached, actually built upon itself and was designed to show us what living in the KINGDOM of God is like right now…that those who decide to follow Jesus to be his disciples would live this way. It is a roadmap, an instruction manual and a standard, a yardstick for which we can measure our life to see if we are living our best life.

Matthew 7: 6-11

(6) Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.

(7) “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. (8) For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

(9) “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? (10) Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? (11) If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

In the past month or so, we have gone from: don’t be like the hypocrites, “do not worry”, “do not judge”, to “ask, seek and knock”. When we live in the Kingdom of God and we know our Father…We are not to worry and we shouldn't worry, which causes anxiety, especially about things that are outside our control. But if we are worrying about something we screwed up on, that often lead me to pray. For me, every time. So I ask for God’s help. And He does. I put it in God’s hands and then I don’t need to worry. But if I do keep worrying then I’m doubting God’s goodness, and unfairly judging Him.

Moving onto chapter 7, We are not to judge (condemn) each other, but yet we are to judge (correct) each other-- correction judging is based on accountability and mutual encouragement. So, we are to hold one another accountable which is a very godly thing to do and yet we are to judge based on love without being hypocrites.

Two weeks ago, we talked about "do not worry," and how we stress over things that probably won't even happen. 85% of the things we worry about will NEVER HAPPEN. As followers of Jesus Christ, we know He's in charge of His Kingdom, but, let's face it, we like to control our own Kingdom.

Consider this: if we profess to be followers of Jesus and pray, genuinely implore, beg for, request His assistance, what logical basis remains for worry?

Yet, we still worry. If we really trust God, shouldn't we be able to let it go and let God, to find peace, no matter what happens? That is the key to me…no matter what!

This shows we might say we trust God, but deep down we don’t. Thus

Think about all the times God has helped us. Why do we still let worry get to us?

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The underlying cause is often fear. We are afraid that if we wholeheartedly place our trust in Him, and He "fails" to come through in the way we expect, we will be emotionally and spiritually devastated. And we are absolutely afraid of that happening. Because that leads to disappointment with God.

And I have been there. And I know many who are still there.

And fear leads to something even more significant and shocking: it constitutes, it means, judging GOD! We sadly are making a judgment that God is not faithful, questioning His character, His care, His love, and His promises. When we worry it is a form of judging God and He doesn’t like that. LOL… he knows BEST.

28 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

He is risen! He is risen indeed!

Today, we’re celebrating the biggest moment in history, the cornerstone of our faith —the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This isn’t just a story we tell once a year. It's more than that, more than a tradition, more than a spring holiday with lilies and colored eggs and bunnies. It's the foundation of everything we believe. And today, we want to talk about why we believe in the resurrection—why it matters, why it changes everything, and why it still brings hope to our lives today. This is why we follow Jesus.

Holy Week, also known as Passion Week, spans from Palm Sunday to Easter. For 1700 years, Christians worldwide have used this time to reflect on Jesus' sacrifice and resurrection. We remember his entry into Jerusalem, his crucifixion, and his resurrection, understanding God's plan to restore humanity and the price Jesus paid. Bible project on facebook, You version chosen

EASTER! TELL, INVITE - Sunrise at Sturleys - Outside here we hope so dress warm.

How many of you meditate? If you worry, then you meditate. Meditating is where you think and focus on something with purposeful intention.

Worrying can be considered a negative form of meditation. While meditation requires focused attention, worry fixates on negative outcomes, which can have adverse emotional and cognitive effects on our mood and mannerisms.