Next Sunday we will dive more deeply into the two key metaphors Jesus employs in this teaching: salt and light. But this Sunday, we'll focus on verse 15: “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

We're going to spend one last week in the beatitudes, but this time we're going to look at them as a complete whole.

We look at the last of the eight beatitudes this week and explore what persecution meant in Jesus's time and what it could mean today.

This week we'll continue in our study with the 7th beatitude, "Blessed are the peacemakers."

This Sunday, we'll look at two beatitudes about being merciful and pure in heart. What do these concepts mean today, and how are they related to each other? Join us as we explore those questions together.

This Sunday we'll turn to the next beatitude, “Blessed are the meek…” 9/15/24 Sermon Sources: - "What does righteousness mean?" Become New Podcast, Jan 23, 2024 - Rowan Williams, Passions of the Soul - John Stott, The Sermon on the Mount, Bible Speaks Today commentary - Dale Bruner, Commentary on the Book of Matthew, volume 1

This Sunday we'll turn to the next beatitude, “Blessed are the meek…” 9/8/24 Sermon Sources: - Opening illustration from Greg Thompson, "A Community of Meekness," preached at Trinity Presbyterian Church. - Rowan Williams, Passions of the Soul - John Stott, The Sermon on the Mount, Bible Speaks Today commentary - Dale Bruner, Commentary on the Book of Matthew, volume 1

This week we'll continue to explore the upside-down Kingdom of Jesus through the lens of the beatitudes. This Sunday we'll look at the second beatitude, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” 9/1/24 Sermon Sources: - Sermon outline was used with permission from Robert Cunningham. See Robert Cunningham, "A Community of Lament." Sermon preached at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 6/14/2020 - Nicholas Wolterstorff, Lament for a Son - Francis Weller, The Wild Edge of Sorrow - Rowan Williams, Passions of the Soul - John Stott, The Sermon on the Mount, Bible Speaks Today commentary - Dale Bruner, Commentary on the Book of Matthew, volume 1 - "The Guest House," by Jallaludin Rumi.

In this special podcast episode, listen in as we explore how Christians can think about the upcoming election, and how we might contribute to healing of our society's political polarization.

This week we’ll learn about what it means to be “poor in spirit” and why Jesus promises that the Kingdom belongs to such people. 8/25/24 Sermon Sources: - Bible Project podcast: "What does "Blessed" mean?," Jan 24, 2024 - "Is God's Blessing only for good people?" Become New podcast, Jan 17, 2024. The "reverse beatitudes" comes from John Ortberg. - Rowan Williams, Passions of the Soul - Matthew for Everyone, by NT Wright - The Sermon on the Mount, Bible Speaks Today commentary, John Stott - A Beginners Guide to the Kingdom of Heaven, by Amy Jill Levine - The Divine Conspiracy, by Dallas Willard - The Sermon on the Mount and Human Flourishing, by Jonathan Pennington

This week, we're kicking off a new sermon series on the Sermon on the Mount, one of the most important teachings of Jesus. 8/18/24 Sermon Sources: - Bible Project video: "What is the Sermon on the Mount?" https://bibleproject.com/explore/video/intro-to-sermon-on-the-mount/ - Bible Project podcast: "Kicking off a Year with Sermon on the Mount," Jan 1, 2024 - "The Most Impactful Speech in history," Become New Podcast, Jan 15, 2024 - Matthew for Everyone, by NT Wright - The Sermon on the Mount, Bible Speaks Today commentary, John Stott - A Beginners Guide to the Kingdom of Heaven, by Amy Jill Levine - The Divine Conspiracy, by Dallas Willard - The Sermon on the Mount and Human Flourishing, by Jonathan Pennington