Matthew 7:13–14 (NIV)
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.
I recently finished up another journey through the Sermon on the Mount and come away once again with awe. The Kingdom of God is so grand and powerful and our King invites us into this incredible life.
Read moreMatthew 6:28–31 (NIV)
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’
Whenever Jesus gets to that phrase… “you of little faith”… (and he does it a lot)… I feel small. How come I don’t have enough faith?
Read moreTHIS is how we should live in true power if we are followers of Christ:
Read moreLuke takes a different approach to the “Beatitudes” from Matthew. I continue to meditate on those differences.
Read moreMatthew 5:13-14
“You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its flavor, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled on by people. You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill cannot be hidden. Read more
“2017.01.29 – Sermon on the Mount – part 3 featuring Pastor Brenna Zeimet”
A sermon from Heights Church. More information at HeightsChurchMN.org
Some text notes from my studies on the Sermon on the Mount: Read more
“2017.01.22 – Sermon on the Mount – part 2 featuring Pastor Brenna Zeimet”
A sermon from Heights Church. More information at HeightsChurchMN.org
“2017.01.15 Sermon On The Mount Part 1”
A sermon from Heights Church. More information at HeightsChurchMN.org
God isn’t nearly as impressed with my doctrinal knowledge as he is with my acting out my doctrinal knowledge. (It’s a both/and proposition.) It’s not about having one OR the other… it’s the beauty of both. And it comes down to the question, “Am I KNOWN by God?”
And being known by him is made clear by him.
21 “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. 22 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?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
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.” (Matt. 7:21-27, NIV)
You don’t get to just “thrown his name around.”
13 Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “In the name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.” 14 Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. 15 One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?” 16 Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding. (Acts 19:13-16, NIV)
He keeps it simple for us:
8 He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly j with your God. (Micah 6:8, NIV)
It’s not either doctrine or action. It is informed action down with a heart toward God.
