Matthew 5

"Dear Precious One, Today's message is very important because many in your religious world turn grace into an excuse to do whatever they want rather....."

"Dear Beloved, Many mortals chase after so many things thinking that a fulfilling life will be found in those things... those pursuits... those..."

Come on, we can hold up someone better than this as a hero! Rubel Shelly takes a high profile piece in the news and reminds all who the real heroes are among us.

Can you imagine what would happen if we really obeyed Jesus? Jesus commanded us to act in certain ways toward others, especially when people mistreat us; what would happen if we really did obey him?

God promises us a sacred blessing and a sacred delight in these words of Jesus! Max Lucado reminds us that while the Beatitudes are demanding, they are also life-giving and a privilege to live as an answer to God's call in our lives.

Do you want to be lucky or blessed? Luck has many definitions depending upon those with whom you visit; but Christians are blessed!

A simple reminder of grace from one in a difficult place. Phil Ware shares the sweet prayer request from one of the translators in a predominantly Muslim nation wracked with violence and bloodshed: "Please pray for the terrorists that they know Jesus Christ like Saul who became Paul :)"

Does it matter if we don't do some things that are hard Imagine that we all approached life with the attitude of, "If it's not on the test then I'm not going to learn it."

Is revenge really so satisfying? Is it better to live with the philosophy of eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth or to practice forgiveness and kindness?

Are you feeding this monster? The leader of the Girls Gone Wild empire and smut king is facing charges and problems, but the real problem is the sexual addiction that pornography causes in the lives of men and women.

As children of our Father, we are called to live up to the God standard! Phillip Morrison reminds us that we are saved by grace and God expects us to be gracious.

"[Jesus continued:] " But I say, do not make any vows! ... And do not say, 'By the earth!' because the earth is [God's] footstool. And do not say, 'By...."

When's the last time you felt the joy of being truly thankful? We need to recover the lost art of giving thanks and there are some steps we can take to do just that.

Are you lucky or just blessed? We don't like being passive, so we have a hard time recognizing that we have what we have because we are blessed.

"[Jesus continued:] "You have heard the law that says, 'Love your neighbor' and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who..."

"[Jesus continued:] "You are the light of the world — like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a..."

"[Jesus said] "You are the light of the world. Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.""

"[Jesus said,] "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute..."

"[Jesus continued:] "If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only..."

"[Jesus continued:] "God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. "God blesses you when people mock..."

Inspirational illustration of Matthew 5:43-45 -- [Jesus said,] "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heav

Is the interconnectedness of our world really such bad news? The interconnectedness of our world isn't bad, but really an opportunity to do good and bring redemptive influence.

Can anything change our decaying culture for the better? Paul Faulkner cites a recent Wallstreet Journal report on domestic violence and observes that change happens one man and one family at a time.

Does truth matter to us much these days? Rubel Shelly addresses the issues of honesty and integrity and the importance of telling the truth and the sin against each other and ourselves when we lie and do not tell the truth.

So who really made Bill Clinton President? Who has the greatest influence, you on the world or the world on you?

Does it really do you any good to get what you want in this circumstance? Rubel Shelly reminds us that revenge is never sweet because it diminishes us.

I'm not sure I'm that trusting: are you? Patrick Odum talks about a strange occurrence involving trust, a New York ad agency worker, a homeless man, and an American Express Card, which reminds us that God trusts us.

"Dear Disciple, While I was in the world, I was the "Light of the world" (John 9:5). I AM still the Light of the world (John 1:4-5; John 8:12), but..."

Is there still time? We must use all the time we have and not waste it because we can make a difference in the time we are given.

"One day as he saw the crowds gathering, Jesus went up on the mountainside and sat down. His disciples gathered around him, and he began to teach them."

"[Jesus continued:] "So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you,...."

"[Jesus continued:] "You have heard the law that says, 'A man can divorce his wife by merely giving her a written notice of divorce.' But I say that a...."

"So when you offer your gift to God at the altar, and you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there at the...."

"[Jesus continued:] "You have heard the commandment that says, 'You must not commit adultery.' But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust..."

"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your..."

"But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and..."

"[Jesus continued:] "You have heard that our ancestors were told, 'You must not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.' But I say,...."

"But I say to you, love your enemies. Pray for those who hurt you. If you do this, you will be true children of your Father in heaven. He causes the...."

"[Jesus continued:] "When you are on the way to court with your adversary, settle your differences quickly. Otherwise, your accuser may hand you over....."

"[Jesus continued:] "You have heard the law that says the punishment must match the injury: 'An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.' But I say, do..."

"[After condemning lust, Jesus continued:] "So if your eye — even your good eye — causes you to lust, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for...."

"[Jesus continued:] "You have also heard that our ancestors were told, 'You must not break your vows; you must carry out the vows you make to the..."

Inspirational illustration of Matthew 5:11-12 -- Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they perse

The power of grace, the gift of life in marriage. Phil Ware continues his series called 50 shades of grace that focuses on the intimacy between a husband and wife in marriage.

A King headed to a cross, the foal of a donkey, and a formerly blind man who followed along the way. James Nored and Phil Ware remind us that many were blind to Jesus as the Messiah because he refused to be the kind of Messiah they expected; he was the upside down Messiah.

God's high standards are certainly upside down to how we often feel and how the world usually functions. Demetrius Collins and Phil Ware lead us in an online, DIY, worship through words and music using YouTube videos to open our hearts to the power of the Holy Spirit to love our neighbor and not bear grudges and seek revenge.

Inevitably, the darkness will weigh on them, exhaust them, and feel altogether overwhelming to them. Then, they can come to the light to re-charge, but they can't glow in the light! Jordan Harrell learned from her son's fascination with glow-in-the-dark spiders that we are made to shine in darkness, not sit under a light.

How are your neighbors going to know? Patrick Odum tells about a gaudy, JESUS Christmas sign in the yard that tells everyone that the owners of the home believe Jesus is the reason for the season.

What can of light do you owe the world? We all need to be a little more ready and intentional about letting our light shine before others, but we also know and willingly bear the consequences.

Have you got your strings of light hung yet? Rob Frazier writes about why he puts up Christmas lights and how each of us has some light to share with others.

Are you willing to suffer if it spreads the Gospel? We must be ready to suffer; our brothers and sisters all around the world are and have!

What makes a true lighthouse in a world of despair and darkness? God gives us moments where we can not just be a solid light, but a startling, once in a lifetime influence for grace and good.

Does your life back up your words? He was called Basil the Great. Bishop of Caesarea in the fourth century, he was a staunch defender of the idea of the Trinity. He stood his ground against all opponents, even when the Emperor tried to exile him for his beliefs. Basil may have been bett

What do you think they see? People are watching us all the time and learn from watching what is important to us and to them.

Our groups and our churches must be the arenas where Jesus' upside-down kingdom comes to life. Phil Ware shares Jesus' teaching that is upside-down to the world around us in terms of status, wealth, power, position, achievement, and importance.

Where did that laser beam come from, anyway? In a world of darkness, an intensely focused life is going to emit a lot of light in our dark world.

Want to know what is missing in this great story of freedom? Rubel Shelly reminds us that behind the great 42 of Jackie Robinson was a heart of faith and willingness to honor Jesus in the way he dealt with injustice, hatred, and prejudice.

What would happen if your church were on Larry Davies had a dream about being on Shark Tank and being offered 1 million dollars to invest in a church.

I was taught to appreciate the beauty of the world and to see in that beauty glimpses of its Creator. Patrick Odum challenges us to look at sin, community involvement, engagement in the problems of our world, and what it means to be a citizen of the world in which we live.

"[Jesus continued:] "Give to those who ask, and don't turn away from those who want to borrow.""

"[Jesus continued:] "God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted.""

"[Jesus continued:] "God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy.""

"[Jesus continued:] "Don't misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to..."

"[Jesus taught:] "God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.""

"[Jesus continued:] "If you are sued in court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat, too.""

"Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me."

""You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out...."

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden."

""You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.""

"In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."

"In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."

"But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart."

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

"Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one."

"But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also."

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted."

"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth."

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled."

"Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy."

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God."

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God."

"[Jesus continued:] "God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied.""

"[After saying that he came to accomplish the purpose of the law of Moses, Jesus continued:] "I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear,....."

"[Jesus continued:] "God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.""

"[Jesus continued:] "But I warn you — unless your righteousness is better than the righteousness of the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees,..."

"[Jesus continued:] "You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out..."

""Love thy neighbour." Perhaps he rolls in riches, and thou art poor, and living in thy little cot side-by-side with his lordly mansion; thou seest..."

"This is the seventh of the beatitudes: and seven was the number of perfection among the Hebrews. It may be that the Saviour placed the peacemaker the...."

"[Jesus continued:] "If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles.""

"[Jesus continued:] "God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth.""

"[Jesus continued:] "God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.""

"[Jesus continued:] "So if you ignore the least commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But..."

Inspirational e-card: Matthew 5:14 - You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.

If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and throw it away. - Matthew 5:29

Matthew 5:16 - Let the light of your life shine in such a way that other see your good deeds and glorify your father in heaven.

Inspirational e-card: Matthew 5:14 - You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.

Inspirational illustration of Matthew 5:28 -- But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Inspirational illustration of Matthew 5:13 -- "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men."

Inspirational illustration of Matthew 5:16 -- In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Are you a situation complainer or an environment changer? We can be situation complainers -- thermostats -- or situation changers -- thermometers; Jesus' will, however, is that we be salt, light, and examples who display the fruit of the Spirit.

Can't I just keep a little of my life protected from this? Phil Ware takes the two love commands of Jesus, the Greatest Commands, and applies them to all of life for a follower of the Lord.

Hopefully remembering the horrors can help us prevent them. Phil Ware uses Memorial Day to think about the cost of war and the ultimate sacrifice of a friend named Roy who lived through World War II, the assault on Normandy Beach and the Battle of the Bulge.

Surely Jesus is talking about something other than evangelism? Phil Ware continues his LifeWORDS series and shares Jesus' Great Commission as a call to incarnational ministry and not just evangelism.

Is there any message we can take from our dark night of the human soul? Phil Ware adds some beginning thoughts and Phillip Morrison writes beautifully about a messenger to mankind and The Messenger to humankind.

Jesus didn't pray for unity just so Christians could sit in a happy circle, hold hands, and sing Kum Ba Yah around the campfire at church camp. Phil Ware reflects on the words of Jesus, the actions of the apostle Paul, and the example of a couple of men in his life, all focused on the theme of reconciliation.

Do you know how to make a duck dance on an upsidedown pot? A duck that dances on a pot reveals the secret to shining our light and keeping our candle lit so that we can influence others.

Christianity is not a secret commitment. Christianity is a public commitment. It must not be hidden.

"Dear Believer, Somewhere along the way, My light shown into your heart and changed you. More than just the light from the bright star that guided the..."

Prayer becomes a tuning fork that helps us sing the song of God's magnificence with both holy praise as well as genuine concern for the people in our world. Phil Ware continues his series of thoughts on living as a disciple that is JesuShaped and focuses on how the Lord's Prayer tunes our hearts to living the JesuShaped life.

Give thanks for this? Phil Ware finishes his November series of giving thanks and focuses on our mission or call from God.

God isn't going to accept anything we offer him — our hearts, our Sunday worship, our offerings, our praise, our hopes, our private prayers, our dreams — if we knowingly remain at odds with a brother or sister in Christ. Phil Ware takes the two love commands of Jesus, the Greatest Commands, and applies them to all of life for a follower of the Lord.

Are you really sure you can get even? For many people "getting even" is what they're interested in and they won't be satisfied until it's done. They don't want someone to escape justice. Unfortunately, they fail to realize that never happens on this side of heaven's judgement.

Can you think about nothing but God? Can we spend any special, focused, time thinking about nothing but God? It is hard, but we must learn to do so.

What are we to do with such great human need and such great risk? Phillip Morrison is back as our conscience asking us about how we sort through the refugee crisis in Syria and what are we going to do about it.

Will technology be the difference? David Capes uses The Voice translation to drive home the point that technology is not going to save us from ourselves, but only gracious trust that Jesus is Lord and our following Jesus into the world of forgiveness.

In every crucible, God longs for us to see Him, to trust Him, to lean in on Him. Ron Rose is back with his coffee, friends, and insights into life, faith, crucibles, and raindrops.

What is the major message of your life? Russ Lawson reminds us of the importance of our letting our light shine in such a way that allows others to see God in your life.

Running the right race! Rubel Shelly tells the story of Josh Ripley running cross country and helping out a fellow competitor and showing great compassion, kindness, and helpfulness, as a follower of Jesus.

When was the last time you truly shined the light for someone else to see? Larry Davies talks about us being lighthouses to others, and sometimes that means being a steady stream of light and sometimes it means being a blazing beacon of hope.

Why can't this also be our specialty? Rubel Shelly talks about Starbucks and their emphasis on customer service and how we need to emulate their desire to greet help others.

Is there a place to start making the world a better place? To start making things better, begin with yourself!

Is divorce the right decision? God is able to help couples avoid divorce, if we'll just let Him do it.

removing sin takes radical surgery Removing sin from our lives demands radical, aggressive action.

How can being generous grow our spirits? The spiritual discipline of generosity is crucial if we are going to grow in the spirit.

Should she get out of the relationship? Joe Beam answers questions on love, sex, and relationships; this one focuses on an emotional affair.

Are we really letting our love light shine in a world filled with so much darkness? Byron Ware reminds us that in our world of darkness, now more than ever, we need to be a people who do put love into practice every day.

What do you do when you don't feel like you have anything to offer? Tom Norvell reminds us to listen to God when we feel like we have nothing to offer, and if we do, we will realize that is enough.

What blessing can there be in powerlessness? Life is full of events that make us feel and actually be powerless, but that is exactly where God can work in our life the most.

They laugh because they have given up hope, and hope born anew is always funny before it is real.

What do you really love? What we really love shines through and shows others our heart and will reveal or not reveal our passion for God.

Prayer changes something much more important than our circumstances! Phil Ware continues his series on building a culture of honor focusing this week on prayer, especially prayer as a redemptive tool of offering forgiveness and blessing to those who are our enemies and who mistreat us.

Do you know peace in your life? Do you know peace in your life? Or, do you find your days filled with conflict? Are you often belligerent and contentious with those around you? Find real peace in Jesus.

With the genuine seeker, the struggling follower longing to be more godly, and those broken by life, the Lord used tender language filled with grace and mercy. Demetrius Collins and Phil Ware lead us in a virtual, DIY, worship through words and music using YouTube videos to call us to be salt to a world of decay, flavorlessness, and bland hope.

Just what do you mean by that? Rubel Shelly weighs in on the tragedy in Oklahoma, our easy explanations, and our overuse of the word just.

What do your ears want to hear? Some folks only want to hear the cheery stuff from God, not the hard stuff, too.

Your church needs to know who lives next door Our churches can't afford to sit and wait for our neighbors to come to us. We must take the first step in connecting with those around us.

Looking to put the spin on something, then learn from this! Paul Faulkner reminds us of the awesome power of words and our human ability to use them to distort the truth and anger God.

Are you as good as your word? Say what you mean and then do what you say. Those around you will come to trust you when your actions are the same as your words.

What do we do in the face of evil and meanness? Phil Ware continues his series of messages related to "The Story" curriculum, using Abraham's call to be a blessing to be a reminder to us as well.

How can you tell how we are doing with our spirituality? Phil Ware takes us back to The Story, God's story and our story and reminds us that while rebuilding infrastructure for a city and country is hard, it is even harder to rebuild the morale, moral, and faith foundation.

Do you really want to fill your sponge with grey water? Teresa Bell Kindred compares seeing Fifty Shades of Grey to a dirty mop bucket and a sponge.

He was nitroglycerin; if you bumped him the wrong way, he blew up. Max Lucado reminds of what is necessary when we have failed publicly and why it is necessary.

Doing right is always good, but not always honored by the world around you. our culture disregards the "role model" for the "role idol" where everything celebrities do is worshipped including their unseemly behavior and outward expressions. Like Bobby Richardson, there are some celebrities who strive to live the Christ like lif

Who is responsible for the good things that happen to me? Good things happen in this world. I believe that God is the source of the these in the lives of his people. It is not "dumb luck" or "blind fate."

Baseball is more than just a set of confusing rules. So is Christianity Christianity is more than a set of rules no one can follow. It is about a relationship with Jesus.

Where are you stuck? We will never make it trying to live in the middle: it is the place of collisions and disasters.

Our ToGather time today focuses on God's great promises to bless us, but also challenges each of us to ask: What is the true source of my delight? Demetrius Collins and Phil Ware lead us in a virtual, DIY, worship through words and music using YouTube videos to call us to recognize God's greatness and his desire to bless us with every good thing we need.

What's a young guy got to do? Rubel Shelly wades into the Tim Tebow issue with some good insight and a reminder to wait and see how this all turns out.

Is there anything I can do to help redeem this situation? Joe Beam shares his passion and recommendations for rescuing couples when an affair has blow apart their lives.

What does it take to keep your battery charged? Keeping us going in ministry, keeping our lights shining, requires us to spend time alone with God.

What do you have to hide? Phil Ware shares his father's values in a letter to his children Zachary and Megan

What can this old story powerfully say to our geopolitical messes of today? Phil Ware shares his series for December 2015 on welcoming Jesus and focuses on the Magi from the gospel of Matthew and lets that story remind us our need to reach out to the lost and foreigner and alien and refugee among us.