Matthew 7:12-29

So how much gear do you have that lies lifeless? Rubel Shelly reminds us that a big study Bible is about as worthless to us if we don't read and apply it as workout equipment and clothes that are never use

"Dear Child of God, The Father is holy and wholly given to doing what is right, just, holy, gracious, and merciful. What about you? What is your..."

Do you really KNOW the truth? Real knowledge is experiential knowledge: knowledge we've gained by acting on the truth.

"[Jesus continued:] "Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. You can identify them by their fruit,..."

How can we avoid the foolish man's crash? Phil Ware reminds us of the harsh truth about knowing more than we put into practice, we are certainly called to be much more than a biblical thumb drive.

"[Jesus concluded his Sermon on the Mount:] "Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock....."

"[Jesus said to the disciples:] "Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the...."

"[Jesus continued:] "Not everyone who calls out to me, 'Lord! Lord!' will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father..."

Where are you building your house? The world is looking for Christians who are really willng to be obedient, real, authentic, and genuine in their walk with the Lord and do what he says.

Are you really trying to please God or yourself? Rather than following the whims of culture, let's obey God's word.

What's got you stuck in neutral? Phil Ware looks at the last chapter of the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 7, and emphasizes Jesus' call to us to obey, put into practice, bear fruit, and do what he says.

Doesn't our faith have to impact the way we live our daily lives? Rubel Shelly reminds us that our faith must make a difference in our normal lives or it matters little.

"When Jesus had finished saying these things [in his Sermon on the Mount], the crowds were amazed at his teaching, for he taught with real authority —...."

"Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the..."

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.But small is the gate and narrow...."

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow..."

"Jesus said, "Wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads....."

"[Jesus said,] "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the...."

"When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of..."

"[Jesus continued:] "You can enter God's Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who..."

Inspirational illustration of Matthew 7:28-29 -- When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

Graphic image Matthew 7:26-27 - 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. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it

Inspirational illustration of Matthew 7:13-14 -- Jesus said, "Wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Tired of sitting on the dock? Then jump in! Rick Brown challenges us to get off the dock and into the water, to quit talking and to start obeying, to dive in and to swim.

What are you reaching for? We show we are Jesus' disciples by what we do, but so often what we reach for is the wrong thing.

Doesn't discipleship involve more than just saying the right words? Phil Ware shares his second post in his four article series on Peter's confession, focusing this time on our tendency to reduce faith to words and not actions and discipleship.

Why is it hard to let Jesus have control of our lives? I wonder what would happen if we truly let Jesus have control of our lives.

"In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the prophets."

"[Jesus taught his disciples:] "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.""

"[Jesus taught his disciples, saying:] "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.""

"[Jesus continued:] "Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.""

Inspirational illustration of Matthew 7:12 -- So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

Most people say they believe in Jesus. They are wrong. Saving belief in Jesus is much more than believing a set of facts. Real belief is to follow Jesus.

Why not listen to the old story and look for something fresh and new? Sometimes we trust too much in what we've learned in the past and things we have learned from our parents rather than seeking the truth ourselves and then living it.

Can you sway without breaking or falling? Mike Barres reminds us that we need to be like trees: flexible, rooted, connected, and built on the rock.

So you believe in God, big deal, what are you going to do about it? Phil Ware challenges us to ask the 'Now, so what?' question to our own faith in Jesus and God and to make life changes based upon it.

"Dear Beloved, We often make understanding what God wants much harder than it really is. One of the important aspects of My teaching is that I tried....."

Have I truly decided to follow Jesus no matter where it may lead me? Jesus is the artist and the potter; each of us needs to be the canvas and clay where he creates a masterpiece. Demetrius Collins and Phil Ware lead through worship in song, the Lord's Supper, a powerful message from God's word, and a blessing to enable us to worship from home or with family and friends in a meaningful way and ask this important question: Can I rea

We rejoice in the grace so lavishly given us in Jesus by obeying the Lord. Phil Ware concludes his six-part series on the man with leprosy that Jesus heals (Mark 1:35-45) and how we can learn to impact the lives of others as Jesus did.

"Dear Disciple, Unfortunately, much of the world has repeatedly given up honoring the Creator. Most in the world have chased after worthless and..."

Jesus asks us to trust him — not just for receiving our salvation, but also by obeying him in our daily lives. Phil Ware concludes his six-part series on the man with leprosy that Jesus heals (Mark 1:35-45) and how we can learn to impact the lives of others as Jesus did.

Where do you find your strength? Russ Lawson reminds us that faith is a muscle we exercise and when we do, we mature and grow in faith and spiritual strength.

You mean we are supposed to do this everywhere! After reading the passage again, have you seen anything new, like maybe it should apply in everything you do -- the Golden Rule!

How content are you in a bad traffic situation? We learn contentment by learning to be at peace with others.

What motivates us to change and growth? If we are going to change and grow, we're going to have to know what motivates that kind of change: affection, acceptance, and self-respect.

What does this have to do with Phil Campbell Rick Brown reminds us that community, church, family, can make a huge difference in our lives when devastation hits.

How are you doing living up to these commandments? Rubel Shelly shares some insight on the golden rule applied to office relationships.

How do I really look? Rubel Shelly reminds us that our self-perceptions may be totally inaccurate.

What does true love do? While true love waits, true love also obeys. Whatever happened to obedience?

Will you put your life where your mouth is? Practice what you preach, walk your talk, and live the life you profess.

Some days, I find that I'm a little of both! Larry Davies talks about a morning of tranquility shattered by an unexpected event with his son and then realizes that some days you are the windshield and some days you are the bug!

What is your greatest fear about the release of The Passion? The Passion of The Christ is released tomorrow, but Dave has fears that it will not be used as evangelistically as it should be.

Can you love the unlovable? If we are willing, we can love the unlovable and encourage them to know Jesus.

We actually exchanged real words with both of them. It was amazing. Would you believe that they are both real living, breathing human beings? Michael DeCamp shares a chapter out of his new book, "Loving Out Loud," and challenges us to use our words to bless and not hurt, to give life and not steal it from someone.

Who do you look like? Rubel Shelly reminds us that even when things or people look alike doesn't mean they actually live the same way or live out the same role.

The Golden Rule is a fundamental principle in our life with others. Jesus lived this principle, and we have chosen to follow the example of our Savior. Phil Ware and Demetrius Collins lead us into worship through songs, Communion, and the Word God, inviting us to realize that in Jesus, we have the power to break every chain of bondage in our relationships and in our lives.

What are you filling your tank with? We can think we are following God's will, but the only way to know for sure is by consulting his word.

Phil Ware challenges us to look beyond the New Year's resolutions on to a life pursuing Jesus. Phil Ware challenges us to look beyond the New Year's resolutions on to a life pursuing Jesus.

When is a homerun not quite a homerun without some help? Steve Higginbotham reminds us of a great home run story from D II women's softball and how the opposing team helped an injured competitor.

Is that person really so bad? Rubel Shelly reminds us of the incredible importance of how we view people.

So how do you do in those challenging situations? Phil Ware continues his letters to his grown children Zachary and Megan about the principles his dad tried to instill in him, and this week the focus is on how we treat people that the rest of folks don't feel they have to treat nicely.

"Dear Disciple, Read My harsh words to the Pharisees about their all-talk-legalism and not-much-help religion (Matthew 23:1-36). When you do, you will..."

Are you paying attention? When it comes to finding your way through this world, no GPS can help you. No map program will get you there. You need directions from someone who really knows the way. The book of Psalms says, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path" (Ps

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.

There is more to the crown of thorns Jesus carried than meets the eye at first glance. Max Lucado reminds us of the grace and love shown to us in the crown of thorns Jesus wore to the cross.

What are you going to do in the storm? Many tough things happen in life, are we ready for the storm or to help others caught in the storm?

Who would you try to make contact with? Russ Lawson emphasizes that we shouldn't be motivated out of fear, but urgency and love, and mend our relationships.

Can you find the energy to do something? People are ready to help in the Katrina crisis, thank God!

When is losing not such a big deal? Rubel Shelly describes a rare but beautiful story of sportsmanship that helps us prepare for March madness.

March madness is here, but the best game was played in February! Rubel Shelly takes us to El Paso and shares a story that will warm our hearts about a coach, a boy, a team, and good sportsmanship.

When sports fail to bring us together as one, then what will we do? Rubel Shelly reminds us of MLK, Martin Luther King, Jr., and how he taught us we were all equal in God's eyes and that Jesus was the answer to uniting us into one people under God.

Can we live like we know for sure? God is at work in the ordinary and unimportant aspects of life as well as the extraordinary and debilitating aspects of life.

Finding more than we are looking for! Russ Lawson talks about the origin of the word serendipity and asks how we will use these blessings in our lives?

Can we build a culture of honor in a world that has a different set of values? Phil Ware begins a series on building a culture of honor using Romans 12 as the basis and foundation of the study.

When you look in the mirror, what do you see? Phil Ware challenges us to look beyond the cosmetic image we see in the mirror and view ourselves as God does.

So how do we get real about the church? Phil Ware continues his series from Matthew on God's presence in Jesus and this week talks about church as family, not community.