PASTORAL BLOG

COMING UP...Sunday July 17th...

When Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount, His challenge was that we not deceive ourselves regarding our spiritual standing. His call was that we follow His righteousness and not our own. Now we come to His final words and point of decision. Will we put His teachings into practice or choose our own path?

Sunday July 10th..

How does Jesus end his powerful Sermon on the Mount? He closes with three important contrast comparisons. First, he speaks of two gates that lead to two roads; then he warns of two trees, one that bears good fruit and the other that bears bad fruit. The bad tree represents false teachers, while the good tree represents those who have truly been sent by God. How do we know the difference? God’s Word will give us the answer.

Sunday July 3rd...

If you were to Mapquest directions from Missoula, MT to Heaven, how would you get there? Jesus begins showing us the answer in Matthew 7:13 & 14. He speaks of two gates that lead to two roads that take us to two destinations that are inhabited by two different crowds. Come and get directions from the one who knows the way.

Sunday June 26th...

How we treat other people matters to God. That is why Jesus, in his Sermon on the Mount, gives what is known as the golden rule of conduct. He shows how God’s love can flow through us. When we begin to do unto others as we would have them do unto us, people start seeing God in our lives.

Sunday June 19th...

Jesus, in His Sermon on the Mount, gives some very clear principles on the subject of judging. How many times have you heard someone say, “Judge not lest you be judged?” Does that mean we should never judge, or analyze, or evaluate another person’s doctrine or morality? Let’s discover what Jesus has to say.

Sunday June 12th...

The draining burden of oppression. The Israelites knew it under Pharaoh; the Jews experienced it under the oppression of Rome and the legalistic religious system imposed it upon them. We  understand the burden of worrying about tomorrow: How can I get wealth, what is my reason for living, will my treasures last? In Matthew 6:19-34 we are going to see, and then be asked to act upon, Jesus’ teaching regarding the burdens that we carry. Hearing what He had to say will pave the way to freedom!

Sunday June 5th...

There are some things that will not happen in your life or in the life of this church, as God would have it happen, unless you and I fast. What is fasting and why does God want us to learn this spiritual discipline? Jesus reveals the answer in Matthew 6:16-18.

Sunday May 29th...

One day as Jesus was praying, one of his disciples approached him and said, “Lord, teach us to pray.” Jesus responded by revealing certain things, that if included in your prayer life, will enrich your life, build up your faith, and create an awareness of God that surpasses what you have known. Join us as we learn more about the Lord’s prayer.

Sunday May 22nd...

We are going to look at the most important thing that any Christian can, or does do. We are going to examine the subject of prayer. My hope is that through Jesus’ words in Matthew, chapter six, you will rediscover the life and vitality of prayer.

Sunday May 15th...

For the past several months, we have been examining the greatest sermon ever preached. Jesus, throughout this message, gives us the standards every Christian is to follow. Next we are going to look at what He says about serving and giving, and how we can know if we are doing it with the right motives, and in a way that honors God.

Sunday May 8th...

There is one word that sums up all of God’s commandments and characterizes the Christian walk and that word is love. How are you responding when someone attacks you verbally or treats you in an unkind manner? If you find your behavior becoming less loving instead of more loving, then you especially need to hear what Jesus has to say about this subject.

Sunday May 1st...

The people of Jesus’ day were being influenced by the teachings of the religious leaders. Sometimes what they taught lined up with the scriptures, but at other times it blatantly opposed it. We are going to examine what Jesus says about retaliation-getting even. He shows his followers how to live in a way that will not only transform them, but will transform the people around them.

Sunday April 24th...

What does it look like if you are a follower of Jesus Christ? How do you get to the place where you can say, “Jesus, I will follow you and I won’t run. Wherever you go, no matter how steep, difficult, or fearful, I will go if you lead the way.” This is the scenario Jesus’ disciples faced when they found his tomb empty and were told by an angel that he had gone ahead of them and they were to follow.

Sunday April 17th...

Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Jesus’ final week on earth. Throughout this week Christians will reflect on the value and virtue of Jesus’ suffering on the cross. His blood was given as the greatest gift to mankind. We are going to examine why, and see how His blood can work a wonderful change in every life.

Sunday April 10th...

When Jesus began teaching, the crowds upmost on his mind were issues the involved the heart. Next in our Sermon on the Mount series is the subject of honesty, or keeping your word. God is known as the Father of Truth and we are going to see how he honors those who always speak the truth.

Sunday April 3rd...

We are now in that section of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount that deals with the standards of God’s kingdom. Jesus has some very pointed things to say about the subject of divorce. This is by no means an easy topic to deal with in our day, but what Jesus has to say will bring us back to God’s instructions, rather than man’s assumptions.