The Sermon on the Mount is far from an easy and enjoyable preaching series to prepare for and, I suspect, to receive. It’s my favorite portion of Jesus’ teaching, but not because it’s funny or dazzling or even that uplifting. I embrace the Sermon on the Mount because it breaks my pride, crushes the idols [...]
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.†Jesus, from Matthew 5:4
Sunday I said that if you don’t feel bad (mourn) about your sins, you’ll have an extremely hard time receiving forgiveness from God. You have to move from remorse to repentance to restoration.
I found a story that really illustrates that concept, but [...]
During the height of the Cold War, a former FBI agent wrote a book about Soviet spies and how the KGB would tempt workers in the FBI and CIA and in the military to spy for them. The KGB would never start by approaching and asking him or her to steal “top secret†documents.
Instead, [...]
“BELOVED, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.†– 1 John 4:1
“Two Thumbs Upâ€, “Two Thumbs Downâ€, “One of the Year’s Bestâ€, “A Must See†are all archaic ratings or endorsements of movie talking heads. Let [...]