Sermons on Matthew 5:25-48:

A Positive Christian Influence Changes Life For The Better Series

Contributed by Charles Cunningham on Aug 2, 2019

Mature Christians influence others for the better by conserving fundamental principles of God's Law but by doing so with a forgiving spirit rooted in Christian love.

Have you, like me, ever been at odds with the law - for example: Have you ever been ticketed for a traffic violation? How did you handle your lawlessness? Stopped by a police officer for not coming to a complete stop at an intersection, I told him that, on my way back to The Rock, I ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:17-26

Getting To The Heart Of The Matter Series

Contributed by Charles Cunningham on Aug 2, 2019

Jesus taught His followers to prove their love by purity of living that flows from the heart.

“If everyone else jumped off a cliff, would you do it, too?” If I heard it once, I heard it a thousand times growing up. The point is: Just because everyone else is doing it doesn’t make it right. However, Christian perspective on the subject of Christian distinctiveness presents to some ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:27-30

Make Or Break Situations Series

Contributed by Charles Cunningham on Aug 2, 2019

Make or break situations present a distinct challenge to the integrity of a Christian.

“Cross my heart and hope to die!” Did any of you ever use that phrase to swear to a friend that you would keep a promise? As kids, we engaged in such promise making, except that we might have done so with our fingers crossed behind our backs! Big difference between promise-making and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:33-42

Let Love Reign Series

Contributed by Charles Cunningham on Aug 2, 2019

The magnificence of love as defined by the advent, life and death of Jesus, challenges Christians to rise above the mediocrity of love as defined by the world to seek the highest good of everyone.

Have you ever loved someone? Have you ever been loved by someone? These two questions address the two greatest needs of the human race: to love and to be loved. Without love, we die . . . “The Walking Dead” describes the life in which love is markedly absent. “Alive Forevermore” ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:43-48

Falling Out Of Love With Myself

Contributed by Craig Benner on Aug 9, 2019

It is time to wake up and realize that the world does not revolve around me. If Jesus is number one in my life, then my goal is to make Him known to others.

Falling out of love with Myself Selflessness Mt 5:43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. Lev. 19:18 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:43

Denomination: Pentecostal

God Working In Us

Contributed by Brad Stone on Aug 14, 2019

God has plans for each and every one of us. At times, we may become contrary and buck against them. We may grumble and complain, but we must realize that He know's best.

A pastor is walking down the street one day when he notices a very small boy trying to press a doorbell on a house across the street. However, the boy is very small and the doorbell is too high for him to reach. After watching the boy’s efforts for some time, the pastor moves closer to the ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:13-15, Matthew 5:45, 1 Corinthians 6:20, Jeremiah 29:11, Proverbs 17:22, Ephesians 4:29  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

The Worship Of Waiting (Psalm 37) Series

Contributed by James Jackson on Aug 26, 2019

We know God wins in the end. But what do we do in the meantime, when evil seems to be winning?

The Worship of Waiting (Psalm 37) Good morning! Please turn in your Bibles to Psalm 37. One of my all-time favorite books is “Children’s Letters to God.” It’s a collection of prayers, observations, questions, and complaints, with the handwriting, grammar, and punctuation of the children that ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:19-21, Matthew 5:39-45, Isaiah 6:5-7

Denomination: Baptist

Dealing Wisely With Unbelief & Opposition Series

Contributed by James Wallace on Mar 10, 2021

If we stand for Jesus, we will inevitably face the same kind of opposition that He did. How do we respond? His example gives us a clue as he faces both the unbelief of his own family, and the deadly opposition of israel's leaders.

It’s been more than 20 years ago now since I initiated a lawsuit in the name of the church against the Washoe County School District. As a few of you know, and even fewer of you probably remember, it was about the matter of Equal Access—equal access to public school facilities for churches and ...read more

Scripture: John 7:1-15, Matthew 5:44, Matthew 7:6, Matthew 10:16-18, 1 John 2:15-16, Mark 6:3, Mark 3:21  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Bible Church

Respect Versus Contempt

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 13, 2021

All that is hateful and unloving is to some degree evil. Jesus says we need to be aware of this, and deal with it in its early stages, and so prevent all the serious consequences of thinking that negative attitudes are alright as long as you don't murder anyone.

Alexander the Great conquered the world, but anger conquered him, and turned him into a murderer. Like so many of the murders of history, it was not intended or designed. It happened because men do not understand that anger is the beginning of murder. Clitus, his best friend, was teasing ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:21-26

The Now Life

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 13, 2021

The Lord's Prayer in chapter 6 is a now prayer. Give us this day our daily bread. All of its petitions are for now. Hallowed be your name-now. Thy kingdom come now. Thy will be done on earth-now.

Marguerite Higgins, Pulitzer Prize winner for international reporting, stood by a marine during the Korean War. It was 42 below zero, and the soldier was weary and covered with frozen mud. She asked him, " If I were God and could grant you anything you wished, what would you most like?" ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:21-26

The Lure And Cure Of Lust

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 13, 2021

It is no wonder the Pharisees wanted Him out of the picture. He just made the majority of the human race murderers by making anger equivalent to murder, and now He makes the majority adulterers by making lust equivalent to adultery.

Show me the man who has never looked at a woman with lust, and I'll show you a man with a white cane who was blind from birth. None but a blind man could get through life and not be captivated by God's crowning work of creation-woman. Anyone with an ounce of artistic appreciation knows ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:27-30

The Cause And Cure Of Divorce

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 13, 2021

Where lust is in power divorce will rise. Where lust is controlled by love divorce will subside. There is a direct connection between lust control and divorce.

Jo Fleming in her book His Affair reveals that almost every sinful emotion and action known to man is kindled by lust that is not controlled. Her husband of 26 years went to the apartment of a woman he worked with to return some books. This was an action he could have avoided, but he chose not ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:31-32

Simplicity Versus Complexity

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 13, 2021

We need to see that the primary problem of the Pharisees was that they were too religious. Some people go bad because of their vices, and others because of their virtues.

Human nature loves to magnify the minute and give significance to the insignificant by the simple method of stretching the truth. An army cook, for example, feed a mob of men with scrambled eggs, and then he sat down and wrote to his girl friend: "Dearest, for two hours shells have been ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:33-37

The Reversal Of Revenge

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 13, 2021

Revenge may be sweet for awhile, but it turns so bitter that it is never a long range value. This reversal of revenge, however, can add sweetness to life that lasts for time and eternity.

Aaron Burr could have been a great name in American history. He was elected to the U. S. Senate, and in 1800 he was a candidate for President of the U. S. Thomas Jefferson won that election, and Aaron Burr became Vice President. His future was bright, but then he was insulted by another famous ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:38-42

Loving Our Enemies

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 13, 2021

This means the Christian must love the non-Christian, and even the anti-Christian. He does not need to like them, but he does need to love them.

Andrew Jackson was the 7th president of the United States and one of the most popular presidents ever. After two terms he left office with greater popularity than when he entered. He is one of the most interesting presidents to study, for the record would indicate that he had no business being ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:38-43