Sermons on Matthew 5:33-48:

What Does The Contract Say?

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Feb 7, 2021

You better not rewrite it. The better you know it the better it is for you and those you impact.

When I was training to be a Contract Specialist in South Carolina, my mentor, Art Nalley, always stressed one thing. “What does the contact say?’ That was second only to “Don’t worry about the mule going blind just load the wagon” when the workload was intense. That is a Mississippi adage. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:43-46, Galatians 1:6-8, 2 Timothy 2:15-18, Ephesians 4:11-16, John 16:13-15, 1 Corinthians 14:19, 1 Timothy 1:3-7  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

God's Rewards

Contributed by Derrick Tuper on Feb 21, 2021

I think it's safe to say we all like to get rewarded. We like to get acknowledged for a job well done. Not that we do things to get rewarded, it's just nice when it happens. Today we'll take a look at the subject of God's rewards.

GOD'S REWARDS I think it's safe to say we all like to get rewarded. We like to get acknowledged for a job well done. Not that we do things to get rewarded, it's just nice when it happens. There are different kinds of rewards. It could be a prize, it could be cash like when we return a ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 73:25-26, Hebrews 10:32-36, 1 Samuel 26:23-25, 1 Samuel 24:17-19, Matthew 5:46, Matthew 6:1-4, Jeremiah 17:9-10, Numbers 24:10-13, Genesis 15:1, Numbers 22:16-18  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Love Your Enemies Series

Contributed by Aneel Aranha on Feb 26, 2021

In probably his most radical command to us, Jesus tells us to love our enemies. How’s it going with that, dear Christian?

Scripture Reading: Matthew 5:43-48 “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 children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:43-48

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

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

Jesus And X-Tra! Series

Contributed by Larry Vollink on Apr 15, 2021

Jesus was/is Extra - Ordinary and 'The Greatest Walker wants us to Walk that extra - mile, but when? Listen!

Jesus walked 1000's of miles for His ministry of love, now He is asking His disciples to walk the extra mile if compelled to go a mile. Why? It comes from the Sermon on the Mount context, "If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles." (Matthew 5:41) He ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:41

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

How To Minister To The Lgbt Community: Wesley's Quadrilateral As A Guide

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Apr 26, 2021

How can we as Christians minister and carry the gospel to the LGBT community? Let us consider this difficult issue, which centers around gender, homosexuality, gay marriage, and past hurts through the lenses of Wesley's Quadrilateral.

How can we as Christians minister and carry the gospel to the LGBT community? Let us consider this difficult issue, which centers around gender, homosexuality, gay marriage, and past hurts through the lenses of Wesley's Quadrilateral. The quadrilateral is a time tested tool for discerning ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:43-48, Mark 1:15, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, 1 Timothy 1:10, John 1:14  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Salvation Army

The Power Of Words Series

Contributed by Esther Collins on Apr 28, 2021

This is the 8th devotion in the series, 'Building Relationships that Last,' and concerns the power that words possess, and how they impact our relationships.

It is said that an average person speaks about 5000 to 10,000 words every day. This is because, as we realized from the previous topic, ‘Communication is Key,’ that communication is the key to relationships, and the most used method of communication is words. We communicate with family members, ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 18:21, Proverbs 11:13, Proverbs 16:28, Proverbs 15:1, Proverbs 10:19, Proverbs 12:18, Proverbs 11:12, Proverbs 29:20, Ephesians 4:25, Matthew 12:36, Proverbs 16:24, Romans 12:14, Proverbs 18:4, 1 Thessalonians 5:1, Matthew 5:44, Luke 6:45  (view more)  (view less)

A Few Things I Learned From Vince Lombardi, Reggie White, Brett Favre, & Joe Montana

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on May 3, 2021

We're coming up on NFL football season. Autumn approaches. There is no greater idol in Wisconsin than Packer and Badger football season. Green Bay Packer season, of course, being the most important.

“When we place our dependence in God, we are unencumbered, and we have no worry. In fact, we may even be reckless, insofar as our part in the production is concerned. This confidence, this sureness of action, is both contagious and an aid to the perfect action. The rest is in the hands of God – and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:48

Denomination: Salvation Army

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

Turning The Other Cheek

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 13, 2021

The religious leaders of the world can quote their wise and holy men in ways that show they too have many of the values of the Sermon on the Mount. But they have nothing to match the teachings of Christ on the love of one's enemies.

Almost everybody agrees with the Sermon on the Mount in general, but almost nobody can agree to the specifics of the last part of chapter 5. Even Nikita Krushev, an atheist, when he was the leader of Russia, could say he agreed with the Sermon on the Mount, for even in Russia they do not consider ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:38-48

They Remembered His Words

Contributed by John Bright on Apr 3, 2021

This a sermon for Easter/Resurrection Sunday 2021

“They Remembered His Words” Luke 24:1-12 A sermon for 4/4/21 – Easter Sunday Pastor John Bright - Harmony & Swansonville UMC Luke 24 “1 Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:1-12, 1 Corinthians 15:16-20, John 4:13-14, John 3:14-16, John 10:10, Galatians 5:22-23, Matthew 5:43-48, John 14:1-6  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Methodist

Step Eight - Its A List Dummy Series

Contributed by Robert Butler on Jan 8, 2020

Step eight comes across as a fairly easy step at first glance. I only need to transfer my list of people, places and things from step 5 and be willing to change. The “big book” offers all of three sentences so maybe it is that easy. NOT!

Step eight comes across as a fairly easy step at first glance. I only need to transfer my list of people, places and things from step 5 and be willing to change. The “big book” offers all of three sentences so maybe it is that easy. NOT! If I’m truly committed to changing I must dig a bit deeper. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:21-26, Matthew 5:43-47, Matthew 26:26-30

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Sixth Sunday In Ordinary Time - 6th Sunday, Year A-- The Fence

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Jan 20, 2020

Jesus builds a shield around the law or Commandments in order to create more space and distance so that we won’t even bump up against the fence or sit on the fence, but rather keep a healthy distance.

There was a large group of people. On one side of the group stood a man, Jesus. On the other side of the group stood Satan. Separating them, running through the group, was a fence. The scene was set, both Jesus and Satan began calling to the people in the group and, one by one - each having made up ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:17-37

Denomination: Catholic