Sermons on Matthew 5:38-45:

God Is Love

Contributed by Stan Lobin on Nov 16, 2022

What do we do with the the fact that God is love and we were created in His image? How do we, in our brokenness, love an invisible God and those hard to love people that God has commanded us to love? God has a plan or a road map for us to follow to make us more loving.

God is love! Of course all Christians should have heard that phrase and believe that it is true because we are told that God is love in the Bible. 1 John 4:7-21 NASB 7 Beloved, let’s love one another; for love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 The one who ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:7-21, Genesis 1:27, John 15:12, John 13:34-35, Philippians 2:6-8, Matthew 5:44, Micah 6:8  (view more)  (view less)

The Birthmark Of Meekness Series

Contributed by Grant Adams on Nov 23, 2022

Are you ruling your spirit? It takes more power to rule your own spirit than it does anything else in our life.

I. The Meaning of the Word 1. It is a word that was used to describe a wild animal that had been domesticated. 2. Take a stallion that has never been ridden, wild, full of energy, strength, and spirit. You break him, domesticate him, he becomes meek. 3. You can put a saddle on him, put a bit in his ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:5, Matthew 5:38-48

Denomination: Baptist

The Second Mile Series

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Nov 24, 2022

Responding to sinners with grace imitates God’s own treatment of us.

Preacher David Hoke tells a great story about a weary truck driver who pulled his rig into an all night truck stop late one summer evening in Broken Bow, NE. He was tired and hungry. The waitress had just served him when three tough looking, leath-er-jacketed bikers of the Hell's Angels type ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:38-42

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Present Perfect Series

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Nov 24, 2022

God is always love, and I am to reflect him all the time, regardless of how people behave towards me.

Once upon a time, long long ago, in a galaxy far far away, that passage from Matthew changed my life. Well, it wasn’t another galaxy, exactly, but it was certainly another world. And it certainly feels like a long time ago. I started working for the Pillsbury Company over 40 years ago. But this ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:43-48

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Sheep And Goats Series

Contributed by Gordon Pike on Jan 16, 2022

God’s kind of love … agape … doesn’t follow, it leads by example. It’s a verb. It acts. It leads our hearts. And it changes lives. It changes the life of the person acting in love and it changes the life of the person receiving the love.

Ever get caught in the “if only” trap? You probably have … probably caught in it even now … and don’t even realize it. The “if only” trap works like this: “If only they would rise off the dishes before putting them in the dishwasher …” “If only they wouldn’t leave their dirty socks lying ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 2:8-12, Matthew 5:43-48, Matthew 25:32, Romans 12:20-21, John 15:12, John 13:34, 1 Thessalonians 1:2, John 3:16-17  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: United Methodist

Cities Of Refuge: A Kindness, To Keep You From Bloodguilt (Deuteronomy 19:1-13) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on Jan 25, 2022

God set them up, to protect you from bloodguilt. He knew you'd want revenge for accidental deaths, so He protected the innocent, from you. We don't take revenge.

This sermon marks the second Sunday we've talked about the cities of refuge. What I'd like to do this morning, because I love you, is start by messing with your heads a little. Normally, people think of the OT as the "half" of the Bible that's full of wrath and justice, ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 19:1-13, Joshua 20:1-9, Matthew 7:21-27, Numbers 35:6-34, Matthew 5:21-26, Matthew 5:38-48, Matthew 6:14-15, 1 Corinthians 5:9-13, Leviticus 19:17-18  (view more)  (view less)

Living In The Kingdom 11 Series

Contributed by Rodney V Johnson on Jan 26, 2022

In this message we examine what Jesus said about getting revenge; about doing "unto others AS they do unto us." This is a hard message for some Christians to hear because society tells us to defend ourselves at all cost. But what does Jesus say?

Living in the Kingdom 11 Scripture: Matthew 5:38-42; Exodus 21:23-24; Romans 12:17 This morning we are going to talk about what it means to turn the other cheek – in other words, we will be talking about not getting revenge or doing unto others as they “do” unto you. This is part eleven of my ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:38-42, Exodus 21:23-24, Romans 12:17

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Living In The Kingdom Part 12 Series

Contributed by Rodney V Johnson on Feb 4, 2022

In this message we examine what Jesus said about how we should treat our enemies. This follows what we covered last week where Jesus talked about how we should be willing to turn the other cheek. To be a part of His kingdom, we must learn to love our enemies.

Living in the Kingdom 12 Scripture: Matthew 5:43-48; 7:12; Leviticus 19:18; James 4:17 In my message last week I shared with you what Jesus said about turning the other cheek and going the extra mile without being asked. Jesus said that we are to have a disposition that chooses to not seek ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:43-48, Matthew 7:12, Leviticus 19:18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What Makes Jesus' Yoke Light? (Matthew 11:1-30) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on Feb 7, 2022

Jesus' expectations are high (Matthew 5-7). So how can he say his yoke is a light burden? Jesus' yoke is not optional, and not secondary. You come to Jesus, in part, by taking on his yoke.

What makes Jesus' yoke light? (Matthew 11:1-30) We were doing family devotions the other night, and I was so proud of two of them, and found their insights so helpful, that I thought I'd sidetrack for a week and just make a record of this for myself. And the best way I know to do that, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:1-30, Matthew 5:17-48, Matthew 6:19-34, Matthew 7:21-29

The 7 Characteristics Of The Perfect Way Of Love

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Feb 13, 2022

Today we consider the most perfect way of life that anyone can live, the way of love. And we’ll be addressing the 7 ways we can best understand and live out the way of love.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, Matthew 5:43-48, 1 John 4:7

Denomination: Salvation Army

"Love Your Enemies”- "So Easy To Say!”

Contributed by Clarence Eisberg on Feb 16, 2022

“The Christian principle, Love your enemies is good. There is nothing to be said against it except that it is too difficult for most of us to practice sincerely.” (Divine Conspiracy) Bertrand Russell Beatitudes not only call us to “love our enemies and do good to them” How Can I?

In Jesus Holy Name February 20, 2022 Luke 6:27 “Love Your Enemies”- “So Easy to Say!” General Robert E. Lee was once asked his opinion of a fellow officer who was widely known as one of Lee’s greatest detractors. The general responded that he thought the man a very fine officer. “But ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:27, Matthew 5:43-48

Denomination: Lutheran

The Power Of Forgivness Series

Contributed by Scott Maze on Jun 12, 2021

If you are a genuine Christian, you will be both willing and able to forgive others. According to Jesus, when you say, “I cannot or will not forgive,” you’re essentially saying, “I am thinking about going to hell.”

We are in the last installment of a sermon series entitled Digging Deeper. Our goal is to answer this question: WHAT makes Christianity more “sticky” in some? What is the PROOF that determines if a person truly follows Christ? Or, What makes a Christian a Christian? We lose a lot of items in ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:21-25, Matthew 6:12, Matthew 5:38-42, Romans 12:17-21, Luke 17:3-4  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

By Passion And Cross, Not Just Resurrection Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jun 12, 2021

Jesus tells us that he will not miss the pain and suffering, because that is an integral part of our fallen human nature, and he was like us in all things except sin.

Monday of 11th Week in Course Church from Eucharist Today’s reading from Matthew makes me squirm a bit. Maybe you, too. In modern English, we might say, if someone takes your shirt, go to your closet and give him your sport coat as well. That’s not to mention the radical call to nonviolence we ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 6:1-10, Psalm 98:1-4, Matthew 5:38-42

Denomination: Catholic

Doing Battle In Charity Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jun 12, 2021

Scripture reminds us to contend with others, Christian or not, with charity as our rule of engagement.

Homily for Monday of 11th week in Course 2 Cor 6: 1-10; Mt 5:38-42 There’s an old story that after the battle of Waterloo, someone was speaking to Lord Wellington about the superior courage of his soldiers. He is supposed to have said “our men were not braver than the enemy. They were brave five ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 6:1-10, Matthew 5:38-41, Psalm 98:1-4

Denomination: Catholic

Trouble In The House

Contributed by Rodney Rapp on Jun 15, 2021

One thing for certain if you are alive trouble will find you We live in a fallen world Chaos all around Being a Christian is not the absence of problems but the assurance of Victory. Question is why do these problems come in?

Trouble in the House Matthew 7:24-27 One thing for certain if you are alive trouble will find you We live in a fallen world Chaos all around Being a Christian is not the absence of problems but the assurance of Victory. Question is why do these problems come in? 1) Sometimes we hear God’s word but ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:24-27, Jeremiah 17:13, 1 Peter 1:7, Luke 22:31, Jeremiah 17:14, Matthew 5:45  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Other