1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV) give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. In this verse Paul exhorts his readers to give thanks in all circumstances. He adds that it is God’s will to do so. Regardless how difficult our circumstances may be, we can find reasons to thank…

This week in our series from the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) we look at Jesus’ teaching on divorce (Matthew 5:31-32). Understanding the historical context is important when studying this passage of Scripture. We need to consider that during this time the Judean aristocracy, specifically Herod Antipas, was consumed with unlawful marriages. This is…

This week in our auditorium Bible Study we will begin to wrap up our study on 1 Corinthians as we begin chapter 16. 1 Corinthians 16 can be divided into four sections: verses 1-4; 5-11; 12-18; and 19-24. Over the next four Sunday’s we will look at each of these sections and we will wrap…

Matthew 5:27-30 (NIV) “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’[a] 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for…

The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) contains some of Jesus’ most challenging teaching. It begins with the unlikely blessings of the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12), which we looked at a few weeks ago. Next, Jesus talks about being salt and light (Matthew 5:5:13-16). Jesus’ disciples must do good works in order to be a powerful…

Matthew 5:21-26 (NIV) “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder,and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister,…

Matthew 5:18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. This verse leads to a bunch of questions and different interpretations from scholars. Is Jesus speaking of the literal heavens…

Matthew 5:17-20 sets up an important point about the nature of sin. To do so, Jesus first declares that heaven’s standard of righteousness is beyond human ability. His purpose is not to discard the law of Moses, but to accomplish the purpose for which the law was given. A cornerstone of Jesus’ teaching is that…

Matthew 5:13 You are the salt of the earth. What does this phrase mean? Here are some things we know about salt. It is essential for life. Salt or sodium chloride is the only mineral that is found in all cells of the human body. However, it seems unlikely that Jesus would use such a…

Even though the Sermon on the Mount has been called the constitution for citizens of God’s kingdom, we won’t see flawed human beings reach this level of perfection in this lifetime. Jesus begins the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12) with our inability in mind – Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of…