Contend for the Faith

A Shadow of the Real Thing

As we continue our journey through our series, "From the Mountain," Pastor John opens the scriptures to explore a topic that touches all of our lives, whether we are married or single: the beautiful, messy, and sacred design of marriage. If you are jumping past the worship set straight into the teaching, Pastor John gently steers us away from what culture tells us relationships are about and guides us back to God's original blueprint. Grounded in Ephesians 5, Genesis 2, and Matthew 22, this week’s sermon is a humble reminder that our earthly relationships aren't just about our own happiness—they are meant to be a living picture of something much greater. In this message, Pastor John walks us through: * The Heart of Sacrificial Love: Looking at Paul's letters, we explore what it truly means to love, cherish, and care for one another selflessly, mirroring the grace that Christ shows the church every day. * The "One Flesh" Design: Going back to the very beginning in Genesis, we look at God's intentional design for deep, spiritual unity between two people. * A Shadow of the Real Thing: A comforting reminder that while earthly marriage is a beautiful gift for this life, it is ultimately a temporary shadow pointing us toward the eternal relationship we will all share with God in heaven. Whether you're celebrating years of marriage, navigating a difficult season, or walking through a season of singleness, we hope this message encourages your heart and draws you a little closer to the One who loves you perfectly. Grab your Bible, settle in, and let's listen together.

Matters of the Heart: Confronting Anger and Lust

Pastor Kent preaches from Matthew 5:21-30, using two Old Testament illustrations to set up the text: Cain's murder of Abel (rooted in jealousy and unchecked anger) and David's adultery with Bathsheba (rooted in an unchecked gaze that spiraled into covetousness, deceit, and murder). Both stories show how sin escalates when left unaddressed at the heart level. He draws three main points from Jesus's teaching: 1. Anger and lust are matters of the heart, not circumstance. Since everyone carries a sin nature inherited from Adam, the heart is naturally selfish and self-centered. That selfishness is the root from which both anger and lust grow. 2. These sins are a big deal to God, even though our culture (and at times the church) treats them as minor or normal. Jesus raises the bar beyond the letter of the law ("do not commit adultery") to the internal posture of the heart: a lingering, cherished gaze, not a first glance, constitutes adultery in God's eyes. Kent clarifies this isn't about noticing beauty but about the deliberate "second look." 3. Deal with anger and lust aggressively. Jesus's language about plucking out an eye or cutting off a hand is hyperbole meant to jolt us into serious action, not literal self-harm (he references Origen's historical self-mutilation as a cautionary example that missed the point, since the issue is the heart, not the body). Practical steps include cutting out certain media, using accountability software, or stepping back from environments that fuel temptation.

Jesus Fulfills the Law and Prophets

Continuing the Sermon on the Mount series, the speaker teaches from Matthew 5:17-20 that Jesus did not abolish the Law and the Prophets but fulfilled them completely. He explains how Christ fulfills Old Testament prophecy and the moral, civil, and ceremonial laws ultimately through His perfect life and His saving work on the cross. The message calls listeners to trust in Christ’s righteousness rather than self-righteous rule-keeping and to live by the Spirit in grateful obedience.

Uncommon Attitudes: Living the Beatitudes

Pastor Kent begins a summer series on Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount by unpacking Matthew 5:1–12 and explaining “blessed” as God’s approval rather than a passing feeling of happiness. He contrasts each Beatitude with the values of the world—self-sufficiency, moral relativism, power, and retaliation—calling believers to humility, repentance, meek strength, mercy, purity, peacemaking, and faithfulness amid persecution. Using a recent MLB “Pride Night” controversy and the biblical meaning of the rainbow, he challenges the church to pursue a deeper desire to become more like Jesus.

The Character of the Kingdom: Becoming Like Jesus

Pastor Kent introduces a summer series through Matthew 5-7, explaining why the church is focusing on discipleship and becoming more like Jesus. He frames the Sermon on the Mount as a call to surrender mind, heart, and will, learning to think like Christ, adopt his attitudes, and live by the Holy Spirit’s power rather than legalism or self-effort. The message invites the congregation to embrace spiritual disciplines and personal transformation so they can represent God’s kingdom faithfully in a broken world.