WMBC - Sermons

Things Aren't Always What They Seem

The things that we often assume Jesus to be saying are, sometimes, not at all what He is actually saying. The meaning can be quite different than what we assume it to be – quite different than what we’ve often been taught that it means. And a big reason for this is the culture and context into which it was originally spoken.  The original hearers would have understood what Jesus was saying by do not resist, turn the other cheek, give your coat, go two miles. The reality is, none of these statements are passive, none of them say, “give up” none of them are a charge to let yourself be walked over. Every single one of them is a non-violent way of confronting and dealing with the abuse that was rampant in that society. And everyone hearing Jesus say these things would have understood because they were a part of the culture and the context into which these things were spoken.

Learning to Live Without Anger

We live in a culture that in many ways celebrates anger – it is the performative emotion in the pursuit of social justice and societal change; we often use it as a virtue signal of our zeal for holiness. This Sunday, Jesus will teach us another way, why anger is so dangerous, and the high calling to live without anger. For Jesus, the Kingdom was not simply a nice idea, but a very real place – life with God, as God intended, a place where reconciliation reigns over rage.

Jesus and the Bible

“Matthew 5:17-20 is the most significant passage in the entire Bible on how to read the Bible, because Jesus tells us here how to read the Bible.” – Scott McKnight This Sunday we dive into a key set of verses that will set us up for the rest of the sermon on the mount. In many ways, this is his thesis statement, the bottom line that ties everything together. Jesus-followers should be Bible-readers, because it is our clearest way to see Jesus, but Jesus is also saying how we read the Bible is just as important as actually reading it. See ya Sunday!

Salt & Light

In Matthew 5, Jesus gives his followers two identity statements. You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world. Not only do these statements create a powerful image in our heads, they're also loaded with biblical meaning and provide a clear picture of how Christ followers relate to the world around them. Join us on Sunday as we learn what it means to be salt and light to the world around us.

Making Peace and Suffering for it

What does peace look like? What does it take to get there? Depending on who you are, your answers to this questions will change. The way to peace according to Jesus stands out from many others, and it promises His followers a difficult life. This week, we finish off the beatitudes and navigate the narrow way.