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It can be easy to look at the Ten Commandments and think we're doing okay because we don't break "the big ones." But maybe there's more to it than simply following the rules. Jesus challenges us in Matthew 5 to look beyond what we do (or don't do) and consider what's happening in our hearts. What happens when we hold onto anger or look down on someone else? And what might change if we let those things go? Join us as we dive into this section of From the Mountain and explore Jesus' dangerous invitation to let go of contempt and discover a better way to live.

We can spend a lot of time trying to do all the right things, follow all the rules, and live the way God wants us to live. But how good is good enough to be righteous in God’s eyes? And what happens when we fall short? As we continue our From the Mountain series, we'll see how Jesus challenged what people thought they knew about righteousness. He came to fulfill the Law because we couldn't, and to show us that true righteousness is about so much more than outward actions. It's about a heart changed from the inside out. Join us as we walk through Matthew 5:17-20 and discover what that means for our relationship with God.

Jesus showed us what the good life looks like in the Beatitudes, and now our journey through His Sermon on the Mount takes a turn: What does it look like to live that way in the world around us? Jesus said, "You are the salt of the earth." Being called salty isn't usually a compliment these days, but Jesus meant something very different! Today, we'll discover why He called us the salt of the earth and how we can make a difference right where He's placed us. Here's a hint - influencing others doesn't start with trying harder.

As we study Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, we've come to the final Beatitude, and it's a hard one: "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." If we're truly living in the way of Jesus and pursuing the flourishing life He talks about, we should expect that not everyone will like it. But what if some of the opposition we face means we're actually doing something right? This morning, we'll discover why Jesus tells us to expect persecution and the hope we can have when it comes. We'll also explore what following Jesus can cost us and what we gain that we can't find anywhere else.

You've no doubt experienced a fight with a loved one, encountered a rude person in public, or seen someone treated unfairly. We all recognize that situations like these need peace. So what if we are called to do more than just recognize the need? Jesus says "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God." This Sunday, we're discovering what true peace means and why being peace-loving or peace-keeping isn't enough to describe what Jesus is calling us to do. We hope you'll join us to explore why following Him means we have an active role to play in making peace and what that can look like in our everyday lives.

Ever been all in for something - maybe a favorite football team or a band you really like? That kind of one-track focus gives us a glimpse into what Jesus means when He talks about the pure in heart. That's because Jesus doesn't just want some of us - our Sunday mornings or a rushed prayer here and there. He wants all of us, a life where we keep asking, "Where are we going, Jesus?" That may leave you wondering how we can be all in without making following Jesus another exhausting attempt to get it all right. This Sunday, we'll discover why a pure heart isn't about performance and learn how Jesus can create that kind of heart in us as we look to Him.

As we continue our journey in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus is sounding the alarm on what we think is the way to happiness, offering a very different way instead. This week, we explore what it means that a flourishing, happy life includes showing mercy to others. But what is mercy and is it just another thing to check off a spiritual to-do list? Join us to discover what it looks like in our homes, our relationships, and in our everyday lives. We'll see why extending mercy actually begins with something we receive and how a promise for the future can change how we respond to the people in front of us today.

How many times have you uttered the phrase, "I'm hungry"? We're often referring to physical hunger, but the hunger Jesus talks about in Matthew is different. He's talking about a holy hunger - a longing for God to make things right in us, through us, and in a broken world. As we continue our journey through the Sermon on the Mount this week, we'll explore what it means to hunger and thirst for righteousness and why Jesus says those who do will be filled. Join us to see how this holy hunger can lead us toward the flourishing life Jesus offers.

Ever feel like you're chasing someone else's definition for success or happiness? Maybe you feel the pressure to be successful, wealthy, strong and confident, or well-liked. Psst... You could be all those things and still miss the flourishing life Jesus offers. The truth is, He's inviting us into a different way of living that leads to real happiness. This week, we'll explore the Beatitudes from the Sermon on the Mount. Read Matthew 5:3-5, and then join us to discover what Jesus says is the real way to flourish.

We all want to live a good life - full of joy, peace, and purpose. But maybe what we're chasing isn't what Jesus has in mind at all. Our new series, From the Mountain, launches today. We'll explore the opening of Jesus' most famous sermon, where He paints a surprising picture of what a flourishing life really looks like. It may not be what you expect, but it is the life God created you for.

Sports. Money. Beauty. Success. Those are all good gifts, but they can easily become things we value most. This Sunday, we'll explore why God alone is worthy of our worship and why His invitation to worship is an invitation into His goodness. You might even discover ways you're already worshiping more than you realize - even if you don't have a great singing voice!

We've all done it... wondered if what comes next will make life better. The next job, the next house, the next relationship, the next season. But what if God wants to do His greatest work where you already are? We're wrapping up our Backyard BBQ series this week by exploring God's invitation to embrace community right where He's placed us. See why following Jesus is about more than waiting for something bigger or better. It's about loving where you are, putting down roots, and allowing God to work in you and through you.

Think about the best party you've ever attended. Maybe it was a wedding, a graduation, a championship, or even a backyard BBQ. Chances are, what made it so memorable wasn't the decorations or food. It was the people, the laughter, and the memories you made. Did you know that God actually wired us for celebration? This week we'll explore Jesus' parable of the Great Banquet and discover why celebration is a vital part of building community. See how God's design for celebration actually draws us closer to him and to one another and learn why celebration invites us into a bigger story, a story where everyone is invited.

There are certain people we might expect to invite to a backyard BBQ - and some people we probably would always leave off the guest list. Zacchaeus was one of those people. He cheated others to make himself rich and most people avoided him at all costs. But not Jesus. He sought out Zacchaeus with a boldness that no one saw coming and an invitation that changed Zacchaeus' life forever. This Sunday, we'll see how Jesus invites others who we might exclude or overlook, including the surprising truth that we are on His guest list, too. Discover how accepting His invitation can change our hearts, priorities, and attitudes about the people around us.

Most of us want to be known... that is, until we don't. What if people saw the real you, the one that's not quite put together? The one who makes the same mistakes over and over? The one we want to keep hidden? So we withdraw. We pretend. We keep people at a distance. This Sunday, we'll explore the familiar story of the woman at the well in John 4 and see how how much we have in common with her. Discover what happens when Jesus meets us in our loneliness, frees us from shame, and offers an invitation into the abundant life and community we were created for.