New River Valley Church New River Valley Church

To many of Jesus’ teachings in the Sermon on the Mount we might respond, “Jesus, are you serious?” Sayings like “love your enemy” and “do not worry” are shocking. But what if Jesus is serious? How will we respond? Today we analyze two acccounts of people who respond to Jesus — the rich ruler and Zacchaeus.

This week we closed out our series through the Sermon on the Mount with Jesus’ closing parable, an invitation to practice his teachings. Will you practice his way of life?

2 gates, 2 roads, 2 destinations. Jesus invites us into his Way of life, the road that leads to Life. Will we join him?

“Ask, seek, knock” Jesus teaches us, because God gives good gifts. When we experience unanswered prayer though, we may begin to question this goodness of God. At the resurrection, we see Mary, Mary and Salome experience an open door. This open door teaches us that God does indeed open the door and he does give good gifts.

Today we walk through Jesus’ triumphal entry as King into Jerusalem, his escapades in the Temple, and his cursing of the fig tree. None of this was random. On Palm Sunday we are confronted by the King and challenged to respond with vulnerability and repentance.

Jesus teaches us "Do not worry..." This is a hard teaching. We are constantly faced with worry and anxiety about money, time, and stuff. This is fueled by a spirit of scarcity which Jesus terms "Mammon." How are we to be a people of abundance, in the face of scarcity?