Last Sunday, Pastor Jason taught from Matthew 5: 21-30, reminding us the King’s people resemble the King’s character by confronting anger urgently and fighting lust radically.

This Sunday, Pastor Ken continues our series — The King’s Sermon: On Earth as it is in Heaven.  We’ll consider Christ’s words in Matthew 5:31-37 as He applies the law to New Testament hearers in view of the kingdom of Heaven.

To prepare for our gathering, we encourage you to read, pray, and sing.

Read

Before Sunday, read Matthew 5:31-37. Although only seven verses, Jesus upends His hearers’ understanding of Old Testament divorce and warns His followers against careless and shallow oaths.

A brief note – Divorce has impacted many of us. As we approach this Sunday and this oft-painful subject, would you pray God would send His Spirit to remind us of truth, heal our wounds, and grant us mercy in our time of need?

Pray 

As you read this passage, let this prayer give you confidence that God’s promises and covenants are genuine and steadfast.

Glorious Jehovah, my Covenant God,

All thy promises in Christ Jesus are yea and amen, and all shall be fulfilled. Thou hast spoken them, and they shall be done, commanded, and they shall come to pass.

Yet I have often doubted thee, have lived at times as if there were no God. Lord, forgive me that death in life, when I have found something apart from thee, when I have been content with ephemeral things.

But through thy grace I have repented; thou has given me to read my pardon in the wounds of Jesus, and my soul doth trust in him, my God incarnate, the ground of my life, the spring of my hope. Teach me to be resigned to thy will, to delight in thy law, to have no will but thine, to believe that everything thou doest is for my good.

Help me to leave my concerns in thy hands, for thou hast power over evil, and bringest from it an infinite progression of good, until thy purposes are fulfilled. Bless me with Abraham’s faith that staggers not at promises through unbelief.

May I not instruct thee in my troubles, but glorify thee in my trials; grant me a distinct advance in the divine life; may I reach a higher platform, leave the mists of doubt and fear in the valley, and climb to hill-tops of eternal security in Christ by simply believing he cannot lie, or turn from his purpose.

Give me the confidence I ought to have in him who is worthy to be praised, and who is blessed for evermore.

“Divine Promises,” prayer from The Valley of Vision

Sing: Song List for Sunday

1. “The Lord Our God,” by Kristian Stanfill

2. “How Great Thou Art,” arr. by Paul Baloche

3. “The Lord Is My Salvation,” by Keith and Kristyn Getty

4. “He Will Hold Me Fast,” arr. by Keith and Kristyn Getty

5. “Trust You,” arr. by Shane & Shane