by Steve McCranie | Sep 1, 2016
Great question: “What is truth?” It’s the question Pilate asked Jesus and the same question our culture asks of the church today. But there’s more to that question than is readily apparent. For example:
Is there such a thing as absolute truth?
And if so, what is that truth?
How do we know that absolute truth is absolute?
What about the changing times in which we live?
Does truth change to meet the culture?
Is truth living and active? Does it evolve?
Why is truth for yesterday truth for today?
Doesn’t each generation need their own truth?
Jesus addressed these questions in His first sermon, the Sermon on the Mount, found in Matthew 5-7. Let’s take a look at His answer together, shall we?
This is a study on Matthew 5:17.
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by Steve McCranie | Jun 20, 2016
One of the most difficult statements to reconcile is found in the third blessing of the Beatitudes spoken at the beginning of His Sermon on the Mount. There He said,
Matthew 5:5 – “Blessed are the meek, (why) for they (the meek) shall inherit the earth.”
But what does this mean? Does meekness mean weakness? Does it mean being soft and gentle? Somewhat effeminate? Cowardly? Maybe whimpy? And, if so, why does Jesus describe Himself as “gentle and lowly in heart”? (Matt. 11:29). How can that be?
Actually, Biblical meekness is nothing like we think of it today. And if you want to know more about what Jesus means when He says, “Blessed are the meek”, then keep listening.
The following is a study on Matthew 5:5.
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by Steve McCranie | Jun 13, 2016
One of the reasons the church is in the condition we now find it, is because many, if not a majority of those who claim Christ as Lord, are actually lost. They have their faith placed in something other than the true, Biblical Jesus. And their allegiance is usually to something other than Christ Himself.
But this really shouldn’t surprise us. For the mark of this church age is the simple fact that Jesus is on the outside of the church longing to come in. And His call is not to the group, the church, or the institution. It is to the individual.
Consider the following:
Revelation 3:20 – “Behold, (what) I (Christ) stand at the door (of His church) and knock. If anyone (personal) hears My voice (John 10:27) and opens the door (of His church), I will come in to him (personal) and dine with him (personal), and he with Me (personal).”
Could this be you? Could it be someone you know? If so, then keep listening.
The following is a study on True Salvation.
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by Steve McCranie | May 29, 2016
In the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount Jesus presents the Beatitudes that introduce His teaching about living in the Kingdom of Heaven. But there are some truths about living in His Kingdom that we sometimes forget. For example:
External things cannot satisfy internal needs. Got it.
And things are not always what they seem to be. Got that too.
True happiness and true blessedness cannot be found in a fallen, cursed world. Uh, if you say so.
Everything we see and touch in this world is temporary at best. I know, but let’s get all we can while we are here.
And if that wasn’t enough, in Matthew 5:4 Jesus said,
“Blessed are (who) those who mourn, (why) for they (those who mourn) shall be comforted.”
But that raises a few questions:
What does it mean to Biblically mourn?
What are we supposed to be mourning about?
And why is mourning a good thing?
To find out about the blessing that comes from Godly sorrow, keep listening.
The following is a study on Matthew 5:4.
To download the slides to this message, click – HERE
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by Steve McCranie | May 25, 2016
We’ve worked real hard to redefine what worship means today? And, in doing so, we’ve made it more about music or style or a feel-good experience than what it has historically meant in the past. But what does “worship” really mean?
According to Webster’s Dictionary (1828) worship means: “To honor with extravagant love and extreme submission. It means to declare or attribute dignity and worth. Worship is to show profound reverence and adoration.”
And this has nothing to do with a style of music or what I’ve seen in church most of my life. Which brings us to the question: Did you worship last Sunday? Did you honor your Lord with extravagant love and extreme submission? Did you boldly declare His dignity and worth among the congregation? Did you show, by your very actions, your profound reverence and adoration for the Lord last Sunday? And if you did, what was that like?
And if you didn’t, or if you’re not sure, then keep listening.
The following is a study on True Worship.
To download the slides for this message, click – HERE
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by Steve McCranie | May 11, 2016
In Matthew 5:1-12, we find a paradox known as the Beatitudes, the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount. And in reading them today, they seem illogical and out of touch with real life. Consider these questions:
How can you be blessed when you’re in mourning?
How is being poor in spirit a good thing?
In fact, how is being poor ever a good thing?
And how can you possibly call the meek blessed?
I always thought the strong were the ones who had it all together. Is that not true anymore?
But these teachings of Jesus are not about life in the now, but about life in His Kingdom. They speak of the realities of living with Him in the Kingdom of Heaven. And, by the way, they’re not a paradox. They’re realities of life that transcend our feeble existence on earth. They are, as Paul Harvey would say, “the rest of the story.”
Want to know more about living in His Kingdom? Then keep listening.
The following is a study on Matthew 5:3.
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