"2 Roads, 2 Trees, 2 Houses"
W. Gregory Pope, preaching

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Series: The Sermon on the Mount
The Good and Beautiful Life: Jesus’ Vision for a New World

Deuteronomy 30:15-20; Matthew 7:13-29

Several years ago, a man boarded a bus in New York City with the clear intention of going to Detroit.  However, when he had finished his long journey and stepped from the bus, he found himself not in Detroit but in Kansas City.

When he landed in Kansas City he had a hard time believing he was not in Detroit.  He stepped from the bus and asked the way to Woodward Avenue.  When he was told there was no Woodward Avenue he grew angry.  Only after some time did it sink in that despite his intentions, he was not in Detroit.  He had taken the wrong bus.¹

"Learning to Live, Learning to Pray"
W. Gregory Pope, preaching

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Series: The Sermon on the Mount
The Good and Beautiful Life: Jesus’ Vision for a New World
Matthew 6:5-13; 7:7-11

Prayer is the primary practice that connects us with the One who made us.  It comes in too many forms to count.  It was crucial to the life and ministry of Jesus.  So often in the gospels we see Jesus retreating from the crowds to be alone with God.  He needed prayer for strength to overcome temptation and for guidance to be who he was created to be.  His life was so infused with prayer that his life became prayer.

"Relinquishment and Detachment:
The Spiritual Practice of Fasting"
W. Gregory Pope, preaching

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Series: The Sermon on the Mount
The Good and Beautiful Life: Jesus’s Vision for a New World
Isaiah 58:1-12; Matthew 6:16-18

We Christians are called to journey with Christ into the innermost truth about ourselves, meeting on the way all our brokenness and imperfections, but finding at our center the Holy and Living God.  The inward pilgrimage of conversion is the most important voyage any of us ever takes.  The traditional Lenten disciplines of self-denial, almsgiving, and prayer are, therefore, not ends in themselves, but are always at the service of this inward journey.  Interior attitude, inward disposition, inner transformation are always more important than outward observances.¹

"The Sacred Art of Giving"
W. Gregory Pope, preaching

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Series: The Sermon on the Mount
The Good and Beautiful Life: Jesus’s Vision for a New World

Matthew 6:1-4, 19-24
(Holy Communion)

As we continue to make our way through the Sermon on the Mount, we are simultaneously beginning a series of sermons and Wednesday night studies on Ancient Spiritual Practices. 

We are following an Ancient Practices Series of books published by Thomas Nelson.  The publishers have chosen seven spiritual practices common to the three major religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.  They are: Giving, Fasting, Prayer, a Sacred Meal, a Liturgical Calendar, Pilgrimage, and Sabbath.

A couple of weeks ago on a Wednesday night I offered an introductory session to the goal of spiritual practices based on Brian McLaren’s book Finding Our Way Again, which introduces the series.  It’s a book I encourage you to read.  It will soon be available in the church library. 

Over the next eight days, we’re going to look at three of these practices that Jesus mentions in the Sermon on the Mount.  Next Sunday is Prayer.  This Wednesday, during our Ash Wednesday Service, we will consider Fasting (and not just from food).  Today we consider the spiritual practice of Giving.

"What Do You Seek"
W. Gregory Pope, preaching

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Series: The Sermon on the Mount
The Good and Beautiful Life: Jesus’ Vision for a New World

 Matthew 6:19-34

If we could watch a video of your heart this morning, what would we learn about you?  I’m not talking about the heart that pumps blood through your body and what its rate and level of plaque might tell us about your health.  I’m talking about the heart the Bible speaks of - the center of your will and desire.  If it were possible to see your will and the deepest desires of your heart, what would they tell us you treasure most, that you want more than anything?  What is it that you seek?