Well Students

“If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.” Matthew 5:46-48 (NLT)

Yesterday we continued our series ‘Losing My Religion,’ with a message from Pastor Isaiah about loving our enemies. This can be a super hard thing to do, especially in this day + age, when our nation is so divided right now.

Jesus compares loving your enemy to loving a corrupt tax collector. Do you have a figure or person in your life who you would consider your version of a ‘corrupt tax collector’? Jesus challenges us to show kindness + love to those that don’t do the same for us. When we do this, we can work towards being peacemakers, practice the perfect love of Christ, and have others experience His love + perfection.

>>Missed this message? Watch or re-watch on our YouTube channel!

“And I gave them my Sabbath days of rest as a sign between them and me. It was to remind them that I am the Lord, who has set them apart to be holy.” Ezekiel 20:12 (NLT)

On Sunday, we continued talking about the Sabbath Day with a message from John Gilmore in our current series, Losing My Religion.

The Pharisees strictly followed the laws of the Sabbath, so when they saw Jesus and His disciples “harvesting” grain on the Sabbath, they accused Him of breaking the law.

The truth of the Sabbath Day is yes, it was given to the people by God as a command, but it was also a GIFT from God and an opportunity for connection in Him. When Jesus came along, He further defined the Sabbath for the people, who felt they could never measure up or follow all of the laws.

Jesus is our Sabbath. We find true rest and salvation in Jesus, our Sabbath.

“Then Jesus got into the boat and started across the lake with his disciples. Suddenly, a fierce storm struck the lake, with waves breaking into the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”” Matthew 8:23-25

Yesterday, Michael Larson had us hit the ground running as we continued our current series with a message about Authority over Nature. We reviewed Matthew 8:23-27 in detail, and were challenged to examine our own faith in times of fear.

“Jesus responded, “Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!” Then he got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm. The disciples were amazed. “Who is this man?” they asked. “Even the winds and waves obey him!””Matthew 26:27

We, too, live in fear. It seems like every day, there is always more + more things to fear in life. Our go-to counteract is to bring it to God. But do we really have faith? Do we treat Jesus like the absolute authority in our lives, during our own storms? Or do we have lack of faith like the disciples did during the chaos of the storm?

Watch or re-watch this message on our YouTube channel!