Beyond the Weekend: Taking Jesus Seriously
What if the most famous sermon ever preached wasn't meant to be admired—but lived? Jesus didn't give us the Sermon on the Mount to impress us. He gave it to transform us. This summer, we're diving into Matthew 5 to wrestle with the hard questions: How do I actually love my enemies? What does it mean to deal with anger at its root? How do I live authentically before God, not just before people? Jesus ended with a warning: hear these words and do nothing, and your life is built on sand. But hear them and act—that's building on rock. Are you ready to start building?
A Heart Reformed
Read: Hosea 6:6 Listen: Hosea 6
For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings. Hosea 6:6
The prophet Hosea delivers God’s messages to Israel around 700 BC after Israel fell to the Babylonians. The first three chapters of Hosea are about his family. They are symbolic of the spiritual adultery of God’s people. The rest of the book conveys various messages about Israel's sins and God’s offer for Israel to return to him. Speaking to the unrepentant nation, God tells them that going through the religious motions is not acceptable. God’s desire is for his people to love him and live out of that love in obedience. He is not about sacrifices but mercy. God has always been after his people’s hearts.
Hosea’s words speak directly to us today. Jesus came to give us new life, not a dead religion. There are four realities that can reorient our hearts: 1) Jesus is the Bridegroom who brings joy, not guilt. He came to replace the shame of religion with the joy of relationship. 2) Jesus is the new wine who does not patch up our old lives but gives us new life. He makes all things new. 3) Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath, who gives rest, not a burden. Jesus is our rest and joy. 4) Jesus is the Lamb of God who died to put an end to dead religion. He heals us from death and destruction.
TODAY: Which of the four realities do you need to remember most? Journal about how you can use it to prepare for this weekend’s service. Ask God to meet you and prepare your heart for the worship and message.
