The Village Church - Sermons

When we embrace the way of Jesus—embodying His beatitudes and working them out in our lives—we should expect persecution. "Beatitude people" run counter to the world's ways, and opposition will come. Just as it was for the prophets, so it will be for the Christian.

When conflict arises, we either shrink deep into our shells or lash out quills first. We then mistake any temporary cessation of hostility as peace. But true peace only arrives through Jesus Christ. Through Him, we can lay aside the disposable title of “peacekeeper” in exchange for “peacemaker.”

Culturally and spiritually, as a means to adapt and survive, we harden our external selves and hide away the intimate and unsightly parts of our lives. But Christ loves us too much to leave us there. He is the way to a pure heart.

As those who have received an inconceivable mercy, we seek to mirror Christ in the pouring out of mercy to others. We move towards others’ brokenness, pain, and debt, making it our own. Mercy is costly. Mercy multiplies. Mercy matters.

Admiring a menu does not satisfy our hunger. While spiritual interest tends to remain theoretical, spiritual hunger draws us toward Jesus in actual dependence. As those hungry and thirsty, we desire for God to make right what we cannot on our own.