Sunday Morning Podcast | The Moody Church

No one wants to be on the wrong side of history.  As it was in the days of Jesus, so it is today.   Our passage for this sermon takes place at a time when it seemed to some that the right side of history was about to be revealed. The people of Jesus’ day believed that Jesus was about to ride into Jerusalem on a white horse and overturn the existing ruling order; they didn’t understand Jesus and His mission.   But then Jesus tells a parable about a king, his servants, and investments of minas with a message that surprised the audience: there is no such thing as safety and neutrality when it comes to the Kingdom of Heaven.   Takeaways: The King is coming back, and so... Our greatest need is not fruitfulness, it is faithfulness. Our greatest call is not awareness, it is readiness. Our greatest problem is not sin, it is God.   In the end, history will be divided into two sides. Which side will you be on?   Luke 19:11–27

It is common to feel frustrated about prayer that doesn’t seem to work as we intended. We can feel like God isn’t answering in the way we want, or we don’t feel heard, so we just gave up. But what if you’re using prayer the wrong way?   In this sermon we learn about how to pray God’s way, the way that it’s designed to work. We explore two ways of praying that never work, and one way that always will.   Looking to Others: Prayer that uses God to look good will never work. We can do this by using prayer to gain status in the social order, to find our place in the world, or to look good in the eyes of others. Imagine how God feels by prayers like this. He doesn’t want to be used so that we can look good; He wants us to authentically desire His presence. Looking to Ourselves: Prayer that uses God to get His stuff will never work. We can repetitiously plead with God hoping that He will give us what we want; we can use all the flattery and well-oiled phrases, but in the end we’re just bargaining to get our

There’s probably nothing sicker than religious hypocrisy--people who claim to be tight with God, but then turn out to be total fakes. We hear it all the time: “the church is full of hypocrites.” If religious hypocrisy makes you mad, you’re in good company, because Jesus couldn’t stand it either. In fact, a lot of people don’t realize that Jesus was very first person in recorded history to call out religious people as hypocrites. In the passage for this sermon, Jesus is going to show us three things about hypocrisy:   The Profile of Hypocrisy: Hypocrisy is when goodness becomes virtue signaling. In this definition, hypocrites are not being good for God’s sake or even goodness’ sake, but they are being good for their own sake. For them, it’s about image and brand management, playing to the audience. This is the kind of righteousness that parades itself in order to be seen by others. The Tyranny of Applause: Jesus says that those who live for the applause of others have received their reward. He’s saying

In this sermon with goest speaker Dr. James Hamilton, we explore the connection between the Old Testament foundation for baptism in Exodus 15 and the New Testament foundation for Peter saying that the flood corresponds to baptism.   The chiastic structure of the song in Exodus informs us about Moses' intent for the Israelites thousands of years ago and help us relate this passage to our faith today.   15:1–2 I will sing to Yahweh 15:3–4 Yahweh Conqueror . . . Pharaoh . . . into the sea 15:5–10 The Deep/Floods Covered Egypt 15:11–12 Who Is Like You? 15:13–17 New Exodus Conquest of a New Eden 15:18–19 Yahweh King . . . Pharaoh . . . into the sea 15:20–21 Sing to Yahweh   Takeaway: worship looks back to look forward.   Exodus 15:1-21

If you were a 1st century Jew living in Capernaum, life under Roman military occupation was difficult. Talk of revolt and uprising were everywhere. Some had even claimed to be the chosen one to lead Israel to freedom from Roman rule, until they and their followers were crucified. Emotions were running high, like a tinder box waiting to ignite.   Then rumors of a rabbi from Nazareth speaking with authority and healing the sick presented a counter-narrative to the sentiments among the people. His ideas were so counter-culture that everyone had to pause and take note.   In this passage, we come to one of Jesus’ most radical teachings about loving our enemies. Two thousand years ago it would’ve sounded like heresy to a Jew. But Jesus wants to turn our world upside-down if we would let Him with open hands.   The sermon outline explores three main ideas:   The Power of Non-Retaliation: The Old Testament taught that if someone harms you, it is only fair and just that they suffer the same in turn. The objec

It’s one thing to understand the symptoms; it’s another to get the diagnosis right. Effectiveness of the prescription depends on the accuracy of the diagnosis. So, when it comes to the brokenness of humanity, the symptoms are easily identified, but it’s the diagnosis that’s difficult.   The religious leaders of Jesus’ day (Scribes and Pharisees) diagnosed our problem as largely behavioral (we all have bad, sinful habits). According to them, the key is to break those habits and learn to do good instead. So, the religious leaders prescribed long lists of do’s and don’ts, all in service of reforming behavior. What most religion teaches is to work hard at being good by keeping the rules.   But Jesus has a different diagnosis: the problem isn’t just in our behavior, it’s in our hearts. And we can modify our behavior all we want, but unless our hearts are transformed on the inside, we’re never going to be truly right. Jesus’ prescription is for new heart: He says to “repent, follow me, I will give you a new hea

Throughout this series, we’ve been working our way through Jesus’ illustrations of what that kind of perfect righteousness flowing from the goodness of a heart like God’s looks like. The kind of heart only Jesus can give us.   In this sermon, we come to the 3rd illustration of a heart made right in the Kingdom of Heaven, and again Jesus isn’t pulling any punches. The example of divorce demonstrates an underlying hardness of our hearts.   In a world full of miserable marriages, brutal betrayals, devastating divorces, and alarming abandonments, Jesus has a better Way. And it all starts with a new heart.   Three key points in our outline:   The Details of the Divorces Debate: The Old Testament grounds for divorce were adultery (Deuteronomy 24) and abusive abandonment (Exodus 21). Both of these texts form the backdrop of the New Testament’s teaching about divorce. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus interacts exclusively with Deuteronomy 24, which offers only one ground for divorce based on sexual immoral

Our culture can’t make up its mind about sex. We either strip it down until it has no significance, or we load it up with the weight of the sky. It’s nothing or everything, the culture can’t decide. The problem is the following. The more we try to pretend sex is nothing, the more damaged we become; the more we try to make sex out to be everything, the more disillusioned we become. In our cultural moment, sex has become a runaway train of over-amped desires careening off the rails. This is the way of the Kingdom of the Earth.   But what if there was a better way? What if our disordered hearts could be set right? What if sex could be beautiful again? What if hearts dominated by lust could become hearts dominated by love?   In this sermon from Matthew 5:21-27, we’ll explore three points:   The Monstrosity of Lust: The 7th commandment forbids adultery. But when Jesus references this commandment in the Sermon on the Mount, He pits himself not against the Old Testament law but against the Pharisees’ teachin

The world is full of anger. Sometimes our anger gets big and explosive, and everyone pays when it detonates. Other times our anger gets small, simmering and smoldering. Low-grade anger carried around in our bodies spills out like acid on those around us. And it’s so easy to be angry these days with pandemic restrictions, political hot-button issues, geopolitical tensions, and tragic injustice. No wonder so many people are so very angry over so many issues so much of the time.   But what if there was another way? What if the anger that dominates us could be arrested? What if anger could be diffused in our hearts before it ever gathers strength? What if Jesus can set us free from the bondage of a heart enslaved by anger? What if in the Kingdom of Heaven our angry hearts could truly become hearts of peace?   In this sermon, we look at three themes about anger from Matthew 5:20-26:   The Heart of Righteousness: Jesus teaches that righteousness is about more than just what we do on the outside, it’s about

Every speech has a central thesis, a big idea around which everything else is organized. In this passage, we come to the central thesis of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. This is the blazing center, the beating heart of the upside-down Way of Jesus. In these 111 words (in Greek) we find the big idea that turned the world on its head.   This sermon address three organizing questions:   Why is Jesus explaining Himself? Jesus came not to “abolish” or “relax” the righteous requirements of God, but that they might be “fulfilled” and “accomplished.” And to drive His point home, Jesus affirms the enduring importance of the Law of God with two definitive statements: the Word of God stands forever and all of it will be accomplished; and, because the Kingdom of Heaven is “at hand” in Jesus’ coming, the righteous requirements of the Law and Prophets are upheld. So what must we do to become righteous? What is the righteousness God requires? If our righteousness must exceed that of the Scribes and Pharisees to enter t

“If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed.” Some of you will recognize that line from the 2014 commencement address Admiral William McRaven gave at the University of Texas which went viral a few years back and was later made into a book. Admiral McRaven was reminding those graduates of the power of the little things: our choices, our habits, our influence.   Every one of us is entrusted with a sphere of influence. And the choices we make, the habits we form, and the influence we wield help shape and mold our little corner of the world for better or worse. It’s the little things that end up changing our world.   Jesus makes much the same point in his Sermon on the Mount: “If you want to change the world, start off by being Salt and Light.”   In this sermon from Matthew 5:13-16, Jesus is teaching us how to change our world. To do that, we need to understand three things:   The Overlap of the Kingdoms: Every moment of every day is an opportunity to be with Jesus and live in the rea

Words shape the course of history. Two thousand years ago a young Jewish carpenter-turned-Rabbi turned the world upside down with His Sermon on the Mount and He began in the most unexpected way. He announced the blessings of the Kingdom of Heaven we’re coming upon the least, the last, and the left behind.   As we consider these “blessed”, these “beatitudes” of Jesus from Matthew 5:3-12, we’ll focus our attention on three themes:   The Upside-Down Kingdom: The Kingdom of Heaven is turning the world on its head. In Jesus’ Kingdom, many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first. And so, the Kingdom is “at hand” in Jesus for the least, the last, and the left behind. Anyone desperate enough to cast all their hopes on Jesus are welcome in the Kingdom of Heaven. The Paradox of Blessedness: Blessedness is getting more of God in life’s valleys. What if blessedness in the Kingdom of God is most readily found not when we are feeling strong, but when we know we are weak? The Inverted Way o

The Sermon on the Mount is the central, essential message of Jesus. It contains His most brilliant, incisive, and challenging teachings. If you want to know what Jesus is all about, look no further than the Sermon on the Mount. The Sermon on the Mount is, at its core, about a Kingdom. A Kingdom that turns the world, and our lives, upside-down.   But let me warn you: to follow the upside-down Way of Jesus means going against the flow. It’s an inverted way to live. It’s cross-grain to almost everything else. Because this broken-down world is like a turtle flipped on its back that can’t tell which end is up; and Jesus is in the business of setting it right-side-up. To live in the upside-down Kingdom of Heaven is actually to discover the right-side up Way of life!   The Sermon on the Mount begins in Matthew 5:3-12. In this passage, we’ll see three things: Unexpected Kingdom: The Kingdom of Heaven is “at hand” in Jesus. Unusual Blessing: The favor of God is bestowed upon the least likely. Unparalleled O

As we enter the new year, what’s the most important thing we can fix our attention on? The highest priority of God’s people for 2022 is to passionately pursue the presence of God in our lives.   In this sermon, special guest Stephen Farish focuses our attention on the beauty of God in this passage from Psalm 27. Three questions about the beauty of the Lord from verse 4: What is the beauty of the Lord, and what does it look like? Where do we see the beauty of the Lord most clearly revealed? What is the right response by human beings to the Lord’s revelation of His “beauty” in Jesus Christ?   Psalm 27:1-6

The story of Jesus’ coming is full of curious surprises. Nothing is routine in this story! With every turn comes another twist, a reinforcement that this is no ordinary child.   And the events we’re about to examine today are no exception. Every first-century Jewish couple, upon having a child, were to go to the temple to offer a sacrifice for purification, and, in the case of a firstborn son, to pay the price of his redemption.   But when Mary and Joseph show up at the temple for what they must have assumed would be a routine, straightforward process, they were met with yet another curious surprise. Two curious surprises, actually: two individuals named Simeon and Anna. And although they’d never met them before, these two were waiting for their arrival.   In this curious and surprising account, we’re going to catch 3 glimpses of the redemption God:   The Portrayal of Redemption: God deserves the firstborn. Every time a firstborn son was born into a Jewish family, they would go to the temple and be

When things get personal, everything changes. It’s one thing to see someone on a screen. It’s quite another to encounter them in real life when things become personal, tangible, and real.   That’s what’s happened with Mary. All those years reading her Bible, and now it was happening to her! God chose her to bear a baby boy who will be the Savior of the World, the King of Israel, the Son of God. The Biblical stories of God’s saving intervention went from an abstract, distant, history to being personal, tangible, and real.   In this passage from Luke 1:39-56, Mary’s song of praise, called the “Magnificat,” is the first Christmas carol that overflows from her heart. This beautiful song shows us the kind of heart God wants to bring to life in each of us this Christmas as we pause and let the wonder in.   Heart of Faith: Mary’s heart is filled with faith because she realizes and becomes sure that God holds true to His Word. How about you? Heart of Joy: Mary’s heart is filled with joy because she understa

Every year, Christmas tends to rush us by. With all the shopping and events and family commitments and the long lists of to-do list, the frantic pace often leaves us barely catching our breath.   That’s why Advent is so good for our hearts. If you didn’t grow up celebrating Advent, it’s a time for us to slow down and reflect and prepare our hearts for the significance of the “coming” of Jesus. That’s what Advent means: Coming.   This Advent we’ll be walking through four vignettes from the Gospel of Luke that surround Jesus’ coming in a series are entitled “The Greatness of Christmas.” Throughout the series, we’ll explore four vignettes, four opportunities to pause, and let the wonder in as we reflect on “The Greatness of Christmas.”   In this sermon, we look at the Angelic Announcement to Mary when she learns that she would be the mother of Jesus.   The angel Gabriel’s announcement to Mary gives three clues to who this child will be: The Savior of the World: Jesus will the savior who will lay down

In many ways, the Book of Philippians is kind of a thank you note from the Apostle Paul. Because of Paul’s financial hardships under house arrest in Rome, the Philippian believers pooled their resources and sent him a gift to sustain him. Epaphroditus was their courier entrusted with the gift. Now Epaphroditus is headed back to Philippi with this letter in hand we now know as Philippians.   So, this letter is a kind of thank you note. Except, Paul never actually says “thank you.” In fact, it’s one of the worst thank you notes ever. But as we explore this passage, we’ll see that Paul is giving us the inside scoop on how we can be truly rich.   Those who are truly rich value three things:   The Freedom of Contentment: The truly rich choose to live with open hands. In Christ, we have far greater resources than money can ever provide. The Power of Generosity: The truly rich know it is more blessed to give than to receive. Those blessings come both now (giving changes us) and later (storing up Heavenly t

In the fourth and final chapter of Philippians, we come to several well-known, popular “coffee cup” verses. The problem with “coffee cup” verses is that they are divorced from their context and setting. And this is often a recipe for misapplication.   These verses from Philippians 4:1-9 might at first glance appear disconnected and disjointed, but there’s a cohesive flow of thought running through these verses; once you see the connection, you can’t unsee it. Everything here is thematically linked together.   This passage opens with Paul’s entreaty that these women find a way to make peace with one another, and then his two paragraphs of commands which follow are each capped off by a promise of God’s peace which will be theirs if they follow the commands. Do you see the theme that’s connecting all this? Peace within the family of God.   Satan loves to sow discord and disunity into the church. He’s not creative, but he’s effective. So how can we move towards peace with our Christian brothers and sisters?

Who do you want to be when you grow up?  It’s not just a question for children, it’s a question for all of us. Because, if God has given us new birth by grace through faith in Jesus’ life substituted for ours on the cross, and if God has then filled us with his Holy Spirit who is teaching us to walk in His ways, and if every moment of every day is an opportunity to be with Jesus and learn from Him how to live so that we are transformed increasingly into the image and likeness of Jesus, then we are all in fact still growing up.   We all have a whole lot of maturing ahead of us if we are to become gloriously like Jesus forever.   In this passage, the Apostle Paul explores spiritual maturity with 3 vital insights:   The Pursuit of Maturity: Spiritual maturity is not a destination, but a pursuit. This side of glory, we will never fully arrive, because we’re a work in progress. This is the process of being progressively conformed to the image of Christ.   The Pattern of Maturity: Spiritual maturity is