Blessed Life in Christ

Sunday (2/19), gather with your church family as we continue our new series in the gospel according to Matthew (5:1-16). It is the first of four gospels that chronicle the birth, life, ministry, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

In the previous section (4:12-25), Jesus had begun His earthly ministry. He would preach the good news of the kingdom, teach in the Synagogues, and heal all those afflicted with sickness and disease. Crowds came from all over Israel. Some traveled more than a hundred miles to hear Him and to be healed. Matthew records that the crowds grew into a multitude, which some believe was in the tens of thousands.

In chapter five, Matthew states that Jesus, when He saw the crowds, climbed a mountain and sat down. Those disciples who were among the multitude followed Him and stood as He delivered “The Sermon on the Mount.”

Jesus began with eight beatitudes that described the path to true happiness and satisfaction. They are not a series of attitudes that one must strive for to be accepted into His kingdom; instead, they are a work of His Spirit within the believer’s life. They are Christ’s gift to those who place their faith in Him. They are developed to their fullness by the believer’s commitment to growing in the grace and knowledge of the One who has given them a new nature and the promise of everlasting life. And they are a way for the believer to recognize another believer in a world full of deceptive and false teachers who portray themselves as a spokesperson for God.
I look forward to our time together. Please pray for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the entire Calvary Chapel family.

There are several opportunities for worship. On-campus (10:00 am), drive-in church (92.1fm), and online (Facebook, YouTube:  Calvary Inverness); (website: calvaryinv.com
In His Strong Love,
Pastor