Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who … [Read more...] about The Foundation of the Kingdom
Kingdom - Explorations of the Sermon on the Mount
The Identity of the Kingdom
Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO … [Read more...] about The Identity of the Kingdom
The Fruit of the Kingdom
Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that … [Read more...] about The Fruit of the Kingdom
The Gate of the Kingdom
Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.Matthew 7:13-14 It's no secret that one of my favorite places in the world is Tuscany, Italy. There is one town that is of particular … [Read more...] about The Gate of the Kingdom
The Rule of the Kingdom
In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.Matthew 7:12 The Golden Rule. I've personally never liked the term because for it to be the Golden Rule is would have to be the greatest of the commandments. And Jesus and the Law itself have boldly explained that the greatest commandment is to "Love the … [Read more...] about The Rule of the Kingdom