This week we wrap up our "Summer on the Mount" sermon series with a message on Jesus concluding instruction, "build your house upon the rock"

Jesus just finished telling us "do not judge", but now he is telling us to observe the fruit other's lives and make a judgment! Furthermore in John 7 Jesus specifically commands "not to judge by outward appearances, but make righteous judgments".

Relative to God, all of our earthly Fathers are evil. Even evil Dad's know how to give good gifts. How much MORE will God our perfect Heavenly Father give us all the good we need when we ask, seek and knock.

Judging others is one of the most mentioned sins in the New Testament and yet we often neglect to give it any attention. In doing so, we place significant obstacles in the way of accomplishing our primary purpose on earth and invite unwelcome consequences on ourselves.

Jesus' prayer life was unlike anyone else in history. He rose early to go to the mountain tops with the Father, he blessed the loaves and fishes to feed 5,000, and he sweat drops of blood in prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. So what does HE have to say about how we should pray?

Prayer is essential to our Christian walk in this age. It strengthens us and brings life through giving relationship with the God of all Creation.

Jesus calls us in Matthew 6 to live a lifestyle inclusive of fasting and prayer. All throughout the Bible there are examples of men and women after God’s own heart who exemplify this fasted lifestyle. We can take courage from their example to practice fasting in our own lives.

Caring for the needy is foundational to the Christian life. We all face the same struggle of caring for the needy not out of compulsion, but from a willing heart of gratitude whose hope is not found in amassing wealth in this age but in the age to come.