Episodios

  • Summer on the Mount - Prayer: Matthew 6:5-13

    Summer on the Mount - Prayer: Matthew 6:5-13
    Jun 30 2025
    Prayer - Matthew 6:5-13Pastor Alex KennedyJesus continues to teach as it relates to prayer. He begins by reminding us to not be hypocrites (a theater term for an actor or mask-wearer). First he warns us to not be like the Pharisees, who loved to show people how righteous they were. They focused on showing others how good they were at praying.
    Although there is definitely a place for public prayer, it is about the heart and motive of praying publicly that matters. First, prayer should be "in secret". When Jesus says, "go into your room and shut the door", He is referring to the common store room in a home that has the "treasures" in it. The heart of prayer is to seek God. He is the treasure, and the purpose of "secret" prayer is to purify our motives in praying. Then, our public prayers will be an overflow of our personal prayers.
    Secondly, Jesus speaks about the Gentiles (pagans) when He says, "do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do". In other words, think about what you are saying.
    Martin Luther said, "By our praying...we are instructing ourselvesmore than we are Him."
    Jesus goes on to teach us how to pray:
    Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
    This includes:
    • The right mindset and heart
    • Reminding ourselves
    • Coming with humility and confidence

    Your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
    To pray that His kingdom may come is to pray:
    • Both that it may grow, as through the church's witness people submit to Jesus,
    • and that soon it will be completed when Jesus returns in glory to take His power and reign.

    In other words, it is our posture to yield and surrender to the character of God.
    The rest of the Lord's Prayermoves from a vertical focusto a horizontal focus.Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.We should be dependent on God and trust Him for today. We must be careful to not take what He has given us and try to be self-reliant.We should remind ourselves daily of how much we have been forgiven for our lifetime of rebellion to a Holy God and then from a posture of humility forgive others that have wronged us.The Lord's Prayer can be prayed:
    • hypocritically - obsessed with self-glory
    • mechanically
    • or both
    True prayer is obsessed with God's glory!Questions to Consider:
    1. How comfortable are you in praying with others out loud? Why?
    2. How can you pray for Kingdom impact?
    3. What areas do you need help in fighting against temptation?
    4. Will you commit to pray the Lord's Prayer daily this week?
    5. Will you pray for our mission teams that are serving in Peru, Kenya, Poland, and Charlotte?

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    48 m
  • Summer on the Mount - Proper Generosity: Matthew 6:1-4

    Summer on the Mount - Proper Generosity: Matthew 6:1-4
    Jun 23 2025
    Proper Generosity - Matthew 6:1-4How we give matters. Of course, giving matters to God, but Jesus reminds us that how we give matters even more. The passage today goes back to the words of Jesus that we must exceed the righteousness of the Pharisees. We do this in type, not degree, meaning we live out of the righteousness we have received in Christ, not to prove ourselves righteous before others.
    Anytime we meet a need or give to others, we must be careful that it is not for outward show. God cares deeply about the heart’s motive in why we do what we do. It all comes back to the heart.
    People who originally heard Jesus saying this would have been familiar with the language he used, but challenged deeply by his words. Jesus addresses something familiar to many Jewish families, the giving of alms to care for the poor and others in need. While being instructed to give to the poor is a good thing, the religious leaders failed to address the mindset of the giver.
    Pointing beyond outward actions, Jesus borrows from a language familiar to those who went to the theater and watched actors. The term for “hypocrites” points to the role of actors who pretend to be someone different than who they truly are. Jesus’ warning is strong here because any of us can do good things to put on a show, but it is not a show God wants to see.
    You can even give generously and still be doing so with selfish motives. In Matthew 5:16, Jesus reminds us to “let our light shine before others,” so that they will “give glory to your Father in heaven.” In carrying out good works, for some the struggle is boldness, and for others the struggle is pride. We are to shine when tempted to hide. We are to hide when we are tempted to shine.
    Before giving, Jesus wants us to consider the why. He illustrates this by saying we are not to let our left hand know what our right hand is doing. That means it is about more than what our hand is doing, it is about what are heart is thinking. Lack of focus in self in giving is like trying to clap with one hand, meaning we can give in a way that doesn’t applaud ourselves, but glorifies God. May God be glorified in how we live, love, serve, and give!
    Discussion Questions:
    • Are there places in your life that this passage speaks to or challenges you specifically?

    • You have probably heard the quote from Shakespeare saying, “all the world’s a stage”, but how can we use the stage of our lives for God’s glory and not our own?

    • Many times, we can give and not be aware of our heart posture. Proverbs 4:23 says, "Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” How can we practically carry this out in areas of giving and serving others?

    • Every act of real love is rewarded when a need is met. How can we seek out and meet the needs of someone else this week?

    • Giving to the Pharisees became more about a means of earning our salvation. How should we reverse that mindset and see it as an overflow of God’s gift of salvation in our lives?



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    26 m
  • Summer on the Mount - Loving Hard People: Matthew 5:38-48

    Summer on the Mount - Loving Hard People: Matthew 5:38-48
    Jun 16 2025
    Loving Hard People- Matthew 5:38-48Conflict has been a part of the world since the sin was introduced to the world in Genesis 3. There has always been conflict between man and man, God and man, and the nations of the world. In Matthew 5:38-48, Jesus shows us a radical way to love difficult people.
    In the times of the Old Testament, there was a saying, "eye for an eye, and tooth for a tooth." When a law was broken by a nation against another nation, the punishment should level out. There should not be more retaliation than was given. But the religious leaders, over time, added more rules to the laws, which made it almost impossible to follow.
    Jesus moved this from nations to neighbors and said, "Do not resist (retaliate) an evil person." Instead, do good back! He then gave four examples:
    • Example 1 - If someone slaps you - in the day, a backhanded slap to the cheek was a strong and powerful insult. Jesus is saying to "turn to them the other as well". In other words, be vulnerable to be insulted again. (He is NOT saying to stay in an abusive relationship - get out asap.)
    • Example 2 - If someone sues you - The average person had 2 shirts and 1 coat. Someone could sue you and "take the shirt off your back". Jesus tells us to not only resist suing back, but up our most valuable clothing - our coat. In Christ, we can "absorb the blow".
    • Example 3 - If someone asks you to go 1 mile - It was lawful for a Roman soldier to require a person to carry their gear (70 lbs) up to a mile, and the people hated the soldiers for this. Jesus is saying to volunteer to go 2 miles! In other words, "Go the extra mile".
    • Example 4 - Give to whoever asks - Give generously and don't question someone who asks to borrow. Let them borrow without obligation to return.
    In our lives, we have done far more to God than others have done to us. We need to remember that God has not treated us our our sins deserved! Why do we think we can treat others more harshly than God treated us? Verse 48 is the key, "Be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect."Remember:
    • We have sinned - He gave His Son
    • We turn away again and again - He is patient with us
    • We take His name in vain - He is kind to us
    • We have served idols - He loves and welcomes us
    "You have heard it said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy, but I tell you love your enemies and pray for those that persecute you'". Hating your enemy was never in the OT. It was added over time and became a mantra for the people. Jesus gave us 2 ways to love our enemy:
    1. Love your enemies - Do loving things for that person. We see a great example of this in Romans 12:14-20 (work at it, revenge is God's responsibility, do what is honorable in public, etc.)
    2. Pray for those that persecute you. We should pray beneficial things for those that are against us. It will change our heart towards them.
    A Path Forward
    1. Keep your heart (Proverbs 4:23) - Keep keeping your heart
    2. Guard your words (James 1:19-20) - Slow it down
    3. Trust your Shepherd (Psalm 23:1) - I am satisfied with God's management of my life
    4. God is at work (Galatians 4:19) - He is always at work, and uses frustrating people to disciple me.

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    42 m
  • Summer on the Mount - Tell the Truth: Matthew 5:33-37

    Summer on the Mount - Tell the Truth: Matthew 5:33-37
    Jun 9 2025
    Tell The Truth- Matthew 5:33-37Guest Speaker: Jim KallamIn the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus is addressing the heart first before outward actions. At the time, many would hear the emphasis of the Pharisees about external obedience while not addressing the heart.
    The Sermon on the Mount represents both current and future realities of the Kingdom, but those are all inside out realities. What begins as a work of God in our heart moves outward into our actions and words. Jesus is drawing attention again here to external obedience versus internal intent.
    Oaths were promises meant to encourage honesty before others, but it gave opportunity for some to form new ways of deceiving others. Jesus reminds others that these commands were about our integrity. Integrity begins with connecting our heart with our actions.
    Be Honest Before GodHonesty and integrity must begin with being honest before God. You see this idea reflected so clearly in the Psalms. The psalms include prayers of praise, sorrow, and longing for God’s redemption. Commit to praying honestly and consider using these Psalms as a guide to give voice to your prayers.
    Be Honest Before OthersAs citizens of this new Kingdom, we reflect a God who keeps His word. We must keep our word before others.
    Proverbs 4:23 says, “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” We must remember that it all begins our heart sets the direction of our lives. We must be mindful of the condition of our hearts.
    “But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.” - James 5:12
    When our heart is trusting and following Christ, it reflects in our word and integrity before others.
    Our honesty and integrity should reflect what we believe about God. Praise God, we can take Him at His word!
    Personal Reflection:
    • Can others count on you to do what you say?
    • Are you demonstrating honesty in prayer before God?


    Discussion Questions:
    • Why is honesty in our words and actions important to God?
    • Why does Jesus emphasize the heart in understanding and directing our actions?
    • How does honesty and integrity before others reflect our lives as citizens of God’s Kingdom?


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    26 m
  • Summer on the Mount - Look Here Not There: Matthew 5:27-32

    Summer on the Mount - Look Here Not There: Matthew 5:27-32
    Jun 2 2025
    Look Here Not There - Matthew 5:27-32Senior Pastor Alex KennedyLast week we looked at Jesus’ teaching on anger and murder from Matthew 5:21-26 which spoke about God’s heart to protect the sanctity of life. This week, as we continue our series in the sermon on the mount in Matthew 5:27-32. God is for the pure in heart - shown by God's love for His people and reflected in the marriage relationship
    Our tendency is to simply view adultery as an external, outward act. However, Jesus points out that in reality adultery begins with the heart. He says that everyone who looks at another person with lustful intent has already committed adultery with them in their own heart (5:28).To read more, go to https://carmelbaptist.org/carmel-sermon/summer-on-the-mount-look-here-not-there-matthew-527-32/

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    35 m
  • Summer on the Mount - Anger: Matthew 5:21-26

    Summer on the Mount - Anger: Matthew 5:21-26
    May 28 2025
    Anger - Matthew 5:21-26Senior Pastor Alex KennedyIf we do not deal with our anger properly, it will end up leading to broken relationships and a lack of community. While it is obvious that we should not murder someone (6th commandment), all kinds of relationships get murdered without anyone ever dying (marriages, friends, small groups, parents and children, etc...) Jesus takes this much further to teach us a better way to live with our God-given emotion of anger.
    Remember, Jesus had just said "that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the Kingdom of Heaven." Without Jesus' help, this is an impossible task due to all the rules that the Scribes and Pharisees added to the law.

    To read more, go to: https://carmelbaptist.org/carmel-sermon/summer-on-the-mount-anger-matthew-521-26/

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    36 m
  • Summer on the Mount - You Complete Me: Matthew 5:17-20

    Summer on the Mount - You Complete Me: Matthew 5:17-20
    May 19 2025
    You Complete Me: Matthew 5:17-20Senior Pastor Alex KennedyThroughout history, there have been those that have said that when Jesus came, the Old Testament became irrelevant. Well, Jesus had something to say about that when He said, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets: I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished."
    So, Jesus is actually saying that He is "filling the Law and the Prophets full". The Law was a shadow of what was to come; the reality belonged to Christ. We also see that Jesus fulfilled all of the Messianic prophecies. The Truth in the Old Testament pointed to Jesus, which makes it extremely valuable!
    To read more, please go to: https://carmelbaptist.org/carmel-sermon/summer-on-the-mount-you-complete-me-matthew-517-20/

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    33 m
  • Summer on the Mount - True Influencers: Matthew 5:13-16

    Summer on the Mount - True Influencers: Matthew 5:13-16
    May 19 2025
    True Influencers: Matthew 5:13-16Senior Pastor Alex KennedyAn influencer is someone who has the capacity or power to be a compelling force on or to produce effects on the actions, behavior, or opinions of others. All of us are influencers in one way or another.
    Jesus speaks to this reality when He teaches on salt and light. He is saying to let your character overflow into what you do.
    "You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet."
    Salt was incredibly valuable in the time and culture. It was used to preserve food and to add flavor. Salt is very stable until you start adding impurities to it, and then it can become useless. When it "lost its taste" it was thrown on the footpaths or roof tops to form a hard top seal.
    Salt influences everything it touches.
    "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house."
    "You" is written in emphatic Greek plural tense, which would translate, "you all, and you all alone are the light of the world." Jesus is speaking these words to a people that are seeing the city of Tiberias to their right on the Sea of Galilee. Also, directly across from them were the ten pagan cities of the Decapolis. Both of these cities would have been lit up with light.
    Jesus is also telling us that our faith is personal, but it's not private. Hiding a light is contrary to its purpose.
    "In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."
    Our good works are done so that we may highlight and make a big deal of God. Our light is a borrowed light.
    Light influences everything it touches.
    You don't need to become salt and light. You ARE salt and light. It is a matter of identity, and our deeds flow from our identity and character. In Christ, we have the power to influence the culture for the Kingdom of God.
    Questions to Consider
    1. Who is someone that you would consider "salty" in your life? Why?
    2. Why is it important for followers of Jesus to be salt and light in their sphere of influence?
    3. What is the "salt level" in you? How much light is flowing through you?
    4. What is your underlying motivation? What "good deeds" do you do for others and does that bring glory to God or glory to you?


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    30 m