We begin THE YEAR OF LIVING DANGEROUSLY with the most foundational of books, Ephesians. In the opening verses Paul sets the stage for lives lived dangerously by grounding us in all that God has done for us in Christ. It begins here.

In art and music we would never think of complimenting the paint or the instrument for the beauty of the art produced. Instead we would give credit to the Creator, the Artist, by whose talent the work of art came to be. What does the art of your life say about our Creator? Does it attract others to God, or not?

Adam and Eve settled for less than what God had in mind; the tower-builders in Genesis 11 settled, as well. But in chapter 12 God launches a whole new phase in his mission and his challenge to Abram is NOT to settle, but to move on. When and how do we sometimes settle for less than the Great Adventure God has for us?

When Peter and John and some of the earliest believers find themselves threatened by the religious authorities, how do they pray? Do they ask for God's protection? For his deliverance? For the defeat of their enemies? And when they do ask, how does God answer? How might this prayer become a model for our own prayers?

Everything we do and build and are for the Kingdom of God matters. Everything. The work we do here and now, our "labor in the Lord" is not in vain. It matters.

Having laid out much of his argument for the coming resurrection from the dead, the Apostle Paul moves on to answer questions about how this resurrection will happen and what kind of bodies will they be. This gives him the chance to talk more about where we are headed and us the chance to ask, "What difference does it make?"

The Apostle Paul is convinced of our coming resurrection from the dead. Why? He's taken time to speak passionately to the reality of Jesus' resurrection, but does that necessary imply our own resurrections? Paul tells us that, yes, it does. Because of Jesus' resurrection, our own resurrections are "necessary and inevitable."

On this Easter Sunday we begin a series called SECOND LIFE in which we look at the transforming power of Jesus' resurrection. The cross did not have the final word; there was a twist yet to come. Christ is Risen!

In today's message we begin the transition to the end of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. In Matthew 7.7-12, it appears Jesus is telling us that we will get whatever we ask for when we ask God for it in prayer. But is that what Jesus wants us to learn? Or is there something more, something missional in the promise of the "good gifts" God will give us if we ask, seek and knock?

Jesus continues a message focused on stewardship and how we are to view our material possessions, money and the meeting of our basic needs. After all, if we hold loosely to money and possessions, giving them away freely to those who have need, can we trust that God will take care of our needs as well?

As we move into chapter 6 of Matthew's Gospel, Jesus begins a section on "works of righteousness" in the lives of his followers. At first glance it might appear that Jesus is teaching us on prayer, fasting and giving to the poor, but these things fall in the larger context of his instructions that we not live to impress others with our "religiosity". Instead we are to live are lives as if we are playing to an Audience of One.

What is Jesus asking of us in this passage? Are we to become doormats, allowing others to run over us or mistreat us for the sake of the Kingdom of God? Are Jesus' words too difficult for us to follow? In our quest for an upgraded life amid conflict and even violence, Jesus leads us away from a fight or flight mentality to a third way, a surprising way a Kingdom way.

We live in a society that excuses lust and the objectification of others. Those who want to live the upgraded way of life Jesus offers, however, must take seriously the damaging effects of the lust of the eyes (and adultery of the heart). We must choose to be ruthless in getting rid of the things that war against our calling to live as faithful followers of Jesus.

As Jesus begins to transition from the Beatitudes to the main body of the Sermon on the Mount, he reminds his hearers that they are to be salt of the earth and light of the world, that they are called upon (as are we) to live in a such a way that our lives make a difference in the world.

Too often we've been taught that Jesus' beatitudes are an impossible ideal. But is this what Jesus intended when he announced the beatitudes (blessings) to those gathered to listen to him? Or is there something else he intends to communicate. In this message we look at the first four of the blessings.