St Matthews Gospel Ministry

St Matthews Gospel Ministry To provide a place for ALL of Gods children to hear and understand the importance of the Gospel and what Christ taught.

07/26/2026

Good Morning Faithful. On this beautiful day we still find ourselves Homeless...... Sort of..... We closed on selling our place and don't get to close on the new place until Friday so technically we will be homeless for 9 days. I will try and get a message out next Sunday as well but the better half may have me busy trying to restore an assemblance of order to the new living abode.

Today on my heart has on it forgiveness so our message is
Matthew 18:21–35
21 Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?"
22 Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.
23 Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.
24 And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.
25 But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made.
26 The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, 'Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.'
27 Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.
28 But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay me what you owe!'
29 So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.'
30 And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt.
31 So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done.
32 Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me.
33 Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?'
34 And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.
35 "So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses."
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What does this mean?
This passage contains one of Jesus' most important teachings on forgiveness. It begins with Peter's question and ends with the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant.
1. Forgiveness Has No Practical Limit (vv. 21–22)
Peter believed he was being generous by suggesting forgiving someone seven times. Jewish tradition often suggested forgiving three times, so Peter doubled it and added one.
Jesus answered:
"Not... seven times, but seventy times seven."
Jesus was not giving the number 490 as a limit. He was saying that forgiveness should become a continual attitude rather than something we keep score of.
The point is:
• Stop counting.
• Keep forgiving as God forgives.
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2. The King Represents God (vv. 23–27)
The servant owed ten thousand talents—an almost unimaginable amount of money.
Jesus intentionally used an absurdly large number to represent a debt that could never be repaid.
This symbolizes:
• our sin against God
• the spiritual debt humanity owes
• a debt we could never pay ourselves
When the servant begged for mercy, the king did something remarkable:
• released him
• canceled the debt completely
This mirrors God's grace.
God does not merely delay judgment.
He forgives completely.
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3. The Fellow Servant Represents Other People (vv. 28–30)
The forgiven servant immediately found someone who owed him one hundred denarii.
Compared to the first debt, this amount was tiny.
The contrast is intentional.
Jesus is saying:
• Compared to what God has forgiven us,
• the offenses others commit against us are much smaller.
Yet the servant refused mercy.
Instead, he demanded justice.
This exposed that he had accepted forgiveness but had not allowed it to transform his heart.
________________________________________
4. Mercy Received Should Produce Mercy Given (vv. 31–34)
The king was outraged.
His reasoning was simple:
"I forgave you.
Why couldn't you forgive him?"
Justice returned because mercy had been rejected in practice.
The servant's actions demonstrated that he never truly appreciated the forgiveness he had received.
________________________________________
5. Verse 35 Is the Heart of the Parable
Jesus concludes:
"So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother."
Notice Jesus says:
"...from your heart."
This is more than saying the words "I forgive you."
It means:
• letting go of vengeance
• surrendering bitterness
• refusing to seek personal revenge
• entrusting justice to God
Forgiveness does not necessarily mean:
• pretending the wrong never happened
• removing consequences
• immediately restoring trust
• remaining in abusive situations
Forgiveness releases the debt before God, while wisdom still recognizes that trust may need to be rebuilt.

Jesus is teaching that genuine faith changes how we treat others.
If we truly grasp how much God has forgiven us, we should become people who extend mercy.
________________________________________
Mercy triumphs over vengeance.
The kingdom of God is characterized by mercy.
Justice belongs ultimately to God.
Christians are called to release personal vengeance while trusting God to judge righteously.
________________________________________
Forgiveness reflects God's character.
Every act of forgiveness mirrors the gospel.
When we forgive, we imitate the compassion God has shown us.
________________________________________
Practical Application
Ask yourself:
• Am I keeping a record of wrongs, or am I practicing forgiveness?
• Do I appreciate how much God has forgiven me?
• Is there someone whose "debt" I am still holding against them?
• Have I confused forgiveness with pretending nothing happened, or can I forgive while still exercising wisdom and appropriate boundaries?
________________________________________
The Central Lesson
The parable teaches that God has forgiven us an incalculable debt through His mercy. Therefore, those who have truly received that mercy should extend forgiveness to others from the heart. Refusing to forgive reveals a heart that has not fully embraced the grace it has received.
Ultimately, Jesus calls His followers to make forgiveness not an occasional act, but a defining characteristic of life in the Kingdom of God.

07/14/2026

Good evening faithful. Yes I'm a day late yet again. This cross country move is testing us in more that one way but By God's Grace We Shall Survive.
Yesterdays message was to be Still Casting The Net.

Matthew 13:47–50 (KJV)
47 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:
48 Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.
49 So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,
50 And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Jesus says the Kingdom of Heaven is like this.

1. The Net Represents the Gospel Going Into the World
The net is the proclamation of God's Kingdom.
It is cast broadly and indiscriminately. God invites people from every nation, language, background, and walk of life.

This fulfills Jesus' later command:
"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations..." (Matthew 28:19)

The invitation is universal.

2. The Fish Represent All People
Notice Jesus says the net gathered "of every kind."
Everyone hears the invitation.
Some genuinely follow Christ.
Others associate with the faith outwardly but never truly surrender to Him.

Just as the net contains both valuable and worthless fish, the visible community of believers contains both genuine and false disciples.

3. The Sorting Happens at the End—not Now
This is one of the biggest lessons.
The fishermen do not sort while the net is still in the water.
Likewise, God does not fully separate the righteous from the wicked during this present age.
That judgment belongs to Him.

This parallels another parable in Matthew 13.
Connection to the Parable of the Wheat and the Weeds

4. The Fishermen Represent God's Agents
In the illustration, fishermen separate the fish.
Jesus explains the symbolism:
"The angels shall come forth..."
The angels—not human beings—carry out the final separation.
This reminds believers that final judgment belongs to God, not to us.

5. The Good Fish
The good fish represent those who have genuinely trusted God and belong to His Kingdom.
They are preserved.
Their value comes not from their own goodness but from God's grace received through faith.

6. The Bad Fish
The bad fish represent those who reject God or merely appear religious without genuine faith.
At the final judgment they are separated from God's people.
Jesus describes this with solemn language:
"...cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth."

Throughout Matthew's Gospel, "wailing and gnashing of teeth" symbolizes profound sorrow, regret, and the consequences of God's final judgment.

The Central Message
The Parable of the Net is both an invitation and a warning. God's Kingdom is gathering people from every corner of the world, and His grace is offered freely to all. Yet Jesus also teaches that history is moving toward a day when God will bring perfect justice. Until then, the gospel continues to be proclaimed, and every person is invited to respond in faith before that final separation takes place.

07/05/2026

And it comes later but the song that speaks to the lesson of the day. God Bless and try and do something for someone this week. We give our time and talents as Christ taught us to do

07/05/2026

Good Morning Faithful. I would like to apologize for the sporadic messages as of late I'm in the middle of a cross country move and a lot of things are packed. Please find it in your hearts to understand the chaos. And just a heads up it looks like probably 4 more weeks to get the old house closed and the new one closed along with all the moving of things and people. Still have most of the family living in Florida and I'm 1500miles away. But as I considered a message for this week I and contemplated some of the most unbelievable things I have heard people IDENTIFYING as Christians say I wondered what would a completely unbiased view look like. So I found a computer I have only used for secular work ( My day Job that pays for this ministry ) and asked the AI some questions.
Today I'm going to share what the Bible says and how it is seen from a completely unbiased view with no emotions cluttering up the message. I think you will find it enlightening.

How an AI see’s the Bible

Have you heard someone say “We are Gods chosen people”? How about “God hates them”? Or even “God will make you rich if you give to the church”?
Here is what the AI thinks

The overarching theme of the Bible is God’s redemptive plan for humanity through love, grace, and covenant relationship. From Genesis to Revelation, it tells the story of creation, humanity’s fall into sin, and God’s continual pursuit to restore that broken relationship—ultimately fulfilled through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It emphasizes faith, obedience, justice, mercy, and hope, pointing toward a future where God’s kingdom is fully realized and all creation is renewed.
Let’s look at God’s redemption plan through love, Grace, and Covenant Relationship. What do those mean?

Love is 1 Corinthians 13:4–7: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud... It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”
Do you notice that it doesn’t say anything about where someone comes from, what faith they follow, or that it is OK to be mean to certain people?
Grace is unearned, undeserved favor and kindness of God toward humanity. A key verse is Ephesians 2:8–9: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Grace is central to the gospel—it’s God’s initiative to forgive, redeem, and bless people not because of their merit, but because of His love and mercy.
There are Christians who latch onto this verse and think all I have to do is say I’m a Christian and I go to heaven no matter how bad a person I have been. Other Christians disregard this verse completely. Who is right? As I always say when looking at any one verse or even book you have to look at it through the lens of the totality of the scriptures. Our work alone cannot get us into heaven because we all fall short daily. But John 2:26 states “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also”
Covenant is a sacred, binding agreement between God and His people, established by His promises and often accompanied by specific conditions or signs. A key verse is Genesis 17:7: “I will establish my covenant between me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your descendants after you.” And the New Covenant through Jesus Christ which is “I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.” Referring to all of humanity not just the Israelites.
Why would anyone think that this doesn’t apply to all of humanity? And it answers the age-old question of “What if someone never learns about Jesus how can they go to heaven?” Simply it states right there that the law is in their minds and written on their hearts. To not follow the law written in your heart is to reject God. That said, You need to know the law that was placed in all human hearts. And a number of Christians have a hard time with what that is.
Now what is meant by an emphasis on Faith, Obedience, Justice, Mercy, and Hope? We will first see what does the AI say and how is that real or not.
Faith is trusting in God’s promises, even when they are not yet visible or fully realized.
That one is fairly simple isn’t it we believe even though we don’t see God in person. But what of the scientist that believes in the Big Bang even though there is no more proof than God created the earth? I would say that both can be true. We know that the Bible isn’t a 100% accurate historical representation of the past. We even know that not all books of the Bible were actually written by the people they have been traditionally credited to. We also know that from a scientific view of Entropy simply put everything in the universe moves toward disorder what the universe looks like is very orderly based on a massive explosion. If you marry the thought of Creationism and Big Bang theory, you get something that looks a lot like Intelligent Design. I live here because I know the earth isn’t 6000 years old and I understand the probability of life existing from a big bang is so very low. But I know for sure no more than anyone else.
Obedience is not just outward compliance—it flows from a heart of love and reverence for God. Jesus emphasized this in John 14:15, saying, “If you love me, keep my commandments.”
Wow. That is very well stated. What more can one add? Just what are those commandments? First we have the Ten Commandments that God gave Moses.
1 You shall have no other gods before Me.
2 You shall not make for yourself a carved image — no idols or images to worship.
3 You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
4 Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
5 Honor your father and your mother.
6 You shall not murder.
7 You shall not commit adultery.
8 You shall not steal.
9 You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
10 You shall not covet — don’t desire your neighbor’s possessions, spouse, or anything that belongs to them.

But then we have the 10 that Christ Gave us.
1 Love everyone as you love yourself
2 Help the Needy
3 House the Homeless
4 Feed the Hungry
5 Give to the poor
6 Care for the Sick
7 Welcome the immigrant as if they are family
8 Visit the infirmed
9 Visit those in prison
10 Seek not wealth in this world.

These are the things we do not to get to heaven but to show our love. Which Ironically is how to get to heaven.

Justice is legal fairness (Fairness in the Bible means not showing favoritism (James 2:1–9), being honest in dealings (Leviticus 19:35–36), and treating others as you would want to be treated (Matthew 7:12). ) but it goes beyond —it includes caring for the vulnerable, defending the oppressed, and living in right relationship with others. It reflects God's holiness and compassion, calling His people to act with integrity, equity, and love. In Scripture, justice is often paired with mercy and humility.
Again what can I say WOW! Just for the record I used a computer that wasn’t my own and not tied to any of my personal accounts to verify that there was no bias in the AI by it taking into account things I have previously looked up or typed up. This is 100% no bias AI looking at the Bible. If this is not how you view Justice just know you are not right with God.
Mercy is closely tied to grace, but while grace gives blessings we don’t deserve, mercy withholds punishment we do deserve. It’s seen in God’s patience with humanity, His willingness to forgive sins, and His call for His people to show mercy to others. Jesus emphasized mercy in His teachings, saying in Matthew 5:7, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.” Ultimately, mercy reflects the heart of God and is a key part of how believers are called to live and act towards others.
Not bad at all. This entire ministry was driven by Mercy in my eyes. I have seen millions of people who call themselves Christians that do not follow the teachings of Jesus Christ. This really upsets the part of me that is jaded by life on the planet. But then I remember that Christ put the law in their minds and wrote them on their hearts. So somewhere they know the truth. They have been lured away from the law by Human’s with agendas, or hatred in their hearts. The false profit that leads the faithful away so they can become rich in most cases will not change, it’s their scam they probably don’t even believe in a God. If they did that is a very dangerous road to be walking. This ministry never asks for donations. I work a fulltime job to support myself this is purely to help people see, remember, and live the law placed in our hearts by Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit. Do the people who have ignored the law deserve punishment? Only Christ can say, it is our job to show mercy and try and help them find their way back.
Hope is anchored in the assurance of who God is and what He has promised—like salvation, eternal life, and His presence. It sustains believers through trials, encourages perseverance, and points toward the fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan in Christ. It’s deeply tied to faith and love, forming a foundation for Christian life and endurance.
Basically, Hope stems from Faith and Love. Merriam-Webster defines Hope – To cherish a desire with anticipation: To want something to happen or be true. For me I don’t see Hope from an internal connection between God and myself. Those who have watched other messages know I choose to be a Christian, but I don’t believe that I’m in a better place with God than anyone who follows the law in their heart yet attends a different faith or maybe no faith at all. The First Commandment You shall have no other gods before Me. How do we know if God doesn’t go by different names. Is seen differently to other cultures. We don’t! But if they are following the law laid out in the twenty commandments we talked about earlier then they are no placing anyone above or before God. This even holds true for the Atheist. If they don’t believe in any god they certainly are not placing another god before God. And if they are following the law they are right with God. But I do have this vision in my head of Jesus razzing them at the gates because they missed all the signs but followed the law anyway.

As always remember to tithe with your time and gifts this week. Buy a hungry person a meal, volunteer at a homeless shelter, go to the nursing home and have a conversation with someone living there. If you don’t have time donate to a charity ( but I would do some research into that charity so you aren’t contributing to a scam ). It can be anything that touches your heart but your time and gifts are what God gave you. Money is what the world gives you.
“Go into the world and reflect Christ Love through our Actions”

Mission Statement
"Empowered by grace, we go into the world to reflect the love of Christ through our actions—serving others selflessly, living with integrity, and embodying compassion in every encounter. We strive to be the hands and feet of Jesus, letting our lives be a testimony of His truth, mercy, and hope."

06/14/2026

Good Morning Faithful, Today's message is the parable of "The Pearl of Great Price" similar to the found treasure but in the case it was being sought after not just found.

Matthew 13:45–46
45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:
46 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

Meaning of the Parable of the Pearl of Great Price

The Merchant

The merchant represents someone who is actively searching for something of great value. Unlike the man in the hidden treasure parable who discovers the treasure unexpectedly, the merchant is intentionally seeking.

This can represent:

• A person searching for truth.
• Someone longing for God.
• Those who recognize that worldly achievements cannot satisfy the deepest needs of the soul.

The Pearl of Great Price

The pearl symbolizes the Kingdom of Heaven—life under God's rule, salvation, and ultimately the relationship with God made possible through Christ.

The merchant had likely seen many valuable pearls, but when he found this one, he immediately recognized that it surpassed all others.

The lesson is that:

• Nothing compares to the value of knowing God.
• No earthly possession, achievement, or pleasure can equal the worth of eternal life.
• When a person truly understands the value of Christ and His Kingdom, every sacrifice becomes worthwhile.

Selling All That He Had

The merchant sold everything he owned to obtain the pearl.

Jesus is not teaching that salvation can be purchased. Throughout Scripture, salvation is God's gift received by faith.

Instead, Jesus is teaching that:

The Kingdom is worth more than everything else combined.
Following Christ may require surrendering priorities, ambitions, possessions, or relationships that compete with devotion to Him.
True disciples recognize that gaining Christ is worth any cost.

This echoes the words of Paul the Apostle:

"Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord..." (Philippians 3:8)

When you discover the incomparable worth of Christ and His Kingdom, no sacrifice is too great, because what you gain is infinitely greater than what you give up.

Our song of the day is

The Pearl Beyond Price.

06/07/2026

Good Morning Faithful. I would like to take a week break from the Parables because of something that happened again this week. An Individual who Identifies as a Christian told me they don't believe in the watered down Gospels. We could Unpack this but If you call yourself a Christian whether you believe in the Trinity or not You are saying you follow Christ's Teachings. That Is The Gospels.... Their reasoning was that the Old Testament says other things.
1) In reality if doesn't - It contains things that are history, it contains laws made by man for man, and it contains mistranslated verses. NOTE: To be fair so does the New Testament but my personal opinion on the subject is those are intentional.
2) Most of the examples people use are one off verses that are contradicted Many times over in the Bible Old and New Testaments.
3) If you are following the Bible you know that a New Covenant was philosophized in the Old Testament and was fulfilled through Christ.
Jeremiah 31:33
"But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people."
Hebrews 8:10
"For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts..."
Luke 22:20
"Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament [covenant] in my blood, which is shed for you."

So today Lord Jesus help us remember to Love Like You Love

05/31/2026

Today's lesson is The Parable OF the Hidden Treasure.

Matthew 13:44
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field."

Context of the Parable
This is one of several short parables Jesus taught about the Kingdom of Heaven in Matthew 13. Unlike some of the longer parables, this one consists of a single verse, yet it contains a profound lesson about the value of God's kingdom.
In the ancient world, people often hid valuables in the ground because there were no banks as we know them today. If a person died or was displaced by war, the treasure might remain hidden and eventually be discovered by someone else.
Jesus used this familiar image to illustrate how people should respond when they discover the Kingdom of God.

Breakdown of the Parable
The Treasure
The treasure represents the Kingdom of Heaven—the rule, salvation, grace, truth, and eternal life found in Christ.
The point is not merely that the kingdom is valuable; it is immeasurably valuable, beyond anything else a person could possibly possess.

The Hidden Field
The field represents the place where the treasure is found. Some interpret it as the world, while others see it as the Scriptures, the gospel message, or the circumstances through which God reveals Himself.
The emphasis is not on the field itself but on the treasure hidden within it.

The Man Who Finds the Treasure
The man represents a person who discovers the reality and value of God's kingdom.
Unlike the merchant in the next parable (the Pearl of Great Price), this man appears to find the treasure unexpectedly. This reminds us that some people come to faith while not actively searching for God.
Examples might include:
• The Apostle Paul on the road to Damascus.
• Someone invited to church by a friend.
• A person reading the Bible out of curiosity and encountering Christ.
• Or the person who thinks they understand the message of Christ but through reading and studying the Bible realize that selfishness, greed, being uncompassionate, and showing no true sense of empathy all put you at war with Christ’s teachings and they change their life.

His Joy
Notice Jesus says:
"...for joy thereof..."
The man's actions are motivated by joy, not obligation.
He is not reluctantly sacrificing everything. He gladly gives up lesser things because he has found something infinitely greater.
This reflects the Christian life. Following Christ may require sacrifice, but believers do so because what they gain far surpasses what they surrender.

Selling Everything
The man sells all he has to buy the field.
This does not mean salvation can be purchased.
Instead, the image teaches that the Kingdom of God is worth more than everything else combined. When someone truly recognizes its value, every competing priority becomes secondary.

Summary
The Parable of the Hidden Treasure teaches that the Kingdom of Heaven is of such immense value that anyone who truly understands it will gladly place it above all earthly possessions, ambitions, and achievements. The focus is not on what is given up, but on the overwhelming worth of what is gained. The man sells everything not because he has suffered a loss, but because he has discovered a treasure beyond measure.

So our song of the for today is " Treasure In The Field "

As always seeking out a way to help others this week is living Christ's Teachings.
God Bless

05/23/2026

Good Morning Faithful, If you are seeing this a day early it is because we are not sure we will have the ability to post this weeks message on Sunday Morning due to lack of internet. Camping this weekend.
This Week's Lesson is
The Parable of the Leaven - Matthew 13: 33
“Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.”

What does this mean?
The Kingdom starts small but transforms everything.
Leaven (yeast) begins as a tiny, almost invisible agent, yet it eventually permeates the entire dough. This mirrors how God’s kingdom began quietly—with Jesus and a small group of disciples—but grows until it influences the whole world.

The Kingdom works from the inside out
Yeast doesn’t change dough from the outside; it works internally, silently, and steadily. Likewise, God’s kingdom transforms hearts first, then lives, families, and societies.

The transformation is inevitable and unstoppable
Jesus says the woman mixed the leaven in “until it was all leavened.” This signals certainty:
• God’s work will reach its full completion.
• The gospel will accomplish its purpose.

The image emphasizes quiet, hidden growth
Leaven works silently—no noise, no spectacle—yet its effect becomes obvious. The kingdom often grows in ways people don’t notice at first, but the results become undeniable.

The image emphasizes quiet, hidden growth
Leaven works silently—no noise, no spectacle—yet its effect becomes obvious. The kingdom often grows in ways people don’t notice at first, but the results become undeniable.

The Core Message in One Line
God’s kingdom may begin quietly and invisibly, but it grows powerfully, transforms completely, and reaches everyone it touches.

But the message doesn't end there today. As any baker will tell you Yeast itself mainly prefers sugars, but over time the entire fermentation environment changes and other processes begin happening.

Over-Fermentation
Result:
dough becomes sticky or weak
bread may collapse
flavor becomes overly sour or alcoholic

Gluten Breakdown
Result:
flat dense bread
poor texture
dough tears easily

3. Starvation Phase
This is why dough eventually “peaks” and then deflates.

You may be asking yourself "Pastor why are you telling us about baking?" Good Question.
Just a Christ used this example of leaven as a positive thing Christ also used leaven as something to be careful of and to watch out for.
Luke 12:1 “Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.”
Some religious leaders:
• appeared righteous publicly
• but were prideful, dishonest, or spiritually corrupt inwardly
Examples included:
• praying publicly for attention
• enforcing rules on others they would not follow themselves
• valuing appearance over compassion and justice
The warning was that hypocrisy spreads if left unchecked.

Matthew 16:6, Jesus says:
“Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.”
- denying truths they disliked
- twisting Scripture for power or status
- leading others away from truth

Mark 8:15, Jesus mentions:
“Beware of the leaven of Herod.”
- political corruption
- moral compromise
- love of power and approval

Corinthians 5:6, Paul the Apostle writes:
“Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?”
- small compromise can spread
- hidden corruption grows
- unchecked behavior affects the whole group

But how do we know which is which? That is Simple remember the teachings of Christ and that which was placed in the hearts of all people.
> Love Everyone as you do Yourself
> Help those in need
> House the Homeless
> Feed the Hungry
> Give to the Poor
> Care for the Sick
> Welcome the Immigrant as Family
> Visit the Infirmed
> Visit those in Prison
> Seek NOT WEALTH in this World

As mentions before none of us can do all of this for all people except love them. But we need to do what we can when we can.
How do we know when we are faced with evil disguising itself as good. When it is openly opposing any of Christ's teachings.
The politician who fights healthcare for all because of financial cost is fighting against Care for the Sick
The coworker who says nothing should be done to help the poor is fighting against Give to the Poor.
or the neighbor who says don't let anyone into the country is fighting against Welcome the Immigrant as Family.
I think you get the point.
So today let us not forget that just because something or someone looks like the way, if they are not following the key teachings of Christ they may not be.
As a guide in today's life let us look through the following lens and that includes when we look in the mirror
the wrong path
Hypocrisy
• pretending to care while secretly harming others
• acting moral publicly but behaving cruelly privately
• judging others for things one personally does
Corrupting Influence
• gossip spreading through a friend group
• dishonesty becoming normalized at work
• peer pressure leading others into harmful behavior
The right path
Following Christ Teachings everyday when and where we can.
As always please take time out of your busy week to do at least one the things Christ taught us to do to show love, compassion, and empathy for our fellow human.

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