CrossWay Church Sermon Podcast

Matthew 5:33-37: Take Me At My Word (6-7-25)

podcast@crosswaychurchwa.com (CrossWay Church Battle Ground WA) — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 10:30:24 +0000

A psychologist at the University of Massachusetts ran a study where strangers had a simple ten-minute conversation. The average person said something that wasn't completely true three times — and most of them didn't even realize they were doing it. We have become so practiced at managing how others see us that bending the truth comes almost naturally. That's exactly the world Jesus is speaking into in Matthew 5:33–37. In this message from the Sermon on the Mount, Pastor Brad walks through Jesus's teaching on oaths and integrity — from the Old Testament command to honor vows made to God, to the elaborate loophole system the Pharisees had developed to avoid being held to their words, to Jesus's radical call: just let your yes mean yes and your no mean no. But this isn't just a sermon about keeping promises. It's about the deeper reason we don't — and why no amount of trying harder will fix it. Topics covered:

Why the Pharisees' oath system was just a grown-up version of crossed fingers
The two root causes of dishonesty: fear and desire for personal gain
Why integrity is a gospel issue, not just a character issue
How Jesus's death paid the price for every fudged yes and self-protective no

Matthew 5:27-32: It Started Long Before the Affair (5-31-26)

podcast@crosswaychurchwa.com (CrossWay Church Battle Ground WA) — Sun, 31 May 2026 14:32:49 +0000

Jesus doesn't wait for the affair to happen. He goes further back — to the glance, the thought, the habit of the heart. In Matthew 5:27–32, Jesus redefines adultery not just as an action but as an orientation of the soul — and He calls us to a radical honesty about what we're really looking for in other people. In this sermon, Pastor Brad walks through three uncomfortable but freeing truths: lust begins in the heart long before any physical act; it requires urgent, practical attention — not willpower alone; and the covenant of marriage is something Jesus takes seriously enough to defend. But this isn't just a sermon about what we've done wrong. It's about a Savior who has never broken covenant with us — even when we've broken it with Him. Topics covered:

What Jesus actually means by "looking lustfully"
The difference between attraction and objectification
Practical steps to address lust before it takes root
What Jesus said about divorce — and what He didn't say
How the gospel speaks to those carrying guilt from the past

Matthew 5:21-26: Dealing With The Roots of Murder (5-24-26)

podcast@crosswaychurchwa.com (CrossWay Church Battle Ground WA) — Sun, 24 May 2026 13:05:14 +0000

What does Jesus really mean when he says "Do not murder"? In this sermon from Matthew 5:21–26, Pastor Brad digs beneath the surface of one of the most familiar commandments in Scripture — and what he finds is both convicting and hopeful. Jesus isn't just raising the bar on behavior. He's exposing the roots: the anger we've learned to manage, the contempt we've dressed up as discernment, the grudge we've carried so long it feels normal. And then he shows us the remedy — and it's more urgent and more practical than we might expect. In this message you'll discover:

Why anger and contempt are on the same road as murder
The difference between righteous anger and wounded ego
Why broken relationships interrupt worship
The crucial difference between forgiveness and reconciliation
Why delay is the enemy of reconciliation
How the gospel gives us the only motivation powerful enough to move us toward peace

Whether you're carrying a broken relationship, an unresolved conflict, or a grudge you've never named out loud — this message is for you. If you want to learn more about forgiveness, check out our series Forgiveness: Letting Go of the Hurts We Carry 📖 Scripture: Matthew 5:21–26 | Ephesians 4:31–32 | Romans 5:6–8 | Romans 12:18

Matthew 5:17-20: Fulfilled (5-17-26)

podcast@crosswaychurchwa.com (CrossWay Church Battle Ground WA) — Sun, 17 May 2026 11:05:23 +0000

Did Jesus come to throw out the Old Testament? Some people think so. But in Matthew 5:17–20, Jesus sets the record straight — and what he says might surprise you. In this sermon from our series on the Sermon on the Mount, Pastor Brad explores one of the most misunderstood passages in all of Scripture. Jesus didn't come to tear down God's law. He came to fulfill it. And the righteousness he requires goes far deeper than anything we can manufacture on our own. In this message we cover:

What Jesus meant when he said he came to "fulfill" the Law and the Prophets
Why the Old Testament still matters for Christians today
The difference between judicial, ceremonial, and moral law — and which one still binds us
Why the Pharisees' righteousness wasn't enough — and why ours isn't either
The gospel hope of Matthew 5: Jesus meets the standard we never could

Whether you're new to faith or have been following Jesus for years, this message will deepen your understanding of the Bible, the gospel, and what it means to live as God's people. 📖 Scripture: Matthew 5:17–20 (NIV) 📍 Part of our ongoing series on the Sermon on the Mount

Matthew 5:13-16: Why Christians’ Presence Matters (5-10-26)

podcast@crosswaychurchwa.com (CrossWay Church Battle Ground WA) — Sun, 10 May 2026 08:52:14 +0000

Are you living as salt and light in a world that desperately needs both? In this message from Matthew 5:13–16, we explore Jesus’ powerful declaration that God’s promises are being fulfilled — and we are part of the evidence. Salt and light aren’t just metaphors; they define the everyday mission of every follower of Christ. Discover what it means to preserve what is good, bring life to your community, and shine with a light that cannot be hidden. Jesus not only fulfills God’s promises — He invites us into His mission. In this sermon:

Why salt and light arere powerful symbols in Jesus’ day
How Christians are called to influence culture without losing their identity
The danger of becoming “useless salt”
Why your life is meant to point ultimately to God’s glory

You were made for this. Now it’s time to go live it. Books mentioned in this sermon:

Everyday Revolutionary by JD Greear: A great book that talks about how we can live as salt and light in the world today.
Dominion by Tom Holland: Gives history of how Christianity shaped the US.

Matthew 5:10-12: When Blessing Looks Like Suffering (5-3-26)

podcast@crosswaychurchwa.com (CrossWay Church Battle Ground WA) — Sun, 03 May 2026 11:32:07 +0000

What does it actually mean to be blessed? In this sermon from Matthew 5:10–12, we discover that Jesus redefines blessing in a way that turns our expectations upside down. Being blessed doesn't mean life is comfortable — it means your life is secured by something no one can take away. We look honestly at what Jesus says his followers will face: persecution and insults. We ask the hard question — is this suffering for Christ, or is it something we brought on ourselves? And then we turn to three reasons we can genuinely rejoice even in the middle of it. Whether you're facing pushback for your faith right now or preparing for the cost of following Jesus, this message is for you. In this message, we discuss:

Redefining "blessed" as spiritual wholeness rather than easy circumstances.
Why following Jesus will inevitably cost us something.
How to find reasons to rejoice when we are misunderstood or targeted for our faith.
The security we have as citizens of heaven.

📖 Scripture: Matthew 5:10–12 📌 Key themes: Blessing, persecution, suffering, identity, heaven, the love of God

Matthew 5:9: The Peace That Cost Everything (4-26-26)

podcast@crosswaychurchwa.com (CrossWay Church Battle Ground WA) — Sun, 26 Apr 2026 11:41:22 +0000

Why is it so hard to get along? Whether it’s drama at work, tension at the dinner table, or conflict in our community, most of us handle stress in one of two ways: we either run away (Peace Faking) or we charge in swinging (Peace Breaking). In this message, we explore Jesus’ call in the Beatitudes: "Blessed are the peacemakers." True peace isn't just the absence of an argument; it’s the presence of "Shalom"—a wholeness that only comes through Christ.

What we’ll cover:
Why "shallow peace" always fails us.
How the Cross of Christ redefines how we handle being hurt.
The "READ" method: A 4-step practical tool to manage your emotions in the heat of the moment.
How to own your part in a conflict without losing your identity.

If you’re tired of the cycle of conflict and want to learn how to build relationships that flourish, join us for this study of Matthew 5:9. These are the resources by Ken Sande that helped shape parts of this message (Reactions to conflict and READ).

Matthew 5:8: Wholehearted: Living Pure Before God (4-19-26)

podcast@crosswaychurchwa.com (CrossWay Church Battle Ground WA) — Sun, 19 Apr 2026 09:23:32 +0000

In Matthew 5:8, Jesus says the pure in heart will see God — but what does that actually mean? In this message we explore what the Bible really means by the "heart," why purity isn't about perfection, and what it looks like to pursue a pure heart in everyday life. We also look at what Jesus promises to those who do — both now and in eternity.

Matthew 5:7: Blessed are the merciful (4-12-26)

podcast@crosswaychurchwa.com (CrossWay Church Battle Ground WA) — Sun, 12 Apr 2026 13:56:42 +0000

In a world that often demands "an eye for an eye," Jesus calls His followers to a radical alternative: Mercy.

In today’s message, we dive deep into the fifth Beatitude found in Matthew 5:7: "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy." We explore what it truly means to be "blessed" (makarios) and why mercy is much more than just holding back a punch—it is the active, gracious pursuit of another person’s well-being, even when they don’t deserve it.

In this sermon, we cover:

✅ The Meaning of Blessing: Why spiritual thriving is different from material prosperity.

✅ The Anatomy of Mercy: How mercy withholds judgment and extends unexpected blessings.

✅ The Barriers to Mercy: How resentment and envy harden our hearts and how to break free.

✅ Practical Steps: How to cultivate a merciful heart by looking at the cross of Christ.

If you’ve ever struggled to forgive someone who hurt you, or if you find yourself trapped in the cycle of resentment, this message is for you.

Luke 24:13-49: When Hope Walks Beside You (4-5-26)

podcast@crosswaychurchwa.com (CrossWay Church Battle Ground WA) — Sun, 05 Apr 2026 11:41:05 +0000

Have you ever felt like your faith was walking in the wrong direction? In this message, we dive into one of the most beautiful and raw moments in the Gospels: the walk to Emmaus. We explore what happens when our "small" expectations of God are shattered so that a much larger, resurrection-sized hope can take their place. Whether you are currently in a season of doubt, recovering from a spiritual disappointment, or looking for the power to live out your calling, this study of Luke 24 shows us that Jesus isn't just a figure of history—He is the Sovereign Savior who pursues us even when we're walking away. In this sermon, we discuss:

Why our "shattered hopes" are often the beginning of a deeper faith.
How the Old Testament reveals the "Divine Necessity" of the Cross.
Why the physical, bodily resurrection of Jesus changes everything about our future.
How to move from being a discouraged observer to an empowered witness.

Reflect & Connect: Which part of the Emmaus story resonates with you most right now? Let us know in the comments. If this message encouraged you, please consider subscribing and sharing it with someone who needs to hear that Jesus is walking with them today.