A Different Kind of Church - Week One/August 10, 2025/Ryan Kramer

In Matthew 12, the Pharisees criticized Jesus’ disciples for picking grain on the Sabbath. Jesus replied with Hosea 6:6: “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” In that moment, He challenged the belief that God values perfect behavior more than people. God’s heart has always been for mercy, not burdensome religion. Many walk away from faith feeling crushed by impossible standards, but Jesus reveals a different picture - God’s priority is relationship, not rule-keeping. When we grasp this, it changes how we see Him and how we show Him to others.