Sermon on the Mount | Standing in the Gap | Matthew 7:7-12 | Week 12

I grew up in an era where we didn't wear helmets for everything that was even a little bit dangerous, therefore, we had the chance to play games on the playground that mattered.  One of those games was entitled "Red Rover."  Red Rover is a game where you link arms with other people and there's other people across from you with linked arms as well, and you say, "Red rover, red rover, send Ryan right over."  When your name's called, you have to run and try your best to break through the human chain that's on the other side, without getting captured.  I've found that there's two types of people in life --- there are people who love to hear their name called in "Red Rover," and there are people who hate to hear their name called in "Red Rover."  

I think life is a little bit like "Red Rover."  I think life in the kingdom of God can feel a little bit like "Red Rover."  If you've been here the last few months, here's what you've heard Jesus invite you to so you live life knowing that you're blessed regardless of your circumstances.  You live life, in the kingdom of God, becoming more and more free from anger; becoming more and more free from lust; becoming more and more honest about who you are---the good things about you, the shortcomings you have.  You live in the kingdom learning to love your enemies instead of persecuting them, to bless people instead of cursing them---people that do you wrong.  You learn how to live a life of prayer.  You learn how to be a non-anxious presence in the world.  You learn how to trust your Good Father for everything that you need.  You begin to learn not to judge the people around you, but to be for them...