“God is like a parent watching a little league game, beaming with pride every time his awkward little kid steps up to the plate. He’s not withholding his approval until we reach the major leagues—even when we miss the swing, God is yelling ‘Great try! Now square up and lift your elbow a little.’ Then he turns to the heavenly host in the bleachers and says, ‘That’s my kid!'”

“If we want to know God and his heart for humanity, we have to know Jesus. And if we want to know Jesus, we need to listen closely to the things he said, not just the things people said about him. And if we want to be disciples of Jesus, we need to put his words and teachings into action. Hearing them isn’t enough—we are called to respond in obedience. So today, we’re going to focus on the portion of the gospels than many people consider the core of Jesus’ teaching—the Sermon on the Mount.”

“But here’s the question. Why is Jesus laying out major league goals, when he knows we’re barely out of tee-ball?”

Listen to the full audio sermon here:

(Right click on the player and “save as” to download and listen to later.)