September 2025

THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS
Jesus is not just a teacher among many; He is the image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15). To know His teachings is to know what God values, how God loves, and what God desires for humanity. When Jesus speaks, we hear the voice of God Himself.

He didn’t come to hand down abstract ideas—He came to invite us into a new way of living. His teachings are not burdens, but invitations into freedom, wholeness, and life in the Kingdom of God. As He said, “The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life” (John 6:63).

In a world full of noise, opinions, and shifting values, Jesus’ words remain timeless and true. He promised, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away” (Matthew 24:35). Knowing His teachings keeps us from being swept away by cultural trends or personal whims. And just as He challenged the worldly ways of culture, He also confronted the misguided ways of the religious, calling both sinners and saints alike to repentance and to the freedom of God’s kingdom.
To follow Jesus means to be shaped by Him. His commands—love your enemies, forgive as you’ve been forgiven, seek first God’s kingdom—transform us from the inside out. Knowing His teachings allows us to become more like Him in thought, word, and deed.

And His words are not only for personal growth but for the sake of the world. He sends His followers to embody His love and justice, to share the good news (real good news), and to make disciples. Without knowing His teachings, we can’t faithfully carry out His mission. That’s why we’re going to spend the next year walking closely with Jesus and His own words—His commands, His stories, and His vision for life in God’s kingdom. We’re calling this journey The Teachings of Jesus, and we’ll begin right where He began: with Real Good News and the announcement of His mission to bring hope, healing, and freedom to the world.

"REAL GOOD NEWS" - SEPTEMBER SERIES
In Luke 4, Jesus reads from Isaiah 61 and announces His mission: to bring good news to the poor, bind up the brokenhearted, set captives free, and proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. Over four weeks, we’ll explore what this good news meant for God’s people coming out of the Babylonian exile, for those living in Jesus’ day, and for us in our lives today. We’ll see how trusting and following Jesus brings hope for physical and spiritual poverty, healing for grief and disappointment, release from the chains of sin and fear, and beauty for ashes with joy that overflows. Whether you feel worn down, weighed down, or longing for something real, come and discover how the good news of Jesus still changes lives for all who put their trust in Him.

As in the past, we'll also post sermon-based discussion questions on our website to help foster healthy discussion in our life groups. 

Sep 07 – “Real Good News” – Hope for physical and spiritual poverty.
Jesus begins His ministry by announcing that God’s kingdom has come near, offering hope to the poor, the weary, and those longing for change. This good news is not only for the materially poor but also for all of us who know our deep need for God.

Sep 14 – “Real Healing for Hurting Hearts” – Healing for grief and disappointment.
Jesus came to bind up the brokenhearted, bringing comfort where there is loss, strength where there is weakness, and new life where hope has faded. In Him, our deepest wounds can begin to heal.

Sep 21 – “Real Freedom for the Stuck” – Release from chains of sin and captivity.
Whether trapped by guilt, shame, addiction, or fear, Jesus offers true freedom. His power breaks the chains that hold us back and opens the door to a new way of living.

Sep 28 – “Real Joy” – Beauty for ashes and gladness that overflows.
Jesus turns sorrow into celebration, despair into hope, and ashes into beauty. In Him, we find a joy that the world cannot take away—gladness that overflows into every part of our lives.

PASTOR JIM'S WEBSITE
I want to let you know about my personal website, JimMurphy.net. This site is a place where I share many of the resources I’ve been creating and will continue to develop for our church and beyond as bible studies, daily devotionals, blog posts, and other resources to help people grow in their walk with Jesus. It’s intended not only for our congregation but also for anyone curious about Jesus, who wants to grow in their faith, or dig deeper into Scripture on specific topics.

You’ll find daily devotional study guides, articles that connect faith with everyday life, and reflections on topics that matter in today’s world. I hope that as these resources grow and develop, they will be encouraging, helpful, and something that can be shared with friends or family who may be exploring faith or conversations about various topics. I invite you to take a look, bookmark the site, and check back regularly as I continue to add new content.