In the book Crazy Love by Francis Chan, he makes the following statement: "If life is a river, then pursuing Christ requires swimming upstream. When we stop swimming, or actively following Him, we automatically begin to be swept downstream.”
Upstream: Part 1
On October 1, Pastor Brian Matherlee preached the first sermon in the UPSTREAM series. This series is rooted in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) and focuses on the need to swim upstream in a downstream world. This first sermon is rooted in Matthew 5:1-12, a section commonly referred to as the Beatitudes. These blessings spoken by Jesus were countercultural by nature.
Upstream: Part 2
On October 8, Pastor Brian Matherlee preached Part 2 in the UPSTREAM series. This sermon focuses on Matthew 5:13-16. In these verses Jesus talks about the need for believers to be the salt and light of the world!
Upstream: part 3
On October 15, Pastor Brian Matherlee preached Part 3 in the UPSTREAM series. The text for this sermon is Matthew 5:17-20. In these verses, Jesus states that he has not come to abolish the Law but to fulfill the Law. As a result, a genuine and personal relationship with God becomes possible.
upstream: part 4
On October 22, Pastor Brian Matherlee preached Part 4 in the UPSTREAM series. The primary text for this sermon is Matthew 5:21-26, 38-48. These verses raise the standard of what it truly means to love one another and follow after God.
upstream: Part 5
On October 29, Pastor Brian Matherlee preached Part 5 in the UPSTREAM series. The text for this sermon is Matthew 5:27-32. The sermon focuses on the topic of marriage.
Upstream: part 6
On November 5, Pastor Brian Matherlee preached Part 6 in the UPSTREAM series. The sermon is titled "A Life of Intention" and is rooted in Matthew 6:1-6 and 16-18.
upstream: Part 7
On November 12, Pastor Brian Matherlee preached Part 7 in the UPSTREAM series. The sermon is titled "What Are You Doing With Your Hands?" The text for this sermon is Matthew 6:19-21, 25-27, and 7:7-8.
upstream: part 8
On November 19, Pastor Brian Matherlee concluded the UPSTREAM series with a sermon titled "Putting it All Together." The Biblical text for the sermon is Matthew 7:1-6, 13-27.