But You!

This sermon emphasizes that Christianity is fundamentally an individual and personal relationship centered on the phrase, “But you.” Unlike the group orientation of older covenants, the preacher highlights how this two-word address appears three times in the Gospel of Matthew, signaling a direct, singular message to each person regarding charitable deeds, prayer, and fasting, rather than a collective religious action. The core identity of Christianity is presented not as a religion, but as a “vertical living loving relationship between man and God” that naturally extends into a horizontal relationship with others, forming a “cross of love.” This personal intimacy is underscored by the truth that God is an individual's "father and your friend and surely... your brother," who would willingly sacrifice for that single individual alone, asking only for one's heart in return.