Enemies

The message reflects on Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 5:43–48 about loving enemies. It begins by noting how quickly life and technology change, sometimes making the Bible feel hard to relate to. But enemy-making remains a timeless issue—whether personal, political, or cultural. In today’s world, media and technology often fuel outrage and division, tempting us to create enemies out of people we disagree with. While not everyone feels they have “enemies,” negative judgments and divisions can easily become modern forms of enmity. The sermon gives five practical steps for Christians: Consume news wisely – Seek reliable, less-biased sources. Limit media influence – Have intentional boundaries to reduce negative impacts. Pray for enemies – Move from asking God to change them toward praying genuine blessings for them. Reach out – Go out of your way to greet and engage rather than avoid. Show love – Strive toward perfect, Christlike love, as God loves us. Examples from Scripture (David sparing Saul, Esau forgiving Jacob, Jonah preaching to Nineveh) and real-life stories (children responding to a bully with kindness) illustrate that love can soften hearts. The challenge is to pray for and reach out to those we might view as enemies, then act in love. In a culture where hostility is common, loving our enemies becomes a powerful witness to Christ.