How (Really) To Win Friends and Influence People (Matthew 7:1–12)

We  worship a relational God. Being mysteriously Trinity—one God eternally  existing in three distinct-but-equal Persons: Father, Son, and Holy  Spirit—God has always been in perfect relationship with himself. And it’s this relational God who created humanity in his image and likeness (Gen 1:26–27). As such, each of us has been created longing for, surrounded by, and in need of relationships. The problem is, Genesis 1 is followed by Genesis 3 and, when sin entered the world and the curse fell upon creation, everything was negatively affected, including relationships. Sin is why we annoy,  envy, hate, abuse, fear, and fight one another. Sin is why some fear intimacy, being truly known, and trusting others. And, while we know there is a time coming when sin will be removed and we will enjoy relationships as they were meant to be enjoyed, we have to  ask, what do we do in the meantime? How can we buffer against the brokenness of our relationships? In Matthew 7, Jesus teaches how the pursuit of true righteousness can change relationships, specifically how righteousness shapes our  interactions with God’s people, with God’s opponents, and with God himself. Key Passage: Matthew 7:1–12 Speaker: Josiah Boyd