Tonight we're going to pick up in Matthew chapter 7, so if you're like where do I go in the scriptures,

that's where I'd love for you to meet me.

Hopefully you'll remember that last time we were here we talked about judgment.

Remember that was a fun one, do you remember?

And we talked about how God's heart for His disciples is not to objectify people in their sin,

to focus on their sin more than the actual person.

But his heart is that we would look beyond that, see the actual person,

check ourselves, make sure there's nothing in us that would keep us from communion with God,

and then help them be restored back to the path of discipleship to Jesus.

Do you remember that was the whole point?

I remember because I was here and I listened really well and I wrote it.

So I do remember that.

Chapter 7, as you'll remember, is where Jesus begins to wrap up His famous sermon on the Mount.

And as He does, He's going to continue to stress the message of the kingdom that always focuses

on the connection between loving God and loving others.

With that in mind, let's read tonight's text.

We're going to pick up in verse 7 and we will read through verse 11.

Jesus says, ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find.

Knock in the door will be open to you for everyone who asks receives.

And the one who seeks finds and to the one who knocks the door will be opened.

Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone?

Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?

...