Skip to main content

SPB Sermons || The Future Indicative || Matthew 5:48 || Rev Josh Lenon

The Future Indicative - Matthew 5:48

The Future Indicative – Matthew 5:48

We had the joy of welcoming Rev. Josh Lenon from Red Door Community Church in Cincinnati, Ohio, to St. Paul’s and St. Barnabas (SPB) this past Sunday. His message deeply resonated with our congregation, challenging and uplifting us as he explored the powerful “Future Indicative” in Matthew 5:48. This passage, “Be perfect, therefore, as your Heavenly Father is perfect,” can often feel daunting. But Rev. Lenon helped us see it as a promise from Jesus—an assurance that God is actively at work in us, shaping us into His likeness.

In his message, Rev. Lenon explained that Jesus’ words here are not a present imperative, an impossible demand to be flawless now. Instead, they are a future promise, spoken in what biblical scholars call the “Future Indicative” tense, meaning that this perfection is something we are moving toward, with God Himself leading us on this journey. The perfection Jesus speaks of is not about flawless performance but about becoming whole and mature, fully realized in our identity as children of God. This promise, Rev. Lenon explained, brings incredible hope to all of us who sometimes feel overwhelmed by our imperfections.

Drawing from his experience at Red Door Community Church, Josh shared insights on how this future hope can transform the way we live now. He reminded us that God’s promise to make us “perfect” as He is perfect isn’t meant to discourage us, but to inspire us to trust in His ongoing work within us. Each of us, as followers of Christ, are being molded day by day into His image, becoming a living example of His love, mercy, and grace.

Rev. Lenon also pointed to the larger context of Jesus' words in the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus calls us to a radical love that includes even our enemies. This call to love is at the core of God’s transformative work in us, and it’s a reflection of His own nature. We are invited to reflect God’s character in our lives, even as we are assured that He is working in us to bring this about.

If you missed Sunday’s service, we invite you to catch up and meditate on this profound teaching. Rev. Lenon’s message calls us to a hopeful view of our journey of faith, encouraging us to trust in God’s promise to complete His good work in us. This “Future Indicative” shapes our lives today, giving us courage and purpose as we seek to live as a reflection of Christ in our community and beyond.

Watch the service now and reflect on the profound assurance that God is at work in you, shaping you into His image:

May this message encourage you as you walk the path God is shaping for you, knowing that we are all on a journey toward becoming the people He has called us to be. Together, let’s embrace the hopeful promise of transformation and live out the call to love as Jesus loved, assured that we are being shaped into His perfect image, just as He has promised.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

SPB Sermons || Sent Like the Son || JOhn 20:19-23

Sent Like the Son – Family Worship at SPB Belfast (Sunday 27th April 2025) On the evening of Easter Sunday, as fear gripped the disciples behind locked doors, Jesus appeared among them and spoke the words they most needed to hear: "Peace be with you." At St Paul’s & St Barnabas this Sunday, we reflected on John 20:19-31 and the incredible transformation that the resurrection brings — not just to history, but to our hearts and lives today. We joined the disciples in their fear and doubt, seeing how even the testimony of Mary Magdalene couldn’t unlock their fear. Yet no locked door could keep out the risen Christ. Jesus appeared, scars and all, speaking peace into their brokenness. His scars weren't signs of defeat, but emblems of the victory won at the Cross — a reminder that by His wounds, we are healed. Jesus did not come to rebuke His followers, but to comfort them with His presence, speak peace into their hearts, and to co...
Post a Comment
Read more

This Is the Hour – Join Us for Holy Week 2025 at St Paul’s & St Barnabas

This Is the Hour – Join Us for Holy Week 2025 at St Paul’s & St Barnabas, Belfast As we journey toward Easter this year at St Paul’s & St Barnabas in North Belfast, we invite you to take part in our Holy Week services under the theme “This Is the Hour.” This powerful phrase comes from John’s Gospel, where Jesus speaks of the appointed time—the hour—for which He came into the world. From Gethsemane to glory, Jesus moves with divine purpose toward the cross and the empty tomb. We are invited to walk with Him in that hour: to sit in the sorrow of betrayal, to receive the grace of service, to stand at the foot of the cross, and to rejoice at the dawn of resurrection. Our Holy Week reflections will follow the Gospel of John, focusing each evening on a key moment in Jesus’ journey. All services begin at 7:30 pm , and we warmly welcome you to come just as you are. Tuesday 15th April – 6:30pm Easter Community Prayer Walk Meeting at Salv...
Post a Comment
Read more

SPB Sermons || The King Has Come || Palm Sunday || Luke 19:28-40

The King Has Come – Palm Sunday at SPB The King Has Come – Palm Sunday at SPB On Palm Sunday, we stepped into Luke 19:28–40 and into the streets of a city full of noise, tension, and expectation. It was Jerusalem then — it is Belfast now. In his sermon, Rev. Andrew Irwin reminded us that the King we proclaim is not the kind we expect. He doesn’t ride in with fanfare or force but with humility, peace, and purpose. The city of Jerusalem was packed to the brim. The great Passover celebration was at hand, and the people of God were remembering a story of freedom and rescue while still living under Roman occupation. The air was thick with anticipation. Into that atmosphere, Jesus rides — on a donkey. Not a war horse. Not with soldiers. But with disciples and borrowed cloaks. As the crowd shouts praise and throws their coats on the road, we’re reminded that they had the right words — “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” —...
Post a Comment
Read more