Redeemer Church of Castro Valley Podcast

Blessed Are the Merciful | Matthew 5:7
What does it really mean to be merciful? And why do we find it so difficult to extend mercy to others?
Continuing our series A Better Way to Be Human, Pastor Jason explores Jesus' fifth Beatitude: “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.” Through the parable of the Good Samaritan, we discover that mercy is more than a feeling—it's compassion that moves us to action.
But the call to mercy begins with recognizing our own desperate need for it. As we encounter the God who is rich in mercy, we discover that the mercy we've received through Jesus frees us to extend that same mercy to others.
The mercy we've received from God frees us to extend mercy to others.
Scripture: Matthew 5:7; Luke 10:25–37
Preached by Pastor Jason Wigand | Redeemer Church Castro Valley

Desire is a good thing. God created us with hearts that hunger and thirst—but too often, we pursue the wrong things to satisfy our deepest longings. In Matthew 5:6, Jesus declares, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”
In this message, Pastor Chris Burke explores how the gospel transforms our desires, turning our hearts away from temporary satisfaction and toward the righteousness that only Jesus Christ can provide. True satisfaction isn't found in getting everything we want, but in receiving what we need most: the righteousness of Christ.

What does Jesus mean when he says, “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth”? Meekness isn’t weakness, passivity, or a lack of ambition. It is strength surrendered to God—the freedom to be self-controlled instead of needing to be in control.
In this message from Matthew 5:5, we explore our desire to be successful, significant, and recognized, and how easily those good desires can become things we need to prove our worth. Jesus offers us a better way: stop grasping for what only God can give and entrust ourselves to him. As we look to Jesus—the gentle and humble King—we discover that the meek don’t ultimately lose. In Christ, they inherit everything.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. — Matthew 5:4
Our instinct is often to escape what hurts—to distract ourselves, numb the pain, or simply move on. But Jesus offers a different way. In this message from Matthew 5:4, we explore why mourning is an essential part of being human, how the brokenness we see in the world ultimately leads us to confront the brokenness within ourselves, and why Jesus is the comfort God promised to those who mourn.
The better way to be human is not to escape what is broken, but to mourn it—and receive the comfort of Jesus.

What if Jesus actually knows a better way to live than we do?
In this introductory message to the Sermon on the Mount, Pastor Jason Wigand explores Jesus’ invitation to another way of being human. We all spend our lives trying to find the right path to happiness, meaning, and flourishing—but Jesus challenges our assumptions about what the good life really looks like.
Matthew 5:1–2; 7:28–29

Blessed Are the Poor in Spirit | Matthew 5:3
What does Jesus mean when he says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit”? In this message from the Sermon on the Mount, Pastor Jason Wigand explores Jesus' surprising description of the person who belongs to the kingdom of heaven—and why recognizing our spiritual poverty is actually the doorway to receiving everything in Christ.
Preached at Redeemer Church in Castro Valley, California.