In this week’s Leadership Lessons, we’re invited into a deeper examination of our integrity through the lens of Matthew 5:33–37. Pastor Ryan Schlachter challenges us to consider what it means to be people whose words carry the weight of truth. Jesus calls us beyond legalistic oath-making into a life where our “yes” is yes and our “no” is no where honesty is not conditional but foundational. This message confronts the subtle ways we compromise truth through half-truths, exaggeration, or fear-driven silence. We’re reminded that deception, no matter how small, echoes the voice of the enemy, not the heart of Christ. As disciples, we’re called to reflect God’s character through our speech, walking in a trustworthiness that needs no embellishment. When we align our hearts with our words, we cultivate a life of authenticity one that testifies to the truth-telling nature of our Savior.
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Confront Like A Peacemaker | Brooklyn
Retaliation isn’t something we resist in our own strength, it’s something we surrender to Jesus. Brittany Smigielski unpacks the radical call of Matthew 5:38–42, where Jesus confronts our instinct for revenge and invites us into a higher way, the way of peacemaking. Turning the other cheek, giving more than what’s asked, walking the second mile are not passive responses. They are powerful acts of love rooted in Heaven’s logic. Peacemaking is not weakness, it’s courage clothed in grace. IHumility that confronts hurt, generosity that disrupts greed, and service that silences oppression. This is the way of the cross. The way Jesus lived. The way we’re called to follow.
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Turn The Other Way | Manhattan
Confront isn’t about conflict for conflict’s sake, it’s about transformation. In this message, Pastor Ryan Schlachter opens up Matthew 5:38–41, where Jesus confronts our desire for retaliation and control. The law said, “eye for eye,” but Jesus invites us into something deeper: a life where grace disarms offense and love silences revenge. This isn’t weakness it’s courage. The courage to name our pain, resist passive silence, and choose dignity over dominance. Jesus doesn’t ask us to ignore injustice or absorb abuse. He shows us how to confront with clarity, restraint, and Spirit-empowered peace. As we step into this new series, we’re reminded: confrontation in the Kingdom isn’t about proving a point it’s about pointing to a Savior. Turn the other cheek. Walk the second mile. Let go without losing yourself. These are revelations of a Kingdom heart.
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Leading in Unity When it's Hard | Leadership Lessons
In this week’s Leadership Lessons, we’re challenged to see conflict not as something to avoid, but as a sacred opportunity for growth. Drawing from Psalm 133 and James 1:19–20, we’re reminded that unity isn’t something we manufacture, it flows from God. Pastor Josh Kelsey encourages us to shift from judgment to curiosity, especially in tense moments, and to practice a “holy pause” before reacting. By validating emotions both ours and others’, we create space for God to move in our relationships. It’s in these challenging interactions that our faith is tested, refined, and matured. Just as Christ prayed for unity in John 17, we’re called to stay at the table, even when it’s uncomfortable, believing that tension can become a pathway to deeper understanding and spiritual transformation.
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Behold the Unity, Join the Unity | Manhhatan
Unity isn’t something we manufacture, it’s something we join. Pastor Josh Kelsey unpacks the profound mystery of unity through Psalm 133, showing us that unity is spiritual, sacrificial, and supernatural. It begins with Jesus, our Anointed Head, and flows down through His Body. When we come under His authority, we receive His fullness. Grace upon grace. Unity isn’t loud or flashy it’s gentle, hidden, yet deeply life-giving. Unity is the soil where eternal life grows. Jesus prayed for it. The Spirit empowers it. And the world sees Him through it. As we close our Ascent series, we see that the climb was never just about reaching a destination, it was about becoming a people marked by obedience. Every step, every surrender, every “yes” has shaped us into a dwelling place for God. Obedience is the path. Unity is the fruit. And God’s presence is the reward.
At Fount Church, our vision is Jesus Christ, our reality is freedom, our mission is people, and our cause is love. We are 1 church, 2 cities—NYC and Paris—led by Pastors Josh and Georgie Kelsey. Join us this Sunday online, find out more at fount.nyc
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