Jesus ended the Sermon on the Mount with a warning: not everyone who speaks in His name truly belongs to Him. In Part 1 of this new series, we open Matthew 7:15-23 and begin discussing false prophets — why they exist, how they operate, and why they can be so convincing. With more preaching available today than ever before, believers must learn to recognize spiritual manipulation, sensationalism, and teaching that doesn’t match Scripture. This message isn’t about fear — it’s about discernment, and learning to follow the true Shepherd instead of the wolves.

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” (Proverbs 4:23) In this stand-alone sermon, Brandon Hutzell explains that our greatest problem isn’t outside us but within us — our hearts. Through the teaching of Jesus in Mark 7 and God’s promises in Jeremiah and Ezekiel, we see that we can’t fix ourselves, but God gives us a new heart through Christ. This message challenges us to honestly examine our motives, resist self-deception, stay rooted in Scripture, listen to the Holy Spirit, and actively guard the new heart God has given so we can live for His pleasure and truly see Him.

In this message, we confront one of the biggest barriers in our relationship with God: condemnation. Many believers trust that God will save them, but struggle to believe He actually delights in them. Looking at Romans 8:1, Zechariah 3, and 1 John 3, we discover the difference between conviction and condemnation, the role of the accuser, and why our own hearts often keep us trapped in guilt. Through Jesus, we are not defined by our past — we are clothed in His righteousness and invited to live with confidence, freedom, and peace before God.