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This is the audio from the July 5, 2026 sermon, “Summer With the Son: Being Pure!”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Matthew 5:27-32

• Prepared:  Matthew 5:27-28

  • Being pure involves being prepared to avoid and overcome temptation.  When we recognize sin begins long before the actual action of sin, we can be prepared by learning to take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ.

• Urgent:  Matthew 5:29a, 30a

  • Being pure involves being urgent in our response to the sin which so easily entangles us.  We must choose to take temptation seriously as we understand the urgency to remove the things in our life which would lead us to condemnation.

• Real:  Matthew 5:29b, 30b

  • Being pure involves being real as we move beyond the theoretical discussion of sin in general to the real sin that exists in our mind and in our life.  We must understand the source of sin comes from within and is fanned by the deception and accusation of the enemy, regardless of how good we may think we are.

• Exclusive:  Matthew 5:31-32

  • Being pure involves being exclusive in our relationship with God.  The covenant of marriage is used by God as an illustration of the relationship He desires between Jesus and us as His bride.  Marriages end for a lot of reasons, and in the process what should have been an exclusive relationship between individuals is lost . . . sometimes the loss of exclusivity is the reason for the ending.  The good news for all of us is that regardless of how well, or how poorly, we do at marriage in this world, God daily calls us to a fresh opportunity to be pure as we choose to exclusively His.

Today, how will you be PURE?