Growing spiritually is the focus of a local pastor’s newly released book.

Titled, “What God Expects of You: A Hands-On Guide for Christian Growth” and using three chapters from the Gospel of Matthew, Dr. W. Frank Lescallette has lays out a guide that will help Christians build the foundations to do God’s work.

Lescallette is the pastor at Northside Baptist Church on Washington Street. and said the inspiration for the book came from his years of teaching a Bible study based on Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount.

“This is a study I have been doing for 30-plus years and before it was over people were asking me where I got this material,” Lescallette said.

Lescallette has served churches in eight states including Alaska.

He and his wife, Grace, made their way to Vicksburg, in 2000, Cindy, and her husband, Tim McCarley.

In Lescallette”s book, “What God Expects of You,” he details 108 versus found in the Gospel according to Matthew, and not only does he illuminate Jesus’ message from the passages, but he also gives contextual meaning to the language and customs of the times and brings it forward to present day with a contemporary voice.

“These words have been called the greatest sermons ever preached by the greatest preacher who ever lived. They were spoken by our Lord himself as He lived among humans just like you and me. What He said to them was not really a sermon. In reality, Jesus provided clear instruction on how to let God live in and through our lives as believers,” Lescallette said.

It was urgent for Jesus to share his message with his believers, Lescallette said.

“Jesus knew if these followers were going to survive the accusations, oppression, abuse and potential death after He was gone, they must clearly understand their mission,” he said.

Most of the teachings in the Sermon on the Mount address stress, said Lescallette.

“Jesus knew what kind of lives we would live through the centuries,” he said, and the book is a tool that will help people get spiritually mature.

The book has 11 chapters including an introduction and epilogue. Lescallette said there is no specific division he used with the chapters, but covered are each of the eight Beatitudes, which contrast with the Ten Commandments.

Jesus’ teachings encourage followers to seek inner change where love becomes the motivator.

“Lots of people make a decision to join the church and then the church does nothing for them. “What’s next, they may ask? How do we grow? The answers are in the scriptures,” Lescallette said.

“What God Expects of You” is available on Amazon, Lifeway and Barnes and Noble and for those interested in Lescallette leading a study he is available to teach, he said.

For more information, call 601-629-0111.