Sermon on the Mount - Christian Ambition (Randy)

We have two choices when it comes to how we live out our lives. We can seek the kingdom of earth or seek the kingdom of heaven.  Jesus tells us not to worry about the things of this world, but to focus on God’s kingdom instead – and everything we need will be given to us as well.

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Sermon on the Mount - Responding to God (Chris)

This lesson covers Matthew 6:1-18.  The SOTM offers specific and practical – albeit difficult – examples of how to grow in our faith as Followers of Jesus.  This week we explore three key actions: giving, prayer, and sacrifice.  Ultimately, these involve three critical relationships: our relationship with others, our relationship with God, and our relationship with the world.  Again, Jesus invites us to follow his example.

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Sermon on the Mount - Exceeding Righteousness (Chris)

We focus on Matthew 5:17-20.  Jesus again presents a study in contrasts.  He shows us “lame” human standards vs. “impossible” divine standards.  Rather than dooming us to not being able to live up to God’s expectations, however, the message is one of radical Grace.  God’s loves us no matter what and, through Christ, offers us passage from ignorance and inadequacy to love, mercy, and redemption.

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Sermon on the Mount - The Beatitudes (Chris)

The Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12) are a step-by-step guide to the journey of faith and an invitation to exchange our sinful lives for holy ones.  Each teaching builds on the next as a series of Christian virtues: humility, mourning, meekness, righteousness, mercy, purity, peacefulness, and acceptance.  According to John Wesley: “This is Christianity in its original form, as was delivered by Jesus.”

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Sermon on the Mount - Another Introduction (Chris)

We look at the context of the SOTM in terms of “who,” “what,” “where,” and “why”.  We then introduce a framework for understanding the message based on three states of human existence provided by John Wesley: the Natural State, the State of Law, and the State of Grace.

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Sermon on the Mount - The Beatitudes (Randy)

The Beatitudes run completely counter to the values of the world.  They had to have been music to the ears of original listeners, and even we find some solace in them.  However, they also challenge us because many of the phrases suggest hardship that we do not want to face.  What do we make of them?

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Sermon on the Mount - Introduction (Randy)

The Sermon on the Mount is the first of Jesus’ five discourses in the book of Matthew.  It lays out the core tenets of Christian discipleship. On the one hand, reading it excites us because it describes a world order unlike our current age.  And yet, as we dig in deeper, it offends us given the impossibility of the standard.  What do we make of this?

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