E-Free Church - Gaylord Campus
What does the normal Christian life look like? Jesus gives us 8 building blocks of what Living Life Jesus Style is all about and they are called the "BEATITUDES"
Matthew 5:1-3 NASB1995
The INTRODUCTION to Life Jesus Style (Matthew 5:1-2)
A Lesson in CONTRAST
The Sermon on the Mount is a contrast to Phariseeism, the popular religious thought of that day
The pattern of “You have heard…But I say”
5:21…5:22 (murder)
5:27…5:28 (adultery)
5:31…5:32 (divorce)
5:33…5:34 (vows)
5:38…5:39 (retaliation)
5:43…5:44 (love your neighbor/hate your enemy)
To the Pharisees righteousness was obeying a list of man-made “dos and don’ts” along with the Law of Moses
Added 365 man-made prohibitions/250 more commands
The theme of the sermon is found in Matthew 5:20
Spirituality is not simply what you do…it is what you are
Lesson in CONTENTMENT
The Sermon begins with 8 characteristics that are characterized with the descriptive word “Blessed” (Greek “makarios”)
The word blessed means far more than simply being “Happy”
Happiness is a temporary feeling
Happiness is dependent on circumstances
This is a word that describes great contentment and satisfaction
Homer used this word to describe the immortality of the Greek gods
This is an inward contentment in spite of outward circumstances
Matthew 5:3-12 NASB1995
The IDENTITY of Life Jesus Style (Matthew 5:3-12)
A life that DEPENDS on God (v3)
The REALITY of this characteristic
“Poor” (Greek “ptochos”)
This is not the ordinary word for poverty (It is the Greek word “penichros” which is used of the widow who gave her two small copper coins in Luke 21:2)
This describes total destitution used to describe a beggar with no support (as Lazarus in Luke 16:20)
Word comes from a verb meaning “to shrink or cower” describing ashamed beggars who would hide their face while asking for alms
“In Spirit”
Spiritual poverty, not financial poverty
Realizing our total dependence on God
Spiritual dependence (Ephesians 2:8-9)
Physical dependence (James 4:14-15)
Material dependence (1 Corinthians 4:7)
Ministry dependence (Psalm 127:1-2)
The litmus test of dependence is prayer - Philippians 4:6-7
Jerry Falwell…“Nothing of eternal importance happens apart from prayer”
Ephesians 2:8-9 NASB1995
James 4:14-15 NASB1995
1 Corinthians 4:7 NASB1995
Psalms 127:1-2 NASB1995
Philippians 4:6-7 NASB1995
The REWARD of this characteristic:
Theirs is the kingdom of heaven
Spiritual dependence leads to eternal life
Eternal life is a quality of life that involves the present as well as the future