StoneBridge Community Church
Senior Pastor Jon Saur
Jesus and Moses
In this January series, StoneBridge will be exploring the similarities between Jesus and Moses in the Gospel of Matthew. Matthew goes out of his way to show how Jesus is similar to Moses and how Moses was similar to Jesus. These similarities help inform our understanding of God and God's character.
Matthew 5:1-2 NRSV
Sermon Outline
I. The Sermon on the Mount is the new Law.
II. What are "ethics?"
III. What about justification by grace through faith?
IV. Three Reasons for taking the Sermon on the Mount seriously.
A. God is revealed.
B. It is the best way to live life.
C. It shares the hope in Jesus.
V. Sermon on the Mount is an invitation to becoming Jesus' disciple.
VI. God's grace is revealed in the Sermon on the Mount.
Matthew 5:1 and Exodus 19:3
Matthew 5:1 states that Jesus "went up the mountain" to deliver his sermon. In the Greek version of Exodus, verse 19:3 says that Moses "went up the mountain," using the exact same spelling and words. (Even the same accents were added to each passage.) Given how Matthew has already put Moses front and center ("Out of Egypt I have called my son," Herod's massacre the innocents, and the temptation story), this verbatim quotation is obvious. When you also factor in the numerous references to the Law and Moses that Jesus includes in the Sermon on the Mount, it is clear that the Sermon on the Mount is the new expression of the Law.
GROWTH GROUP / PERSONAL REFLECTION QUESTIONS
1. In what ways does behavior factor into the Christian life?
2. How would you define "Disciple?"
3. Where do you turn for your model of "Discipleship?" Is there a book, a person, a mentor that has explained to you what being a "disciple" of Jesus is?
4. What reasons do you see for taking the Sermon on the Mount seriously?
5. If you are familiar with the Sermon on the Mount, what are some of its more challenging teachings? What are some of the more encouraging teachings?
NEXT STEPS
1. Read Matthew 5-7 in one sitting.
2. Mark the teachings that are the most challenging to you.
3. Mark the teachings that are the most encouraging to you.
4. Share these reflections with your growth group or with a Christian you trust.
5. Pray with that person, that God would help you better understand what discipleship means for your life as StoneBridge explores together The Sermon on the Mount in this next message series, Fulfilled.
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