Central Assembly
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT - Offenses, Enemies and the Cross - Dr. Jim Bradford - September 22, 2024
Locations & Times
Central Assembly
1301 N Boonville Ave, Springfield, MO 65802, USA
Sunday 10:30 AM
Keeping the rules does not necessarily make you righteous -- it’s the Christ-likeness inside.
RESPONDING TO OFFENSES
“How can you threaten a man who is dead to this world? Apart from my clothes and a few books I have nothing.”
- St. Basil, from Gregory’s Panegeric of Basil
- St. Basil, from Gregory’s Panegeric of Basil
39 If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.
> Do not choose retaliation
40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well.
> Care about their needs and do what you can to help
41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles.
> Out of respect and honor, do more than what is required
42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
> In general, be willing to give even when you don’t have to
> Do not choose retaliation
40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well.
> Care about their needs and do what you can to help
41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles.
> Out of respect and honor, do more than what is required
42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
> In general, be willing to give even when you don’t have to
Three helpful perspectives:
* These are not rigid rules to be applied without consideration of the circumstances
* Jesus does, however, expose our hearts -- is our default retaliation or graciousness?
* So, even if Jesus is using degrees of overstatement and hyperbole, let’s not let ourselves off the hook too easily!
* These are not rigid rules to be applied without consideration of the circumstances
* Jesus does, however, expose our hearts -- is our default retaliation or graciousness?
* So, even if Jesus is using degrees of overstatement and hyperbole, let’s not let ourselves off the hook too easily!
LOVING YOUR ENEMIES
“The Christian principle, ‘Love your enemies’ is good…There is nothing to be said against it except that it is too difficult for most of us to practice sincerely.”
- Bertrand Russell, A History of Western Philosophy
- Bertrand Russell, A History of Western Philosophy
JESUS LEADS THE WAY