Northeast Christian Church
The Sermon on the Mount is the most influential speech in human history, with no close second. Multiple times in this message Jesus dropped a bombshell that altered religious thought. We will look at some of these revolutionary statements that literally changed the course of history.
THE KINGDOM IS NOW. THE KINGDOM IS HERE.
THE GOOD LIFE = RIGHTEOUSNESS
FAKE RIGHTEOUSNESS = OUTWARD APPEARANCE
"If only two people go to heaven, one will be a scribe and the other a Pharisee." -Jewish saying
ACTIONS & ATTITUDES OF JESUS
-I listen to others to learn their story before telling them about my faith.
-In recent years, I have influenced multiple people to consider following Christ.
-I regularly choose to have meals with people with very different faith or morals from me.
-I try to discover the needs of non-Christians rather than waiting for them to come to me.
-I am personally spending time with non-believers to help them follow Jesus.
-I see God-given value in every person regardless of their past or present condition.
-I believe God is for everyone.
-I see God working in people’s lives even when they are not following him.
-It is more important to help people know God is for them than to make sure they know they are sinners.
-I feel compassion for people who are not following God and doing immoral things.
ACTIONS & ATTITUDES OF PHARISEES
-I tell others the most important thing in my life is following God’s rules.
-I don’t talk about my sins or struggles. That’s between me and God.
-I try to avoid spending time with people who are openly gay or lesbian.
-I like to point out those who do not have the right theology or doctrine.
-I prefer to serve people who attend my church rather than those outside the church.
-I find it hard to be friends with people who seem so constantly doing the wrong things.
-It’s not my responsibility to help people who won’t help themselves.
-I feel grateful to be a Christian when I see other people’s failures and flaws.
-I believe we should stand against those who are opposed to Christian values.
-People who follow God’s rules are better than those who do not.
REAL RIGHTEOUSNESS = BEGINS INWARDLY
"There are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil, to one hacking at the root." -Henry David Thoreau
TAKEAWAY: WITH JESUS AS YOUR KING, AND HIS SPIRIT WITH YOUR PLOW, YOU CAN LIVE THE GOOD LIFE.
Matthew 5:20-48 NIV
Matthew 18:3-4 NIV
Judges 16:4-31 NIV
Joshua 24:31 NIV
Judges 21:25 NIV
Proverbs 21:4 NIV