Sermon on the Mount
The Sermon on the Mount is one of the most famous speeches ever given. This is Jesus at his most accessible.
The intriguing phenomenon is, however, that the closer one looks the more one becomes fascinated with the beauty through which Jesus addresses each topic.
“The experience can be compared with visiting famous old castles or cathedrals. Tourists may put in thirty minutes to walk through, just to get an impression, and that is what they get. But if one begins to study such buildings with the help of a good guidebook, visions of whole worlds open up. Whether it is the architecture, the symbols and images, the statues and paintings, or the history that took place in and around the buildings, under closer examination things are bound to become more and more complicated, diverse, and intriguing, with no end in sight.” –Hans Dieter Betz
Our hope is that this familiar sermon can become just as intriguing again if we take the time to look closer.
Matthew 5:1-10
Discussion Notes
This week we look at how Jesus upends our understanding of what it means to be blessed and invites us to see ourselves as already beloved.
Bonus Materials
Here's a a quick series looking at each of the Beatitudes found in Matthew 5 in more detail than we were able to on Sunday. We’ll be adding videos over the next few weeks until we cover all 8 Beatitudes.
Bonus Material
We looked at each of the beatitudes but what do we do with them now. How do you use them to orient ourselves with Jesus mission?
Matthew 5:17-48
Discussion Notes
Today we are looking at how the law is part of a larger story and how we are invited to be participate in it.
Bonus Material
Jesus' approach to the law is instructive on a number of levels. We all have guidelines we have put in place in our lives but sometimes those rules need to re-interpreted so that we can faithfully live out the original intent.
Matthew 6:1-13
Discussion Notes
Today we are talking about intent and how to move from performing to living.
Bonus Material
I'll never achieve humility, but being aware of that and asking myself the right questions about my intentions is what keeps me moving in the right direction.
Matthew 6:19-34
Discussion Notes
Today we’re looking at what Jesus has to say about worrying.
Matthew 7:1-5
Today we are talking about what happens when we start to judge each other and how our judgement can be a gift.
Bonus Material
Humility is not about downplaying our contributions to those around us, it is about not believing that our contributions entitle us to some kind of special or privileged treatment.
Matthew 7:7-12
Today we are talking about what happens when our asking, seeking and knocking are taken out of the context of a transaction and placed in the context of a relationship.
Bonus Material
When Jesus invites us to ask, seek, and knock there is a lot more going on here than just a blank cheque. This is actually an invitation to see our need in relationship to our ability to care for each other.
Matthew 7:13-29
As we conclude this series today, we are talking about authority, choice, and the power of resiliency.
Bonus Material
The sermon on the mount is really just the beginning. In fact, the narrow gate Jesus closes with is only the entry point into his imagination of God and as the gospel of Matthew unfolds we begin to see a more complex and nuanced Jesus who is far more than just sage advice.