BIG PICTURE: Jesus’ sermon is among the most inspiring (and challenging) words in human history. He lays out his vision for God’s kingdom and the ethical standard for its citizens. In it, we find that God is indeed the ally to the unlikely and hear our call to humility, forgiveness, generosity, and holiness.
TEXT: Matthew 5:1-2
KEY VERSE: When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law. – Matthew 7:28-29
“If I had to face only the Sermon on the Mount and my own interpretation of it, I should not hesitate to say, ‘O yes, I am a Christian.” —Mahatma Gandhi
“The Sermon on the Mount cannot be a merely human production. This belief enters into the very depth of my conscience. The whole history of man proves it.” —Daniel Webster
“Humanly speaking, it is possible to understand the Sermon on the Mount in a thousand different ways. But Jesus knows only one possibility: simple surrender and obedience - not interpreting or applying it, but doing and obeying it. That is the only way to hear his words. He does not mean for us to discuss it as an ideal. He really means for us to get on with it.” —Dietrich Bonhoeffer
SITTING ON THE MOUNTAIN
A sermon or a collection of
In the footsteps of
The kingdom: God’s sovereign
King Jesus’ ethical
THE DISCIPLESHIP JOURNEY
The
It’s not a utopian dream but a call for
WARNING: Jesus’ words are life-givingly
NEXT STEPS: This week read Matthew 5-7, noting the things that inspire you as well as the ones that challenge you. Find one aspect of Jesus’ sermon that you can practice throughout the week.