Living it Out (Matthew 5:21-32)

The Lord has created human beings to be creative.  This is good because it enables us to create, to build, and to live out what it is to be in the image of God.  However, the down side of this is that we are creative in how we apply the law of God.  If we are seeking to use the law lawfully that is great, but the problem is that we can set up our own standard that is not intended in the law of God.  We might wonder why we would do such a thing, but we find that answer when Christ lays out the intention of the law.  How can we be faithful disciples when the Law of God is impossibly rigorous?  

Certain Assurance (Matthew 5:1-12)

Jesus takes his stand on the mountain to teach the crowds and his disciples.  This should be a sermon that is full of good news.  This is expected to be a sermon where Christ promises absolute victory.  However, Christ talks about mourning, oppression, and persecution.  How can Christ’s message truly offer us hope?  Has the kingdom failed in some way? 

Sojourning Under the Sun: Sabbath Conforming: Magistrate (Matthew 5:33-48)

Christ tells us not to take an oath, we are not to get vengeance, and we are called to a radical love.  If those things are not hard enough we hear that we are supposed to be perfect as our heavenly father is perfect.  How can we measure up to this standard?  Do we just ignore these commands because they are impossible?  Do we strive to keep them in the hopes that God will still accept us?  What do we do with these difficult commands?

Sojourning Under the Sun: Sabbath Conforming: Murder (Matthew 5:21-26)

Christ continues to instruct the disciples on the mountain regarding life in this kingdom.  His presentation now is that the law of God has more meaning than just a few external commands that are easy to follow.  Christ goes through the command to murder which we might think is pretty easy to obey.  I mean there are a lot of people who have gone through this life without taking another human life.  Our temptation might be to skip over this command and to move onto a commandment that is probably a little more challenging.  So, what is the real challenge for us not to murder someone?

Sojourning Under the Sun: Sabbath Citizens (2) (Matthew 5:1-16)

Christ takes his stand to teach his disciples after doing great things like healing people.  Why would Christ waste time teaching like this when he could heal people of their infirmaries?  What is the point of this teaching?  What is this teaching communicating to us regarding our Christian Sojourn?

The Absurdity of Mercy (Matthew 5:1-12 (LD 40)

Christ teaches from the sermon on the mount that murder is far deeper than just taking a human life.  Christ teaches that if we desire to harm, avenge, or even hate then we are guilty of murder.  What is the opposite of murder?  How do we discover a Christian ethic as we consider the opposite of murder?  How does the Christian ethic make us realize our glorious placement in this kingdom?