“Love your neighbor.” “Turn the other cheek”. Jesus’ statements sound ideal but living them out is tough. Rather than rally political revolt like many of his day had hoped, Jesus focused on inner change instead. His piercing principles targeted the very areas we still today drift from God — money, enemies, judgment, hypocrisy. Beyond nice words, He exposes and transforms hearts, however unexpectedly. The question is — will we trust His wisdom to shape our lives for His greater purpose? In this teaching, we explore the gap between admiring Jesus and following Him when spiritual rubber meets life’s road.

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MESSAGE NOTES

 

  • “The Sermon on the Mount is the greatest set of principles conducive to a civil, global, multi-cultural society that has ever been conceived.” – Nelson Mandela
  • “The Sermon on the Mount remains a core text inspiring us to address systemic injustice with love.” – UN Secretary General Kofi Annan
  • “Its words and imagery still provide an ethical lodestone for…defenders of the oppressed.” – Barack Obama
  • “There is no doubt in my mind that the [Sermon on the Mount] is the greatest set of ethical statements any man has ever uttered.” – U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson
  • “The principles contained within the Sermon on the Mount have echoed through history as calls to conscience and beacons of moral truth.” – Mahatma Gandhi
  • “…the Sermon laid out a set of values and ideals upon which an enlightened global civilization could be built.” – Artist Pablo Picasso
  • “The Sermon presents life as we should see it whole. Those who truly take its eternal ethical ideas to heart can mend not only their own lives, but patch the rents in the complex fabric of civilization.” – Inventor Thomas Edison
  • “Implementing even half the ethical force of the Sermon’s teachings could bring troubled nations back from chaos and cruelty through humanitarian example.” – Philosopher Bertrand Russell

 

The Sermon on the Mount is only 3 chapters long but it’s statements have influenced all educated cultures over the past 2,000 years.

 

 

 

 

[Matthew 5:17 NLT] 

“Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose.” 

 

 

[Matthew 7:28 NLT] 

When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching,” 

 

[Matthew 6:33 NLT] 

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.5:21, You have heard don’t kill but I say don’t hate

5:27, You have heard don’t commit adultery but I say don’t lust

Kingdom of God Explained:5:43, You have heard hate your enemies but I say pray for God to bless them

 

6:1-4, Do good especially when no one will see, knowing that God’s opinion of you is more important

 

6:14-15, Forgive others or God will not forgive you

 

6:19-21, Use your money to advance the Kingdom of God to free your heart from the fear of falling behind, knowing God cares more about you than you care about you

 

7:1-6, You will be judged as harshly or as compassionately as you judge others

 

7:7-11, Pray like your life depends on it because it does

 

7:12, Treat people the way you WISH they treated you, not the way they ACTUALLY do

 

7:13-14, MOST people will not follow Jesus because denying our selfishness is too difficult

 

7:15-23, You can tell whether or not you are a real Christian by what you do in private, how you treat people you don’t like, what you do with your money, the time you spend with God and the way you work on your heart.

 

 

 

 

[Matthew 7:28 NLT] 

When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching,”

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Application Questions

  1. What stood out to you from this message and why?
  2. What is one thing God is telling you to START doing because of this message?
  3. What is one thing God is telling you to STOP doing because of this message?
  4. How will this message change how you act at home, at work, and in your relationships?