Bible, Faith, Jesus, Unexpected, Spiritual Growth

Jesus' Greatest Speech

“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 difference between a GOOD speech and a GREAT speech is that a GREAT speech inspires a culture to action and impact future generations.

Jesus begins His ministry with one of the greatest speeches ever. 

  • Here’s what Nelson Mandela said about it… “The Sermon on the Mount  this sermon is the greatest set of principles conducive to a civil, global, multi-cultural society that has ever been conceived.” 
  •  U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson said… “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.”
  • Gandhi said…“The principles contained within the Sermon on the Mount have echoed through history as calls to conscience and beacons of moral truth.” 

Philosopher Bertrand Russell  said… “Implementing even half the ethical force of the Sermon’s teachings could bring troubled nations back from chaos and cruelty through humanitarian examples.”

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

So once again NONE of the subjects in the Sermon on the Mount were expected by the Jewish people from their long awaited Messiah. I’d like to share TWO ways Jesus’ famous sermon was Unpredictable to the Jewish people and its implications for us today.

  •  Jesus came to fulfill the law not to do away with it.

 

 

[Matthew 5:17-20 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. 18 I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God’s law will disappear until its purpose is achieved. 19 So if you ignore the least commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God’s laws and teaches them will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven. 20 “But I warn you—unless your righteousness is better than the righteousness of the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven!”

 

 

The SECOND way Jesus’ famous sermon was unexpected to the Jewish people…

 

  •  Jesus came to transform individuals not overthrow governing authorities.

 

 

[Matthew 6:33 NLT]

“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”

 

 

The Kingdom of God is a realignment of our lives, priorities, cares, passions and heart around the things that God values most – selflessness, love, and mercy

 

 

Kingdom of God Explained:

 

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 for those that mistreat you

 

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

 

[Matthew 7:24-29 NLT]

24 “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. 25 Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. 26 But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. 27 When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.” 28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 for he taught with real authority—quite unlike their teachers of religious law.”

 

 

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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?

“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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