Jesus preaches a sermon. He describes life lived in accordance to his kingdom - a “Christian manifesto” that will unsettle anyone that has settled. The way things are, are not the way things will be. Jesus is telling us how humans are meant to live. It may seem impossible, and even at times “upside-down”; but if we give ourselves to living this way, we will find that we were made to live this way. We will find it natural. We will find ourselves on a road that leads home. Come, let us sit at the feet of Jesus together, and discover how any of this is possible.
January 15, 2017
Matthew 3
“Repent to Jesus”
John the Baptist prepares us for Jesus. Jesus is coming onto the scene and will very early on preach the “sermon on the mount”, in which he describes the life to come in God’s kingdom. John is already pointing to this kingdom. He is not only telling people what to turn away from, he is telling people what, and who, to turn toward.
January 22, 2017
Matthew 5:1-12
“Beatitudes: the people Jesus considers blessed”
Jesus begins the Sermon on the Mount by painting a picture of the kind of people he expects the church to begin becoming…and one day will be in perfection. We were made for this! It is the home to which we are beckoned
February 5, 2017
Scripture: Matthew 5:13-16
Sermon: “Salt and Light”
The thing about both Salt and Light is that they exist for the purpose of influencing that in which they were placed. Jesus says the people of God are salt and light: from the beginning God’s intention has always been for his people to bless the world. This week we need to face the challenging question Jesus poses: what’s the point of saltless salt? what’s the point of a lamp with a bowl over it?
February 12, 2017
Scripture: Matthew 5
“Jesus fulfills the law”
Jesus challenges a superficial observance of the law with a radical search for the true will of God for humanity from the beginning
February 19, 2017
Scripture: Matthew 6:1-18
“Secret Service”
Jesus offers a training for how to shift from ‘living for this moment and my glory’ to ‘living for the future kingdom and God’s glory’. Its the secret to entering into the Father’s joy.
February 26, 2017
Scripture: Matthew 6: 19-24
“Seek first God”
Jesus leads us to examine our worry: what does our worry teach us about ourselves, and where can this lead us?