Two Ways To Live

Matthew 7:13-14

Jesus lays before us two choices: Follow him on the narrow way and have life, or walk on the broad way and meet destruction.

"The hard way, entered by the narrow gate, leads to life, even to that 'eternal life' which Jesus explained in terms of fellowship with God, beginning here but perfected hereafter, in which we see and share his glory, and find perfect fulfillment as human beings in the selfless service of him and our fellows." ~ John Stott

RESOURCES: ESV Study Bible; The Sermon on the Mount and Human Flourishing: A Theological Commentary by Jonathan Pennington; The Sermon on the Mount: Kingdom Life in a Fallen World by Sinclair Ferguson; The Message of the Sermon on the Mount by John Stott; Expressive Individualism: What Is It? by Trevin Wax

Sermon on the Mount Audio

The Golden Rule

Matthew 7:12

Children of God the Father are to treat others as they want to be treated.

"Treat other drivers as you would want to be treated." - The State of Kentucky Department of Motor Vehicles

RESOURCES: ESV Study Bible; The Sermon on the Mount and Human Flourishing: A Theological Commentary by Jonathan Pennington; The Sermon on the Mount: Kingdom Life in a Fallen World by Sinclair Ferguson; The Sermon on the Mount: Restoring Christ’s Message to the Church by Charles Quarles; Nothing Is Impossible with God by Rose Marie Miller

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Praying That Moves Mountains

Matthew 7:7-11

For the believer, persistent expectant prayer is the prerequisite in God’s class on having faith in Him.

RESOURCES: Prayer by Tim Keller; It Happens After Prayer - HB Charles Jr; A praying Life - Paul Miller; Africa Bible Commentary; NAC commentary; Christian Beliefs: 20 Basics Every Christian Should Know - Grudem

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Judging People Rightly

Matthew 7:1-6

Judging people rightly requires us to be repentant and to be careful.

“Righteous men are men of unfailing love. Just as righteous means “those right with God” (and therefore committed to righteousness of life) so “men of unfailing love” means those on whom the steadfast love of God has been poured out (and therefore seek to reflect that love in their lives).” ~ J. Alec Motyer commenting on Isaiah 57:1-2

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The Psyche of Possessions

Matthew 6.19-24

Possessions have an enticing power on the inner person.

RESOURCES USED: "The Pastor" by Eugene Peterson; Proverbs 28.22; 23.6; Deuteronomy 15.9; "The Sermon on the Mount & Human Flourishing" (Pennington); "Jesus's Sermon on the Mount & His Confrontation With the World" (Carson)

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Our Bread, Forgiveness, & Deliverance

Matthew 6:9-15

Jesus invites us to bring our needs to God in prayer.

"A King sits on a throne, inhabits a palace, wears a crown and a robe, and they call him ‘your majesty.’ But when his little children see him, they run to him and yell, 'Daddy!'" ~ A.W. Tozer

RESOURCES: ESV Study Bible; The Sermon on the Mount and Human Flourishing: A Theological Commentary by Jonathan Pennington; The Sermon on the Mount: Restoring Christ’s Message to the Modern Church by Charles Quarrels

Sermon on the Mount Audio

Whole Person Righteousness: Prayer

Matthew 6:7-10

Jesus models prayer. Expressing in prayer the supremacy of God’s name, kingdom, and will rightly reorients our affections Godward. Jesus’ model prayer leads us to fight false pride by honoring, worshipping, and obeying our heavenly Father. This is true human flourishing.

RESOURCES USED: ESV Study Bible; The Sermon on the Mount and Human Flourishing, by Jonathan Pennington; The New American Commentary: Matthew by C. Blomberg (1992).

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Our Father Who Sees

Matthew 6:1-18

Avoiding hypocrisy, we seek practice righteousness for the sake of our heavenly Father.

“The self is becoming increasingly externally manufactured rather than internally developed. On Twitter or Facebook you’re trying to express something real about who you are, but because you’re also creating something for others’ consumption, you find yourself imagining and playing to your audience more and more. So those moments in which you’re supposed to be showing your true self become a performance. Your psychology becomes a performance.” ~ Sherry Turkle

RESOURCES: RESOURCES: ESV Study Bible; The Sermon on the Mount and Human Flourishing: A Theological Commentary by Jonathan Pennington; The Message of the Sermon on the Mount by John Stott; The Sermon on the Mount: Restoring Christ's Message to the Modern Church by Charles Quarles; The Sermon on the Mount: Kingdom Life in a Fallen World by Sinclair Ferguson; Alone Together by Sherry Turkle

Sermon on the Mount Audio