Matthew 5:1-12. Denny Davis, a former president of Northwest, begins our "Sermon on the Mount" . Jesus opens his sermon on the mount with a teaching on what it means to be blessed. Contrary to popular opinion then and now, it is not those who have their lives put together that are blessed but actually the opposite. Jesus says that those who are poor, those who mourn, those who have nothing to offer, those who long for justice and relationships to be well etc. are the ones who are blessed. This is a whole new way to be human.

Being a follower of Jesus means becoming like Jesus and doing what He did, and this requires teaching. So, one day Jesus sat down on a mountain side, opened His mouth, and taught His followers what it means to be a part of God’s people. Jesus’ sermon on that mount taught more than bad behaviors that need change but a radical, new way of living, a new way to be human.