Family Chapel

As we close our series through the Sermon on the Mount this week, we will be directed to the important truth that the entire sermon is not merely about principles or rules to follow, but rather about a Person - Jesus Christ our King. True believers are those who see and submit to the authority of the King, and this shows in our active obedience to the King. Rather than simply being concerned with the outward appearance of Christ-likeness (building our house on sand), we must build our lives on the solid rock of Christ by being conformed inwardly to His image.

After unpacking the Kingdom Life, Jesus issues the call to follow Him on the difficult journey into the Kingdom. While there may be dangerous detours by false prophets and deceptive displays of false worship, this is the way Jesus calls his disciples to follow Him.

Christians have a living hope that is rooted in the resurrection of Jesus Christ (past), that points to the lasting inheritance awaiting us in heaven (future), and that is secured by God’s power through faith here and now (present). This is the living hope we have in our living Savior!

Jesus invites his disciples to just ask of God through prayer. Disciples of Christ can pray with confidence because God is generous. God responds open-handedly to our requests. And disciples of Christ can pray with confidence because God is good. God responds for our good to our requests.

As we continue to journey through the Sermon on the Mount, we see in our passage that Jesus clearly lays out the right attitude of the Kingdom citizen: "judge not". While this does not mean that Christians ought to never make any judgments ever (we are commanded to discern false teachers, to discipline sin, etc.), we are never to look at others with a judgmental, critical attitude. Kingdom citizens understand that they too are prone to sin, and are to approach others in humility, having first taken the plank out of their own eye. It is only with this right attitude that we can truly build up those around us.

Disciples of Christ should not be anxious because anxiety is incompatible with Christian faith and anxiety is incompatible with common sense. Rather than being anxious, disciples of Christ should be ambitious for God’s kingdom and righteousness.

Jesus calls upon his disciples to lay up treasures in heaven, rather than on earth. And he gives three key reasons why we ought to do that. Disciples of Christ should lay up treasures in heaven rather than on earth because (1) what you treasure will capture your heart, (2) what you treasure will shape your life, and (3) what you treasure will be your master.

As Christians, we know that prayer is an important part of the Kingdom life, but prayer can be difficult. With the Lord's Prayer, Jesus teaches his disciples three important truths about prayer.

(1) Prayer is addressed to our heavenly Father.

(2) Prayer is aimed at glorifying God.

(3) Prayer is to be accompanied by a matching life.