Gary continues teaching from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount.

Gary teaches from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount.

This series is a study of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount.

We’re looking at our lives, relationships and spirituality in the way Jesus

desires us to see and live them.

In moving from Matthew 5 to Matthew 6 Jesus shifted his emphasis from ‘who

we are’ as followers of Christ to some of the ‘practices’ that reflect

Jesus’ way of life.

Jesus singled out three: Giving to the Needy, Prayer, and Fasting.

As Important as giving, prayer, and fasting are to our spiritual

lives..."why" we do them is equally important.

Gary teaches on Matthew 6:1-4, examining the motives behind our actions. Are we giving for selfish reasons or are we giving because it is just our way of life, in humility with Christ?

God has so designed our soul that meaningful relationship is part of our DNA as human beings.

We have a God-designed need for connection and closeness where we can safely open ourselves to others in honest, trusting, self-giving ways. 

So why do we resist relationships with others if it’s part of our soul’s architecture?

We don’t have to look too far for the answer.

Jesus calls us to a way of life that transforms the whole person

Jesus looked at righteousness through a lens rooted in a living

relationship with Jesus that first reorders our heart … then realigns our

behavior. Works from the inside out … not the outside in.

In Matthew, Chapter 5 he gave us six illustrations and Jesus framed each in

the same way: “You have heard that it was said (OT command) … but I say to

you (Jesus’ emphasis).

Two weeks ago: We discussed our anger and lust … today divorce and the

promises we make.

Jesus certainly doesn’t dodge difficult issues.

We’re called to a righteousness that transforms the whole person

Jesus was concerned that obedience to the OT had had been reduced to a way

of life that had stolen the heart and soul from the OT and stolen the

hearts and souls of people who sought to follow it.

Trying to do what the OT required, with elaborate detail and discipline,

while ignoring the inner dimensions of people’s lives.

In stark contrast, Jesus looked at obedience as an internal not external

practice … not as a set of rules to follow but a relationship with Jesus

that reorders our heart … then realigns our behavior.

Jesus isn’t interested in a veneer of religious respectability … he wants

to produce “true inner goodness.”

How does Jesus teaching fit with the OT?

Very common question (maybe one you’ve asked).

Also quite common to think Jesus’ was departing from the OT/Judaism to start something entirely new and different that had little connection to the OT.

Our passage today speaks directly into this question (as well as how we read Scripture today).

Makes it clear that Jesus and His teaching was closely connected to the OT … far from departing from it was completing and carrying it forward … the story continued … simply a different chapter in the story.

What if Jesus’ intent was not “try harder to live like this” 

What if the blessedness Jesus describes is not connected to our capacity to gain it … but is already resident within us because of our relationship with Jesus? 

It’s what life with Christ actually looks like … even when we’re beneath the weight of circumstances we can’t change or control … or our life is not working as we hoped or expected … when our life feels beyond hope… even times we don’t feel like we have God’s blessing? 

What if the moments we see these qualities in our lives is evidence that Christ and God’s Kingdom is breaking through and showing up in us?