In our continuing series on the sermon on the mount, "What if Jesus was serious?", one could make the argument that this verse (Matt. 5:17) may be the most stupendous claims of Jesus. He didn't come to abolish the law and the prophets but to FULFILL them. Understanding this verse may unlock the understanding of the entire sermon on the mount if not the New Testament.

Seriously.

Jesus makes an unusual statement, calling his followers "salt and light". What does that mean?

Salt adds flavour, it preserves and it heals. The light exposes and illuminates.

Listen to how these analogies are a call to action for the believer to be "good news" in the world today with our very own Peter Elford

The upside-down, counter-cultural, counter-intuitive wisdom of Jesus continues in this Sermon on the Mount series. Each beatitude seems to build on the other... each one a challenge to our notion of who is truly "lucky" or "blessed"

So what if Jesus WAS serious?

As Jesus begins the sermon on the mount, he makes the audacious claim that he is actually blessing the ones the world feels sorry for.

If you are lamenting today, may you also know that the Father is blessing you

This might be the ideal season to "steap" in the words of Jesus.

This Sermon on the Mount is more than the "random wisdom" or "greatest hits" of Jesus. It's more than a glorified "Ted Talk". This is the manifesto of sorts. The glorious essence of his message of what it means to be a follower. More than a message to hear or read or admire, it's a message to be LIVED!

COVID is bringing out lots of fear these days - sometimes in the form of anger.

There seems to be an underlying fear of the answer to that existential question; "What happens after I die?" "Have I been good enough?" "Am I in good standing with God". Even many Christians go to bed wondering "If I should die before I wake, WILL the Lord, my soul to take?"

For the Christian and Non-Christian today you can have the security of knowing your eternal future. You

Has there ever been a time where we are more concerned with the opinions people have of us? I wonder if social media has hurt or helped that? Joseph's response to a vision could've been to do the culturally easier thing but instead, he said "yes" to God and the world was forever changed. Being obsessed with what GOD thinks of you is the quickest way to stop being obsessed with what PEOPLE think of you.

What are you afraid of?

There are all kinds of legit reasons to feel fear in 2020 ... not the least of which is a global pandemic!

Fears attack the most precious parts of our being and keep us from living the life meant for us.

It's repeated throughout the Christmas story and God wants to help YOU overcome your darkest fears as we learn to ... FEAR NOT!

This "One-Anothering" command is not part of a smorgasbord we can ignore, even if the culture has increasingly moved away from it... even if there are all kinds of reasons it makes us uncomfortable... even if there is a global pandemic! So how do we obey Jesus by keeping the spirit of this command? How do we get creative and "one-another" each other well... and not just our spiritual brothers and sisters but the stranger as well? Thankfully many of the ideas were brainstormed live in the service. Thanks church for participating.

NAC's own David Klauke, a registered psychotherapist shares from Galatians 6:2 wherein we are told to carry or "bear" each other's burdens. David quotes another therapist, Larry Crabb who says "If the church was doing it's job, we wouldn't need therapists". It will take a loving community willing to CARE, LOOK, ASK and just DO IT