Pleasant Garden Baptist Church Podcast (Sermons)

Jesus and the Word

Matthew 5:17-20

17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.

18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.

19 Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 

20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

1. Jesus delivers the Word (5:17).

2. Jesus defines the Word (5:18-19).

3. Jesus demands obedience to the Word (5:20).

“We Are in This World to Display Jesus”

Matthew 5:11-16 (ESV)

11 Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 

12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. 

13 You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.

14 You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 

15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 

16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

We are in this world to display Jesus. When we do…

1.    It will cost us and enrich us (5:11-12).

  14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. ---1 Peter 4:14-16

2.    We will preserve and heal (5:13-14).

  13 And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali,14 so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: 15 “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—16 the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.”17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” ---Matthew 4:13-17

3.    We will enlighten and magnify God (5:15-16).

“What Are We Looking For?”

Matthew 5:3-10

3 Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 

5 Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. 

6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. 

7 Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.  

8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 

9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. 

10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

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What are we looking for? Matthew 5:3-10 answers that for us.  

1.    The beatitudes show us we are looking for a Hero. 

    Jesus our Hero Lives the Beatitudes:

    1.    Jesus models “poor in spirit” in the temptations in Matthew 4:1-11.

    2.    Jesus “mourns” for us in the garden prayer in Matthew 26:36-46.

    3.    Jesus demonstrates “meek,” “gentle,” and “humble” in Matthew 11:29 and 21:5.

    4.    Jesus “hungers and thirsts” for God alone in the first temptation in Matthew 4:4.

    5.    Jesus “shows mercy” in Matthew 9:36.

    6.    Jesus explains “purity of heart” in Matthew 23:26. 

    7.    Jesus declares He is the “ultimate peacemaker” in John 14:27.

    8.    Jesus was “persecuted for righteousness sake” for you and me on the cross (Matthew 26:47-26:56).

2.    The beatitudes force us to see why we need a Hero. 

3.    When we trust our Hero, the beatitudes display the changes Jesus makes in us.

“How Do We Develop a Poverty of Spirit?”

Matthew 5:2-3 (ESV)

2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Luke 1:28 (ESV)

28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!”

Luke 1:46-55 (ESV)

46 And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord,

47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

48 for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; 49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.

50 And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.

51 He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;

52 he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate;

53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. 

54 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, 

55 as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”

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Mary displays “poverty of spirit.” What does she teach us about developing it?

1.    We reflect a Godward focus (1:46ff).

2.    We recognize our human smallness (1:48, 52).

3.    We rejoice in God’s salvation (1:47)

"Loving Children through the Eyes of Jesus"

Kevin Qualls, Sr. Director of Adoptions, Christian Adoption Services

Mark 10:13-16

13 And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. 

14 But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. 

15 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” 

16 And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.

God wants us to flourish

Matthew 5:2-3 (ESV)

2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: 

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the 

kingdom of heaven.

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Matthew 4:25-5:2 (ESV)

25 And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.

5:1 Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. 

2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:

1. Matthew 5:3 is the first flourishing.

    Psalm 1:1-3 (ESV)

    1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 

    2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. 

    3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.

2. Matthew 5:3 is a frightening flourishing.

    Philippians 3:4-11 (ESV)

    4 though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 

    5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 

    6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. 

    7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 

    8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 

    9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith

    10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 

    11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

    

3. But thankfully, Matthew 5:3 is a forgiving flourishing. 

Reorienting by the Sermon on the Mount

(Introduction Part 2)

Matthew 4:23-25; 5:1-2 (ESV)

4:23 And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. 

24 So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, those having seizures, and paralytics, and he healed them.

25 And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.

5:1 Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. 

2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:

---

1)    To reorient, we must recognize the audience of the Sermon on the Mount. 

  9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. ---1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (ESV)

2)    To reorient, we must embrace the purpose of the Sermon on the Mount: Discipleship. 

3)    To reorient, we must relax in the process of the Sermon on the Mount. 

  28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

  

   ---Matthew 11:28-30 (ESV)

Reorienting by the Sermon on the Mount,  (Introduction Part 1)

Matthew 5

4 Guiding Principles for interpreting the Sermon on the Mount

1. God expects us to flourish by living out the sermon. 

2. We cannot live out the sermon in our own strength. 

3. The sermon condemns religious legalists and religious hypocrites. 

4. We need a hero. His name is Jesus, and in the gospel He enables us to live out the sermon.

Reorienting by the Sermon on the Mount

1) To reorient, we must recognize the identity of Jesus. 

  The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen. ---Deuteronomy 18:15 (ESV)

2) To reorient, we must re-engage the expertise of Jesus. 

3) To reorient, we must revere the authority of Jesus.

The 5 Teaching Sections in Matthew:

1. The Sermon on the Mount (5-7)

2. The Mission Discourse (10)

3. The Parable Discourse (13)

4. The Discourse on the Church (18)

5. The Discourse on the End Times (23-25) 

  28 And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, 29 for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes. ---Matthew 7:28-29 (ESV)

  47 And he was teaching daily in the temple. The chief priests and the scribes and the principal men of the people were seeking to destroy him, 48 but they did not find anything they could do, for all the people were hanging on his words. ---Luke 19:47-48 (ESV)

I am the Resurrection and the Life

John 11:17-27

1. The resurrection declares who Jesus is (11:25).

2. The resurrection declares what Jesus has done (11:25).

3. The resurrection declares what this means for us (11:26). 

Do you believe this?

Last Words

2 Timothy 4:19-21

Dr. Robert Hefner

- Paul’s last words were relational (4:19-21).

    - Words of greeting (4:19, 21)

    - Words of communication (4:20)

    - Words of closeness (4:21)

- Paul’s last words were spiritual (4:22).

- Paul’s last words echo the great commandment to love God and love others.