Porter Podcast

Series: Sermon on the Mount

Citizenship Test

Matthew 7:8-12

Our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly wait for a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Philippians 3:20

The Sermon on the Mount is Jesus’ teaching about what it means to be a citizen in the Kingdom of Heaven.  

The entrance test for the Kingdom of Heaven is complete, perfect righteousness.  

Ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you.

Matthew 7:7

ask, seek and Knock

All three actions (ask, seek, knock) require faith.

All three require to look outside of yourself for help.

it will be given to you

This verse does NOT teach prosperity Gospel. 

how much more will your Father

Jesus invites us to call on Him for righteousness.

your next step

Publicly commit your life to Christ as Savior.

Follow Jesus in believer’s baptism.

Connect with a local church.

Trust Him to help you live for Christ.

do unto others 

The golden rule teaches us to love like God loves us.  

Series: Sermon on the Mount

Do Not Judge

Matthew 7:1-6

“Do not judge”

The phrase “do not judge” is not to be used for self-justification. 

“Do not judge” does not mean accept all practices/beliefs.

judgmentalism (vs) right judgment

·      Judgment is evaluating a person’s action.

·      Judgmentalism is evaluating a person’s worth/character/motives.

Being judgmental doesn’t make your evaluation wrong,       it just makes you wrong.  

the danger of judgmentalism

·      You assume the role of God.  (1-2)

·      You take the focus off of yourself.  (3-4)

·      You look foolish.   (3-4)

·      You lose the ability to be helpful.  (5)    

·      You damage your soul.  (6)

help for a judgmental spirit

Acknowledge that you are not God.

Focus on your own sin.

Realize that God has shown mercy to you. 

Be gracious to others. 

Series:  Sermon on the Mount

Value and the Kingdom

Matthew 6:19-24

What are the most valuable things you have?

What makes them valuable?

A Kingdom Citizen values God and His will above all else. 

treasure

A treasure is anything that we ascribe value to; set our affection on, or find significance in.

storing up treasures

If you store something, you believe it will endure and hold its value. 

Threat Assessment:

            How will circumstances affect your treasure?

            How will time affect your treasure?                 

            How could people affect your treasure? 

What you treasure reveals your heart’s condition.

the eye is the lamp of the body

So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things above, 

where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.  

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

Colossians 3:2

two masters

Earthly treasures will consistently lead to divided loyalties.

focusing on the kingdom while on earth

Pay attention to your heart. 

When tempted, focus on the cross of Jesus.

Practice daily generosity.

Remember this world is temporal, 

and there is life after this life.  

Series: Sermon on the Mount    

Pure Motives

Matthew 6:1-18

Kingdom citizens are pure in attitudes, actions, thoughts and motives. 

·      You can only be reasonably confident about your own motives. 

·      Your motives do not always justify your behavior failures. 

·      You can do the right thing for the wrong reason.       

Kingdom citizens not only do the right thing, but they do it for the right reason. 

Matthew 6:1

Correct actions with improper motives do not please God.

Matthew 6:2-4            when you give to the poor 

The key to godly giving is anonymity. 

Matthew 6:5-15            Whenever you pray

 The keys to heartfelt prayer are privacy and simplicity.

Matthew 6:16-18           Whenever you fast

The key to fasting is to be discreet. 

Today’s Takeaways

1.        A person’s private life is of greater concern to God than their public displays. 

2.        God will judge the intention of the heart. 

3.        People often trade God’s reward for man’s applause.

4.        God will forgive sins of action and sins of intention, but forgiveness is only found in turning to Christ.  

Series: Sermon on the Mount

Kingdom Citizens & the Law Part 2

Matthew 5:33-48

Kingdom citizens are different from people who do not believe. 

The holiness required for kingdom citizenship is heart deep. 

The failure to meet moral standards is eternally dangerous.

3 Uses of Biblical Law

·      To inform civil law

·      To reveal/convict of failure

·      To guide believers toward holiness

Jesus doesn’t interpret the law to create a new form of legalism, but He does give us principles to live by.  

Matthew 5:33-37

Guiding Principle # 5  Be truthful, at all times.  

Matthew 5:38-41

Guiding Principle # 6  Trust God to care for you.

Matthew 5:42

Guiding Principle # 7   Help those in need. 

Matthew 5:42-47

Guiding Principle # 8  Love is always the right answer.  

Love is our distinguishing feature.

Matthew 5:48

Guiding Principle # 9  Repent of your failure and trust the merciful Father. 

Today’s Takeaways

Series: Sermon on the Mount

Kingdom Citizens and the Law

Matthew 5:21-32

We are not under the law, but under Christ.  

Romans 6:14   

3 Purposes of the Law

·      The civil purpose of the law.  (Guardrail) 

·      The conviction purpose of the law.  (Mirror)

Romans 3:20

·      The guiding purpose of the law.  (Flashlight)  

Matthew 28:20

Christians are not called to adhere to all of the Old Testament laws.  

Hebrews 8:13

Christians are to look to Jesus to provide an understanding for how to interpret the law.  

Matthew 5:21-26 

The root cause of sin is much deeper than external actions.  

I John 3:15 

Guiding Principle #1

Since our relationship with God is affected by our relationship with others, we should prioritize reconciliation.    

Ephesians 4:26-27 

Matthew 5:27-32

Guiding Principle #2

Because sin runs deep, we must guard our hearts.  

Colossians 3:2 

Guiding Principle #3

We should set healthy boundaries for ourselves. 

Legalism is not setting boundaries. Legalism is setting boundaries for others. 

Roman 6:15

Guiding Principle #4

We must take sin seriously.  

DIVORCE LINK

Today’s Takeaways

Since believers are in Christ, they must hold themselves to a higher standard not a lower one.

Grace cannot serve as an excuse to sin.  

Believers are to run to the cross in failure and in success. 

Series:  Sermon on the Mount

Entering the Kingdom

Matthew 5:17-20; 48

The Kingdom of Heaven

The theme of the kingdom of heaven is mentioned eight times in the Sermon on the Mount.  When Jesus speaks of the kingdom of heaven, He is referring to the reign of God.  There is an already/not yet aspect to the kingdom of heaven.  

One of the functions of the Sermon on the Mount is to describe those who will experience the kingdom.  

Many erroneously believe that “good people” will experience the kingdom of heaven. To believe this, they must:

·      deny their own failures. 

·      ignore the high expectations of God.

·      believe Jesus will simply overlook their sin. 

Matthew 5:17

How does Jesus “fulfill” the law?  

1.        He models perfect obedience. 

2.        He reveals the law’s true meaning.

3.        His condemnation/death exposes the guilt of humanity. 

4.        His death fulfills the law’s demands.

Matthew 5:18

Jesus affirms the absolute authority of all of the scripture.

Matthew 5:19

Matthew 5:20; 48

The law demanded absolute perfection to enter heaven.  

Romans 3:21-24

Today’s Takeaways

Man does not have the authority to lower the standards of God.

Complete purity is required to enter the kingdom of heaven. 

Recognizing sinfulness is foundational to entering the kingdom of heaven. 

Jesus, through His death, provides access to God and His kingdom for us.  

Series: Sermon on the Mount

The Horizontal Effect

Matthew 5:7-16

The real battlefield of humanity is in the heart.

People disagree as to the intended purpose of the sermon.  Is it intended to expose our shortcomings or is it a pattern for living that brings God’s blessings? 

the Beatitudes 

Markarios:  Happy because you are favored by God.

All of the Beatitudes are counter cultural.  

merciful

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Matthew 5:7 

Mercy can refer to forgiveness, or mercy can refer to compassion for the hurting. 

pure in heart

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Matthew 5:8 

peacemakers

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
Matthew 5:9  

Peacemaking is not compromising our standards or always avoiding differences.  

James 3:17      

Peacemaking is seeking to restore relationships and replacing evil with good.

Persecuted

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. “You are blessed when they insult you and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of me. Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Matthew 5:10-12

 2 Timothy 3:12 

2 Corinthians 4:16-17

Today’s Takeaways: 

Our relationship with God impacts the way we relate to others. 

Our failure should lead to gratitude for the cross.  

While we are not perfect, God uses our transformed lives in order to offer hope to others. 

Matthew 5:13-16

Series:  Sermon on the Mount  

Attributes of Kingdom Citizens     

Matthew 5-7

The Sermon on the Mount

This is the first of five sermons in Matthew.  Most of the teaching is found in different contexts in other gospels.  There are three types of material found in the sermon as printed:   Beatitudes, ethical commands, and contrasts between Jesus’ teaching and prevailing traditions. The focus is not so much on performance, but more on character.

Jesus starts to teach them about what people in His kingdom are like. 

Μακάριοι...  those who are/will be happy, fortunate or are to be congratulated.

Jesus’ teachings are counter cultural and counter intuitive.

Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.                            Matthew 5:3

Kingdom Characteristic #1:         

Recognizing spiritual bankruptcy without God. 

Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.                                              Matthew 5:4

Kingdom Characteristic #2:            

Comprehending the depth of their sin and grieving over it. 

I John 1:9

Blessed are the meek, 

for they shall inherit the earth.                            Matthew 5:5 (ESV)

Kingdom Characteristic #3  

Understanding that strength is from God and remaining humble.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.                                                                    Matthew 5:6       

Kingdom Characteristic #4     

Realizing that only God satisfies and choosing to desperately seek Him.  

I John 2:15-17

Today’s Takeaways

1.  Jesus’ teachings about are often paradoxical.  

2.  The heart is the true battleground of humanity.

3.  The directives of Jesus are unattainable without Him.