Simply Stated

Living faithfully in times of social distancing

Devotional about Fear and Courage Three Bible based responses to our our fear A word of encouragement in Joshua 1:6-7. 10 A challenge to our fear because of the Lord's favor. A promise in the face of frightening situations because of who the Lord is, and because the Lord is with us.

Luke 1:30, 34 Mary, the mother of Jesus, finds favor and a bold voice.

Isaiah 43:2 Salvation in the Lord.

A little information about Lake Murray Presbyterian Church regarding the Corona Virus, and some encouragement from Joshua 1:6.

SOM 21

February 16, 2020

Matthew 7:21-23

Season 1, Episode 18

21“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven,

but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. 22 On that day many will say

to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your

name, and do many deeds of power in your name?’ 23 Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; go away from me, you evildoers.’

INTRODUCTION

1. Welcome: Hi Pals, this is Blaine Hill with the Simply Stated Podcast for you, the Journey Sunday School class at Lake Murray Presbyterian Church in Chapin, SC. This season of the podcast is on Jesus sermon on the mount, in Matthew chapters 5 through 7. Today we are reading Matthew 7:21-23

2. I’ll get the basic ideas of the passage simply stated, then we’ll try to draw some wisdom out of the passage (person of Jesus, theology, eternity, ethics)

3. Read 7:21-23

A BLOCK

1. Not …but. Jesus is uses antithesis again. We heard 6 earlier in SOM.

2. Lord: Title of honor, used of Caesar and indicates the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob. Key point Jesus will make is that one obeys a LORD.

3. Will enter …on that day…then. Here Jesus is clearly talking about the future. So while the Kingdom of heaven had some sense of being present at the beginning of the SoM, that is not the whole sense. Jesus is pointing to something in the future.

4. Did we not 1. Prophesy, 2. Cast out demons 3. Deeds of power in your name. Jesus has no interest in spiritual fireworks. [Useful to compare this to similar surprise in Matthew 25]

Jesus has not been talking about the kinds of activity that they are holding forward.

5. So what does Jesus want and make judgement based upon? He has just laid out a large and robust pattern of life. He has given two images

a. Two gates and paths—course of life

b. Tree and fruit—bearing fruit, being of service and good in the world.

6. “Go away from me, you evil doers.” Ouch!

a. Do you have some names you would like to put on the go away list?

b. Why is Jesus using such obnoxious language? Some people like to be scared or scolded. I think he is trying to get our attention for a critical issue. Evildoers means anti-law (Bruner 358). Jesus’ critic is a failure to obey his teaching.

B BLOCK

1. What are some common depictions understandings of the last judgement?

a. Ledger book of good and bad deeds

b. Judged by being decent sort of person

c. Zero. Don’t consider it in any practical sense.

d. Contrast with 11:28 ff.

e.

2. How do verse 21-23 inform the Christian understanding of the last judgement.?

3. Deeply puzzling: The people Jesus rejects are centered on Christ in doctrine (Lord, Lord) and spiritually gifted. But they don’t indicate obedience (Bruner 355-6). They are impressed with their own devotion and success, but they don’t demonstrate the Beattitudes at the start of the SOM (Bruner 357-8). They seem to hunger and thirst for power but not for righteousness 5:6 (Bruner 358)

4. “They believe that they know Jesus, but apparently they never gave him a chance to know them (I never really knew you), that is they never gave him a chance to come into personal contact with their innermost life (the force of the biblical word “know”). It is strangley possible to serve and even to glorify Christ and yet in one’s own personal life no to obey him.” (Bruner 357).

Outline of SoM

What has Jesus taught and spoken for the LORD?

a. A gentle word of grace and blessing 5:1-12

b. As people who are part of God’s work we are to be of good to the world: salt, light.12-16

c. Jesus teaching goals—to fill up the teaching of the law and prophets 17-20

Block on relation to people: 6 antitheses you heard…I say

a. Starts with angeràseek out reconciliation 21-26

b. Starts with adulteryà intentions matter 27-30

c. Starts with divorceà we don’t rid ourselves of people 31-32

d. Starts with oathsà truthfulness in speach 33-37

e. Starts with retaliationàresponding to contempt, coercion and manipulation 38-42

f. Friends and enemiesàlove based in God 43-48

Block on religious actions 6 avoiding hypocrisy

a. Almsgiving-secret

b. Prayer—private; model

c. Fasting-internal

d. Storing up treasure

e. Illustrations: a sound eye (goals?); servants and masters

f. About worry

More on people 7

a. A Do not judge and condemn 1-5

b. A’ …but use some discernment

c. B Persist in prayer (which I suspect involves frustration with people)

d. B’ …and use your creativity and imagination with other people.

Three illustrations

a. Difficult for better, easy for worse 13-14

b. Teacher evaluation format: a tree and the fruit 15-20

c. Provocative wake up at the wind up. 21-23

d. Two builders-hearers and doers 24-27

5. Jesus comparison to fruit and thorns invites us to ask obvious questions:

a. Does Jesus teach bear good or bad fruit?

b. Is he a true or false prophet?

c. If true, will we head his teaching?

d. Which teaching have you seen bear fruit in some one’s life, yourself or another?

e. More specific: Which teaching will we apply?

CLOSING

Invitation to trust in Jesus himself, not only his teaching.

Thanks, and ask for feedback.

Include a prayer

OUTLINE OF THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT

What has Jesus taught and spoken for the LORD

a. A gentle word of grace and blessing 5:1-12

b. As people who are part of God’s work we are to be of good to the world: salt, light.12-16

c. Jesus teaching goals—to fill up the teaching of the law and prophets 17-20

Block on relation to people: 6 antitheses you heard…I say

a. Starts with angeràseek out reconciliation 21-26

b. Starts with adulteryà intentions matter 27-30

c. Starts with divorceà we don’t rid ourselves of people 31-32

d. Starts with oathsà truthfulness in speach 33-37

e. Starts with retaliationàresponding to contempt, coercion and manipulation 38-42

f. Friends and enemiesàlove based in God 43-48

Block on religious actions 6 avoiding hypocrisy

a. Almsgiving-secret

b. Prayer—private; model

c. Fasting-internal

d. Storing up treasure

e. Illustrations: a sound eye (goals?); servants and masters

f. About worry

More on people 7

a. A Do not judge and condemn 1-5

b. A’ …but use some discernment

c. B Persist in prayer (which I suspect involves frustration with people)

d. B’ …and use your creativity and imagination with other people.

Three illustrations

a. Difficult for better, easy for worse 13-14

b. Teacher evaluation format: a tree and the fruit 15-20

c. Provocative wake up at the wind up. 21-23

d. Two builders-hearers and doers 24-27

February 2, 2020

Matthew 7:13-14

My thesis for the study:

In the sermon on the mount, Jesus teaches us how to live in the world. Jesus gives actual instruction and formation. More than rules or law, the SOM is a set of convictions about moral truth.

13“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy a(3171)

that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. 14 For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

INTRODUCTION

1. Why do something that is difficult?

"We choose to go to the moon in this decade…, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win..."

President John F. Kennedy September 12, 1962 at Rice University

2. Welcome: Hi Pals, this is Blaine Hill with the Simply Stated Podcast for you, the Journey Sunday School class at Lake Murray Presbyterian Church in Chapin, SC. This season of the podcast is on Jesus sermon on the mount, in Matthew chapters 5 through 7. Today we are reading Matthew 7:13-14

3. I’ll get the basic ideas of the passage simply stated, then we’ll try to draw some wisdom out of the passage (person of Jesus, theology, eternity, ethics)

4. Read 7:13-14

A BLOCK

1. Structure

a. Repetition and contrast to make sticky. This is a meme. An idea with the power to repeat itself.

2. Bible Context: What comes before and after? Teaching on how to live our life as part of the Kingdom. This begins the end of Jesus SOM. He gives three contrast, two ways, two harvest, two builders.

3. Wayàmanner of living in Paul and imagination: The American way of life

B BLOCK

1. Blunt and tough speech: The toughness of the end of the sermon mirrors the grace and tenderness of the Beatitudes.

2. Life outside of Jesus is alluring—do as you see fit. Any mature and experienced view of the world knows that we must live with limitations. Life is chaotic and hard even in limitations. What set of borders will we submit to? On what basis will we make difficult decisions in difficult circumstances?

3. Link John 14:6

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7

4. What way of living is Jesus talking about? Last passage we looked at:

a. Do not judge and condemn

b. But be discerning

c. Ask in prayer

d. And use your own imagination

5. Jesus is not being hard-nosed here. He is warning us of danger and trying to show us the best way. Psalm 1:1-2

Happy are those

who do not follow the advice of the wicked,

or take the path that sinners tread,

or sit in the seat of scoffers;

2 but their delight is in the law of the LORD,

and on his law they meditate day and night.

Warning us about the danger of an easy way of life; invitation to a way that leads to life.

CLOSING

Invitation to trust in Jesus himself, not only his teaching.

Thanks, and ask for feedback.

Include a prayer

November 24, 2019 How to treat your enemies.

Matthew 6:1-4

My thesis for the study:

In the sermon on the mount, Jesus teaches us how to live in the world. Jesus gives actual instruction and formation. More than rules or law, the SOM is a set of convictions about moral truth.

“Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then

you have no reward from your Father in heaven.

2“So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites

do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell

you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you give alms, do not let your left hand

know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Where? Summary: Since all of Jesus actions and teachings show us that he is not interested in mere rule-keeping righteousness, we find that he is working for restoration, and that he places high demands upon those who follow him.

INTRODUCTION

1. Cliché: Your character is how you behave when no one can see you. A godly and god-fearing person knows that God can always see what we do—whether good or bad, or just mundane. True piety and right religious character is to move much of our religious life to where only God can see us. Here is an easy relogous question: what do you do in private. Jesus seems interested in a different question: what good actions will you move or keep in private?

2. Welcome: Hi Pals, this is Blaine Hill with the Simply Stated Podcast for the Journey Sunday School class at Lake Murray Presbyterian Church in Chapin, SC. This season of the podcast is on Jesus sermon on the mount, in Matthew chapters 5 through 7. Today we are reading Matthew 6:1-. I’ll get the basic ideas of the passage simply stated, then we’ll try to draw some wisdom out of the passage (person of Jesus, theology, eternity, ethics)

3. Read 6:1-4

A BLOCK

4. Stating things Simply

“Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then

you have no reward from your Father in heaven.

a. Beware-

· first direct warning, though much of his teaching certainly cautions and warns us.

· But no a strict prohibition. Jesus seems to be moving into how we ought to act—our intentions. “in order to be seen…”

b. Practicing piety:

· Gives three examples: almsgiving, prayer and fasting.

· Language link to righteousness.

c. Reward. Jesus casually recognizes that human beings respond to incentives. Major cornerstone of modern economic theory. People want, even need, to be noticed.

d. Father-household economy, not market economy. Parents may reward children, but they don’t look at them as workers, who must produce.

e. Structure: When you give/pray/fast, don’t _____________, but _______

2“So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites

do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell

you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you give alms, do not let your left hand

know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

f. Alms. Actions to assist others. Direct aid or any actions to benefit others. Charity, working for social change (19th century evangelical abolition work). Intersting that Jesus list alms first. Perhaps acting for others is the most important sort of piety.

g. Hypocrits: greek word for actor. Meaning deceivers. It seems Jesus is the person who brought the word hypocrits into moral vocab of western world (Willard Conspiracy 191)

h. Sound trumpet—did folks do so? Maybe! Could be sound of coin in trumpet shaped tubes into gift box (which I prefer). Or simply colorful language.

i. Gotten their reward—paid in full.

j. One hand/other—great image in itself. Perhaps calling for internal quiet and avoidance of self-congratulation?

k. Sees/Watching—heavenly father is paying attention to us; We don’t do good just for it’s own sake!

l. Hebrews 11:6

And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

m.

B BLOCK

5. Person: What do Jesus words reveals about who he is?

· Jesus easily and unproblematicly recognizes that humans respond to rewards/incentives/consequences, just as he recognized that we are tempted to nurse a grudge, shrug off a difficult relationship, want to retaliate and have enemies. How would it reshape our discipleship if we presumed an easy, comfortable and profound understanding and acceptance of human nature?

· Introduces hypocrits to moral convo. Jesus has his hand on the tiller guiding our understanding of morality in Western civilization.

·

6. Theology: What theological idea can we draw from this teaching?

· Importance of understanding God as our heavenly Father. Language is about our relationship to God, who is not distant or remote, but attentive.

·

7. Eternity: How does this teaching link our everyday life and eternity?

· Father in Heaven. Different axis and scale for our rewards.

· God’s omnipotence is meant to encourage us!

8. Ethics: What ethical teaching or guide can we take from this teaching?

(Bruner’s little steps; Willard’s dikaiosune –how is a good person to live?)

· Actions to assist others. Direct aid or any actions to benefit others. Charity, working for social change (19th century evangelical abolition work). Intersting that Jesus list alms first. Perhaps acting for others is the most important sort of piety.

· We act for the good of others because we are part of the household of God. We must assume that a caring father watches what we do to correct our error and sin, and to reward and encourage our

· Bit upside down: Americans are often quite touchy about letting others know what they do or don’t give (Al Gore? Failure to contribute; Mitt Romney [i]). Sometimes obeying this verse; sometimes hiding our lack of generosity.

CLOSING

Who is on your enemies list?

[i] https://www.politico.com/story/2012/09/romney-gives-more-to-charity-than-obama-biden-081529