The Moody Church Sunday Morning Podcast

Every speech has a central thesis, a big idea around which everything else is organized. In this passage, we come to the central thesis of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. This is the blazing center, the beating heart of the upside-down Way of Jesus. In these 111 words (in Greek) we find the big idea that turned the world on its head. This sermon address three organizing questions: Why is Jesus explaining Himself? Jesus came not to “abolish” or “relax” the righteous requirements of God, but that they might be “fulfilled” and “accomplished.” And to drive His point home, Jesus affirms the enduring importance of the Law of God with two definitive statements: the Word of God stands forever and all of it will be accomplished; and, because the Kingdom of Heaven is “at hand” in Jesus’ coming, the righteous requirements of the Law and Prophets are upheld. So what must we do to become righteous?

What is the righteousness God requires? If our righteousness must exceed that of the Scribes and Pharisees to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, what kind of righteousness is required? To be truly right before God, we need real goodness on the inside, flowing outwardly into all our relationships so that the people around us are drawn into a life of devotion toward God and justice toward one another. This kind of true righteousness springs from our hearts and permeates all of life. The problem is that this in unattainable on our own. We can try our hardest to be righteous, but unless our hearts are made right, all our efforts are just sin management. Our behavior is the symptom, but our hearts are the problem. Is there any hope?

How do we become truly righteous? Jesus says: change your thinking and whole way of living, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand, on offer, in Me. You see, Jesus came, not to abolish the Law and the Prophets, but to fulfill them in Himself. The righteous requirements of God were fully met in Jesus. He is the righteousness that exceeds that of the scribes and the Pharisees, and His righteousness is freely offered to all who will trust in Him. All we need to do is come to Jesus. The salvation Jesus offers us provides justification, sanctification, and glorification. By grace through faith in Christ, we are the righteousness of God in Him, we are becoming the righteousness of God by the Spirit, and we will truly be like God in glory. Takeaway: God intends to make us like Himself. God is in the business of taking ordinary, sinful, hopeless people and turning us into glorious sons and daughters of God. The righteousness of God is our past, present, and future by grace, through faith, in Christ. Matthew 5:17-20

“If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed.” Some of you will recognize that line from the 2014 commencement address Admiral William McRaven gave at the University of Texas which went viral a few years back and was later made into a book. Admiral McRaven was reminding those graduates of the power of the little things: our choices, our habits, our influence. Every one of us is entrusted with a sphere of influence. And the choices we make, the habits we form, and the influence we wield help shape and mold our little corner of the world for better or worse. It’s the little things that end up changing our world. Jesus makes much the same point in his Sermon on the Mount: “If you want to change the world, start off by being Salt and Light.” In this sermon from Matthew 5:13-16, Jesus is teaching us how to change our world. To do that, we need to understand three things: The Overlap of the Kingdoms: Every moment of every day is an opportunity to be with Jesus and live in the reality and resources of the Kingdom of Heaven.

The Dynamics of Salt and Light: Salt is a preservative and a seasoning. Jesus is saying that his followers, when they live in the reality and resources of the Kingdom of Heaven, have a preservative influence on a decaying world around them. Light is a deterrent and a beacon. Jesus is saying that his followers, when they live in the reality and resources of the Kingdom of Heaven, are like light that drives the darkness away. So, Jesus is telling us that if you want to change the world, start off by being salt and light. But, in order to be both salt and light, we must avoid two errors: syncretism (when we try to fit in with the world) and separatism (when we try to hide from the world around us). The correct balance is to embrace holy presence.

The Calling of Holy Presence: Jesus calls us to be a people holy unto the Lord who are also fully present in this lost world. We are called to be fully engaged residents of the kingdom of earth, while maintaining a holy life of citizenship in the Kingdom of Heaven. But living in this way requires tension. We all tend to lean either towards syncretism or separatism. As you consider which way you lean, ask yourself: Where is God calling me to radical holiness? Where is God calling me to radical presence? Takeaway: Go and be the church! Matthew 5:13-16 Watch the Living The Message episode here: https://youtu.be/f2L6sOwcQBc

Words shape the course of history. Two thousand years ago a young Jewish carpenter-turned-Rabbi turned the world upside down with His Sermon on the Mount and He began in the most unexpected way. He announced the blessings of the Kingdom of Heaven we’re coming upon the least, the last, and the left behind. As we consider these “blessed”, these “beatitudes” of Jesus from Matthew 5:3-12, we’ll focus our attention on three themes:The Upside-Down Kingdom: The Kingdom of Heaven is turning the world on its head. In Jesus’ Kingdom, many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first. And so, the Kingdom is “at hand” in Jesus for the least, the last, and the left behind. Anyone desperate enough to cast all their hopes on Jesus are welcome in the Kingdom of Heaven.

The Paradox of Blessedness: Blessedness is getting more of God in life’s valleys. What if blessedness in the Kingdom of God is most readily found not when we are feeling strong, but when we know we are weak?

The Inverted Way of Life: If you’re feeling disoriented by the Jesus’ teaching, that’s exactly what He is trying to do. Jesus is saying that you must change your whole way of thinking about life and reality, because the Upside-Down Kingdom is here. Three takeaways to help us consider what Jesus is saying:What if the moments we often interpret as cursedness, are in fact an invitation into blessedness?

What if the greatest blessedness we could ever ask for is simply to have a greater portion of God?

What if the way up is down? Matthew 5:3-12 Living the Message episode available here: https://youtu.be/6E0SPkLNBY8

The Sermon on the Mount is the central, essential message of Jesus. It contains His most brilliant, incisive, and challenging teachings. If you want to know what Jesus is all about, look no further than the Sermon on the Mount. The Sermon on the Mount is, at its core, about a Kingdom. A Kingdom that turns the world, and our lives, upside-down. But let me warn you: to follow the upside-down Way of Jesus means going against the flow. It’s an inverted way to live. It’s cross-grain to almost everything else. Because this broken-down world is like a turtle flipped on its back that can’t tell which end is up; and Jesus is in the business of setting it right-side-up. To live in the upside-down Kingdom of Heaven is actually to discover the right-side up Way of life! The Sermon on the Mount begins in Matthew 5:3-12. In this passage, we’ll see three things:Unexpected Kingdom: The Kingdom of Heaven is “at hand” in Jesus.

Unusual Blessing: The favor of God is bestowed upon the least likely.

Unparalleled Offer: The blessed life of God is on offer in Jesus. Takeaway: Jesus invites ever one of us, “Follow me.” Matthew 5:3-12

As we enter the new year, what’s the most important thing we can fix our attention on? The highest priority of God’s people for 2022 is to passionately pursue the presence of God in our lives. In this sermon, special guest Stephen Farish focuses our attention on the beauty of God in this passage from Psalm 27. Three questions about the beauty of the Lord from verse 4:What is the beauty of the Lord, and what does it look like?

Where do we see the beauty of the Lord most clearly revealed?

What is the right response by human beings to the Lord’s revelation of His “beauty” in Jesus Christ? Psalm 27:1-6

The story of Jesus’ coming is full of curious surprises. Nothing is routine in this story! With every turn comes another twist, a reinforcement that this is no ordinary child. And the events we’re about to examine today are no exception. Every first-century Jewish couple, upon having a child, were to go to the temple to offer a sacrifice for purification, and, in the case of a firstborn son, to pay the price of his redemption. But when Mary and Joseph show up at the temple for what they must have assumed would be a routine, straightforward process, they were met with yet another curious surprise. Two curious surprises, actually: two individuals named Simeon and Anna. And although they’d never met them before, these two were waiting for their arrival. In this curious and surprising account, we’re going to catch 3 glimpses of the redemption God: The Portrayal of Redemption: God deserves the firstborn. Every time a firstborn son was born into a Jewish family, they would go to the temple and be reminded: Not only that everything they had was a gift of grace that ultimately belonged to God, but that God had given their firstborn son’s life back twice; once, through the blood of a lamb, and again, through the payment of the price of redemption. So, it is for this “redemption of the firstborn” that Mary and Joseph come and present Jesus in the temple. All of this is a portrayal of God’s redemption.

The Prospect of Redemption: God rescues His firstborn. That’s what Simeon and Anna were waiting for! They were waiting for the ONE who would redeem God’s firstborn son, Israel. They were waiting for Messiah. Jesus is the Savior who will surely redeem God’s firstborn son, Israel. But more than that, He’s the lamb who takes away the sin of the world!

The Prophecy of Redemption: God gives His firstborn. God gives up his firstborn Son for us; to redeem us, to save us. and to rescue us. Takeaway: God gave us His Son to redeem many sons for glory. Who would ever have thought that the God, to whom we owe everything, in grace, would give up everything for us? That He would give up his firstborn Son to bring many sons and daughters to glory? Luke 2:21-38 Living The Message episodes: https://youtu.be/vPaGNOG2XU8

In the first-century Greco-Roman world of the New Testament was a highly stratified and class conscious one. At the top was Caesar and the political ruling class, followed by landed estate owners and decorated military leaders. Roman citizens outclassed non-Romans, and on and on down the ladder. Then, of course, on the lowest rung were slaves. It is into this highly stratified world that Jesus is born. And in our passage today, Luke goes out of his way to make sure we don’t miss the lowly origins of Jesus. This is not the story we would have expected. Who would ever have thought that when the King of Heaven came to town He’d move in on wrong side of the tracks? But He shows up this way on purpose to reveal Himself to the world and to us. In these familiar verses of the Christmas story, we will see three things: The Lord’s Sovereignty: Luke wants us to see that although Caesar Augustus might be calling the shots on earth, the Lord reigns over all, including the affairs of mankind. Nothing can thwart the advent of God’s redemptive plan.

The Lord’s Extravagancy: Luke wants us to see that that Lord comes for all, the lowest and highest, the richest and the poorest, and everyone in between. How extravagant of God that He invites us all!

The Lord’s Modesty: Luke wants us to see in the manger that the Lord humbles before all. Jesus is the Lord exalted above all because He humbled Himself before all. Jesus was laid in a manger because He came to be devoured; He was born to be swallowed up by death; He came to be the good shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep. Takeaway: Jesus is good news of great joy for all people. Anyone, anywhere, at anytime can come to Jesus and find life. You don’t need to have it all together because all are welcome at His manger. Luke 2:1-20 Watch the Living the Message episode here: https://youtu.be/ZGwji-a2m38

When things get personal, everything changes. It’s one thing to see someone on a screen. It’s quite another to encounter them in real life when things become personal, tangible, and real. That’s what’s happened with Mary. All those years reading her Bible, and now it was happening to her! God chose her to bear a baby boy who will be the Savior of the World, the King of Israel, the Son of God. The Biblical stories of God’s saving intervention went from an abstract, distant, history to being personal, tangible, and real. In this passage from Luke 1:39-56, Mary’s song of praise, called the “Magnificat,” is the first Christmas carol that overflows from her heart. This beautiful song shows us the kind of heart God wants to bring to life in each of us this Christmas as we pause and let the wonder in. Heart of Faith: Mary’s heart is filled with faith because she realizes and becomes sure that God holds true to His Word. How about you?

Heart of Joy: Mary’s heart is filled with joy because she understands that God blesses unlikely people. How about you?

Heart of Hope: Mary’s heart is filled with hope because God is setting the world to rights. Jesus’ coming means that world is being turned upside-down, or should we say right-side-up. How about you? Takeaway: When it’s personal, everything changes. The reason Mary’s heart is filled with faith, joy, and hope, overflowing in this chorus of wonder, awe, and praise Is because God became personal to her. Has there ever been a moment when the Lord God became personal to you? God wants to fill your heart with faith, joy, and hope this Christmas. And that happens when we allow God to get personal with us. And the only way that happens is when we come to him like Mary, humble, lowly, and hungry. It’s the only way He can bless us. It’s the only way we can have Him. For most of us, it’s our pride, might, and riches that get in the way, so we’re faithless, joyless, and hopeless. But if you’ll come humbly, you will receive mercy; come lowly, and you will be lifted up; come hungry, and you will be filled. May this be the Christmas when it all becomes personal to you and your heart is filled with faith, joy, and hope. Luke 1:39-56 Watch Living the Message episode: https://youtu.be/yVVaxJjrlAY

Every year, Christmas tends to rush us by. With all the shopping and events and family commitments and the long lists of to-do list, the frantic pace often leaves us barely catching our breath. That’s why Advent is so good for our hearts. If you didn’t grow up celebrating Advent, it’s a time for us to slow down and reflect and prepare our hearts for the significance of the “coming” of Jesus. That’s what Advent means: Coming. This Advent we’ll be walking through four vignettes from the Gospel of Luke that surround Jesus’ coming in a series are entitled “The Greatness of Christmas.” Throughout the series, we’ll explore four vignettes, four opportunities to pause, and let the wonder in as we reflect on “The Greatness of Christmas.” In this sermon, we look at the Angelic Announcement to Mary when she learns that she would be the mother of Jesus. The angel Gabriel’s announcement to Mary gives three clues to who this child will be:The Savior of the World: Jesus will the savior who will lay down his life on a cross and rise again to give us eternal life.

The King of Israel: Jesus will be the Messiah, the one who would inherit the promises and covenants made with the house of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and who would fulfill the covenant made with Israel’s greatest king, David. In other words, Jesus will be the King of Israel.

The Son of God: Jesus will be called Holy and will be uniquely set apart from all other children and every other birth, because he will be the Son of God. This means that Jesus is God incarnate, God come to dwell among us. He will be called Emmanuel, which means “God with us.” Takeaways: There are three questions for us to pause and wonder in…What must God be like that He would choose such confinement?

What must God be like that He would slip in incognito?

What must God be like that He would arrive amidst scandal? Luke 1:26-38

In many ways, the Book of Philippians is kind of a thank you note from the Apostle Paul. Because of Paul’s financial hardships under house arrest in Rome, the Philippian believers pooled their resources and sent him a gift to sustain him. Epaphroditus was their courier entrusted with the gift. Now Epaphroditus is headed back to Philippi with this letter in hand we now know as Philippians. So, this letter is a kind of thank you note. Except, Paul never actually says “thank you.” In fact, it’s one of the worst thank you notes ever. But as we explore this passage, we’ll see that Paul is giving us the inside scoop on how we can be truly rich. Those who are truly rich value three things: The Freedom of Contentment: The truly rich choose to live with open hands. In Christ, we have far greater resources than money can ever provide.

The Power of Generosity: The truly rich know it is more blessed to give than to receive. Those blessings come both now (giving changes us) and later (storing up Heavenly treasure).

The Treasures of Eternity: The truly rich prize the eternal value of God’s Word and God’s people. There is no greater return in investment than to invest in God’s Word and God’s people. No other investment is as secure, of higher significance, or yields greater satisfaction. Takeaway: Where you treasure is, there will your heart be also. Where is your heart? Philippians 4:10-23