Sermon Text: Matthew 5:1-12.

“Rather than the good life being defined in predominantly moral terms (i.e., seeking virtue, shunning vice, and conforming to a divinely given “way”), now the good life is often defined by a pursuit of a feeling, which is won by the accumulation of all the things you would find if one were to weld together ideal versions of a job résumé, dating profile, and Christmas list. By achieving success, wealth, power, and the right body type, we’ve allowed a modern combination of meritocracy and consumerism to cast an imaginative and alluring vision of ‘happily ever after.” Joshua Chatraw, Telling a Better Story.

Persecution is inevitable for followers of Jesus. 

Our Response to Persecution is non-retaliatory. 

How real is the Kingdom of Heaven to you? 

How real is Jesus’ promised reward to you?