The Sermon on the Mount, Day 14
October 18, 2009 |
Today is our day to practice worship together. Christ Church gathers at 5pm on Sunday evenings, and tonight Matthew 5:17-30 will be our focus. If you’re not part of Christ Church, get together with a group of friends and practice the following exercises:
- Eat together
- Read Matthew 5:17-30 together and share your experiences from your exercises this week
- Receive communion together (choose a reading from John 6:43-58, or 2 Cor 11:23-26, a liturgical book like the Book of Common Prayer)
- Pray for anyone in need
Tags: Gatherings, Matthew, Sermon on the Mount
Categories: Gatherings, Sermon on the Mount
mwkoehl said...
1As Wes was preaching this evening, I noticed the contrast between Jesus' pronouncement in Matt. 4:17, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” and His statement in Matt. 5:20, “…unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” If we plan to enter the kingdom by our own efforts, then we must fulfill the law completely, which requires doing much better than the religious leaders of that day. But if we accept the fact that Jesus brings the kingdom to us, then no amount of effort is needed. It is a free gift. Just live in the freedom of the kingdom of which you are already a citizen.
10/18/09 7:47 PM | Comment Link
Ben Sternke said...
2Merv, I think that's why the Beatitudes are first! Grace trumps law.
But it doesn't mean the rest of the Sermon is superfluous, it means that God has actually made a way for us to enter into the kind of life whose righteousness actually DOES surpass that of the scribes and Pharisees.
10/19/09 6:52 AM | Comment Link