Scripture: Matthew 4:23-5:2
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- This sermon has fallen on hard times in the study it deserves. So that John Stott aptly observed three realities about it, in that, “The Sermon on the Mount is probably the best-known part of the teaching of Jesus, the least understood, and certainly the least obeyed.” Best known, least understood, least obeyed. Why do you think he would say that?
- We are called to “seek first the kingdom of God.” If you are in a group, spend a couple of minutes talking this sentence apart. In other words, what does it mean, and how does it apply to life?
- Jesus says that it is a danger when if the “salt has lost its taste.” What do you think that means, and do you think that is happening to some extent?
- I say that prayer for “the kingdom to come,” can only be prayed by Christ’s disciples. Why is that?
- On one hand, obeying this Sermon is absolutely impossible, but on the other hand, I say that Christ commands for us to obey it, precisely because disciples can obey! How is that done?
- The kingdom of God is a difficult teaching to grasp, and yet it is all over the Bible, and it is the primary message of Jesus! I say that it is the rule and reign of God. Putting together all that I said about it in the Old Testament (proclaimed, 1 Chron. 29:10-13), prophesied, Daniel 4:1-3; 7:9-10, 13-17), and requiring preparation, Matt. 3:2, 4:7), summarize what the general message of the kingdom of God means for us today.
- The Sermon cannot be read without attention to the background. The background of the OT was in the last question, now pull out all the things from Matthew 1-4 concerning the King of this Kingdom, and list them all.
- I say that in Matthew 5:1-2, we have a separation of the crowds and the disciples. What’s so significant about that?
- This Sermon is about the blessed life. How can it be that when it looks like rules?
