Sermon for August 2nd, 2026: Difference between revisions
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==Higher Education Part I: Beatitudes== | ==Higher Education Part I: Beatitudes== | ||
It was the first day of school, and the teacher getting to know her students. She pointed to one child and asked, "So what do your parents do for a living?" | |||
The student replied, "They're both magicians, and they have a brand new act this year--for the grand finale, they put someone in a box and saw them in half." | |||
"That's very interesting," said the teacher, genuinely impressed. "And do you have any siblings?" | |||
"Yes Ma'am," said the student. "Two half-brothers and one half-sister." | |||
" | For the next several Sundays, we are going "back to school" with our half-brothers and half-sisters at First Christian Church, through a joint sermon series on the Sermon on the Mount--which is the most fundamental and challenging collection of Jesus' teachings in the gospel of Matthew. For three of those Sermons, we'll be worshiping together, and for the other three, Pastor Nick and I will be preaching to our respective congregations, but using the same texts and themes. Each week, we'll also provide you with some extra scripture readings that are part of the Sermon on the Mount, but not included in the sermons, along with some discussion questions to guide you through the readings. I think it will be a fun and challenging experience, and a great way to celebrate both of our churches' commitment to education and life-long learning. | ||
Revision as of 18:35, 1 August 2026
Matthew 5:1-12 (New Testament p. 4)
1When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying: 3‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4‘Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5‘Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 6‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 7‘Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. 8‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 9‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. 10‘Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11‘Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Higher Education Part I: Beatitudes
It was the first day of school, and the teacher getting to know her students. She pointed to one child and asked, "So what do your parents do for a living?" The student replied, "They're both magicians, and they have a brand new act this year--for the grand finale, they put someone in a box and saw them in half." "That's very interesting," said the teacher, genuinely impressed. "And do you have any siblings?" "Yes Ma'am," said the student. "Two half-brothers and one half-sister."
For the next several Sundays, we are going "back to school" with our half-brothers and half-sisters at First Christian Church, through a joint sermon series on the Sermon on the Mount--which is the most fundamental and challenging collection of Jesus' teachings in the gospel of Matthew. For three of those Sermons, we'll be worshiping together, and for the other three, Pastor Nick and I will be preaching to our respective congregations, but using the same texts and themes. Each week, we'll also provide you with some extra scripture readings that are part of the Sermon on the Mount, but not included in the sermons, along with some discussion questions to guide you through the readings. I think it will be a fun and challenging experience, and a great way to celebrate both of our churches' commitment to education and life-long learning.
- Spend more time on vss. 1-2 (the educational approach)
- Makarios: Blessed but really "bigger, happier"
- The difficult teachings at the heart of the Sermon on the Mount
- Countercultural nature of the beatitudes and the rest of the sermon
- Prelude (Matt. Chapter 4): Temptation, Calling of first Disciples, teaching and healing
Kid going to his first day of school, he looks worried, his dad asks him "What's wrong?"
Nervous, the kid asks, "How long do I have to go to school for?"
"Until you're 18" says the father.
The kid nods, and thinks about this quietly. When they get to the front gates of the school, the kid says "Dad, you will remember to come and get me when I'm 18, won't you?"