“People of God, Who Are You Living For?”

Sunday’s message is based on Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, Matt 5:21-37. 

The sermon itself is introduced in chapter four when Jesus calls for a “change of heart”. Jesus says “repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is near!” At the time the Jews  lived under the “law” of “dos” and “don’ts”.  It was the way to live perpetuated by the scribes and Pharisees. In Matt 5:17 Jesus tells those He calls that He did not come to abolish the law but to fulfill the law. He states, “If you want to live that way you have to do a whole lot better than the scribes and Pharisees.” Matt 5:20. Jesus then says in Matt 12:7 that He desires mercy, not sacrifice. It’s a new way of living that begins in the heart.  A heart that has been renewed by His transforming power.  Life as His people begins with a relationship in Him that gets lived out by loving others.  It is a life that mirrors His, sacrificing oneself for the benefit of others.  That’s totally different than the way the world around us lives.  Consider, what’s wrong with the world? Who’s responsible for making things right? How do we bring JOY to our life? It all begins by discovering who you are living for! (Jesus first, others second and yourself last.)                                                             

      Question: What is the Sermon on the Mount?
Answer:

The Sermon on the Mount is the sermon that Jesus gave in Matthew chapters 5-7. Matthew 5:1-2 is the reason it is known as the Sermon on the Mount: “Now when He saw the crowds, He went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to Him, and He began to teach them…” The Sermon on the Mount is the most famous sermon Jesus ever gave, perhaps the most famous sermon ever given by anyone.

The Sermon on the Mount covers several different topics. If we were to summarize the Sermon on the Mount in a single sentence, it would be how to live a life that is a new way of living that begins with a heart that has been renewed by Christ transforming power. 

 

 

   Pastor Ken Sype- Guest Pastor on Feb. 12

 

Pastor Ken Sype is our guest pastor on Feb. 12th. Pastor Sype and his wife Jane moved to Lincoln after serving as pastor at congregations in Iola and Overland Park, Kansas. The Sype’s are personally familiar with church planting having started Christ Lutheran Church and School in Overland Park.