Living the Beatitudes: Faith, Righteousness, and Discernment
Summary
### Summary
Today, we delved into the significance of the Sermon on the Mount, emphasizing its relevance and depth in our spiritual lives. The Sermon on the Mount, delivered by Jesus along the shores of the Sea of Galilee, is the most complete sermon we have from Him. It addresses real relationships and contrasts the rigid enforcement of Old Testament laws by the scribes and Pharisees with the genuine, heartfelt obedience that Jesus calls for. The Beatitudes, which form a part of this sermon, are not just a list of rules to follow but are characteristics that believers inherently possess and should act upon, enabled by God's grace.
We explored the idea that the Sermon on the Mount is not about striving harder to live up to an impossible standard but about recognizing that our righteousness must exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees. This can only be achieved through faith in Jesus Christ, not through our own efforts. Jesus' teachings cover various aspects of life, such as anger, lust, divorce, oaths, retaliation, loving enemies, giving to the needy, prayer, fasting, and dealing with anxiety. These teachings are actionable and true for believers, but they also highlight our need for God's transformative power.
Towards the end of the sermon, we focused on the warning Jesus gives about false prophets. These individuals may appear to be good and even perform supernatural deeds, but without a genuine relationship with God, they lead others astray. The importance of discernment in recognizing false prophets was emphasized, along with the sufficiency and authority of Scripture as our guide. We must be cautious about claims of divine revelation and ensure that our beliefs and actions are grounded in the Word of God.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Beatitudes as Characteristics of Believers: The Beatitudes are not a checklist of behaviors to strive for but are inherent characteristics of those who belong to the kingdom of God. They are actionable traits that believers should increasingly exhibit, empowered by God's grace. This understanding shifts the focus from self-effort to living out what God has already worked within us. [39:51]
2. Righteousness Through Faith: Jesus' statement that our righteousness must exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees underscores the impossibility of achieving salvation through our own efforts. True righteousness comes through faith in Jesus Christ, who fulfilled the law on our behalf. This relational righteousness is the only way to enter the kingdom of God. [44:08]
3. The Authority and Sufficiency of Scripture: The Word of God is our ultimate authority for faith and practice. It is sufficient to guide us in all aspects of our spiritual lives. We must be wary of claims of new revelations and ensure that our beliefs and actions are firmly rooted in Scripture. [51:32]
4. Beware of False Prophets: Jesus warns us to be vigilant about false prophets who may appear genuine but lead others astray. Discernment is crucial in identifying these individuals. Their teachings and actions must be tested against the truth of Scripture to ensure they align with God's Word. [45:27]
5. Living Out the Sermon on the Mount: The teachings of the Sermon on the Mount cover various aspects of life and call us to a higher standard of living. While we may fall short, these teachings remind us of our need for God's transformative power. They are not about striving harder but about allowing God to work through us to live out His principles. [41:43]
### YouTube Chapters
1. [0:00] - Welcome
2. [32:07] - Personal Updates and Goals
3. [33:18] - Sabbatical and Refreshment
4. [34:26] - Preaching the Sermon on the Mount
5. [35:40] - Long-Range vs. Short-Range Planning
6. [36:10] - Concurrent Teaching with Sunday School
7. [37:04] - Importance of Mission and Vision
8. [38:41] - Context of the Sermon on the Mount
9. [39:51] - Understanding the Beatitudes
10. [41:43] - Living in the Kingdom of God
11. [44:08] - Righteousness Through Faith
12. [45:27] - Beware of False Prophets
13. [51:32] - Authority and Sufficiency of Scripture
14. [56:15] - Prophetic Word and Discernment
15. [01:00:18] - Sufficiency of Scripture
16. [01:10:11] - Importance of Discernment
17. [01:15:35] - Communion Service Instructions
18. [01:23:06] - Communion and Closing Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Matthew 5:1-12 (The Beatitudes)
2. Matthew 7:15-20 (Beware of False Prophets)
3. Hebrews 1:1-2 (God's Final Word Through His Son)
#### Observation Questions
1. What are the characteristics of believers as described in the Beatitudes? (Matthew 5:1-12)
2. According to Jesus, how can we identify false prophets? (Matthew 7:15-20)
3. How does Hebrews 1:1-2 describe the way God has communicated with humanity in the past and in the present?
4. What does the sermon say about the difference between the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees and the righteousness required to enter the kingdom of God? [44:08]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does Jesus emphasize that the Beatitudes are inherent characteristics of believers rather than a checklist of behaviors? [39:51]
2. How does the concept of righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ challenge the practices of the scribes and Pharisees? [44:08]
3. What does the sermon suggest about the role of Scripture in discerning false prophets and their teachings? [51:32]
4. How does the warning about false prophets in Matthew 7:15-20 apply to modern-day believers and their spiritual discernment? [45:27]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on the Beatitudes. Which characteristic do you feel is most evident in your life, and which one do you need to act upon more? How can you allow God's grace to help you grow in this area? [39:51]
2. Jesus calls for a righteousness that exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees. In what ways can you deepen your faith in Jesus to live out this relational righteousness? [44:08]
3. The sermon emphasizes the authority and sufficiency of Scripture. How can you ensure that your beliefs and actions are firmly rooted in the Word of God? What steps can you take to study the Bible more diligently? [51:32]
4. Have you ever encountered a situation where you had to discern whether a teaching or a person was genuinely from God? How did you handle it, and what did you learn from that experience? [45:27]
5. The sermon mentions various aspects of life covered in the Sermon on the Mount, such as anger, lust, and anxiety. Choose one area where you struggle and discuss practical ways to apply Jesus' teachings in that area. [41:43]
6. How can you cultivate a habit of prayer and fasting as taught in the Sermon on the Mount to strengthen your relationship with God and seek His transformative power in your life? [41:43]
7. Reflect on the importance of discernment in recognizing false prophets. What are some practical ways you can develop this discernment in your daily walk with God? [45:27]
Devotional
### Day 1: The Beatitudes as Inherent Traits
The Beatitudes are not a checklist but inherent traits of believers, empowered by God's grace. They are characteristics that reflect the nature of those who belong to the kingdom of God. This understanding shifts the focus from striving to achieve these traits through self-effort to recognizing and living out what God has already worked within us. The Beatitudes call us to embody qualities such as meekness, mercy, and purity of heart, which are made possible through the transformative power of God's grace.
As believers, we are called to exhibit these traits in our daily lives, not as a means to earn God's favor, but as a response to the grace we have already received. This perspective encourages us to rely on God's strength rather than our own, allowing His Spirit to cultivate these characteristics within us. By doing so, we become living testimonies of God's kingdom, reflecting His love and righteousness to the world around us. [39:51]
Bible Passage: "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied." (Matthew 5:5-6, ESV)
Reflection: Think of a specific Beatitude that you find challenging to live out. How can you rely on God's grace to embody this trait more fully in your daily interactions?
### Day 2: Righteousness Through Faith
Jesus' statement that our righteousness must exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees highlights the impossibility of achieving salvation through our own efforts. True righteousness comes through faith in Jesus Christ, who fulfilled the law on our behalf. This relational righteousness is the only way to enter the kingdom of God. It is not about adhering to a set of rules or performing religious duties, but about a genuine relationship with Jesus, who transforms our hearts and lives.
This teaching challenges us to shift our focus from external compliance to internal transformation. It calls us to trust in Jesus' finished work on the cross and to live out our faith in a way that reflects His love and grace. By doing so, we experience the freedom and joy that come from knowing we are accepted by God, not because of what we do, but because of what Jesus has done for us. [44:08]
Bible Passage: "For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it." (Romans 3:20-21, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on an area of your life where you have been striving to earn God's approval. How can you shift your focus to trusting in Jesus' righteousness instead?
### Day 3: The Authority and Sufficiency of Scripture
The Word of God is our ultimate authority for faith and practice. It is sufficient to guide us in all aspects of our spiritual lives. We must be wary of claims of new revelations and ensure that our beliefs and actions are firmly rooted in Scripture. The Bible provides us with the wisdom and guidance we need to navigate life's challenges and to grow in our relationship with God.
By grounding ourselves in Scripture, we can discern truth from falsehood and align our lives with God's will. This requires a commitment to regular Bible study and prayer, seeking to understand and apply God's Word in our daily lives. As we do so, we become more attuned to the leading of the Holy Spirit and better equipped to live out our faith in a way that honors God. [51:32]
Bible Passage: "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16-17, ESV)
Reflection: How can you make Scripture a more central part of your daily routine? What steps can you take to ensure that your beliefs and actions are grounded in God's Word?
### Day 4: Beware of False Prophets
Jesus warns us to be vigilant about false prophets who may appear genuine but lead others astray. Discernment is crucial in identifying these individuals. Their teachings and actions must be tested against the truth of Scripture to ensure they align with God's Word. False prophets can be deceptive, often presenting themselves as trustworthy and even performing supernatural deeds. However, without a genuine relationship with God, they can lead people away from the truth.
To guard against false teachings, we must cultivate a deep understanding of Scripture and develop a discerning spirit. This involves seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit, being part of a community of believers who can provide accountability, and continually evaluating teachings and practices in light of God's Word. By doing so, we can protect ourselves and others from being led astray and remain faithful to the truth of the Gospel. [45:27]
Bible Passage: "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?" (Matthew 7:15-16, ESV)
Reflection: Think of a recent teaching or message you heard. How can you test its validity against the truth of Scripture? What steps can you take to develop greater discernment in your spiritual life?
### Day 5: Living Out the Sermon on the Mount
The teachings of the Sermon on the Mount cover various aspects of life and call us to a higher standard of living. While we may fall short, these teachings remind us of our need for God's transformative power. They are not about striving harder but about allowing God to work through us to live out His principles. Jesus' teachings address issues such as anger, lust, divorce, oaths, retaliation, loving enemies, giving to the needy, prayer, fasting, and dealing with anxiety.
By embracing these teachings, we acknowledge our dependence on God and invite His Spirit to transform our hearts and minds. This process involves daily surrender and a willingness to be shaped by God's Word. As we live out the principles of the Sermon on the Mount, we become a reflection of God's kingdom, demonstrating His love, mercy, and righteousness to those around us. [41:43]
Bible Passage: "But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust." (Matthew 5:44-45, ESV)
Reflection: Identify one specific teaching from the Sermon on the Mount that you find challenging. How can you invite God's transformative power to help you live out this teaching in your daily life?
Quotes
1. "But one of the problems churches run into is that they set long-range plans. And kind of like you might do with a business, set a long-range plan, and all of a sudden the long-range plan becomes your vision. Where I feel like a long-range plan, the benefit of it is that you're doing a short-range plan. I mean, really, that's the only benefit in my book, that you're lining up your resources and planning to carry out short-range goals." [35:02] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Consider the Beatitudes. Blessed are the meek. Blessed are the poor in spirit. Blessed are the pure in heart. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst after righteousness. Blessed are they who are persecuted for righteousness' sake. All of those Beatitudes. If we're not careful, we begin to think, well, here's a list of rules we ought to follow, and I've got to try harder next week. And for sure, we need to put forth effort into what God has told us to do. But this is not the case." [39:51] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Ultimately, though, the Sermon on the Mount is not about you working harder at how you live. Remember in chapter 5, and I preached this, there's a statement in there about if you're going to enter into the kingdom, your righteousness has to exceed that of the scribes and the Pharisees. How's that for a statement? Have any of you followed the law better than them? In fact, there were no people that were able to follow it as well as they did." [43:26] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "There is only one way to enter into the kingdom of God. It is through Jesus Christ. He is the way. He is the truth. And he is the life. So as summary, Christ is preaching about having a genuine commitment to God. Don't just go through the motions. Don't depend on your performance to think that you're going to get to heaven that way. But you need to have a genuine relationship with God." [44:48] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Beware of false prophets. Well, it tells you a couple things, right? One, that there's prophets. But two, that there's false prophets. And so we've got to beware of them. And what does this mean? And is this all for today? And how do we take all of this? Well, I have a couple of quotes here I want to go into that I'll read to you. And hopefully it's not too difficult to follow. They're not real long." [45:27] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "We believe in the absolute authority of Scripture. That is all we need for faith and practice. So as concerns spiritual things. As it concerns how we conduct our lives. The Word of God has the authority over us. It doesn't tell us how to fix our car. It doesn't tell us how to comb our hair. It doesn't tell us how to fix the dishwasher. I fixed my own dishwasher from YouTube. You know, several times now. I'm so impressed with myself." [59:07] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "We believe in the sufficiency of Scripture. It's enough. It is enough. Some people have said, well, I'm bored with teaching it this way. Or I don't want to teach you that. Who wants to teach you the Minor Prophets? I mean, it's like the same thing over and over. Right? It just feels that way. But yet it's the Word of God that we need. And it's enough for us. You don't need to teach something different. You don't need to start watching a movie. You don't need to have movie weekend." [01:00:18] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "We got churches feeding us rice cakes like there's something meaningful in there. Like there's some kind of nutrition. And it's just a rice cake. It tastes good and salty or good and sweet. But all said and done, it's just a rice cake. We got committees writing pastor sermons because I want to make sure it's politically correct and not edgy. You get a little too edgy, Scott. I'd rather be edgy than have all the edges taken off the powerful Word of God." [01:12:11] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "Beware of false prophets. That's the big deal. Because all through the New Testament, the Bible tells us, There's false prophets out there, and you've got to know who they are. And whether you believe prophets are for today or not, I just don't care. I could hardly, you can hardly get a rise out of me. But I can tell you this, that you must be very careful about what you declare God has said, if God hasn't said. And the Bible is our main resource for knowing." [01:10:11] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "So, I've talked to you about my 60 goals, you know, before I turned 60. Now some of you think I'm too old to pastor. I don't know, 60. Who wants a 60-year-old pastor? I hope you all do. Don't answer me. Anyway, I have these 60 goals, and one of them is to eat healthier. And so I've been doing all these things that people that are, you know, between 35 and 0 do. And that is eating healthier." [01:10:59] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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