Family Resemblance | Sermon On The Mount | Pastor Adam Bishop

Jul 12, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: Lightning Strikes and a Father’s Waiting Presence

When life’s storms shake us, our first instinct should be to seek the Father’s presence. Just as a child runs to their parent during thunder, God waits for us to draw near—not to fix us, but to reassure us with His steady love. He isn’t surprised by our fears, failures, or questions. His presence isn’t earned through perfection but accessed through relationship. The miracle isn’t that the storm stops, but that we find peace in the midst of it. [56:40]

“Come near to God and he will come near to you.” (James 4:8, NIV)

Reflection: What storm in your life have you been trying to weather alone? How might turning to God first, rather than last, shift your perspective today?

Day 2: “Might Could Swing It” and the Beauty of Unpolished Love

Love isn’t measured by eloquence but by willingness. Jesus calls us to love outsiders not with performative gestures, but with the awkward, genuine care of a Southern phrase in a New York boardroom. This love mirrors God’s own—unreserved, unashamed, and often uncomfortable. It’s less about getting it right and more about showing up. [40:26]

“If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?” (Matthew 5:46, NIV)

Reflection: Who in your life feels “different” from you? What small, unpolished act of love could you offer them this week?

Day 3: Accents, Awkwardness, and the Family Resemblance

Family resemblance isn’t about sameness but shared DNA. Just as a Georgia accent stands out in NYC, Christ-followers stand out by loving across divides—political, racial, or ideological. This isn’t diversity for diversity’s sake, but the overflow of a heart transformed by the Father’s love. The goal isn’t uniformity but unity forged through intentional grace. [41:50]

“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:35, NIV)

Reflection: When have you avoided someone because their “accent” (views, background, or choices) made you uncomfortable? What step could you take to lean in rather than pull away?

Day 4: The Holy Spirit’s Relentless Renovation

The Holy Spirit isn’t a passive roommate but an active renovator. His conviction isn’t condemnation—it’s proof we’re His. Like a father disciplining a child, God’s discomfort in our sin is His kindness. The ache we feel when we wander isn’t rejection but an invitation to return. Transformation isn’t self-improvement; it’s surrender to the One who makes us new. [49:22]

“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:6, ESV)

Reflection: Where have you resisted the Holy Spirit’s conviction lately? What would it look like to thank God for that discomfort instead of avoiding it?

Day 5: Perfection as a Journey, Not a Finish Line

“Be perfect” isn’t a demand for flawlessness but an invitation to growth. The Greek word telios implies maturity—like a tree gradually bearing fruit. Our job isn’t to manufacture love but to cooperate with the Spirit’s slow, steady work. Resembling the Father means embracing the process, not obsessing over the product. [43:55]

“We love because he first loved us.” (1 John 4:19, NIV)

Reflection: Where are you tempted to measure your spiritual growth by achievements instead of surrender? How might focusing on God’s love for you (not your performance) change that?

Sermon Summary

Matthew 5 brings Jesus to the end of this stretch of the Sermon on the Mount with a picture of family resemblance. Jesus says, “that you may be children of your Father in heaven,” and that one line carries a huge truth. The heavenly Father has welcomed sinners into his family, not because they could get there on their own, but because Jesus made the way through his death and resurrection. Salvation gives a new identity and a new family, so sons and daughters of God are seen through the perfection of Christ.

The love of the Father matters because the way God’s children believe he sees them shapes the way they seek him. God is not holding out until somebody becomes the best version of themselves. God loves his children as they are, not as they should be, and if they let him love them as they are, they become as they should be. That foundation keeps Jesus’ words from sounding like works-based righteousness. Jesus is not saying love earns a place in the family. Jesus is saying children begin to look like their Father.

Family resemblance shows up in love for people who are different. Jesus says loving those who already love back is not remarkable, because even tax collectors and pagans do that. The Father’s children are called to love outsiders who do not think, act, believe, or vote the same. The Father’s children are also called to lean toward insiders in the family of God whose stories and perspectives are different. Diversity is the fruit, love is the root. A room can look diverse while hearts stay complacent, so real love seeks out, listens to, and befriends people beyond the comfortable circle.

Jesus then says, “Be perfect therefore as your heavenly Father is perfect.” That word points to maturity, growth, and movement, not pretending sinless perfection has already arrived. The Holy Spirit perfects this love over time. The Spirit saves, transforms, convicts, and refuses to let redeemed people wander without pain. Conviction is not cruelty. Conviction is the kindness of the Father calling his children back.

The way forward is simple and counterintuitive: draw near to the Father. Worship, prayer, Scripture, and a greater awareness of his presence become the place where love is formed. Like a child waking in a storm and going straight to his dad, God’s children never catch the Father off guard. The Father is already there, ready to speak peace and draw them close.

Key Takeaways

1. Family likeness grows through love Jesus does not make religious activity the clearest sign of resembling the Father. Knowledge, service, giving, and mission matter, but the family resemblance comes into focus when love starts to look like God’s love. The Father’s children do not earn their place by loving well, but their love reveals whose family has claimed them. [28:16]
2. Different people reveal real love Jesus presses love beyond the easy circle of people who already agree, affirm, and reciprocate. Outsiders are not projects to fix before kindness begins, and insiders are not threats because their stories or votes are different. Love becomes real when it moves toward the person who is hard to understand and refuses to hold back the mercy God gave first. [35:03]
3. Diversity is fruit, not root A diverse room can still hide a comfortable heart. Love is the root that produces real diversity, because love seeks, listens, befriends, and stays present with people who are not the same. The family of God does not check a box and move on, because every heart still has room to grow in costly welcome. [42:30]
4. Conviction proves the Spirit’s kindness The Holy Spirit does not leave redeemed people alone when their lives stop resembling the Father. Misery under conviction is not proof that God has abandoned his child, but evidence that the Spirit is still working. Repentance begins when the heart stops arguing and simply says, “God, you’re right.” [48:53]
5. The Father waits in the storm Life’s storms often expose the instinct to figure everything out alone. The better instinct is the childlike move toward the Father’s presence, because he is never caught off guard. The Father is already awake, already near, and already able to speak the words that calm the soul.

## [55:49]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[21:05] - Dominican Republic Team Sendoff
[25:20] - Family Resemblance in Matthew 5
[26:58] - Sermon on the Mount Recap
[28:16] - The Big Idea of Fatherly Love
[30:00] - Welcomed Into God’s Family
[33:09] - God Loves Before Growth
[35:03] - Loving People Who Are Different
[37:26] - Learning Life as an Outsider
[41:50] - Diversity Is Fruit, Love Is Root
[43:26] - Be Perfect as the Father Is Perfect
[48:01] - A False Version of Christianity
[51:18] - Draw Near to the Father
[54:33] - The Storm and the Father’s Presence
[57:43] - Response, Conviction, and Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
Matthew 5:43-48 (NIV)
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

Observation questions

According to Matthew 5:45-46, what does Jesus contrast with the behavior of “tax collectors” and “pagans”?
In the sermon, what example was given to illustrate the difference between a “diverse room” and genuine love-driven diversity? [42:30]
How does Jesus define “perfection” in Matthew 5:48, and how was this clarified in the sermon? [43:26]
What two things does a person receive when they accept salvation, according to the sermon? [32:13]

Interpretation questions

Why does Jesus emphasize loving “enemies” and “those who persecute you” as a marker of being God’s children (Matthew 5:44-45)? How does this challenge cultural norms?
The sermon states, “Diversity is the fruit, love is the root.” What does this mean for how churches pursue unity amid differences? [42:30]
How does the idea of “perfection” in Matthew 5:48 relate to growth and maturity rather than flawlessness? How does the Holy Spirit enable this? [43:55]
Why might someone mistake conviction from the Holy Spirit as cruelty rather than kindness? [48:53]

Application questions

Who in your life feels “hard to love” because they think, act, or believe differently from you? What practical step could you take this week to lean into loving them like the Father does? [35:03]
The sermon says, “Conviction proves the Spirit’s kindness.” When have you experienced conviction that led to growth? How can you respond more openly to the Spirit’s correction? [50:31]
What habits (e.g., prayer, Scripture, worship) could help you cultivate a “greater awareness of God’s presence” daily? [53:44]
Think of a recent “storm” in your life (stress, conflict, fear). Did you first try to solve it alone or draw near to God? What would it look like to approach Him like a child in that situation? [55:49]
Are there areas where you’ve settled for a “check-the-box” version of faith instead of pursuing costly love? How can you move from complacency to intentional relationship with people different from you? [41:50]
The sermon says, “God loves you as you are, not as you should be.” Where do you struggle to believe this? How might resting in His love first change your actions this week? [33:09]

Sermon Clips

42s

#LoveWithoutHoldingBack

“They don't think like you, they don't act like you, they don't believe like you, and they don't vote like you. And here's the thing, you've been called to love them. You've been called to love them. And here's the thing, you've been called to love them without holding back, without holding out, to love them just the way they are. Why? Because that's how God loves you. God loved you when you were yet still in your sin. We don't hold out until people start acting, thinking, believing like us before we show them the love of God. We've actually been called to show them the love of God first. Whoever that person is in your life that's driving you crazy, that's God's invitation to love.”

49s

#RejectCheapGrace

“Some of you have signed up for a version of Christianity that was basically presented like this. Hey, man, do you wanna burn in hell forever or go to heaven? choose heaven. So you walked an aisle, you signed a card, and you're like, cool. I don't have to worry about that anymore. I'm gonna go to heaven. But you've been living your life however you want since. You don't really care about what God's word says, sexual purity is not a big deal to you, you do whatever the heck you want to with your own money. Every time I say something like, well, that's just what you think, and you have this constant like angst towards anything of the things of God. So you've got the get out of jail card, you're going to heaven one day, you're just living however you want. I love you enough to tell you this, you've signed up for a version of Christianity that quite simply is not in the New Testament.”

60s

#HolySpiritWithin

“That Jesus has given us a helper. If you've asked Jesus to come into your life, the holy spirit has taken up residence in you. And did you know Jesus says, the Holy Spirit in you is better than Jesus beside you. I'm not so sure I would choose that. Like if Jesus gave me a choice, you can have me beside you for one day of your life or the Holy Spirit in you for every day for the rest of your life. I'd really have to think about that one. Because spending the day with Jesus would be awesome. We'd walk on water. I mean, do all kind of stuff. Right? Be great. Go viral. So I got all kind of ideas. But Jesus says, no. Wrong answer. It's the Holy Spirit in you is better than me beside you. And this is helpful for us to be reminded that over time, church, the Holy Spirit is perfecting this type of love.”

54s

#LoveIsTheRoot

“```Listen to me, church. There's a big difference between worshiping in a room full of people who don't look like you and seeking out somebody that doesn't look like you. Befriending someone who doesn't look like you. Listening to a brother or sister in Christ whose story is different than yours, whose perspective is different than yours. Heaven forbid, who votes differently than you. See, this is what it looks like when you actually begin to lean in, not push away from people who are different. Now, when we do that well, it's a beautiful thing and it paints a beautiful picture. But here's the principle, maybe jot this down somewhere. I think it's just a helpful reminder for us. Diversity is the fruit, love is the root. Love is the root. The church asked me, hey, you know, new hope's diverse. We'd love to work on our diversity. What should we do? I would take them to this passage.”

71s

#ConvictionIsEvidence

“And I love you enough to tell you that if you can live that way with no remorse, with no regret, with no conviction, that is evidence that the Holy Spirit is not in you. Because let me tell you something. If the Holy Spirit's in you and you go live however you want, you ignore the things of God, you go your own way, you do whatever you wanna do, the Holy Spirit is not going to let you go. He's gonna wear you out, make you miserable. The most miserable people on the earth are not lost people. The most miserable people on earth are those who've been rescued, redeemed, and saved by the blood of the lamb, but aren't living like it. And the holy spirit will not let you go. And for some of you, if that's where you are right now, man, you are walking a path that looks nothing like resembling God your heavenly father, and the holy spirit is wearing you out. Here's what I would tell you, praise God. That is the evidence of your salvation. That is evidence that it's working. That word is conviction, and it's from God your heavenly father.”

50s

#WorshipDrawsNear

“Can I let you know a secret? It's easier to draw near to God into his presence when you're with his people than it is on your own. Don't miss this opportunity. The the response song isn't a chance for you to pack up your things or get out of here early. It's actually an opportunity for you to take a few minutes and draw near to God. So what happens when I draw near to God? That's the wonder and the mystery of it all. Because see God loves each of us individually as children, which means he'll speak to you individually one of his children. Did you know that more can happen in five seconds in your life in the midst of God's presence than five months of you trying to do it on your own? You draw near to his presence. You draw near to God.”

43s

#KeepTakingNextStep

“That over time, if you'll keep walking with the Lord, over time, not only will you see the evidence of salvation in your life, you'll begin to see the evidence of transformation in your life. The real miracle isn't just that God saves us, it's that he changes our hearts. He changes our desires, and it starts to happen that the Holy Spirit does this, and you start to look more and more like your heavenly Father. You say, well, well, how am I supposed to do that? You just keep moving forward. You just keep taking the same step. The next step, it's not the same step. We all have different steps, but you've got a next step in front of you. Don't check out of the process.”

51s

#RepentAndTurn

“And anybody that you think walks with the Lord, whether it's me or pastor Nick or pastor Caleb or someone else in your life that, man, they've walked with Jesus for a long time. I need you to let me level with you for a second. We've all been there. We've all been there. We've all been in those places in our life where the Holy Spirit would not let us go another moment, walking in a direction that did not resemble God our heavenly father. That is the evidence of God's kindness and his graciousness in our life. And so if that's you Listen, when God convicts you of that, all you have to do is say, God, you're right. I don't wanna live like that anymore. The biblical word is repentance. You you now turn and you go a different way.”

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Family Resemblance | Sermon On The Mount | Pastor Adam Bishop

Devotional

Day 1: Lightning Strikes and a Father’s Waiting Presence

Day 2: “Might Could Swing It” and the Beauty of Unpolished Love

Day 3: Accents, Awkwardness, and the Family Resemblance

Day 4: The Holy Spirit’s Relentless Renovation

Day 5: Perfection as a Journey, Not a Finish Line

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Family Resemblance | Sermon On The Mount | Pastor Adam Bishop

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