JANUARY 22/24th

THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT’

‘WALKING THE WALK’ – and not merely talking the talk

(1) Matt 5.1-6: WALKING IN THE RIGHT ATTITUDE

MAKING THE RIGHT IMPACT

INTRODUCTION: The Sermon on the Mount, coming right at the start of his ministry, is Jesus’ ‘manifesto’. It is his clear delineation of the sort of life his disciples must lead. His followers will be radically different; almost every paragraph contrasts their behaviour and attitudes with that of others. Matt 6.8 sums it up when Jesus says: "Do not be like them". How are Christians to be recognised? In what ways will they stand out ‘like a sore thumb’ and be widely different? The Sermon gives us the answer. FOR EVERY CHRISTIAN IT IS VITAL THAT WE DAILY ASPIRE TO LIVE THIS WAY: THAT WE NOT ONLY GLIBLY ‘TALK THE TALK’ BUT THAT WE ‘WALK THE WALK’! There is no other proof that we are truly his disciples.

I. WALKING WITH THE RIGHT ATTITUDE

Jesus begins his sermon with the 8 Beatitudes (or ‘Blessings’). But they have been called ‘the 8 Be(autiful) attitudes’, for they describe the ‘beautiful living’ that we are called to – the living that has God’s blessing.

It is important to note:

• They are all essential. We are all called to live all eight of these! (They do not describe 8 types of Christian). Together they describe normal Christian discipleship.
• They are very ‘searching’. They go deep into the attitudes of human spirit, mind and soul: for discipleship is a thing of the heart.
• They are ‘sequential’, that is, they follow on one from the other, connected to each other. One attitude follows from the next.
• They are ‘startling’. Most of them describe values and attitudes at total contrast to those exhibited and admired by the world around.
• Living this way doesn’t make you a Christian. You have to be a Christian to be able to live this way. Only the presence and power of Jesus in our lives can enable us to live the Jesus way.

QUESTIONS:

THE BEATITUDES: Discuss together the meaning and implications for our living of the 8 attitudes.

• 5.3: The spirit of recognition of my spiritual poverty

What does this mean? How will it show itself?

Is this common among Christians? Why is it important?

• 5.4: The spirit of ongoing sorrow for my sin

Isn’t ‘joy’ a Christian’ quality? Where does sorrow and mourning come in?

Why is this so essential? How common id it?

• 5.5: The spirit of genuine humility

In what way is this attitude connected to the previous attitudes? How popular and common is it – in the world? - in the church? How hard is it for the human spirit?

• 5.6: The spirit that yearns for goodness

Discuss this together. Is it personal righteousness or social righteousness? Can you have one without the other?

• 5.7: The spirit whose instinct is to ‘let people off’

In what practical ways will such a spirit exhibit itself in Church life? what sort of behaviour does it exclude?

• 5.8: The spirit that is pure all through

(the Greek word for ‘pure’ here means ‘unmixed’. It can indicate an ‘unmixed goodness’ or a heart that is ‘undivided’, sincere, genuine)

How do you understand this attitude? And how will it exhibit itself.

• 5.9: The spirit that loves peace and actively seeks to promote it continually

What types of attitude and action will this spirit promote and preclude in our relationships?

(What won’t we do – and what will we do if we move with this spirit?)

THE BLESSINGS

• In what way do these attitudes lead to human happiness and blessing? What is the ultimate source of true happiness and blessing?

II. MAKING THE RIGHT IMPACT: 5.10-16

Jesus speaks about the impact such attitudes will make. What does he have to say about the following:

• Such attitudes may bring PERSECUTION from some (5.10)

Why should this be so?

• Such attitudes will be for the good and PRESERVATION of society (5.13-15)

What does Jesus have to say about this? How does it happen?

• Such attitudes will ultimately bring much PRAISE to God (5.16)

How does this happen?

ARE YOU WALKING THE WALK OR JUST TALKING THE TALK?