Stepping up to Blessedness
May 26, 2013
How would you describe what a Blessed life looks like in the 21st century.
Bryan Wilkerson came up with these 21st century Beatitudes
* Blessed are the rich and famous, because they can always get a seat at the best restaurants.
* Blessed are the good-looking, for they shall be on the cover of People magazine.
* Blessed are those who party, for they know how to have fun.
* Blessed are those who take first place in the division, for they shall have momentum going into the play-offs.
* Blessed are the movers and shakers, for they shall make a name for themselves.
* Blessed are those who demand their rights, for they shall not be overlooked.
* Blessed are the healthy and fit, because they don't mind being seen in a bathing suit.
* Blessed are those who make it to the top, because they get to look down on everyone else.
Bryan Wilkerson, in his sermon "The Heartbreak Gospel," www.preachingtoday.com
The Sermon on the Mount is the title commonly given to the collection of sayings recorded in Matt 5-7 and in Luke 6:20-49.
SERMON ON THE MOUNT
They may have been preached as one message. A detailed synopsis of his teaching.
Setting
Matt 5:1-2
5 Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them, saying: . . .
Content
* neither an impractical ideal
* nor a set of fixed legal regulations
* An epitome of the teachings of Jesus
* kingdom focused, its subjects and their life
* a statement of the principles of life essential in a normal society
* Held the first place of attention and esteem among the sayings of Jesus
* Condemnation is addressed against the self-satisfied religious teachers and their religious formalism.
SERMON ON THE PLAIN
Setting
Luke 6:12-20
12 One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. 13 When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles: . . .
17 He went down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of his disciples was there and a great number of people from all over Judea, from Jerusalem, and from the coast of Tyre and Sidon, 18 who had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. Those troubled by evil spirits were cured, 19 and the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all.
20 Looking at his disciples, he said: . . .
Content
* The Gospel of Luke has been called the social Gospel because of its sympathy with the poor and its emphasis on the duty of kindliness of spirit.
* This social interest is especially prominent in the Sermon. Here the Beatitudes deal with social differences.
* Condemnation is addressed to the rich and their unsocial spirit are the subject of the woes.
* There is a social bearing to the Beatitudes.
Themes: We'll be exploring
The following are some of the leading ideas and principles underlying and expressed in the Sermon:
(1) Character is the secret of happiness and strength.
BEATITUDES
In the Latin church beatitudo was used not only as an abstract term denoting blessedness, but in the secondary, concrete sense of a particular declaration of blessedness and especially of such a declaration coming from the lips of Jesus Christ.
Begins with the Abrahamic Blessing
Gen 22:15-18
15 The angel of the Lord called to Abraham from heaven a second time 16 and said, "I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, 18 and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me."
Men of the qualities described in the Beatitudes are called "blessed." Happiness consists, not in external blessings, but in the inner poise of a normal life. The virtues of the Beatitudes are also the elements of strength. Humility, self-control, purity and loyalty are the genuine qualities of real strength. Men of such qualities are to inherit the earth because they are the only ones strong enough to possess and use it.
(2) Righteousness is grounded in the inner life.
Matt 6:1
6 "Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
Character is not something imposed from without but a life that unfolds from within. The hope of a perfect morality and a genuine fulfilment of the law lies in the creation of a sound inner life. Therefore, the worth of all religious acts and all personal and social conduct is judged by the quality of the inner motives.
(3) God the Father at the center of kingdom life.
Character and life exist in and for fellowship with the Father. All worship and conduct look toward God. His service is the supreme duty, His perfection the standard of character, His goodness the ground of universal love. Given this fact, all the essentials of religion and life follow as a matter of course. God is Father, all men are brothers. God is Father, all duties are sacred. God is Father, infinite love is at the heart of the world and life is of infinite worth.
Matt 6:9-13
9 "This, then, is how you should pray:
"'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.'
(4) Universal love is the fundamental social law.
It is the dynamic principle of true character and right conduct. In this respect, at least, the perfection of the Father is set as the standard for men. Kindliness in disposition, in word and in act is an obligation binding on all. We may not feel alike toward all, but our wills must be set to do good even to our enemies. In this the supernatural quality of the Christian life may be known.
Matt 5:43-48
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 sons 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 brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
(5) Faithfulness is the goal of life.
The blossoms of promises must ripen into the fruit of abiding character. The leaves of empty professions have no value in the eyes of the Father. Deeds and character are the only things that abide, and endurance is the final test. The life of perfect fulfillment is the life anchored on the rock of ages.
Matt 6:33-34
33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
So. . .
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