Sermons on Matthew 5:45:

What About The Violence In Christian History? Series

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Jun 9, 2002

We need to ask: 1) Why is there violence in Christian history? 2) Why is there violence in present day Christianity? 3) What can be done about it today?

Sadly, there are many people today who reject Christianity because of the hypocrisy and inconsistencies of the church and individual Christians throughout history. They point to some of the ugly parts of the church’s past like the Crusades, the witch trials, and the Inquisition. The Spanish ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:43-48

Denomination: Methodist

Practice What He Preached

Contributed by John Beehler on Feb 18, 2002

How often do we practice what Jesus preached?

Practice What He Preached First of all, let’s suppose that you’re a Jew walking down a street in Jerusalem, & you see some folks gathered over here talking politics. And they’re arguing about some changes Herod wants to make in the Welfare program. And you know some of them, so there ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:38-48

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Forgiving Our Enemies

Contributed by John Howard on Feb 23, 2002

Christ challenges us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us.

Forgiving Our Enemies Matt 5:43-48 With the events of 11 Sep - Came a lot of anguish and horror - Then came anger and the desire to find the terrorists - Who did this terrible thing - These are normal human reactions - And are something we all experience - But we are called as Christians to be ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:19, Matthew 5:43-48

Denomination: Baptist

Walking That Extra Mile: A Slightly Different Twist On Matthew 5:38-48 Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Mar 1, 2002

The Sermon on the Mount appears to contradict so many other Scriptures unless viewed through the eyes of first century Judaism. No need to strain and squeeze to harmonize Jesus teachings here with His other teachings, the OT, or the rest of the NT. The

Walking That Extra Mile: A Slightly Different Twist on Matthew 5:38-48 Note: If you are interested in more information about interpreting the Sermon on the Mount, please consider my book, "The Midrash Key" (by Ed Vasicek) available through Amazon.com Here is a LENGTHY introduction for the Bible ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:38-48

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Power Of Love

Contributed by Jerry Flury on Mar 10, 2002

The Christian has been called demonstrate the power of love in his life by keeping a higher law with respect to the laws of rights and relationships.

THE POWER OF LOVE MATTHEW 5:38-48 In Matthew 5:17 Christ said that he did not "... come to destroy the law or the prophets? but that he came ?to fulfill" it. Christ has often been accused of destroying the law of the Old Testament. Nothing could be further from the truth. Christ never taught ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:38-48

Denomination: Baptist

A Perfect Heart

Contributed by J. Richard Lord, Jr. on Aug 16, 2001

Christian Perfection is possible!

A PERFECT HEART Matt. 5:43-48 INTRO: There is a bumper sticker that is popular among Christians. It says, “Christians are not perfect, just forgiven!” I believe I understand what that statement is trying to say, “We are Christians, God has forgiven us, but we are still going to make mistakes!” ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:43-48

Denomination: Holiness

Inclusive Love

Contributed by Jeffery Anselmi on Sep 10, 2001

Let’s talk about love

Text: Matthew 5:43-48 Subject: Love Theme: Love your enemies. Prop: To be like God, we are to love even our enemies. T.S. We will look at reasons for Christ command for his followers to love their enemies. INTRODUCTION A story in the Sunshine Magazine about a professor of psychology illustrates ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:43-48

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Influencing Our World For Christ

Contributed by Brian La Croix on Dec 5, 2001

A call to be people of impact for Christ.

Influencing Our World For Christ Various Scriptures I. Introduction Today our topic is “Influencing Our World for Christ.” The idea of our time together is to look at just some of the many ways we can make a difference as we live and work in a world that doesn’t seem to have much time for ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:11-12, Matthew 5:43-48

Denomination: Wesleyan

Loving Your Enemies Series

Contributed by Matthew Rogers on Jan 7, 2002

Loving my enemy is a way to show I belong to God.

May 27, 2001 Relationships in the Kingdom – Part 6 INTRODUCTION Before the reunification of Germany, each of Uwe Holmer’s eight children tried to enroll at the University of East Berlin, and each one was rejected. The East German Ministry of Education wasn’t in the habit of giving reasons for ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:43-48

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Almost Perfect Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jan 8, 2002

Perfection is often thought of as being sinless. But there is more to the Biblical ideal of "perfection" than that. Opening illustration is humorous and informative.

OPEN: This morning I’m going to give you a quiz, and I don’t want you to think real hard about your answers. I just want you to answer as you feel you should. Question #1: How many of you believe you are perfect? Question #2: How many of you believe it is possible for someone WHO IS STILL LIVING to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:43-48

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Mr Weaver Fish

Contributed by Ken Durham on Aug 12, 2005

Even Jesus was not free from conflict and opposition in His ministry and unfortunately nor are we, yet He calls us to love our enemies.

MR WEAVER FISH 1. Introduction: On a mission trip to Kosova this summer I had a very nasty encounter with a weaver fish. This innocent looking fish lurks in the sand craftily leaving just its dark dorsal fins showing and anyone unlucky enough to step on one can be in serious ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:38-48

Turning The Other Cheek, Are You Sure?

Contributed by David Petticrew on Mar 16, 2004

A look at the historical context of Jesus commands to turn the other cheek, give away your cloak and go the extra mile to see what they really mean.

Introduction The passage we read is at least on the surface one of the most difficult passages in the Bible, if we are to live by it. Every time you here the passage preached or talked about there is always a but, or a bit that says it doesn’t mean this. Or sometimes but it can’t mean this, Jesus ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:38-48

Denomination: Holiness

And Who Is My Enemy?

Contributed by Jim Kane on Aug 7, 2004

How do I love my enemy?

In a recent column in Leadership Weekly, Gordon MacDonald, a retired pastor and editor at large for Leadership, a journal for pastors, reflected on a comment from Louis Berkhof who said, "God does not want us as objects but as covenant partners, partners who can converse. He desires our ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:43-47

Denomination: Church Of God

Three Ways To Love Mean People

Contributed by Shad Comeaux on May 21, 2005

This sermon shares with us how we are to love our enemies, A.K.A. "Mean People"

Do you remember that classmate in elementary school who pulled the chair from underneath you as you proceeded to sit down? How about the bully in junior high that took your change that your mother had scraped up for you to buy your favorite ice cream? Perhaps you hadn’t forgotten about your ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:43-45

Denomination: Baptist

Turning The Other Cheek - By Michael Prabaharan Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Mar 14, 2005

The Sermon on the Mount is an invitation – to taste and see this God, to join his club and deepen his kind of life skills.

Turning the Other Cheek I’ve been trying to figure out a realistic application for turning the other cheek ever since as a young person a mentor of mine once pointed out to that to teach his son this attitude was a license to getting him bullied at school. No way am I going to encourage my son ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:33-48

Denomination: Anglican