What has Jesus said that has inspired you?  I wonder how most Christians would approach the answer to this, it’s a simple question.  Isn’t it?

I suppose one could quickly google search the top Jesus-spoken references.  You can find endless blogs using the content of Christ’s sermons to support practically any agenda known to man.  In a world where truth claims to be relative Jesus can advocate most causes.  Combine the notion of relative truth with today’s instantaneous research capabilities and anyone can suddenly become an expert in wielding Jesus’ words.  Not that all internet content is bad but when you subject yourself to blogosphere quickies in an effort to understand what the Bible teaches, it’s a real roll of the dice.

Shouldn’t we be using the teachings of Jesus to understand where there’s truth in the blogosphere rather than use the blogosphere to understand where there’s truth in what Jesus said?  I feel like Christians (people who claim to follow the way of Christ) should be in agreement on this.

Over the next several weeks we’re studying the longest recorded sermon of Jesus, Matthew chapters 5-7.  Like most blog posts the Sermon on the Mount only takes 10 minutes of your time to read.  Unlike most blog posts Christ’s sermon there is heavily rich in content and will likely take you a lifetime to digest.  Being one of the most widely read portions of Scripture people have gathered information from the Sermon on the Mount to twist the message of the gospel, distort the teachings of Jesus and hurt those who disagree with their agendas.  On the other hand the Sermon on the Mount has compelled believers for centuries to faithfully share the gospel, heal broken relationships, serve God’s kingdom and dedicate their life to glorifying God.  How will you use his teachings?

It’s no wonder these words of Jesus continue to become and always have been controversial, they’re nothing short of paramount.  Just take a gander into snippets of chapter 5 alone:

“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.”
(Matthew 5:11)

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”
(Matthew 5:17)

“But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.”
(Matthew 5:22)

“But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”
(Matthew 5:28)

“But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.”
(Matthew 5:32)

“Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.”
(Matthew 5:37)

“But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.”
(Matthew 5:39)

“But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,”
(Matthew 5:44)

“You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
(Matthew 5:48)

And that’s just from chapter 5 folks!

If I’m being truly honest I’m both incredibly excited and terribly intimidated to be covering the Sermon on the Mount at The Journey.  However I feel as though sitting under the teachings of Jesus for a season is unfathomably beneficial for anyone who claims to be a Christian, or for someone considering Christianity.  We’ll be examining the context in which Jesus spoke these words, comparing these verses (Matthew 5, 6 & 7) to what Jesus and his apostles taught elsewhere and praying for the Holy Spirit to guide our minds and hearts as we study.

Join us Sunday mornings, 10am at Marietta High School’s auditorium.

Pleading with God to bless this time of study,

Cody Parman