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When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours. Romans 1:11-13 (Living Translation). 3 Sermons that Changed the World. Presented by. Warm / Interactive / Relevant / Challenging / Action Oriented. What’s in a Sermon?.

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  1. When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours. Romans 1:11-13 (Living Translation) 3 Sermons that Changed the World Presented by Warm / Interactive / Relevant / Challenging / Action Oriented

  2. What’s in a Sermon? ser·mon[sur-muhn] noun 1. a discourse for the purpose of religious instruction or exhortation, especially one based on a text of Scripture and delivered by a member of the clergy as part of a religious service. 2. any serious speech, discourse, or exhortation, especially on a moral issue. 3. a long, tedious speech.

  3. Our Focus • Sermon on the Mount – Jesus (Matt. 5-7) – the “new” Torah, a “new” authority, life in a “new” Kingdom • Pentecost – Peter (Acts 2) – the birthday of the “church” • Mars Hills – Paul (Acts 17) – a demonstration of apologetics

  4. The Sermon on the Mount When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law. Matthew 7:28 - 29

  5. Pentecost When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Acts 2:37

  6. Mars Hill When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject.” Acts 17:32

  7. Next Week Sermon on the Mount – Part 1 Jesus (Matt. 5-7)

  8. When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours. Romans 1:11-13 (Living Translation) The Sermon on the Mount Presented by Warm / Interactive / Relevant / Challenging / Action Oriented

  9. Approach • Context • Summary • Significance • Application

  10. Context • This is the longest piece of teaching from Jesus in the gospels • Early in the ministry of Jesus (after His baptism and temptation) – just when His fame began to spread • Audience – “the people?” • Did not immediately relieve pain and suffering – was not a social gospel – there was a greater purpose • The location – perfect acoustic – a natural bowl • This is a deliberate act on the part of Jesus; “And he opened his mouth and taught them”

  11. Summary • Matt 5: • Beatitudes • Salt of the Earth • Light of the World • Relationship of Jesus to the Law • Greater Righteousness than Scribes and Pharisees • Thou Shalt Not Kill • Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery • Marriage and Divorce • Speaking the Truth • Our Personal Rights • Love Your Enemies • Matt 6: Our Relationship with God • Matt 7: Our Relationship with Man

  12. Beatitudes • Read Matt 5:3-12 • It begins with a “list” – like a poem with each line starting with Blessed. • The first and last line has a “right now” piece – all lines in between are in the future. • Define “blessed” • This is not an intuitive list – we probably won’t completely feel at home here once we join God’s family. • They are statements, not commands (except Read v 12)

  13. Salt and Light • Read Matt 5:13-16 • Salt is no good if not used. It • preserves (or stops rot) • gives flavor • heals • Light • Visible - when not hidden touches everyone close by • Effective - exposes truth (in us and in the world)

  14. Fulfillment of the Law • Read Matt 5:17-20 • Do you think it was difficult to keep the Pharisaic law? • And Jesus was not to give them some relief? • He was using an approach to give maximum emphasis to the key point; i.e. v 20. • What’s so radical about v. 20?

  15. It Has Been Said / But I Say • Take a few minutes and scan 5:21 - 48 • Don’t Murder -> Don’t Get Mad • Don’t Commit Adultery -> Don’t Lust • Adultery requires a certificate -> Don’t divorce except for adultery • Don’t break your oath -> Do not swear an oath. • Eye for eye -> Do not resist evil • Love Neighbor / Hate Enemy -> Love your enemies • V48 – Be Perfect like your “Father”

  16. Don’ts / Does • Don’t • Practice your righteousness for “show” when: • Giving to needy (Matt. 6:1-4) • Praying (Matt. 6:5-15) • Fasting (Matt. 6:16-18) • Don’t let earthly wealth cause you to take your eye off the mark (Matt. 6:19-24) • Don’t worry (i.e. let anxiety rule you) – (Matt. 6:25 – 34) • Judge others – you cannot know their motives (Matt. 7:1-6) • Do • Talk to me about your needs (ask, seek, knock). God gives “good” gifts; i.e. what you need not necessarily what you want. (Matt. 7:7 – 12)

  17. Wrap-Up • Read Matt. 7:13 – 7:29 • There are two ways. What two ways is he talking about? • You can’t judge people’s motives but you can readily see what kind of “fruit” that they are producing. • There will be false prophets and disciples. • A true disciple has a solid foundation. What is that foundation?

  18. When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours. Romans 1:11-13 (Living Translation) The Sermon on the Mount Presented by Warm / Interactive / Relevant / Challenging / Action Oriented

  19. Approach • Context • Summary • Significance • Application

  20. Structure • Contrast traditional Jewish moral teaching with new moral teachings of Jesus • The “practice” of righteousness, religious; i.e. different than practices performed by the Pharisees • Describes the true righteousness which is to be found and practiced in the Kingdom of God

  21. Significance • From Mosaic tradition to the next level • “Old Torah”  “New Torah”; i.e. a new Moses with a new law. • “Old Kingdom”  “New Kingdom” • An authoritative portrait of Christian discipleship • A new social order? • These passages represent the distinctive, characteristic, fundamental, essential doctrine of Christianity

  22. Significance • Two Purposes • Arouse His hearers (including the “hypocrites”) of the utter inadequacy of a literal understanding and keeping of the Law. • To give a lesson in true sanctification to those that have entered into the Kingdom and wish to live with a high understanding of the will of God

  23. Application • Practical description of life as a Jesus follower. • While it did not establish a new social order, it did emphasize that righteous living also included relationships with fellow humans. • So what do we do with it?

  24. Application • It is instructions given to disciples who have already made the commitment to follow Jesus. • There are current benefits of discipleship • It illustrates Kingdom living as Christians, recognizing the struggle in sanctification but giving practical advice on the approach • Change is from the inside out!

  25. Next Week Pentecost – Part 1 – Context and Summary Peter (Acts 2)

  26. When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours. Romans 1:11-13 (Living Translation) The Sermon at Pentecost Presented by Warm / Interactive / Relevant / Challenging / Action Oriented

  27. “The Overview” • Sermon on the Mount – Jesus (Matt. 5-7) – the “new” Torah, a “new” authority, life in a “new” Kingdom – the theology of the church • Pentecost – Peter (Acts 2) – the birthday of the church – the power • Mars Hills – Paul (Acts 17) – apologetics

  28. Approach • Context • Summary • Significance • Application

  29. Context • Before Pentecost, which came a few weeks after Jesus’ death, there were followers, but no movement that could be meaningfully called “the church”. • From a historical perspective, Pentecost is the day on which the church was started. • From a spiritual perspective the Holy Spirit “birthed” the church into existence and enlivens it. • Pentecost – Greek word - pentekostos – “fifty”. It comes from the ancient Christian expression pentekostehemera, which means “fiftieth day” • Festival of Weeks or Weeks (or Shavuot in Hebrew).

  30. Summary of Acts 2 • Outpouring of the Spirit • On the Day of Pentecost • With audible and visual signs • Filled with the Holy Spirit • The Reaction of the Crowd • Confused and Amazed • Opinions (Serious questions / Suspicion of drunkenness) • The Explanation by Peter • They were not drunk • A fulfillment of Joel’s Prophecy • Sermon by Peter • Proposition: God Raised Jesus from the Dead • Evidence: Threefold Testimony (David, Apostles, Spirit’s Outpouring) • Conclusion • Conversion of 3000 Souls • Response of listeners • Reply by Peter • Results recorded by Luke

  31. Summary • The Holy Spirit Arrives • A “small group” was meeting – possibly behind closed doors. Why? • Something supernatural happened. Others heard something like wind and saw something like fire. • The Crowd Responds • Travelers (i.e. other Jews) heard the commotion and realized that they were hearing this small group speak in various languages. • Mixed reception

  32. Prophecy Fulfilled

  33. Summary • Peter’s Explanation • Alcohol cannot explain this – it’s 9:00 AM. • Joel prophesied what you just witnessed. • Visions and Dreams: the Holy Spirit is a game changer • Vision – ability to inspire people to move toward a described end-state – confidence inducing, perhaps based on experience vs. theory • Dream – hopes and aspirations – a desire to move toward something better – not cynical • The world was never the same after Pentecost

  34. Summary • The Sermon – Acts 2:22-41 • What “drove” Peter to share what he did? • What do you sense is the key concept behind Peter’s words? • Where is Jesus now? • Where did the Holy Spirit come from? • What is required for us to receive the HS? • Threefold testimony (David, Apostles, HS) • What was Peter’s final plea?

  35. Summary • The Response • A immediate numerical increase and continual growth? • Devotion to learning about God (i.e. Apostle’s teaching) • Fellowship • Communal meals • Pooling of resources / sharing with the needy • Daily temple meetings (e.g. praise) – Psalm 100:4 • Home based “small groups” • Reflected an attitude of happiness and sincerity • Enjoyed a good reputation in the community • What does this tell us about the contemporary church?

  36. Next Week Pentecost – Part 2 – Significance and Application Peter (Acts 2)

  37. When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours. Romans 1:11-13 (Living Translation) The Sermon on the Mount Presented by Warm / Interactive / Relevant / Challenging / Action Oriented

  38. Approach • Context • Summary • Significance • Application

  39. Significance • In times past and in other Christian traditions, Pentecost is celebrated on the level of Christmas and Easter. Why don’t we? • The Birthday of the Church: • Historically speaking, Pentecost is the day on which the church was started. • Also from a spiritual perspective, the Spirit brings the church into existence and enlivens it. • Some people “doubt” the historicity of Acts 2. What is the best evidence of the literal acceptance of Pentecost.

  40. Significance • For churches that celebrate Pentecost on their liturgical calendars, what color is the symbol? • Some churches receive new members on Pentecost. Why do you think this is? • I’m curious. What do you think of the use of symbols; e.g. colors, receiving new members on this day, etc.

  41. Significance / Application • 2 Ways that Pentecost Matters: • The Presence and Power of the Spirit • The Central Role of the Church in God’s Work in the World

  42. Significance / Application • 2 More Ways that Pentecost Matters: • The Multilingual Nature and Mission of the Church • The Inclusive Ministry of the Church

  43. Next Week Mars Hill - Apologetics Peter (Acts 17)

  44. When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours. Romans 1:11-13 (Living Translation) The Sermon on Mars Hill Presented by Warm / Interactive / Relevant / Challenging / Action Oriented

  45. “The Overview” • Sermon on the Mount – Jesus (Matt. 5-7) – the “new” Torah, a “new” authority, life in a “new” Kingdom – the theology of the church • Pentecost – Peter (Acts 2) – the birthday of the church – the power • Mars Hills – Paul (Acts 17) – apologetics

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