Reflecting Jesus series: Overview Insert from February 23

Reflecting Jesus:

          You will recognize them by how they live. Matthew 7:20

Matthew 5-7: The Sermon on the Mount

“From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’” (Matthew 4:17) “He went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom.” (Matthew 4:23)  The Sermon on the Mount is to be seen in this context.  It portrays repentance and right living.  That is, it describes what human life and human community look like when they come under the gracious rule of God.  The followers of Jesus are to be different—different  from both the nominal church and the secular world, different from both the religious and the irreligious.                                           – John  Stott

Jesus’ Self- Portrait

Jesus says, “Blessed are the poor, the gentle, those who mourn, those who hunger and thirst for uprightness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, and those who are persecuted in the cause of uprightness” (Matthew 5:3-10). These words offer us a self-portrait of Jesus. Jesus is the Blessed One (because God has spoken good things of him). And the face of the Blessed One shows poverty, gentleness, grief, hunger, and thirst for uprightness, mercy, purity of heart, a desire to make peace, and the signs of persecution. The whole message of the Gospel is this: Become like Jesus. We have his self-portrait. When we keep that in front of our eyes, we will soon learn what it means to follow Jesus and become like him.                                                                                                                  – Henri Nouwen

1.       Messiah Self-portrait             Jesus’ Manifesto

2.       Blessed Are You                        Jesus’ Character & Influence

3.       But I Say to You                        Jesus’ Righteousness

4.       When You Pray                         Jesus’ Piety

5.       Seek First the Kingdom          Jesus’ Ambition

6.       Ask—Seek—Knock                  Jesus’ Relationships

7.       One Who Has Authority        Jesus’ Commitment

8.       You Will Recognize Them      Jesus’ Reflection

REINFORCEMENTS TO TRANSFORM YOUR LIFE:

HEAR: I’ll listen to all 8 messages in the Sermon on the Mount series.

READ: I’ll read Matthew chapters 5 through 7 every week.

ü  Sunday                 5:1-16

ü  Monday               5:17-32

ü  Tuesday               5:33-48

ü  Wednesday        6:1-18

ü  Thursday             6:19-34

ü  Friday                    7:1-20

ü  Saturday              7:21-29

HOST:* I’ll invite a few friends to form a group with me.

DISCUSS: I’ll meet weekly with a small group (home, work, or campus).

REMEMBER: I’ll carry the weekly memory verse with me.

DO: I’ll practice the action steps Pastor Vernon gives us.