Jesus' Sermon On The Mount (JSM) | Series Introduction (6/2/24) By Rev. Nicholas Sybrowsky

Invocation:

    Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son [Jesus Christ] that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him.  And this is eternal life, that [we] know you the only true God and Jesus Christ who you sent. (Jn 17:1-3)

Opening Word & Reading for Worship:

(Isa 64:1-3 ESV) "(1) Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains might quake at your presence-- (2)  as when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil-- to make your name known to your adversaries, and that the nations might tremble at your presence! (3) When you did awesome things that we did not look for, you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence."

(Isa 64:8-9 ESV) "(8) But now, O LORD, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand. (9) Be not so terribly angry, O LORD, and remember not iniquity forever. Behold, please look, we are all your people." (Isa 64:1-3, 8-9 ESV)

Sermon Introduction:

     I must decrease that He may increase (Jn 3:30).  This is what John the Baptist said in response to his disciple’s concern of Jesus baptizing others.  For the better part of this transition to serve you as the Lead Pastor my prayer & ministry in the Word has been about the LORD.  By no means am I suggesting that the sermons preached haven’t been for the glory, honor and dominion of God.  But I’ve certainly shared the privilege of admiration and respect and for this and I will be forever grateful to God for the opportunity to publicly share the Gospel of Salvation in Jesus Christ and faith in the Blessed Hope.  Despite having a distinct ministry for the Kingdom of Heaven, like John the Baptist’s also had, I feel compelled to sit us down with the crowd as Jesus presents His Sermon on the Mount.  Join me in this new series as we sit with the audience listening to Jesus preach from the mount!  By my estimation we will dwell among the crowd for up to 20 weeks.

    I anticipate that we will revisit some of the topics I’ve served you with thus far since August, but for now I’m compelled to bring our focus upon the teachings of Jesus.  What did Jesus teach in the famous Sermon on the Mount?

    Today I present to you our outline for this long series of which we aim to focus primarily upon until finished, however we may have some other messages along the way, if I’m prompted to do so.

Series Main Text Is Matthew 5-7.  For an overview let us read this together now.

The Gospel According to Matthew 5:1-48 ESV Matthew 5,  Mt. 6 and Mt. 7 ESV 

Shared Outline by BibleProject  https://youtu.be/ajwehw_AT0s?si=0ZQypcd0RCx0k8ik

BibleProject Outline Transcribed Below:

1.    Kingdom Identity 5:3-16

1.1        The Good Life 5:3-12

1.2        Salt of the Land 5:13

1.3        City on a Hill 5:14-16

2.    A Greater Righteousness 5:17-7:12

2.1        Torah & Prophets 5:17-48

2.1.1  Jesus Fulfills 5:17-20

2.1.2 
Six Case Studies 5:21-47

A)  Anger

B)  Lust

C)  Divorce

D)  Truth Telling

E)  Revenge

F)  Enemy Love

2.1.3  Be Complete

2.2        Religious Practices 6:1-21

2.2.1  True Reward 6:1

2.2.2  True Devotion 6:2-18

2.2.3  True Wealth 6:19-21  

2.3        Right Relationships 6:19-7:12

2.3.1  God & Money 6:19-34

2.3.2  God & Neighbor 7:1-11

2.3.3  Golden Rule 7:12

3.    The Choice 7:13-27

3.1        Two Gates 7:13-14 (?Where do you want to go?)

3.2        Two Trees 7:15-23 (?What do you want to produce?)

3.3        Two Houses 7:24-27 (?Who do you want to be?)

3.4        Your Choice.  Where are you going? What are you producing? Who are you? Why haven’t you decided?  When will you commit?

Next Week: Kingdom Identity—The Good Life 5:3-12 

Conclusion:  Come join us as we sit with Jesus.

Exhortation:  

    Choose.  The Five W’s from Jesus. It’s your choice.  Where are you going? What are you producing? Who are you? Are you undecided?  Are you fooling yourself? Why haven’t you decided? When will you commit? 

    On Facebook as of May 30^th, 2024 a search for Jesus Christ’s profile rendered 47 social profiles from within their search engine.  Followership is the marketing plot of this social media platform.  Many people are attempting to lead and be followed so that they might produce.  I wonder how many people actually follow Jesus the Christ in the 21^st century.  Obviously, the Lord Jesus doesn’t have a Facebook profile but one thing I know that he has in common with users of the social media platforms, not only Facebook, is that He is obsessed with you and your following.  Not suggesting that ALL users of social media are obsessed.  Merely pointing out that He loves you!  Who do you follow?  When judgment comes will he say, “I never knew you.” (7:21-23). Do you know of Jesus? Or do you KNOW Jesus?  Does Jesus know you?

Call to Action:

    Maybe you’ve already obsessively committed to following Jesus, knowing God and being known by God.  Maybe you haven’t.  Regardless I implore you to commit to follow us as we follow Jesus the Christ our Lord.  Sit with us through this series as we examine his sermon on the mount.  Let’s sit with Jesus and the audience that we may learn to listen to Him.  Thy Kingdom Come, let’s Go Dove Creek!

 Benediction:

    “Repent and be baptized for the kingdom of heaven is at hand”(Mt.4:17) We welcome you Lord to teach us in the way we should go.  O righteous Father, even though the world did not know you then and some do not know you now, Jesus knew you and is with you now and we know that you sent him to us, and He sent your Holy Spirit to us.  We know your name and will continue to make your name known, that the love with which you have loved us may be in us and [that] Jesus may be in us. Amen (Jn 17:25).