Loving Your Neighbor
Today, Pastor Henry spoke about Jesus' inconvenient truth in Matthew 5:21-26.
21 "You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell. 23 "Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift. 25 "Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. 26 I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.
Jesus is teaching here that not only is it wrong to kill another person, it is wrong just to be angry with them. If we are angry with them, we are killing their spirit. Anger seems like a natural human response to certain situations, but this is because we need a change of heart before we can do what Jesus commands us to do. Jesus said, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself."
How are we going to love our neighbors and promote their well-being this week? I think we need to remember how every other person we come in contact with is created in God's image just as we are. It is so important to listen to where the other person is coming from and communicate clearly with them and to pray.
Labels: Sermon on the Mount
Are You Good Enough?
Today, Pastor Amy continued the series on Jesus' Inconvenient Truth in the Sermon in the Mount. This was the Bible reading:
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. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven Matthew 5:17-20
This passage was illustrated through the video clip of the
Good-O-Meter. Have you ever wondered if you will be good enough? Many years ago, I wondered if after going through an unsettling experience of death, if I would have the presence of mind to say all the right things to get in to heaven. I also thought there had to be more to being saved than believing the exactly correct reformed theological formula. I know now that what I do can never be good enough and I am saved because of Jesus' sacrifice. All the good we do is a thankful response to what Jesus did for us and we can never do enough to thank Him.
Labels: Sermon on the Mount
The Inconvenient Truth
Today, Pastor Amy talked about the Al Gore movie,
An Inconvenient Truth, and compared it to the message of Jesus, and how His truth is inconvenient to live by but how it makes life better for us. We looked especially at Matthew 5:1-12 in
The Message.
1 When Jesus saw his ministry drawing huge crowds, he climbed a hillside. Those who were apprenticed to him, the committed, climbed with him. Arriving at a quiet place, he sat down 2 and taught his climbing companions. This is what he said:
3 "You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule. 4 "You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you. 5 "You're blessed when you're content with just who you are - no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought. 6 "You're blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God. He's food and drink in the best meal you'll ever eat. 7 "You're blessed when you care. At the moment of being 'carefull,' you find yourselves cared for. 8 "You're blessed when you get your inside world - your mind and heart - put right. Then you can see God in the outside world. 9 "You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete orfight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's
family. 10 "You're blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom. 11 "Not only that - count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for
comfort and they are uncomfortable. 12 You can be glad when that happens - give
a cheer, even! - for though they don't like it, I do! And all heaven applauds.
And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always
gotten into this kind of trouble.
What Jesus taught His discipes is counter-cultural. For instance, the world doesn't think we're blessed if we are content with who we are - it tells us we need more! Or it tells us that the people who care will be taken advantage of. Would the world tell you to think of the time when you lose what is dearest to you as an opportunity to draw closer to Jesus, or if you're at the end of your rope, to let Him in to your life?
I think this translation gives us a clearer idea of how to actually live in the reality of God's kingdom - it's available to us now if we live as Jesus teaches and not as the world tells us to live.
Labels: Sermon on the Mount
