Application Guide: Sermon on the Mount – Part 1
August 29, 2004:
“Sermon on the Mount – Part 1” by
Pastor Joe Bartemus, Pastor of Adult Education. During morning worship, Pastor Eric Anderson, focused on the
spiritual discipline of meditation and led us into meditating and singing about
the beatitudes. Pastor Joe then guided
us through expository preaching of Matthew 5:1-6 and described how Jesus began
to train those who would later be charged with carrying on the ministry, about
the kingdom of God. In today’s message,
Pastor Joe described the first
four beatitudes in Matthew 5:3-6, as the needs of people who have a
relationship with the King in the kingdom of God. People of this kingdom…
- are dependent on the King (are poor in
spirit).
- feel and express grief and sorrow (who
mourn) over their sins, and the sins of others, and look to the King to
come along side them, as their paraclete (advocate, intercessor) to help
them overcome their sins and comfort them.
- draw strength from the King’s provision
and protection; yet with a servant’s heart interact with others in a
humble and gentle manner (are meek).
- have a strong desire to do the will of
the King (who hunger and thirst for righteousness).
Application
Questions:
- When you hear the words “the kingdom of
God (or heaven)” what comes to your mind?
- Who
is the King? Of what is he the
king? Where is his kingdom? Who are the subjects? As citizens of the kingdom of God, how
shall we then live?
- Are you poor in spirit? Do you depend on God in all areas of
your life? Identify an area of
your life (or several as they come to mind) in which you tend to go it
alone and do not wholly depend upon Jesus as your source of strength and
empowerment. What might you do
differently to demonstrate your dependence upon him?
- Do you mourn over your sins, and the
sin of others? Identify someone
who is currently disappointing you because of sin in his/her life. What might you do to help?
- Identify an area of your life (or
several as they come to mind) that grieves you because you know you should
be doing something differently, but have not yet found yourself doing what
you would like to do. If you are
willing to share your concerns, please do so and let us pray for God’s leading
and strength to do his will.
- Are you meek in your relationships with
others? Have you ever found
yourself lording it over others?
If so, what might you do differently to demonstrate a servant’s
heart and interact with others with a more humble and gentle attitude and
approach?
- Do you hunger and thirst for
righteousness? Do you have a
strong desire to do God’s will?
What is God’s will for your life?