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The “Radical” We Must Be
Life in the Kingdom is meant to be life at its fullest. Our problem is we settle for “good enough” when the Kingdom calls us to “God’s best.” The demand of the Kingdom is this: God’s perfection. We don’t understand that, so we settle for “good enough.” The moment we settle for “good enough,” we become Pharisees. That’s not just…
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The “Radical” We Avoid
In the Sermon on the Mount, there are a couple of places (at least) where we find great hesitation, at least for us as readers. Matt. 5:17-20, where Jesus tells his hearers their righteousness needs to surpass that of the Pharisees. Then, Matt. 5:48 where the demand is “to be perfect.” This is the call we just cannot get around.…
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The Kingdom WORKS
The more I work my way through the Sermon on the Mount, the deeper the realization that the Kingdom works. It is effective. If I am truly in the Kingdom life, I AM salt. I AM light. I AM effective. A disciple of the kingdom who does not live like a disciple of the kingdom is worth about as much as tasteless salt or…
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The Unvarnished Promises of the Kingdom
Matt. 5:11-12 Jesus never hid anything from people who were considering the opportunities of the Kingdom. He has no hidden clauses or “fine print.” There WILL be persecution. The power of the Kingdom is found in the fact that, 1., true followers of the King will REJOICE in those persecutions, and 2., true followers will BLESS and not curse. It’s…
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Who Can the Kingdom Touch?
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be…
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The Invitation of the Greatest Teacher
In American Christianity, we are too quick to count hands raised instead of telling people honestly, “Put your hand down and come check this out for awhile. See if it makes sense. See if deep really calls to deep. Don’t give me your hand now! Check it out and then give Jesus your life.” We need a more bold call…
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Don’t Ignore the King
Jesus came demonstrating and proclaiming the Kingdom of God. When the King steps into his realm and things begin to happen, a response is naturally called for. What are you going to do? A wise decision may be to turn around and follow the King. This is Jesus’ advice (Matt. 4:17). You don’t “have” to follow it. But I would suggest it’s…
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The Kingdom of God is an Acquired Taste
Jesus create thirst for the things of the Kingdom. He didn’t start with teaching the Sermon on the Mount. He demonstrated the kingdom, then proclaimed the kingdom. Those who were thirsty for more climbed the hill with him and he then taught them. 1. Do you have a thirst for “something more?” 2. If you think you have entered the…
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A Taste for the Kingdom
Jesus walked through the land in the beginning of his ministry healing the sick and proclaiming the Kingdom. He was calling for repentance. This was something new. Those who heard and eventually followed KNEW this was different. It was SO different, they dropped their careers to follow Jesus when the opportunity came. I want THAT taste for the Kingdom. The…
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Engaging the Kingdom — Overcoming Evil
“Our willingness to yield up everything when we are bidden to do so is our willingness to have enough in Jesus Christ alone, to desire to follow him alone. Our voluntary renunciation of counterviolence confirms and proclaims our unconditional allegiance to Jesus as his follower, our freedom, our detachment from our own egos. And it is only in the exclusivity…
Tag: Sermon on the Mount
