My sermon/teaching notes for Wednesday, Aug 5^th.  Our current Wednesday Summer Series is The Sermon on the Mount. Remember, these are my personal study notes and not a manuscript of the sermon.  To see the sermon each week please visit http://www.fbcap.net

Matthew Chapters 5-7

LIVING AS KINGDOM CITIZENS

THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT: The call to Discipleship/Followship

Greatest sermon ever preached by the greatest preacher of all time.

Matthew 5:1-6 – The Beatitudes

The Character of a Disciple

God’s people can delight in the call to live differently, knowing that true blessing comes from submission to and dependence on God who will reward them as become more like Jesus Christ. (Christ Centered Exposition. Sermon on the Mount. Danny Akin)

No one can live out the rest of the Sermon on the Mount unless they are willing to embrace, trust in, and live out the Beatitudes.

• Dr. Bill Cook, my NT professor, said they can be viewed as 8 rungs to a ladder.  One building upon the other.
• Jesus teaching his disciples what the life in the New Covenant looks like.
• How to live and follow after God and His perfect will for their life.

Taught them – The word Disciple…one who learns.

• Disciple – A saved person learning to live under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

Blessed

• The Favor of God upon one’s life
• A state of well-being because of one’s relationship with God.

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven – v. 3

• First and last end with “theirs is the kingdom of heaven”
• A bracketing effect.  They are present tense while all the others are future tense.
• Poor – Spiritual bankrupt.  ME NOTHING.  JESUS EVERYTHING.
• We do not come to Christ when our life is in order, we come to him because we know there is nothing we can do with our life.
• “Be merciful to me a sinner”… (Luke 18:9-14)
• The doorway to salvation and followship
• WE GIVE UP OUR KINGDOM AND OBTAIN GOD’S KINGDOM

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. – v. 4

• To mourn over our sin and the sin of others.
• Woes of Isaiah
• Weeping of Peter
• Godly sorrow – 2 Cor. 7:10-11 – Sorrow that leads to repentance
• Comforted – paraclete – John 14:15-19 – a comforter/helper.

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. – v. 5

• Gentle – the rough edges made smooth. MILD/SOFT
• Assert themselves over others to accomplish their agenda (what they want)
• Meek, Humble.  (Knowing ones place)
• Not my will by thy will.  As Jesus said and did… so should we.
• Strength under control.  MEEKNESS DOES NOT MEAN WEAKNESS
• Gal. 5:22-24 – kindness, gentleness
• A harsh person is never at rest or peace.
• We inherit the earth – obtain that which God has intended for us to obtain, because we understand 1 and 2 and are therefore meek in our understand of SELF

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. – v. 5

• 2 basic needs of life.  Food and Water
• A person who is hungry is not satisfied until they are full.
• Longing for that which is right. God’s desire for our life (God’s will for our life)
• Satisfied – desire for nothing else
• THE WORLD IS HUNGRY FOR HAPPINESS AND IS STARVING…THE BIBLE TEACHES TO HUNGER FOR HOLINESS AND BE SATISFIED. We will never be satisfied until we long for Jesus.
• OUR JOB IS TO SEEK…HIS JOB IS TO SATISFY.

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SCRIPTURE:

Matthew 5:1–12 – [1] Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.[2] And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:

[3] “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

[4] “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

[5] “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

[6] “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

[7] “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

[8] “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. [9] “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of