In the last few weeks we’ve seen Jesus teach the importance of Christians being counter-cultural. That means standing out and being different from the world around us. He didn’t mean that we should simply be different for the sake of being different. He also made it very clear that this is not so we can …
Continue reading “Being counter-cultural in Matthew 5 – You shall not murder.”
Let’s read Matthew 5:17-20 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. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear …
Continue reading “Being counter-cultural in Matthew 5 – the Law and the Prophets”
Let’s read Matthew 5:14–16You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before …
Continue reading “Being counter-cultural in Matthew 5 – Light of the world”
I said last week that in this post we’d consider Jesus’ words about salt and light. However, I wanted to take one more week to explain exactly what I mean by “counter-cultural” and why it’s an essential concept for you to understand if you’re a Christian. What does counter-cultural mean? If you live in the …
Continue reading “Being counter-cultural…what does that mean?”
(Unfortunately I can only do a short post today as I have two Bible classes to present at church this week….) The teachings Jesus gave in Matthew chapters 5, 6 and 7 are traditionally known as the Sermon on the Mount or sometimes the Sermon on the Plain. I have also seen them described as …
Last week we saw how Jesus warned that those who chose to be his followers would be persecuted. Not only that, but this would happen to them specifically for trying to live their lives the way he taught. I suggested that this would happen because, despite the fact that Jesus’ teachings lead his followers to …
Continue reading “Blessed are those who are persecuted – now it’s personal.”
….Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. We come now to the eighth (and some might argue …
What does it mean to be a peacemaker in your everyday life as a Christian? What characteristics might you need to develop as an individual? What actions should you take or avoid? Here’s how God made peace between himself and us, as described by Paul:For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in …
Continue reading “Blessed are the peacemakers – now it’s personal”
Now we come to the seventh of Jesus’ statements of good news. As always we begin with the two most obvious questions: who are the “peacemakers” and what does it mean that they will be called “children of God”? Peace in the New Testament Throughout the New Testament it’s clear that peace is something which …
Continue reading “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”
Hi everyone. I am on holiday this week so I’m taking a break from the ongoing series on Matthew 5:3-12. I thought I’d write a short article to serve as an Easter special instead! We’ll return to the series next week, God willing. I think it would probably be fair to say that most people, …
Nihilist to Christian