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 …
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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 …
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(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.”
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 …
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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 …
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Last time we saw that to be “pure in heart” does not mean to be morally perfect or sinless. If it did, would you qualify? I certainly wouldn’t. Rather, Jesus was speaking about people who were willing to humble themselves and come to God in order to be purified. Does that describe you? Maybe you’re …
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The sixth of Jesus’ “This is good news for…” statements is perhaps difficult to understand at first glance, for a couple of reasons. Two problems Firstly, “pure” is a challenging word. Can any of us really claim to be pure? Does that mean our hearts are to be free of any sin or anything else …
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Last week we considered what Jesus meant by the word “merciful”: both a willingness to forgive wrongs done to us and to show kindness to those in need. We also concluded that Jesus was not referring to people who forgive or show kindness on a handful of one-off occasions, but rather to people whose attitude …
Continue reading “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy – now it’s personal.”
Nihilist to Christian