Hey Gang,
Last night we began a new series on "What it Means to Follow Jesus." This series of lessons is taken from the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7. If we are a believer in Christ, don't you think we need to know what it means to follow Jesus? What do you think it means? Some profess to follow Jesus, but live lives that look no different from an unbeliever. That doesn't sound right. And then there are others that follow Jesus for spiritual comfort and satisfaction, but they overlook the call to be spiritually transformed and radically obedient. Does that really seem right? Following Jesus or being a disciple is more than being religious; it is being in a right relationship with Him. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus presented a clear description of discipleship, and what it means to follow Him. It's a call to die and it's a call to live! Now, what does that mean?
Video: David Platt – Follow Me (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 13:22-30)
True and False Disciples
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
- Many were interested in Him.Many were curious about Him, even drawn by Him, they may even have had an affection for Him.But the loyalty of these crowds was a mile wide and an inch deep. Jesus knew that when push came to shove, the multitudes would simply drift away.
- There are many people who say they want to follow Jesus. And that's good. But that commitment will be challenged. We must decide to follow Jesus-not because our best friend does, not because our wife does, not because our parents did, but because we have chosen in our own heart of hearts to follow Christ.
This week we start with the basics!
Professional athletes, musicians, accountants, and even medical doctors always go back to basics when they seek to improve or deal with a difficult situation. Our Christian walk is no different. To keep Christianity from becoming something Jesus never intended, we must go back to His words about the kind of people we should be.
Many people, even in the church, do not grasp what it means to live as a follower of Jesus Christ. They assume it’s just a matter of thinking the right thoughts about Jesus, doing the right things, and avoiding the wrong things. But foundational to being a Christian is a personal relationship with Jesus that changes us from the inside out – then reflecting that reality in the way we live.
In our study this week, Jesus is the talk of the town! Read Matthew 4:23-25
It was very tempting for the disciples to be proud or to feel important that they were so close to this man who everyone was coming to see, hear and be healed. So, Jesus sits down on a mountain-side to teach them what it really means to follow Him and it's not what they think. Position, authority and money are not important in God's kingdom - what matters most is faithful obedience from the heart.
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I. CHOOSE RIGHT ATTITUDES – MATTHEW 5:1-6
The Sermon on the Mount
5 When He saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain, and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him. 2 Then He began to teach them, saying:
The Beatitudes
3 “The poor in spirit are blessed, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. 4 Those who mourn are blessed, for they will be comforted. 5 The gentle are blessed, for they will inherit the earth. 6 Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness are blessed, for they will be filled.
Jesus begins His sermon with words that seem to contradict each other, at least by the world’s standard. Since when would the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the gentle or meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness be considered blessed or happy for that matter? The first Beatitude was to be poor in spirit – what does that mean?
What does it look like to be poor in spirit? What does this have to do with my attitude?
- It’s a confession of need – our need for God. Total dependence!
- Humility that comes from honest self-evaluation. Opposite of self-reliance or pride.
- The greater our physical needs, the greater we as humans tend to look to God. Being rich in material goods has an extremely negative chokehold, preventing us from seeking spiritual things! We do not see or admit to our need, depending on ourselves rather than upon God! Being poor in Spirit is to be humble and surrendered, where we do not look to ourselves, but to God. It is the realization that we are sinners, having no righteousness of our own. We are saved by the grace and mercy of God alone.
- The followers of Jesus have entered the kingdom of heaven – or kingdom of God – which refers to the reign of God, a present reality and future hope.
What do you think Jesus means here by our being blessed?
- Because they live under the reign of God, they are blessed indeed, far beyond what some people might realize.
- God’s blessing is not always visible, measurable, or of this earth. His blessing may be spiritual in nature and may not be fully realized until His kingdom or rule, fully comes.
What does Jesus want us to mourn about? What does this mean?
- He wants us to repent of our sin. To realize how we have messed up life.
- We confess to God our sorrow for our sins and shortcomings on a daily basis.
- David gives us a prime example of this after his adultery with Bathsheba (Psalm 51:3-4).
What does Jesus mean by being gentle? Is this where I’m supposed to be meek or weak?
- It is a submissive trust to God’s authority, making Him Lord.
- It conveys the notion of being sensitive, considerate, and courteous, meek, and humble.
- Gentleness puts the focus on others rather than self.
- This inner attitude stems from a spiritually educated awareness of what’s real, what’s right, and what’s important.
- Unbelievers see this as losers not winners.
- We daily and even hourly practice death to self-centeredness and self-will. We cease seeking our own honor and glory. We cease fighting for our way in all things. We accept God’s will without fighting. We pray moment by moment, “Not my will but Your will be done.”
- I accept the following circumstance in my life and I am thankful for them as the will of my all-loving, all-powerful Father.
What does it mean to “hunger and thirst for righteousness”?
- A desire to be filled with the things of God.
- It generates the inner desire to make right choices, say right words, and do right actions, which is part of God’s work to make us more like Christ.
- Righteousness refers to one’s right standing with God, to right behavior before God – it’s a gift from God, not something people acquire or accomplish for themselves. The Bible say that those who seek shall find – this is the same when we hunger and thirst.
What would it take for you to become a more humble and surrendered Christian to God, so that you do not look to yourself, but to God in all things and in all ways?
- Without a definitive inner or spiritual change that includes confession of need, repentance of sin, submissive trust, and a desire to be filled with the things of God, a person cannot be a true disciple of Jesus.
The first four Beatitudes focused on our inward attitudes, the last four are concerned with our outward relationships or our character. Discipleship is more than what you know; it is what you do with what you know.
II. SHOW GODLY CHARACTER – MATTHEW 5:7-12
7 The merciful are blessed, for they will be shown mercy. 8 The pure in heart are blessed, for they will see God. 9 The peacemakers are blessed, for they will be called sons of God. 10 Those who are persecuted for righteousness are blessed, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. 11 “You are blessed when they insult and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of Me. 12 Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Why does an attitude change come before a character change? Why does Jesus want us to “Choose Right Attitudes” before we can “Show Godly Character”?
- These are not eight different categories of people, they are eight qualities of the same group – those who have repented and chosen to follow Jesus. A progression can be seen from the first saying in the series to the last.
- These are all choices, not feelings. They summarize what happens in life. When we mourn over wrong we find steps to goodness. When we choose gentleness during squabbles, we find solutions. As we live life with Jesus, all of His character traits (humility, gentleness, a desire for righteousness, etc.) increasingly begin to show up in us.
- By the end of the saying Jesus had given a description of what every follower of His ought to be like.
- The rest of the Sermon on the Mount builds on the foundation laid out in the Beatitudes. As demanding as they may seem, the Beatitudes are the basics of discipleship.
How does a poor in spirit attitude help me to be merciful in my relationships with others? Is mercy a feeling we have or a choice we make?
- Mercy is an attitude and an action. Mercy is directed toward others. It is identifying with those in need and acting in compassion to help.
- The merciful have received mercy. God in His grace has acted in mercy toward them.
- The merciful are to demonstrate mercy toward others through a forgiving spirit. Being merciful involves forgiving, but it also includes a loving response to the miserable and helpless. How do you feel when you are challenged to show mercy but you don’t want to? What do you do?
- Mercy acts to meet the person’s needs. What might be some examples at work, to your children, to your spouse or to others?
- Merciful actions may involve kind and helpful words, practical deeds, money, shared tears or a combination of all those.
- Mercy is a choice and not a feeling. We choose to see another’s situation and to invite God to show us how we might help. Simply put, we reap what we sow; those who demonstrate mercy will receive mercy. Likewise, those who know great mercy will show great mercy. This mercy is shown through forgiveness and also by offering kindness and compassion toward others.
Jesus said to be pure in heart. What does He mean by this?
- The "pure in heart" are those who have been cleansed from within. To be clean, innocent, sincere, and marked by integrity, all of which would be manifested in our interaction with others.
- This quality is not by human accomplishment or the outcome of religious practice, it’s the result of being in right relationship with God who alone is pure and holy.
What are obvious sins and less than obvious sins that make our hearts impure?
- Obvious examples: sexual misbehavior, greed, anger, grudges.
- Less obvious: manipulation, wrong motives, lack of discipline, calling attention to self with holy words.
How would a “mournful attitude” help me to be pure in heart?
- It’s a constant reminder of how much we have messed up and are in need of God’s grace.
- It’s like a daily shower of God’s grace. It says the pure in heart will see God – I believe this includes seeing God in what is going on around us.
What’s the connection between a gentle attitude and being a peacemaker towards others? How does choosing to make peace show you’re like God? What are other family-of-God resemblances?
- Like father, like son.
- God leads redeemed sinners to help others be reconciled to God as well as to one another.
- The Bible says we have peace with God through Jesus Christ. Reconciliation through Jesus Christ brings restored fellowship (peace) with God. 2 Corinthians 5:19-20 says God entrusts us with this same message of reconciliation to take to others.
What attributes make you resemble your parents? How are your children like you?
- Those you imitate.
What’s the difference between being “persecuted for righteousness” and punished for wrongdoing?
- Disciples of Jesus are expected to display an external behavior that flows from the internal change they have experienced through devotion to Him.
- Living for Jesus is not always popular and can lead to rejection and even persecution by others.
- The Lord will honor faithful living with His blessing, sometimes on earth, but certainly in heaven.
- Those who endure because of their faith rather than hiding their righteousness to avoid persecution are genuine followers of Christ.
God is more concerned with who I am than what I do!
III. USE YOUR INFLUENCE – MATTHEW 5:13-16
Believers Are Salt and Light
13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt should lose its taste, how can it be made salty? It’s no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled on by men. 14 “You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
Jesus stressed believers’ influence in the world by declaring, “You are the salt of the earth”.
How do you see your influence as salt and light to the world? How can we use our influence in the world?
- Salt to give flavor has to be added to something. We cannot impact worldly people by avoiding them. We need to be the most upright, friendly, available, thoughtful, considerate, and helpful people on the block, on the job, or on the team.
- Our saltiness can make others thirsty for Christ.
- Followers of Jesus are expected to make a positive influence on the world that leads others to see that following Jesus brings life and light.
- Followers of Jesus ought to be identified by the good works they do.
- Followers of Jesus do not draw attention to themselves by what they do but lead others to give glory to God the Father.
Conclusion
Many people have a distorted view of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. Some of that confusion comes because of the lifestyle of some who claim to be Christian disciples. There a difference between their attitudes and outward actions, especially in relationship to other people. Though they claim to be disciples of Jesus, they fail to make a positive impact on their world. That certainly isn’t what Jesus had in mind.
Prayer of Commitment
Father, I ask You to do Your holy work within me that I may do the kind of things that point others to You and bring You glory. Amen
Hope that you will commit this study to prayer as God works on your heart and life. There's not a better question to be asking yourself than what it means to follow Jesus.
In His Love,
David
