As Jesus gives ‘The Sermon on The Mount’, He and His disciples, they ‘stood together’…
How are you with the idea of ‘Standing with Jesus’? Standing with Jesus means taking on HIS humility, HIS grace and HIS ways. When we abide with Him, walk with Him, learn from Him: we store up good things that come from Him, good things we can then give to each other! This is growing ‘The Heart of Christ’: Thinking, Feeling & Acting Like Christ! This is the goal of our discipleship, that we may glorify God in living our lives for HIM!
Our membership covenant is designed to encapsulate ‘Jesus’ Words’. We are to not just hear them but put them into practice: here @ Midtown we have committed to! Knowing what we are called to, committing to it and then not doing it is dangerous. Jesus says it will result in complete destruction…carefully consider violating that
37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
- Continuation of the ideas about Christ-based relationship from last week
- This pertains to interpersonal relationships (not about you & God)
- The key is to be concerned with YOUR part, not anyone else
- Doing it God’s way get you rewards only God can give
- Grace over law!
39 He also told them this parable: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into a pit? 40 The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher.
- Parable is to drive home the point about self awareness and self development
- Until you have been a good student you are blind, (no good to the blind)
- Embracing the ‘training’ / discipleship needed before trying to be a leader
- Big picture of the concept then illustration
41 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 42 How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye?
- It is meant to be extreme to show us how we lack self awareness, all of us
- Your ability to help others is regulated by your own spiritual & emotional health
- Your credibility is suspect when you try to help from a place without humility
You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
- Without seeing your own errors & shortcoming you are no way fit to lead others
- Dealing with my problems, being teachable & humble enables God to use me!
- Clarity to help others comes from working out your own issues
- What makes you think people can’t see that plank?
43 “No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. 44 Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thorn-bushes, or grapes from briers.
- The reality of WHO you are & WHAT you are will be proven
- We all know what is good (figs or grapes) and that is what we want (not thorns)
45 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.
- What you store up in your heart is your ’emotional relational’ reality (worldview)
- That reality colors everything you say & do; you can’t really fool people for long
- What is in your emotional, relational self (heart) comes
46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? 47 As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like.
- Calling Jesus ‘Lord’ is not the same as living your life like He truly is ‘LORD’
- Jesus positive example of how we are to structure our lives (priorities / time)
- Words without application are WORTHLESS
48 They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built.
- Digging deep into WHO and WHAT Jesus the Christ is (The Rock)
- The structure of a life based on the Biblical Truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ
- This life of Discipleship can stand up to whatever life throws at it
- Not ‘If’ the flood came, but rather ‘When’ it came (it’s coming!)
49 But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”
- Here is the other way people go: exposed to the truth but unaffected by it
- The foolishness of thinking a house has no need for a foundation!
- The destruction being complete has an eternal aspect to it
Application Questions:
How can you be more grace giving, and less judgmental in your relationships?
Can you ask someone you trust to tell you if you have reoccurring ‘Plank Eye’?
What is your specific & intentional plan of how you are going to store up good things in your heart?
What are some specifics of Biblical Christian Theology you are building the foundation of your life on?
What are your weak areas of putting Christ’s words into practice consistently?