"A Call to Kingdom Living"
Sermon on the Mount • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations (657 Simple Preaching of Brainerd)
657 Simple Preaching Of Brainerd
David Brainerd, the famous missionary to the American Indians, proclaimed this truth throughout his ministry. He said, “I never got away from Jesus and Him crucified in my preaching. I found that once these people were gripped by the great evangelical meaning of Christ’s sacrifice on our behalf, I did not have to give them many instructions about changing their behavior.”
When Charles Spurgeon lay on his deathbed, he testified to a friend, “My theology now is found in four little words: “JESUS died for ME.” I don’t say this is all I would preach if I were to be raised up again, but it is more than enough for me to die upon.”
—Our Daily Bread
These messages of Jesus Christ are for the will and the conscience, not for the head. If you dispute the Sermon on the Mount with your head, you will blunt the appeal to your heart.
Oswald Chambers (Lecturer and Missionary)
No one can really live the Sermon on the Mount until they are born again; the Sermon on the Mount is impossible to the natural man or woman.
Children of God, 12
David Martyn Lloyd-Jones (Welsh Preacher and Writer)
The Sermon on the Mount is not a set of rules and regulations: it is a statement of the life we will live when the Holy Spirit is getting His way with us.
Oswald Chambers (Lecturer and Missionary)
I would rather make bricks without straw than try to live the Sermon on the Mount in my own strength.
David Martyn Lloyd-Jones (Welsh Preacher and Writer)
The teaching of the Sermon on the Mount is not meant to be admired but to be obeyed.
Craig Blomberg; R. T. France
The Sermon on the Mount is our doctor’s medical advice, not our employer’s job description.
John Piper
Read Matthew 5:1-12 and Luke 6:12-23 -
The Bible Exposition Commentary (Chapter Four: The King’s Principles: True Righteousness (Matthew 5))
The Sermon on the Mount is one of the most misunderstood messages that Jesus ever gave. One group says it is God’s plan of salvation, that if we ever hope to go to heaven we must obey these rules. Another group calls it a “charter for world peace” and begs the nations of the earth to accept it. Still a third group tells us that the Sermon on the Mount does not apply to today, but that it will apply at some future time, perhaps during the Tribulation or the millennial kingdom.
I have always felt that Matthew 5:20 was the key to this important sermon: “For I say unto you, that except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” The main theme is true righteousness. The religious leaders had an artificial, external righteousness based on Law. But the righteousness Jesus described is a true and vital righteousness that begins internally, in the heart. The Pharisees were concerned about the minute details of conduct, but they neglected the major matter of character. Conduct flows out of character.
The ESV Study Bible (Chapter 5)
5:2 While Jesus was seated, he opened his mouth (a Jewish idiom) and taught them, i.e., his disciples who had come to him (v. 1). “Disciples” (Gk. “learners”) were those who had made a commitment to Jesus as the Messiah; the “crowds” (v. 1) were those who were curious and often astounded by his teaching and ministry (7:28–29) yet for the most part remained neutral and uncommitted.
Proposition - As we start our study of the sermon on the mount I beg you to engage your minds as we begin this living changing study from the greatest Preacher of all time and that is the Lord Jesus Christ.
Interrogative Question - How can you intentionally pursue a closer relationship with Christ in your daily life?
Can I draw your attention to Matthew 5:1-2
1 When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him. 2 He opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying,
Preliminary thoughts -
Prior to the Sermon on the Mount, I want to draw your attention to a couple of things - Notice Matthew 4:18ff -
Christ separates Himself from the crowd
The disciples intentionally come to Him
He opens His mouth and teaches
This is not incidental—it is instructive.
👉 Spiritual maturity is not accidental; it is the result of intentionally placing yourself where you can not only hear Christ but also live out the teaches of the great Preacher of all time.
I. Disciples Deliberately Pursue Christ - vs. 1
I. Disciples Deliberately Pursue Christ - vs. 1
1 When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him.
The multitudes were present, but only the disciples drew near in a personal, intentional way.
Turn to James chapter 4 with me -
8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
Genuine faith brings us into relationship with Christ, but sanctification requires continual pursuit of Christ likeness.
Application -
Proximity to spiritual things is not the same as fellowship with Christ
Church attendance alone does not equal spiritual growth
A thriving Christian life requires intentional pursuit—time in the Word, prayer, and submission. (Discipleship)
Illustration #1: The Difference Between Attendance and Engagement
Two individuals sit in the same church service.
One listens, reflects, and applies. The other is physically present but mentally elsewhere.
Over time, one grows deeply—the other remains unchanged.
👉 The difference is not access to truth, but pursuit of Christ.
You must intentionally draw near to Christ if you expect to grow in Christ.
II. Disciples Discipline to Hear Christ - vs. 2
II. Disciples Discipline to Hear Christ - vs. 2
2 He opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying,
Christ is always ready to teach—but not all are ready to hear.
Turn with me to Proverbs 4 -
20 My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings.
The Word of God is sufficient and authoritative, but the condition of the heart determines reception.
Application -
A distracted life produces a dull spiritual ear
Busyness can crowd out attentiveness to God’s Word
Hearing requires discipline—stillness, focus, humility
Illustration #2: A Conversation Interrupted by Noise
In a crowded, noisy environment, even important words are lost.
Clarity requires removing competing noise.
👉 Many believers do not lack access to God’s Word—they lack undivided attention.
A divided heart cannot clearly hear the voice of Christ.
III. Disciples Faithfully Response to Christ -
III. Disciples Faithfully Response to Christ -
Christ teaches with authority, expecting not mere admiration—but obedience.
28 But He said, “On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.”
Biblical knowledge without obedience leads to spiritual stagnation and, ultimately, hardness of heart.
Application
Growth is measured by obedience, not information
Delayed obedience often becomes settled disobedience
Truth demands a response—repentance, faith, or action
Illustration #3: Knowing vs. Practicing
A person may understand principles of health—diet, exercise, rest—but never apply them.
The result is unchanged condition despite increased knowledge.
👉 Likewise, spiritual knowledge without obedience produces no transformation.
The blessing of the Word is found in its application, not merely its comprehension.
SO WHAT?
Matthew 5:1–2 establishes the posture required for receiving the teaching of Christ:
Pursue Christ deliberately
Listen to Christ attentively
Respond to Christ obediently
Thoughtful Question -
Are you truly pursuing Christ, or are you merely surrounding yourself with spiritual activity?
Is your heart attentive, or distracted and divided?
Are you obeying what I already know to be true?
Closing Illustration: The Executive Briefing
In a high-level meeting, a leader delivers critical instructions.
Some take careful notes and implement them. Others hear but fail to act.
The outcome reveals who truly listened.
👉 Christ has spoken.
The trajectory of your life will reflect how seriously you take His words.
Food for thought -
“Spiritual growth is determined not by how much truth you hear, but by how faithfully you position yourself to receive and obey it.”
5 Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test?
In what specific ways can you intentionally pursue a deeper relationship with Christ this week?
How can your understanding of the Sermon on the Mount transform your daily choices and interactions with others?
What steps can you take to ensure that your heart is focused and attentive when engaging with Scripture?
How is your obedience to Christ's teachings evident in your life, and what areas might need more attention?
Can you identify distractions in your life that hinder your spiritual growth, and how might you remove them?
Reflecting on the difference between mere attendance and engagement, how can you be more proactive in your spiritual practices?
How does understanding that spiritual maturity requires intentionality change the way you approach your relationship with God?
In what ways can community or fellowship with other believers support your pursuit of Christ?
What practical actions can you take to ensure that you respond promptly and faithfully to Christ's teachings?
How can you apply the principle of 'listening requires discipline' to your everyday routine?
