Sermon Tone Analysis

How would you describe a disciple?

What key words would you use?

And then what mission would a disciple have in this world?

We’ll come back to that.

Turn to .

Pray

How would you describe a disciple?

What key words would you use?

And then what mission would a disciple have in this world?

We’ll come back to that.

As we look at , many of you will recognize this as the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount.

This is the first of 5 major discourses in Matthew.

Jesus thought it important to teach His disciples.

He spent ample time teaching and preparing them.

He wanted His disciples to have wisdom and spiritual insight and to know things of major significance - there was nothing arbitrary about what He taught.

Jesus wanted His disciples to know significant truths about life, about God, about spiritual matters, about the Kingdom of God and much more.

He wants His disciples to be wise and informed.

How do you become wise and informed?

Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down.

His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them.

Understand, that just being around Jesus doesn’t necessarily make you a disciple.

The crowds were there, but who was Jesus focused on?

The ones who came to Him.

Understand, that just being around Jesus doesn’t necessarily make you a disciple.

The crowds were there, but who was Jesus focused on?

The ones who came to Him.

So, the first thing you got to do is hang out with Him.

That’s what they did.

Jesus went up there, that’s where they went.

Where He went, they went.

When they came to Him, Jesus did what?

Began to teach them.

So here’s the question: are you hanging out with Jesus on a regular basis?

Are you going to Him, every day and listening, allowing the Spirit to teach you?

Or are you expecting Jesus to follow you around?

There’s a big difference.

Does He want His disciples just to know stuff?

No.

When Jesus teaches, there was and is an expectation that they would actually put into practice what He taught.

“… everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”

So, How would you describe a disciple?

One who follows, who listens and then practices.

Those are three key words to describe a disciple.

Disciples are those who learn from, follow and imitate Jesus.

And to be a disciple, you got to hang out with Him, and sit under His teaching.

So, How would you describe a disciple?

One who follows, who listens and then practices.

Those are three key words to describe a disciple.

Disciples are those who learn from, follow and imitate Jesus.

And to be a disciple, you got to hang out with Him, and sit under His teaching.

Now, I really believe there is a difference between just being saved or calling yourself a Christian or attending church and actually being a disciple.

A disciple of Christ will make it a point to go where Jesus is, to sit with Him and listen and learn from Him.

A disciple will make certain he or she gets away from the “crowds” – to get away from the business of life, and spend one on one time with the Lord.

So, how would you describe a disciple, and would you classify yourself as a disciple?

If the answer is yes, then we’re good.

IF the answer is no, then I would challenge you to make some changes – turn off the TV, get up earlier, stay up later and spend time with our Savior.

I also want you to notice something about Jesus.

What did Jesus do when He saw the crowds?

He went up on the mountainside.

Now we know that typically Jesus has compassion on the crowds, and He’ll feed them or heal, drive out demons etc.

But on this occasion, it’s as if Jesus indicated to His disciples, “Hey, it’s too crowded - let’s get alone – just us.”

So not only should we make time to be alone with Christ, but understand, He desires to be alone with us as well.

Not a one-way-street.

If you haven’t done so in a while, go get alone with the Lord – whether its for an hour, a day or a weekend.

Get away from the “crowd” – whatever your crowd is.

So the disciples and Jesus (and the crowd, they actually followed Jesus) are on this mountainside, probably looking out over the sea of Galilee (include Pic) and He begins to teach them.

We find out at the end in chapter 7, that the crowds were amazed, not because these were nice little saying, but because Jesus taught with authority.

In other words, this is worth paying attention to.

So Jesus began with what we call the Beatitudes, and then jump to verses 13-16.

Vision statement for all believers.

“You 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 others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Notice, there are two “You are” statements: “You are salt” and “You are light.”

These were spoken and written in the indicative mood.

The indicative mood is basically a statement of reality or often a statement of fact.

For example, “My wife is beautiful – it’s a simple statement of reality.”

And, I just earned some major points.

Notice, there are two “You are” statements: “You are salt” and “You are light.”

These were spoken and written in the indicative mood.

The indicative mood is basically a statement of reality or often a statement of fact.

For example, “My wife is beautiful – it’s a simple statement of reality.”

And, I just earned some major points.

Now, why is that important for us to know (talking about the You are statements)?

Understand that Jesus is not suggesting or hoping or even demanding that His disciples will be salt and light.

Nor is He suggesting it’s a choice.

It is a statement of reality - as disciples of Christ, we are salt and light - period.

Like it or not, when a person carries the name of God (2nd Commandment), they become salt and light.

However, by implication of what Jesus said, we can either be good salt, or bad salt.

We can be a visible light, or a useless light.

I will cut to the chase on this one – salt that loses its saltiness and a light that refuses to shine is useless.

Seriously, what good is a flashlight that’s dead?

You could probably throw it at something that goes bump in the night, but it’s not fulfilling its purpose – it’s useless.

Same with salt – if it loses its usefulness, then what good is it.

It’s not all doom and gloom – so hang with me.

Let’s talk about salt this morning.

Jesus says that His disciples are the salt of the earth.

Now there are many uses for salt, but four that probably would have been familiar to the disciples: a preservative; a flavor enhancement and it has both healing and destructive properties (salt melts ice and can do some unusual things to slugs).