• slide presentations
• handouts
• music
• links to video
  

that can help you understand more deeply Christ’s Sermon on the Mount as recorded in Matthew Chapters 5-7.

The Beatitudes: From Slavery to Civil Rights by Carole Boston Weatherford

What a wonderful way to celebrate African-American History Month and the Sermon on the Mount – Beatitudes!

Learn about courageous African-American men and women – past and present – incidents in their lives reflect the teachings of Christ.

Excerpt from one on-line review by Yana V. Rodgers

“Starting with “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven,” the Beatitudes form the beginning of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. This new children’s book uses those blessings to motivate a powerful poem describing how African Americans found hope and inspiration during pivotal points in time from slavery to the Civil Rights movement. The book also highlights some of the important contributions of courageous spiritual, educational, and political leaders in the movement for racial equality and social justice. Striking watercolor and pastel paintings further add to the richness of this book, making it an excellent resource for teaching not only black history, but also the interplay between economics and religion.”

Temptations of a Christian – Recap II: Suited Up and Ready to Go!

It helps to know that Christians do not have to face the temptations along the road to heaven unarmed.

In our lessons earlier in the series, we read in Ephesians 6:10-17 a description of  the The Armor of God that we can don to help protect us during the temptations, but we also learned that the Armor does not prevent the temptations from coming.

During this recap of the series, we are cautioned to be alert to false prophets, to incorporate the spiritual disciplines into our daily lives so we can be prepared emotionally, physically and spiritually.  We are be salt and light.  Regardless of our ages, we are be prisms through which the Spirit of God can be manifest as we interact with others at home, at school, a play.  Quite a challenge!

We viewed the final scenes of the Sermon on the Mount from the video, THE VISUAL BIBLE: Matthew, and during the dramatization, we heard these words:

The Wise and Foolish Builders

²⁴“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. ²⁵The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. ²⁶But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. ²⁷The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

Finally, our Scripture passage assured us that if we are wise, we’ll put on the Armor of God and we will be able to stand.

Having seen or heard in the news about the earthquakes and hurricanes experienced around the world in 2010, this passage becomes more than mere words in the Bible.  Looking out my own window this week, I watched trees bend nearly 90 degrees in the strong winds in my town.    On the one hand, the trees seemed to bowed to the majesty and authority of God, the Creator!  However, seeing the power of the wind made me think of the power of the Evil One who can batter us about, but like the trees which withstood the gales, we, too, can withstand the powers that work against us as Children of the Most High God!

Our study concluded with the call to be wise not foolish Christians.  We are to be those who follow the teachings of our Lord, confident that His Holy Spirit is in us and with us along the way; that Christ our Savior speaks to the Father, God, on our behalf; and that soon, and maybe sooner than we think, we’ll be joining Them in the Celestial City.  Perhaps the meeting will like that of Christian as we viewed in the video clips  of  John Bunyan’s hero, Christian, in that classic novel Pilgrim’s Progress.

The Fall season begins  soon for those of us who live above the Equator. We will be faced with inclement weather.  The rains, snows, and winds will come, but if our physical houses are built on firm foundations, we should be able to emerge into Spring with the joy of survivors.  With this same thought in mind, let’s take what we’ve learned in this series of lessons. Let’s use the concepts from Christ’s Sermon on the Mount as a blueprint to build a firm spiritual foundation.  Let’s re-read Paul’s letter to the Ephesus and put on the Armor of God.  Let’s learn the lyrics to the hymns, step out to trust and obey the Word and learn to lean on the Strength of the Lord.

We’re together in the journey and as we travel along together, praying daily for the strength the avoid the pitfalls along the way, let’s be courageous and assist others as the Spirit leads to become salt and light. We can arrive victors, welcomed by God into our eternal home as men and women who recognized and overcame the Temptations of a Christian.

• Link to PowerPoint Slides for Week 26 –Week 26 – Suited Up and Ready to Go! (in .pdf)
• Link to Handout for Week 26 – The Sacred Romance – (in pdf)
• Link to Music for Week 26 – “Trust and Obey” (H. Sammis. Music: Daniel B. Towner (midi) “Learning to Lean” Words and Music by John Stallings, midiand The Blackwood Brothers (CW), Willie Norwood (Gospel) The EvereadysPiano (youtube), The Sensational Nightingales
• Download Adobe Reader needed to view .pdf files

Resisting the Temptation to Doubt God as We Go and Grow

This recap in the series of lessons based on Christ’s Sermon on the Mount as recorded by his disciple, Matthew, we reviewed the Beatitudes in Chapter 5 and acknowledged the fact that no matter how long we have been on the road to heaven, we must be reminded regularly of the temptations that face us as we go and grow!

As a matter of fact, Christians face a unique set of temptations that mainly revolve around our relationships, religious practices as we align ourselves with a particular body of believers meeting in a specific place, coming to terms with Biblical guidelines for  handling the responsibilities entrusted to us, and just generally responding to narrow road that is the Highway to Heaven.

We know we are Christians because we have answered the call of the Holy Spirit, have accepted the fact that as sinners only the death of Jesus Christ has paid the price for that sin, we’ve accepted His Lordship and become sons and daughters of the Most High God,  as described in John 1:12.

¹²Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— (NIV)

We hear sermons about growing in the Lord, maturing as Christians as the Holy Spirit develops within us the personality traits of the Beatitudes as record in Matthew 5

³“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
⁴ Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
⁵ Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
⁶ Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
⁷ Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
⁸ Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
⁹ Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called sons of God.
¹⁰ Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (NIV)

We are challenged to believe that there actually can be joy in temptations as James tells us in

²Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. ⁴Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

We wonder when we will reach maturity, completeness, lacking nothing!  Then, praise be to God, we are reminded of the verses in I Corinthians, which assures us that

“No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” (I Cor. 10:13  NIV)

Our challenge then seems less daunting.  We will be tempted, yes, but not more than we can stand.  All right! We therefore continue to sing with determination the song chosen as our theme for the series, “I’m Going On!” and “Learning to Lean”.

• Link to PowerPoint Slides for Week 25 – Recap I – (in .pdf)
• Link to Handout for Week 25 – The Sacred Romance – (in pdf)
• Link to Music for Week 25 – “I’m Going On”  midi with lyrics and music (Charles W. Naylor and Andrew L. Byers)   and  “Learning to Lean” Words and Music by John Stallings, midi, (youtube) – The Blackwood Brothers (CW), Willie Norwood (Gospel)The Evereadys (Gospel) Piano (youtube), The Sensational Nightingales
• Download Adobe Reader needed to view .pdf files

Acknowledging that We’re Still Growing

The longer we are on the narrow road to heaven, the more likely we will come to believe that we no longer will be tempted.  We’ve been diligent about reading the Bible and other Christian literature; we’ve been paying attention to our relationships, our religious practices, and handling our responsibilities.  We’re surrounded by other pilgrims on the journey but, if we’re not careful, we can become lax, believing what we see is all there is.

We will see some fellow travelers who are stronger than we are and other who seem to struggle daily.  We will be tempted to judge their spirituality based on what we believe to be true from what we observe.  We’ll think we’ve grown enough to know how to treat others, how to pray, and how to discern truth from lies.

This, my friend, is another of those tricky misconceptions of the maturing, but not yet mature, Christian. If we’re honest, we’ll acknowledge that one of the temptations in response to the narrow road is assumption – believing what we want to be true or right rather than what God says is true or right.  That just may be the reason the final chapter of Matthew’s recording of Christ’s Sermon on the Mount has so many admonishments for us who walk the narrow road on the highway to heaven.  You think?

As you re-read Matthew Chapter 7, note what it says about

• Judging our fellow pilgrims
• Asking in faith and believing that what we receive is God’s best for us
• Living by the Golden  Rule as we interact with one another
• Understanding the realities of the narrow road and who will travel with us
• Recognizing the false prophets
• Understanding when we’re being wise and when we become foolish

Let’s take a look at the NIV version of that passage from the Sermon on the Mount.

Matthew 7

Judging Others

¹“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. ²For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

³“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? ⁴How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? ⁵You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

⁶“Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.

Ask, Seek, Knock

⁷“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. ⁸For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

⁹“Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? ¹⁰Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? ¹¹If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! ¹²So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

The Narrow and Wide Gates

¹³“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. ¹⁴But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

A Tree and Its Fruit

¹⁵“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. ¹⁶By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? ¹⁷Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. ¹⁹Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

²¹“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. ²²Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ ²³Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

The Wise and Foolish Builders

²⁴“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. ²⁵The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. ²⁶But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. ²⁷The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

²⁸When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, ²⁹because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

Remember, Christian, the Pilgrim in John Bunyan’s classic novel, PILGRIM’S PROGRESS?  He, too, was tempted to doubt, to judge, to believe what he saw, and to go his own way. We, too, are faced with the same temptations primarily because  “Where there is life there is HOPE.”   Satan hopes to get us back!  Let’s not become careless and fall for the traps being set for us even on the Highway to Heaven.  Let’s commit ourselves to finishing the journey victoriously!

• Link to PowerPoint Slides for Week 24– Temptations of Responding to the Narrow Road – 2 (in .pdf)
• Link to Pilgrim’s Progress “Dangerous Journey” Episodes 9-12 on youtube : Nine , Ten, Eleven, Twelve,
• Link to Handouts for Week 24 – Handout on Temptations of a Christian (in .pdf)
• Link to Music for Week 24 – “I’m Going On” Lyrics (Charles W. Naylor and Andrew L. Byers)  and slides.  Here for  midi
• Download Adobe Reader needed to view .pdf files

Don’t Worry; Be Healthy!

This week, shed the burdens. Don’t worry.  Be healthy!  When we worry, our bodies keep score. God has promised us health and joy.  When you think about it, the primary reason we experience joyless hours, days, or God forbid, weeks, is because we’re worried.  Wondering, or even doubting that God will supply our needs, heal our bodies, give us friends, fulfill our dreams.  The question is, what should we do with the concerns we have about each of these responsibilities?

In the late 20th Century there was a song by Bobby Mc Farrin, “Don’t Worry, Be Happy!” .  It’s cute and will make you smile…for a while.  But still the doubt returns if you don’t have someone on you you can lay the burdens that make you sad, anxious and, yes, even stressed.  We have to do something with the worry about these responsibilities or they just keep coming back.

Centuries before Bobby Farrin wrote his song,  Jesus gave the same command.  “Don’t worry”.  It’s a waste of time and energy!  Jesus promised that that if we seek first the kingdom of God, all these needs – our physiological, safety, social, esteem, even self-actualization needs – will be met.  By whom, you say?  By God, the Father of all good and perfect gifts who promised to supply ALL OUR NEEDS.  In the meantime, what do we do while awaiting the supply?  Respond with ‘Yes” to the invitation given later in the book of Matthew.

²⁸“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30 NIV)

As Christians, we like to say we are giving our burdens to the Lord, but  how often we find ourselves taking them back — time and time again.  A friend shared this image with me.  In our morning prayers, we give our cares to the Lord who ties them up into a neat bundle, takes them to deal with in His own time and in His own way.  But at the end of the day, in our evening prayers, when we don’t sense something is happening to resolve our concerns, imagining that  He’s turned His back  to address the needs of someone else,  we take back the bundle of burdens, pull out the stitches, and sneak a peek to see how much progress He has made.

If we’re not satisfied, we start worrying again, trying to figure out a way to handle our problems ourselves.  Or we find ourselves cradling those burdens, caressing and fondling them as though they are precious jewels, when in fact just handling them can be poison to our souls, stunting our spiritual growth if we don’t let them go.  And our bodies keep score.  We become ill.  We experience emotional roller coasters.  We behave frenetically.  Not as men and women of faith in a faithful God.

That’s the temptation of a Christian.  To give in to the doubt that God can, will, and even wants to meets our needs.  It’s a matter of trust, friends.  We sing the song , “Great is Thy Faithfulness” but don’t always live as though we believe the words.

The Sermon on the Mount tells us  what to do about our cares and woes and Charles A. Tinsley, in the classic gospel song, reminds us again in the lyrics that follow.

LEAVE IT THERE

Words and Music by Charles Albert Tinsley

If the world from you withhold all its silver and its gold,
And you have to get along with meager fare.
Just remember, in His Word, how He feeds the little bird;
Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.

Chorus:

Leave it there, leave it there,
Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.
If you trust and never doubt, He will surely bring you out.
Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.

If your body suffers pain and your health you can’t regain,
And your soul is almost sinking in despair,
Jesus knows the pain you feel, He can save and He can heal;
Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.

When your enemies assail and your heart begins to fail,
Don’t forget that God in Heaven answers prayer;
He will make a way for you and will lead you safely through.
Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.

When your youthful days are gone and old age is stealing on,
And your body bends beneath the weight of care;
He will never leave you then, He’ll go with you to the end.
Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.

Chorus:

Leave it there, leave it there,
Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.
If you trust and never doubt, He will surely bring you out.
Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.

This week, let’s re-read the Scripture passages from last week, Matthew 6:18-34 and  not only APPLY THEM to our lives but also share the message with others.  Then, we can truly experience the joy (happiness) of a worry free life.  Tough?  Yes.  But, as I used to teach my children when they were frustrated with their piano lessons, “Things are difficult, before they are easy.”  God is able.  Are we?  Able to trust Him?

• Link to PowerPoint Slides for Week 21 – Temptations of Responsibilities II (in .pdf)
• Link to Handouts for Week 21 – Handout on Responsibilities (in .pdf)
• Link to Music for Week 21 – “Come Unto Me” lyrics and music by Judy Church ;  Traditional CW; Take 6 Cover (a capella) “Leave It There” lyrics and music by Charles Albert Tindley . Midi ;sung by the Statesmen Quartet; Rev. Joe Hill and Sharon Garman (Gospel)  (youtube)
• Download Adobe Reader needed to view .pdf files

So?  What Are You Worried About?

This week’s lesson begins our study of the third area of temptation in our series that already has looked at the Temptations of Relationships and Temptations of Religion.  We move on to see what the Sermon on the Mount, as recorded in Matthew’s gospel, has to say about how Christians should cope with the responsibilities we continue to have and those that come to us even though we now are sons and daughters of the Most High God.

As Christians, few of us are snatched up to heaven once we accept the Gift of Salvation.  Yes, we believe that Jesus Christ died for our sins and was buried; we also believe that,  PTL), on the third day, He rose again, and later , when He returned to His Father, sent the Holy Spirit to indwell us and to be our Comforter on journey along the Highway to Heaven.

Think about it.  Why did Jesus promise and then send us the Holy Spirit?  You’re right.  He knew that the challenges of daily living would continue for us as long as we live on Earth.  Our Savior knew it would take more than Sunday sermons and daily devotions to keep us focused on who we are in the family of God.  We would need that Supernatural Someone  in and around us, to guide and encourage us as we walk along the straight and narrow path to, what John Bunyan called, the Celestial City.

Were you a parent before you became a Christian?  You’re still a parent, aren’t you?   Many of those pre-Christian relationship issues and pre-Christian  concerns about responsibilities continue.  In fact, as a Christian, you may be taking these responsibilities even more seriously than you did before. Because relationship and responsibilities go on,  you’ll be tempted to doubt that you can get along with “those folks” and that you can handle those bills, especially as the children continue to outgrow clothes, want their own rooms, their own cars, and the latest in clothing fashions. Don’t even mention college, tech school, traveling .  And what the time and expenses related to care for aging parents!  As a Christian in whom the personality traits of the beatitudes are developing, your merciful nature and pure heart will yearn to help care for those who may be outside your family and friend circle.

Yes, the temptation will be to trust your treasures instead of the One who gives you the time, energy and intellect to acquire those resources.  You will  find yourself investing precious time worrying about how you will meet all the needs of those entrusted to your care.  Apparently Jesus knew this.  He taught about it  and Matthew, in his recreation of the Sermon on the Mount, he included Jesus’ cautions about our attitude toward our responsibilities.   We find them in Matthew 6:10-34.

Treasures in Heaven

¹⁹“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

²²“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. ²³But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

²⁴“No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.

Do Not Worry

²⁵“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? ²⁶Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life^[k]?

²⁸“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. ²⁹Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ³⁰If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? ³¹So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³²For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (NIV)

The songs I’ve chosen for this week remind of us ways to resist the temptation inherent with concerns about our responsibility to care for ourselves and for others.  The first is classic hymn, written in the late 1800’s by John Oatman, called “Count Your Blessings” and the second is “Enough” a more contemporary song by Chris Tomlin who tells us that God is enough for all that we need.

For the second verse of that song. Chris Tomlin sings of God,

You are my supply
My breath of life
And still more awesome than I know
You are my reward
worth living for
And still more awesome than I know

The third song is a musical arrangement of several  Bible verses including our key verse for this week, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well, ” but on the King James Version.  You’ll recognize it and want to sing along.

This week, let’s not only count our blessings, but also give thanks to the One who supplies them and the people through whom God works to see that we experience what we need, and more!

• Link to PowerPoint Slides for Week 20 – Temptations of Responsibilities I (in .pdf)
• Link to Handouts for Week 20 – Handout on Responsibilities (in .pdf)
• Link to Music for Week 20 – “Enough” Chris Tomlin  and “Count Your Blessings “Lyrics by John Oatman, Jr.   Count Your Blessings – Hovie Lister and The Statesmen and  gospel version and  Seek Ye First (you-tube)
• Download Adobe Reader needed to view .pdf files

This Fourth of July Sunday is a great time to reflect on this portion of Christ’s Sermon on the Mount and the freedom citizens in the United States have to practice religion.  According to the history of this country, a significant number of men and women immigrated to this country to experience this privilege.  Most readers educated in the USA know the story of the Pilgrims and Plymouth Rock and the fact they are just one of several groups of people who countries of birth to find religious freedom in the United States.  These immigrants believe the promises claimed in the Bill of Rights written by the Founding Fathers in the early years of this country.

The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is also the first section of the Bill of Rights. It is one of the most important part of the U.S. Constitution, as it guarantees freedoms of religion, speech, writing and publishing, peaceful assembly, and the freedom to raise grievances with the Government. It reads:

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”

Our challenge as Christians is not simply to exercise our freedom to practice religion the way we want, but to exercise that freedom in ways that are in keeping  Jesus’ teaching.  In Matthew’s gospel, Chapter Six, we’re taught about giving, praying, and disciplining ourselves.

Giving to the Needy

¹“Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

²“So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. ³But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, ⁴so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Prayer

⁵“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. ⁶But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. ⁷And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. ⁸Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

⁹“This, then, is how you should pray:
” ‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
¹⁰ your kingdom come,
your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
¹¹ Give us today our daily bread.
¹² Forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
¹³ And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.^[j]‘ ¹⁴For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. ¹⁵But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Fasting

¹⁶“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. ¹⁷But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, ¹⁸so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Another interesting thought about the Fourth of July and our lessons the Sermon on the Mount made me smile this week.  July 4th is INDEPENDENCE day; the Sermon on the Mount teaches DEPENDENCE!  We have freedom in the United States to practice our dependence on the Holy Spirit to help us to become more like Christ in our worship of God our Father, Creator and in our relationships with our brothers and sisters, His creations.

• Link to PowerPoint Slides for Week 18 – Temptation in Religion II (in .pdf)
• Link to Inspirational Reflection – “Be Still and Know”  by  Stephen  Curtis Chapman (youtube)
• Link to Handouts for Week 18 – Handout on Religion and Reading on Religion (in .pdf)
• Link to Music for Week 18 – “My Country ‘Tis of Thee” (youtube) Lyrics by Samuel Francis Smith and – “Learning to Lean” Words and Music by John Stallings, midi, (youtube) – The Blackwood Brothers (CW), Willie Norwood (Gospel)The Evereadys (Gospel) Piano (youtube), The Sensational Nightingales

• Download Adobe Reader needed to view .pdf files

Public Practice or Private Devotion

One would think that temptations would cease once a person believes the Gospel message that Jesus died for the sins of the world and the person is born again. One would think that when this Child of God  joins a church community the Christian would be immune to temptation – especially those having to do with religion.  After all, the new Christian worships  with other brothers and sisters now and is earnestly seeking to grow under the nurturing of a Bible teaching minister. Along with  these other believers, the Christian learns how to worship God and serve one another within the church family and outside into broader community.  Problems with temptations should be over, right?  Not so.  According to Christ’s Sermon on the Mount, new temptations arise as one learns that Christians are to give, to pray and to practice spiritual disciplines.  Some Christians find it difficult to resist pretentiousness:  pretend they are more generous, more devout, more disciplined than others in their circles. Apparently, the basic temptation of religion is to show off.

In fact, this section of the Sermon opens with this word of caution:

Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. (Matthew 6:1 New Living Translation)

Chapter 6 goes on to explain what Christ has to say to Christians about the way they give, pray, and practice spiritual discipline such as fasting. Notice the commentary in writing and teaching of Robert Barr, Jr.  on whom  these lessons are based.

GIVING
Matthew 6:2-4:

The words, “to give alms” comes from the same root word in the Greek as “mercy”.  It is a particular way in which mercy is shown to the poor. Giving alms is the “second mile” beyond tithes, a regular expression of religious activity beyond the expected.

Jesus assumes that the disciples will also be “giving alms”. This particular activity is held up as part of the commendable character of both Tabitha (Acts 9:36) and Cornelius (Acts 10:2).  The history of the early church shows that early Christians excelled in this expression of mercy.

TWO WARNINGS ARE SOUNDED!  One: Don’t announce your giving.  Commentators are undecided as to whether trumpets were used to indicate times of public fasting, whether the poor were summoned by the trumpet or whether Jesus was speaking pictorially.  The One who asks you to envision a camel squeezing through the eye of a needle is saying, “Don’t hire a P.R. man to announce your gifts!  Don’t worry about smiling into the TV camera or posting something on the Web.”  In a day dominated by advertisements and the idolatry of the public image, to give with your eye on the onlooker is a real temptation.  Does it make a personal difference to you if people know if and how much you are giving?  That the pastor know? Two: Use only one hand.  It takes two hands to calculate how much money one has – give some away and return the rest to the pocket.    The very act of calculating, a real need in our stewardship of money can become a stumbling block.  Our focus changes from the person whose needs we are facing to our own needs.

The reasons are simple.  Any ostentation or attention seeking that gets people to notice us, feeds our self-satisfaction.  The deed becomes a means to an end.  “The real gift…does not flow from our proud hands, carelessly dropping the alms.  It flows from the quiet chambers in which we give thanks to God for all the undeserved good things in our life which He has given us.”  A particularly helpful reminder to me regarding unselfish giving comes from a devotional book I used a few years ago called GOD CALLING.  One comment from it reminds me of my need to give constantly and believe it or not, it sounds like a selfish reason!  The thought is “God does not pour into a stagnant pool.”  If we wish to continue receiving blessings from God, we must continually give – not only to help meet the needs of others, but also to make room for God’s continual blessings on ourselves!

As we continue reading on to through verses 5:15, we see that Christ took the time to teach His listeners how to pray.  Within this passage are the words to the more familiar version of what is known to many as “The Lord’s Prayer”.  View the link to the “Reading on Religion” for further comments on how and why praying publically can lead to temptation.  Barr writes about the balance for which one must strive when this same Sermon on the Mount admonishes us be light and salt – becoming Christians who are obedient when we give, pray and discipline ourselves.

All in all, we see that as we continue on the highway to heaven, we must be alert to the temptation to being sanctimonious, pretending  that we are more devoted, more dutiful, more devout that other pilgrims on the road to maturity.

Self-Examination Question: Do I practice religion to enhance my private relationship with God,  my Father and Creator, or to show off publicly for my brothers and sisters, His created ones?

• Link to PowerPoint Slides for Week 17 – Temptation in Religion I (in .pdf)
• Link to Handouts for Week 17 – Handout on Religion and Reading on Religion (in .pdf)
• Link to Music for Week 17 – “Learning to Lean” Words and Music by John Stallings, ) Piano and midi
• Download Adobe Reader needed to view .pdf files

Temptations in Relationships: Vows and Vengeance

Friends, this can be a victorious area of Christian living if, and only if we learn to lean on the Lord, trusting God to keep His vows to us.  He does not lie; He keeps His Word and Christ asks us to do the same.  It’s not surprising that this teaching, in Christ’s Sermon on the Mount recorded in Matthew 5-7, follows His admonition regarding adultery and divorce.  In each case of adultery, it is a vow that has been broken and Christians in the situation will be tempted to take vengeance on the person who has hurt or cast us off.  But Christ already has taught us to deal with the anger that inevitably will arise.  Whether we are the perpetrator or the victim, we have a responsibility.

This week’s lesson asks us to reflect on the fact that we are new creatures in Christ. The Holy Spirit dwelling in us can help us not only cope with disappointment and deep hurt, but also to be humbly victorious.  Sounds like a contradiction, doesn’t it?  This lesson challenges us to keep our vows,  to trust in the Lord, to  live as though we believe what we’re learning about the power of the Holy Spirit.  As we permit the Holy Spirit to develop Christ-like love in our hearts, we will be less inclined to give in to the temptation to seek and take revenge.  But, when we do, confess it and accept God’s forgiveness.

For many of us, putting into practice Christ’s teaching about vows and vengeance can be a humbling experience…to be held accountable for our testimony… to let go and let God deal with the hurt in our lives…to step back….to walk away….to pray for those who lie to and about us…to shut up, but not shut the door the opportunity to show love.  However, each time we trust God’s strength, we have victory.  Victory in Jesus.

On what do we base these claims? See the link to READINGS IN RELATIONSHIPS below for Pastor Barr’s writing about this section of the Sermon on the Mount.   But look now at two familiar Bible passages about vengeance.

From the Old Testament, there is the promise in Isaiah:

³ Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way;

⁴ say to those with fearful hearts,
“Be strong, do not fear; your God will come; he will come with vengeance;
with divine retribution he will come to save you.” (Isaiah 35:3-4, NIV)

Paul pleads with the new converts in Rome.  Notice that he states the link between anger and vengeance.

Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. (Romans 12:19, NIV)

As we continue our walk with the Lord, be alert to the enticement of anger, to the propensity to lie, and to snare of vengeance that could trip us, paralyze us and cause us to fall away.  Our lesson on anger taught us that if we have something against a brother or sister, we’re to stop our prayers, seek to restore that relationship, and then return to our prayers.  WOW!  Can we do that this week?  Trust in the Lord, lean on his teachings and celebrate the inevitable victory.

Learning to Lean

By John Stallings

Chorus
Learning to lean.  Learning to lean.
I’m learning to lean on Jesus.
Finding more power than I’d ever dreamed.
I’m learning to lean on Jesus.

There’s glorious vict’ry each day now for me,
Since I found His peace so serene;
He helps me with each task, if only I’ll ask.
Ev’ry day now I’m learning to lean.

Chorus
Learning to lean.  Learning to lean.
Learning to lean on Jesus.
Finding more power than I’d ever dreamed,
I’m learning to lean on Jesus.

• Link to PowerPoint Slides  for Week 16 – Temptation in Relationships (in .pdf)
• Link to Handouts for Week 16– Relationships: Discussion Guide and READINGS in RELATIONSHIPS (in .pdf)
• Link to Music for Week 16 – “Learning to Lean” Words and Music by John Stallings, midi, (youtube) – The Blackwood Brothers (CW), Willie Norwood (Gospel)
• The Evereadys (Gospel) Piano (youtube), The Sensational Nightingales
• Download Adobe Reader needed to view .pdf files