Jesus: On Being Spiritual

Matthew 5-7

Introduction

1.      The Bible is not just “good advice,” but a book about the kind of person you ought to be

2.      First of all, Jesus was that person more so than any other person who has ever lived

3.      Second, Jesus tells us how to become the kind of person that God seeks

4.      The importance of the Sermon on the Mount  

Discussion

1.      The spiritual emphasis of the beatitudes – 5: 3-12

a.       The poor in spirit – a person who understands their total poverty apart from God  

b.      The one who mourns – understands the depth of the human problem with sin and its consequences  

c.       The meek (gentle) – understands that human endeavor cannot right the world’s wrongs  

d.      Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness – understands that being right is life’s most important goal  

e.       The one who shows mercy – understands above all else the need for mercy  

f.       The pure in heart – understands that spirituality is inward and not outward  

2.      The spiritual contrasted with outward appearances – 6:1-18

a.       The spiritual nature of giving is not in what others recognize, but lies in the sacrifice that we have made

b.      The spiritual nature of prayer is not in the words spoken, but in the heart that offers up its thoughts to God  

c.       The spiritual nature of fasting is not in what happens to the body, but in what happens to the soul  

3.      The spiritual contrasted with the pursuit of riches – 6:19-34

a.       The spiritual person chooses treasure in heaven over treasure on earth  

b.      The spiritual person chooses God over “mammon”  

c.       The spiritual person puts God’s kingdom and righteousness before the basic material needs of food and clothing

Conclusion

1.       Neither money, strength, looks nor education can make you a spiritual person

2.      Spirituality has to come from within, from a desire to please God above all else

3.      That which is within will always change what is seen

4.      Paul changed from a man who was angry and vindictive to a man who would give his life to save another after his encounter with Jesus

5.      Are you ready to turn your life over to God?