The Good Life
What do you picture?
Regardless of your version of the “GOOD LIFE”
We all have something in mind
I bring that up because…
I don’t think any of us thought of these things…
Sacrifice
Suffering
Giving generously
Gratitude
Self-control
Perseverance
Forgiveness
Work
Funny how that is…
This series kicks of several weeks of looking at some of the above things and how… ACCORDING TO JESUS… They are actually a sign of THE GOOD LIFE
The title of the series is:
ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN
We get this from the prayer Jesus taught to his followers
The one we all probably know
The Lord’s Prayer
Matthew 6
9 “Therefore, you should pray like this:
Our Father in heaven, your name be honored as holy.
10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done…
On earth as it is in heaven.
This series is asking these questions:
What does God’s Kingdom coming look like, and how am I/we supposed to help make it happen?
The WHY of this series:
History shows that Christianity has Changed the World
Things that the Christian faith has come up with…
Human Rights
Ended slavery
Hospitals
Science (Because God ordered the world, thus we can learn about it)
Valuing the poor
Valuing children
Up until Christianity, the going logic for the world was…
Might makes right
Whoever is the strongest gets to set or break the rules
Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth
Revenge is the only way to justice
Only the powerful hold value
The masses are there for the few elite
These things were how to “achieve” the GOOD LIFE
If we went back to any ancient time BEFORE Christianity changed the world…
It wouldn’t be a world we recognized
But Christianity brings something RADICAL TO THE WORLD
Jesus’s teachings have shaped the last 2000 years to make the world we know today
My CONCERN is this…
Where do we go as a culture when we forget the very lessons our forebears fought and died for?
So many Christian believers gave up their lives, moved continents, and left families behind, to spread the Message of Jesus and His kingdom
This series is to help PROVE that the way to the GOOD LIFE is through the message of Jesus.
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT
The teachings of Jesus all focus on what God’s kingdom looks like
This message is RADICAL
A complete flip of what every culture in history has valued except the Christian culture
Matthew 5
5 When he saw the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 Then he began to teach them, saying:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the humble, 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 the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
Let’s talk about “BLESSED”
Not a word we use except when talking about religious things
The Greek word translated here does NOT mean “GOD BLESS”
Not a prayer. Jesus is speaking in absolutes
Jesus is using an Old Testament Idea connected to the Hebrew word…
Ašrê:
An exclamatory description of the state of happiness or privilege observed by someone else.
It is human descriptive speech that generally describes people in a certain state rather than actions
It indicates a state of blessing as witnessed by others
<Examples>
Modern English:
You’re So Lucky…
You have a pool! You’re so lucky (ašrê)
You’re so lucky (ašrê) that you have tickets to the Super Bowl!
But the one I like the most is this…
THE GOOD LIFE
You have your own pool… You are living the good life
You are financially blessed… Living the good life
Great marriage… Living the good life
So, Let’s reread a few of the Beatitudes to better understand how NEW, STRANGE, and DIFFICULT Jesus’ teachings are.
Matthew 5
3 THE GOOD LIFE IS FOR those who are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
4 THE GOOD LIFE IS FOR those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5 THE GOOD LIFE IS FOR the humble, for they will inherit the earth.
6 THE GOOD LIFE IS FOR those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
7 THE GOOD LIFE IS FOR the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
8 THE GOOD LIFE IS FOR the pure in heart, for they will see God.
9 THE GOOD LIFE IS FOR the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
10 THE GOOD LIFE IS FOR those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
This is just the beginning of Jesus’ sermon
Later on, he makes this statement…
Matthew 6
31 So don’t worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. 34 Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
So we can sum it all up this way…
1: The Good Life is FOUND when I view my story Through God’s Story
2: I can live the GOOD LIFE when I choose to live like God’s Kingdom is coming to earth
Truly believe Jesus’ prayer, ON EARTH AS IN HEAVEN
We are all chasing the good life…
Jesus has given us the way…
Will we be wise enough to trust him to go His way?