Farmerville Church of Christ

Sermon Outlines

The Sermon on the Mount #11

Beatitudes Expanded -- Prepare for the Battle Mt 5:11-12

By Bill Denton

INTRODUCTION

A. We have completed our study of the Beatitudes which serve as an introduction to the Sermon on the Mount

1. The Beatitudes serve at least two purposes as the beginning of Jesus' sermon

a. they tell us about faith -- beginning, growth, maturity, testing
b. they prepare us for the rest of the sermon

2. I say this second point because anyone who has ever read the Sermon on the Mount knows that it is a great challenge

a. it stunned the audience who first heard it
b. Matt 7:28
And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, (NKJ)
c. Jesus sets forth a kind of life far different from that which man usually seeks for himself

3. This is one reason the Beatitudes are so important -- you must under- stand these qualities / characteristics of life before the rest of the sermon makes much sense

B. In our last lesson, we looked at persecution

1. The Bible teaches that the followers of Jesus will be persecuted
2. Two reasons for the persecution

a. righteousness
b. for his name's sake

3. It is the man or woman who lives by the Beatitudes who will be persecuted

C. But we need to go just a bit farther with this idea before we look at the remainder of the Sermon on the Mount

1. Matt 5:11-12
Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (NKJ)
2. There is more to this idea of suffering persecution that gives us some important insight into the life of a disciple of Jesus, and it is important in making sense out of the rest of the Sermon as well

D. Jesus is getting his people ready for the battle they will face if they follow him

1. I want us to think about what Jesus is trying to communicate
2. I want us to think also about what a disciple agrees to become

I. THERE IS SOMETHING DIFFERENT ABOUT A DISCIPLE

A. The follower of Jesus is not like everybody else

1. 1 Pet 2:9
But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; (NKJ)
2. The Bible makes it clear that there is a distinction between the child of God and those who are of the world

a. chosen generation
b. royal priesthood
c. holy nation
d. special (peculiar) people

3. Matt 10:34-38
Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law'; and a man's enemies will be those of his own household. He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. (NKJ)

a. we do not like to think about this consequence of following Jesus
b. the fact is that there is a conflict, an antagonism between the world and the followers of Christ
c. the reason for that antagonism is that the Christian is not like everyone else -- he is different from them

B. The difference is Christ

1. Remember, Jesus gave two reasons for persecution

a. righteousness
b. his name's sake

2. A Christian finds his identity and life in Jesus Christ

a. 1 Pet 1:15-16
but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, ""Be holy, for I am holy. (NKJ)
b. 1 Cor 6:20
For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's. (NKJ)
c. Gal 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. (NKJ)

3. The Christian has both a specific kind of life to live and a reason for living it

a. it is neither the life of the world, nor the reason the world lives the way it does
b. a Christian must prepare for the battle that ensues when these two lives come into conflict

II. THERE IS SOMETHING DIFFERENT ABOUT A DISCIPLES VIEW OF LIFE

A. Note the following:

1. Heb 11:13-16
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them. (NKJ)
2. Phil 3:20
For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, (NKJ)
3. Heb 13:14
For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come (NKJ)

B. The follower of Jesus is not consumed by this life, but instead looks forward to eternity, to a heavenly home

1. We view things from the perspective of death, and see great blessings that are to follow
2. But the worldly person doesn't have that view

a. he doesn't like to think about death and dying
b. he will do anything not to think about death and dying
c. and he resents the fact that not even the prospect of death can dissuade the faithful Christian

3. The point is that we have a fundamentally different approach to life, the purpose of it, the living of it, and the direction of it

III. THE IMPLICATIONS OF KNOWING YOU WILL SUFFER

A. You will not be surprised by it when it comes your way

1. They persecuted the prophets before you
2. If you already know the likelihood of conflict with the world then you won't be thrown by it when it happens

B. You will not have to suffer despair when it comes your way

1. That's not to say, that persecution or other suffering is pleasant
2. Neither is it to say that we won't be saddened
3. It is to say that such pressure by the world reassures us of some things
4. Note the following:

a. John 16:33
These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. (NKJ)
b. James 1:2-4
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. (NKJ)

C. It is a proof to you of who you are and where you are going

1. Jesus identified the persecuted with the prophets of old

a. we know who the prophets were -- great men of God
b. Jesus puts the persecuted in the same class as prophets

2. Jesus stated that the reward is in heaven

a. if so, then don't get caught up in looking for the reward here in this life
b. keep looking forward to the reward

D. You will be able to endure the hardship and not give up

1. This is why I say the Beatitudes prepare us for the rest of the sermon
2. You must become the kind of person who can take what the world dishes out to you
3. You must develop the kind of qualities that form the foundation for for living out the rest of the sermon

CONCLUSION

A. Are you a person of faith?

1. If not, the Beatitudes will help you
2. If so, the Beatitudes tell you what qualities to maintain

B. Are you prepared to face the challenge of the world?
C. Are you prepared to face the challenge of Jesus?
D. Invitation

Copyright © 1995, Bill Denton. Permission granted to use sermon outlines for personal study and preparation of sermons, Bible classes or other teaching format. Sermons may not be reprinted in any form without written permission of the author.

Additional Resources

Sermon on the Mount Index Page
CrossTies Home Page

You can reach me at: BillDenton@crossties.org