The Heart of Lust

Scripture Reference: Matthew 5:27-30

Jesus’ warnings against lust go way beyond external explanations for our sexual behavior. Searchingly, he encourages us to go into the very depth of our motivational centers to uncover the heart of lust. (Adult themed content!)

Sermon Points:

  • The Tyranny of Lust
  • The Anatomy of Lust
  • The Healing of Lust

The Taming of Anger

Scripture Reference: Matthew 5:21-26

Jesus begins his catechism of the Good Life by zeroing in on the most destructive force to human flourishing: our hatred for each other. His teaching lays us bare for what is really motivating our anger and how to heal it as well.

Sermon Points:

  • Righteous Anger
  • Unrighteous Anger
  • Taming Our Anger

The Good & Imperishable Life

Scripture Reference: Matthew 5:17-20

Jesus is ready to launch into his description of the inner life of his followers, but first clarifies his relationship to the reigning source of truth of his day, the Old Testament Law. But Jesus is not an innovator, but a fulfiller.

Sermon Points:

  • The Bible is Reliable
  • The Bible is About Jesus
  • The Bible is Trustworthy

 

Being The Church In The World

Scripture Reference: Matthew 5:13-16

For the better part of the last few decades, the church in America has struggled to get clear on the question of what it means to be a faithful witness to Jesus in the world. But Jesus gives us two powerful images to begin a better conversation about it.

Sermon Points:

  • The Church as SALT
  • The Church as LIGHT
  • Being The Church In The World

The Outputs of the Good Life

Scripture Reference: Matthew 5:6-12

The Christian life is one of “moving in” but then “moving out.” In other words, you know when the humility of the first half of the Beatitudes has landed when the last half of them begin to come out of your life.

Sermon Points:

  • Finding Righteousness
  • Showing Mercy
  • Rooting Out Idolatry
  • Peacemaking and Opposition