The best sermon EVER!

For almost a year, I have had to crank out a sermon nearly every Sunday. One of these days, I'm simply going to get up and read Matthew 5-7, Jesus' longest and best sermon. We could just read and re-read these 3 chapters every three days and we would begin to change from the inside out. The Holy Spirit within us would be stoked and the kingdom in our midst would explode!

Where do I start?

First of all, with Miranda's Confirmation verse (please pray for her today) about loving your enemies:
"Here's another old saying that deserves a second look: 'Eye for eye, tooth for tooth.' Is that going to get us anywhere? Here's what I propose: 'Don't hit back at all.' If someone strikes you, stand there and take it. If someone drags you into court and sues for the shirt off your back, giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it. And if someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously."

The faith of a child.

Back to the beginning, I thought of Bea's daughter, Shirley:
"You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you."

Wrapping the prayer shawl around her at the funeral yesterday was amazing and grace-filled.

Next, be who you are. These four words have been rolling around in my head and down into my soul for a month. Who am I as a child of God? Who is Faith? We need answers to these questions in order to serve God well. A few verses inform me here:
"Those who were apprenticed to Jesus, the committed, climbed with him." Are we committed to this life-change, this transformation of our very lives?

Only those who climbed the mountain with Jesus heard this message...it was for them.

"You're blessed when you're content with just who you are—no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought."

"You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family."

There is contentment AND discovery. God is taking us where we're at and shaping up into who he made us to be.

Finally, why we are here. This is where it gets uncomfortable for most:
"Let me tell you why you are here. You're here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. If I make you light-bearers (and I have), you don't think I'm going to hide you, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I've put you there on a hilltop (in the Greek, this means granite outcropping), be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God."

Jesus ends this section with a bang!
"In a word, what I'm saying is, Grow up. You're kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you."