Here we see Jesus begin His famous Sermon on the Mount. He begins His introduction with a series of paradoxical statements, famously known as the beatitudes. While many have thought this is a sermon on ethics, it is a sermon on salvation. It is a declaration of who is in His kingdom and who is not. In these four statements (or beatitudes) Jesus gives us an opportunity to self-reflect. They are four marks of a converted soul. Are we of Him and among the blessed, or are we not of Him and among the cursed? This is the question He wants His audience to wrestle with, and it is His question to us. These are the indicators of a redeemed heart, and therefore, who is blessed.
The Blessed
November 15, 2020 • Matt Miller • Luke 6:20–23
More from
Luke
Would-Be Followers
June 19, 2022 • Matt Miller • Luke 9:57–62
Jesus challenges three would-be followers who've not yet discovered the nature of true discipleship. Many are eager, but have not counted the cost. Others have counted the cost, but are working in their own power to hedge against the coming challenges. And, then, others are willing to follow Jesus, but with a divided heart. In these difficult words of Jesus, He shows forth the heart of a true follower. It is a challenging passage, but one worthy of much meditation.
A Preview of Glory
December 5, 2021 • Matt Miller • Luke 9:27–29
We come to the mysterious passage known as the transfiguration. It is a strange passage that many are not certain what to do with. However, it serves a very important purpose. Not only does it continue to reveal the divine identity of Jesus, but it serves to bolster the disciples faith. This sermon explores the relationship of God's holiness with His glory, revealing Jesus to be the intrinsic essence of God's holiness when it is made publicly known. He is the glory of God.
The Gospel of Self-Denial
November 21, 2021 • Matt Miller • Luke 9:23–26
We come to the heart of Jesus' message. The Gospel is not about self-fulfillment, but self-denial. The way up is the way down. The way to gain life is to lose your life. Jesus teaches on the costliness of following Him. He says it requires a complete abandonment of your former identity, and then reassociation with Him. The one who desires to follow Jesus must lay down all former ways of life, take up their cross every single day, and follow Him. This is a message that doesn't sell, but it's one the truly converted heart loves.