Sermon on the Mount
The Beatitudes
NCF Sunday Worship Livestream - March 26, 2023
March 26, 2023 • Pastor Bob Becker • Deuteronomy 15:6–11, Matthew 5:38–42, Romans 12:20–21, Psalm 86:1–10
We are used to demanding our rights. Jesus says his followers have no right to retaliate, no right to things, no right to his own time or to his own money. We are all just stewards of what the Lord has given to us. We are obligated to use them as Jesus did. He helped others. Sound radical? You bet it is. Jesus preached truth in action. It is no wonder the Gospel spread so quickly over the whole earth.
NCF Sunday Worship Livestream - March 19, 2023
March 19, 2023 • Pastor Bob Becker • Psalm 145:13–21, Zechariah 8:14–19, Matthew 5:33–37, Leviticus 19:12
The Lord God loves the truth. Jesus makes that clear in this text. Jesus, however, knows it is difficult to attain the truth. Often people and nations only honor the truth when it serves their best interests. How many times have we read a newspaper, heard the news on TV, and asked, “Is that true?” Trust in the media to tell the truth has slipped to an all-time low. People get anxious when there is a shortage of food, fuel, and other needed supplies but what about when we do not know what is the truth? Jesus in this text is not saying oaths and vows are wrong but they should not be used to find a way to get out of doing what we promised. Our “yes” and “no” should be enough to give another person the assurance we will do what we promised. How rare that is in our day, but it should not be rare among Jesus’ disciples. Radical disciples of Jesus Christ are called to be radical truth tellers. If we are not, how can anyone be certain we are telling the truth when we share with them the Gospel?
NCF Sunday Worship Livestream - March 12, 2023
March 12, 2023 • Pastor Bob Becker • Matthew 5:31–32, Hebrews 13:4, Revelation 19:4–9, Isaiah 62:1–5
What does Jesus have to say about divorce? We want to know because divorce is common today. While Jesus’ words warn the church not to be too permissive regarding divorce, the church must speak up against getting a divorce for any reason. Married couples cannot divorce just for irreconcilable differences. Jesus, however, does permit divorce on the grounds of marital unfaithfulness. Paul adds the other exception as grounds for divorce of willful desertion by a spouse. To permit divorce for these reasons does not mean there must be divorce for these reasons. There are many divorces today that do not happen under these exceptions. What is the church’s response? Is it grounds for church discipline? It can be but often divorced brothers and sisters come to us without us knowing the reasons for their divorce. The church is supposed to offer them forgiveness and not treat them like second class citizens but demonstrate loving understanding since we all sin. Jesus made this point in the previous verses. If anyone looks at a woman with lust, he has committed adultery in his heart. How many of us have sinned in this way? We do not dismiss sin, but when we repent of it, it is forgiven!
NCF Sunday Worship Livestream - February 19, 2023
February 19, 2023 • Pastor Bob Becker • Matthew 5:27–30, 2 Timothy 2:22, Psalm 18:24–30, Zephaniah 3:9–17
There is no topic Jesus and His Apostles do not address. So many times I have heard people say, “The Bible says nothing about that issue.” Though at times that is true, in many cases the Bible does speak to the question of purity that can be applied to many issues today. People think the 7th Commandment only applies to physical adultery. Jesus shows the commandment’s full extent. It also applies to lust and the need for strong disciplines to keep our hands and minds from impurity. Jesus says His disciples practice radical purity and therefore are willing to take strong measures to remain pure in thought and deed. Are there things in our visual habits that must be cut out of our lives? It won’t be easy, but we know something must go if our life is going to be more in line with what Jesus is teaching us through The Sermon on the Mount.
NCF Sunday Worship Livestream - February 12, 2023
February 12, 2023 • Pastor Bob Becker • Matthew 5:21–26, Romans 10:4, Psalm 85:7–13, Psalm 119:40–48
Summary: When Jesus says, "You have heard that it was said to those of old,” who was he referring to? The Old Testament prophets? The interpretation of the OT by the scribes and Pharisees? Or was He showing the full extent or intent of the OT law? I choose the last view. Jesus is showing us how truly righteous people fulfill the law in the world among their neighbors. They watch their anger and what they say and how they say it to others. Jesus’ disciples are about reconciling with others when there has been an offense. We do not take people to court. We resolve matters peacefully, keeping the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. This is how the children of Jesus’ kingdom act.
NCF Sunday Worship Livestream - February 5, 2023
February 5, 2023 • Pastor Bob Becker • Ezekiel 11:14–21, Matthew 5:17–20, Romans 3:31, Matthew 24:35, Psalm 33:1–5
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus is speaking of radical righteousness. Jesus says in Matthew 24:35: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” Jesus identifies Himself as the author of Scripture. Jesus did not come to abolish the Law but to fulfill it. He loves the Law and expects his disciples to do the same. God’s Word is eternal and cannot be modified in the slightest degree. It is all His Word. We cannot pick and choose what we will and will not believe or live out. We can be assured all of it will be fulfilled. Jesus established the Law and the prophets because he fulfilled their Messianic prophecies. He also fulfilled the OT Law because he kept all its commandments perfectly. Through the Holy Spirit we can fulfill the righteousness of the Law, but still imperfectly. Therefore, we need God’s grace. It is the only way our righteousness will exceed the righteousness of the scribes and the Pharisees. Their righteousness was only external. Our righteousness is Christ’s righteousness received by faith alone.
NCF Sunday Worship
January 22, 2023 • Pastor Bob Becker • Matthew 5:14–16, John 8:12, Psalm 36:5–10, Isaiah 60:1–5
Who is the light? We know Jesus is the Light. Why does he then say to us, “You are the light of the world? Some say Jesus is like the sun and we the moon. He is the Light and we reflect his light before the world. However, Ephesians 5:8-9 says, “for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true),” As in the case of Jesus saying we are the salt of the earth, he is telling us who we are. We are the light of the world! Light reveals things as they really are. Light promotes life not only for plants but also for us. Broken Bones heal quicker by soaking them in sunlight. We need our natural vitamin D! Light is persistent and will penetrate the smallest space with its glow. It even wakens us. Just as we cannot hide a city on a hill or would put a lighted lamp under a basket, we must let our light shine before others so they may see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven.
NCF Sunday Worship
January 15, 2023 • Pastor Bob Becker • Psalm 107:1–9, Isaiah 44:1–8, Matthew 5:13, Colossians 4:6
There are three things salt does. It works as a preservative. It provides flavor and it makes one thirsty. Salt may be small and seems insignificant, but it provides so much to the world. Likewise, it must be for all those who call themselves Christians. Christians act as a preservative keeping the world from becoming more polluted than it already is. The character formed by following the previous 8 Beatitudes keeps the world from becoming unfit for “good men and women.” The church can never retreat to a self-protective stance. It must engage the world. We must shake out some salt being fishers of men. We are to give life and the lives of others flavor and zest, while creating in people’s hearts a thirst to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. So, how salty are you?
NCF Sunday Worship
January 8, 2023 • Pastor Bob Becker • 2 Corinthians 4:17–18, Psalm 146, Isaiah 53:7–12, Matthew 5:10–12
After hearing in the previous 7 Beatitudes the character of a true believer of Jesus Christ, it should be assumed this believer will also be persecuted or ostracized in some way. Have you ever been rejection for being a Christian? Have you ever felt you were not in line with the present culture and its ethics? Persecution says Kent Hughes is not always dramatic but can be mundane and even “civilized.” Most persecution we face is verbal harassment. Sometimes direct and sometimes indirect. Many of us do not receive persecution because we primarily move within Christian circles. If such is the case, are we missing the blessing that comes from persecution? Jesus said rejoice and be glad when being persecuted for our reward will be great in the kingdom of heaven. Persecution, He says, brings joy.
NCF Sunday Worship
December 18, 2022 • Pastor Bob Becker • Romans 14:19, Isaiah 52:7–10, Ezekiel 37:24–28, Matthew 5:9
What is a peacemaker like? A peacemaker is not passive. Does that surprise you? Kent Hughes sums it up this way: “These two qualities of the peacemaker — honesty about the true status of peace and a willingness to risk pain in pursuing peace — anticipate the next quality, which is a paradox: the peacemaker is a fighter. He makes trouble to make peace. He wages peace.” Do not misunderstand. The peacemaker does not have a license to kill but refuses to accept a cheap peace. The ultimate peacemaker is Jesus Christ. No one can be a true peacemaker until they have found God through Jesus Christ. This is the last beatitude that describes the character of the disciples of Jesus Christ.
NCF Sunday Worship
December 11, 2022 • Pastor Bob Becker • Matthew 5:8, 1 Peter 1:22, Psalm 24, Psalm 19:7–14
Jesus rebuked the religious leaders of His day of being clean on the outside but inwardly being filled with all corruption. Jesus’s disciples have an undivided heart, a purity or singleness of devotion to God. Jesus is first in their lives. They are devoted to pleasing Him. There is a sincere focus on fulfilling the mission Jesus has given them. However, none of us perfectly thirst or are perfectly pure in our devotion to Jesus Christ. We need the grace of God everyday for everyday we fall short of a pure heart.
NCF Sunday Worship
December 4, 2022 • Bob Becker • Matthew 5:7, James 2:13, Psalm 116:1–7, Micah 6:6–8
A disciple of Jesus Christ has received mercy from God. We deserved judgment but he saved us. Disciples of Jesus Christ are therefore merciful to others. Kent Hughes in his sermon on this text says, “The merciful person remembers his own sin and God's mercy to him, he understands the weaknesses of others, and he forgives.” People who judge others mercilessly not only have not received mercy from God, but as James reminds us, stand under God’s judgment.
NCF Sunday Worship
November 27, 2022 • Matthew 5:8, 1 Peter 1:22, Psalm 24, Psalm 19:7–14
Jesus rebuked the religious leaders of His day of being clean on the outside but inwardly being filled with all corruption. Jesus’s disciples have an undivided heart, a purity or singleness of devotion to God. Jesus is first in their lives. They are devoted to pleasing Him. There is a sincere focus on fulfilling the mission Jesus has given them. However, none of us perfectly thirst or are perfectly pure in our devotion to Jesus Christ. We need the grace of God everyday for everyday we fall short of a pure heart.
NCF Sunday Worship
November 20, 2022 • Pastor Bob Becker • Isaiah 49:8–13, Matthew 5:6, Psalm 17:15, Romans 3:22–24, Psalm 63:1–8
Righteousness is right living before God in the world, and a desire for right relationships between man and God, and man and man. This is important because so many people are hungering after and thirsting after what they think is righteous but is not. Man is always desiring something less than what God's desires. Man likes to substitute his goodness, for God's goodness. Man says he can seek happiness through fame and fortune, sex, and marriage, and still give God some good, because God knows he is trying hard to please Him. Yet, Romans 3:22-24 reminds us all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and no one can be justified by earning it. We can only be justified by faith in Jesus Christ. When we hunger for getting righteousness this way, we will be satisfied.
NCF Sunday Worship
November 13, 2022 • Bob Becker • Matthew 5:5, Isaiah 29:19, Isaiah 11:1–6, Isaiah 42:1–8
How many meek people have you known in your life? Abraham was meek. Moses was meek and of course Jesus was meek. Do we even know what meekness is? The dictionary defines meekness as being mild, submissive, moderate, and humble. Someone has defined meekness as restrained strength. I like that. Jesus' humble strength is what brings forth justice. The meek person does not seek to hold on to their position. He is ok with others turning on the searchlights when it comes to his sin. He/she is teachable. Think for a moment how that helps us with spiritual things. How blessed we are when we realize there is nothing in our hands that we bring to Jesus, but simply to His cross we cling.