The Big Story

The Big Story Week 24: The Sermon on the Mountain

Bible Truth

  • God knows what we need and provides for us. (Week 4)
  • God doesn’t do things the way we would. (Week 10)
  • Jesus is God. (Week 16)
  • Joy doesn’t depend on our circumstances.

Bible Verse

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

Matthew 6:33 NLT

Focus

Jesus’s ministry continued to grow. People knew that he was different from other teachers. A crowd gathered around him on a mountain side. This teaching is known as The Sermon on the Mount. It is the most famous sermon Jesus ever gave.

In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus gives his follower (and that includes us) instructions for how to follow him It is found in Matthew chapters 5-7. Don’t worry we are not going to study the entire sermon this week.

Day 1 – Introduction

Watch the introduction to the The Sermon on the Mount.

The Sermon on the Mount by Ponte Verde Presbyterian Church

Day 2: The Beatitudes Part 1

The first section of the Sermon on the Mount is known as The Beatitudes. In the beatitudes Jesus describes character traits his disciples should have. The word bless means to be happy or joyful. As you read The Beatitudes look at blessings or rewards for those who seek God.

“God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth.
God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied.
God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.
God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.
10 God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
11 “God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. 12 Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.

Matthew 5:3-12 NLT

Day 3 – The Beatitudes Part 2

  1. According to verse 3 what is the first step to having a happy or blessed life?
  2. In verse 4 we are reminded that God hurts when we are hurting. God wants us to seek him when we are sad, upset or hurting. It is okay to tell God that we are upset.
  3. What does it mean to be humble?
  4. What are 3 rewards God promises to those who seek him?

Day 4 – The Model Prayer Part 1

In Matthew Chapter 6:5-18, Jesus teaches about prayer. In this passage Jesus provides an example of how to pray. Let’s read it.

Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him! Pray like this:

Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.
10 May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today the food we need, 12 and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us.
13 And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.

14 “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. 15 But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Matthew 6:8-15 NLT

You know that prayer as the Lord’s Prayer. Some people also call it The Model Prayer. We say it every week in church. Have you ever taken time to think about it. Read it again. This time read it slowly and think about the words.

Day 5 – The Model Prayer Part 2

Jesus used The Model Prayer or The Lord’s Prayer to teach His followers how to pray. Today we are going to look at the parts of the prayer.

Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.

Matthew 6:9B NLT

A reminder that we belong to God. He is our heavenly Father. He wants us to talk to him. Prayer is just a big word for talking to God. God is holy we are to worship only Him.

May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.

Matthew 6:10 NLT

God has a plan and purpose for our lives. We are to seek his plan and not our own.

Give us today the food we need,

Matthew 6:11 NLT

God cares about us and provides for our needs. He wants us to ask Him when we need things. We can also ask him for help making good choices.

and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us.

Matthew 6:12 NLT

We are to forgive others. Sometimes it can be hard to forgive someone. Forgiving others is so important that Jesus mentions it again in verses 14-15.

If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. 15 But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Matthew 6:14-15 NLT

Jesus reminds us that God has forgiven us.

And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.

Matthew 6:13 NLT

God wants to help when we are tempted to make bad choices. In week 21 we learned that when we are struggling with something, having trouble making good choices, discouraged, lonely or scared; then we can use Bible verses to help. Remembering or reading Bible verses can give us strength to do the right thing or courage. That is why it is so important to memorize scripture.

I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

Psalm 119:11 NIV