An Elevated Standard

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This week we are continue our summer teaching series, A Kingdom Vision. The rest of Matthew 5 in the Sermon on the Mount continues a series of seemingly disconnected blocks of teaching from Jesus. Well, they share a stylistic connection, but beyond that, they seem independent of one another. But something Jesus says at the beginning (and which we are going to talk about today) and the end, tie them all together in a way that is as unexpected as it is difficult to hear. Brace yourself for what comes next because it is going to challenge some of your most fundamental operating code. Let’s talk about how we don’t get into God’s kingdom and why that matters so much.

An Elevated Standard

Let me start out of the gate here by saying something you have probably never heard a preacher say in a sermon, and definitely not as his opening statement. Are you ready for this? Here goes: My goal this morning is to make you feel discouraged and depressed. Aren’t you glad you came today? But that’s okay, next week…I’m going to make it even worse! I’ll bet you can’t wait to hear that now. (But you definitely want to be here, because we have a special gift for guys next week about which I am personally very excited.) 

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Large group of people gathered outdoors near a church with hands raised worshipping at sunset

Knowing Who You Are

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“For I know the plans I have for you”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“plans for your well-being, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah‬ ‭29‬:‭11‬ ‭CSB‬‬ – Read the chapter)

When I was in seminary, I had to take two different leadership classes in my third and final year. I didn’t want to take them. They were a required part of the curriculum. Throughout that journey I struggled more than once with whether or not my path was going to lead in a circle back to the academy, or if I was bound for the local church. The local church had pretty well gotten the nod at that point, but I was far more drawn to my theology and biblical studies classes than anything else. Taking two leadership classes was about the last thing I had in mind. One of them in particular was going to make us do lots of group work which I hated the thought of even more than taking the class in the first place. Wouldn’t you know it, what I learned in that class has probably had more of an impact on my ministry since than what I learned in just about any other class. As we continue our conversation this week about the things that are contributing to my church’s growth right now, let me tell you about what it was.

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Helping in Ways that Are Helpful

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“When it is in your power, don’t withhold good from the one to whom it belongs. Don’t say to your neighbor, ‘Go away! Come back later. I’ll give it tomorrow’—when it is there with you.”
‭‭(Proverbs‬ ‭3‬:‭27‬-‭28‬ ‭CSB‬‬ – Read the chapter)

You’ve almost certainly had this experience before: you are driving down the road or sitting in traffic, and you see it. A person sitting out standing on the side of the road looking rough and holding a sign asking for help. Perhaps you have been approached by someone on the street asking for money. What do you do? Knowing how to help a neighbor in need is hard. But one thing that is clear in the Scriptures is that we are supposed to help. Let’s talk about it.

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The Fruits of Wisdom

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“Maintain sound wisdom and discretion. My son, don’t lose sight of them. They will be life for you and adornment for your neck. Then you will go safely on your way; your foot will not stumble. When you lie down, you will not be afraid; you will lie down, and your sleep will be pleasant. Don’t fear sudden danger or the ruin of the wicked when it comes, for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from a snare.” (Proverbs 3:21-26 CSB – Read the chapter)

Security is a big deal in our world today. Our need for it keeps all sorts of companies in business. We want our homes to feel secure. We want our health to feel secure. We want our finances to feel secure. We want our spiritual lives to feel secure. We want to know that everything is going to be okay, and we’re willing to go to pretty great lengths to make sure that it is. But while a certain amount of feeling secure is related to a variety of physical things we do, a significant portion of it is also a state of mind. It is a state of mind that wisdom can help address. Let’s talk about it.

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A World Designed for Discovery

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“The Lord founded the earth by wisdom and established the heavens by understanding. By his knowledge the watery depths broke open, and the clouds dripped with dew.” (Proverbs 3:19-20 CSB – Read the chapter)

When Charles Darwin first proposed his ideas about human origins, our understanding of the complexities of life was pretty rudimentary. Of course, we didn’t think that at the time. The mid-19th century through the early days of the 20th century were marked by incredible confidence in human knowledge—a confidence we now recognize as a rather wild overconfidence (even as we fall into the same trap ourselves about our own knowledge). What we have come to understand since is that life is vastly more complex than Darwin could have imagined. Not only that, but the universe itself is complex almost beyond all description. To borrow the phrase that is commonly used to describe it, we live in a finely tuned world. It takes a great deal of wisdom to manage such a world. Fortunately, that’s the nature of the God we serve. Let’s talk about it.

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