As with the beginning of any new year, it's worth looking back to look forward.
Are you the sort of person who makes resolutions?
Actually, I'm interested. Hands up if you make resolutions.
Just a few of you. Okay.
Get fit, break some annoying bad habits are the sort of top ones, I think.
And at this time of the year, apparently the big sellers online are exercise machines.
And if you're going to invest in one of those, I'd wait about six months because people give up on them and then you're probably going to get it cheaper.
Dumbbells, weight plates, pull-up bars, basically get fit and healthy.
A six-fold argument has been proposed in favour of preparing New Year's resolutions, regardless of whether you achieve them.
So here's the sort of reason why you might sort of rethink about setting a resolution.
Number one.
Preparing resolutions requires taking stock of the previous year, and that's usually a beneficial thing.
Number two.
Preparing resolutions involves pondering the good for your body, soul, mind and relationships.
And that's always a beneficial thing.
Number three.
In life, there are just three modes to choose from.
Decline, maintenance or improvement.
I don't know which one I'd like to choose.
Any improvements, number four, will benefit those around you.
Setting goals is potentially a kindness to others, actually.
And sure, we may only, 67%, accomplish a mere 75% of our resolutions.
But number five, that's still a pass.
And six, writing resolutions is an expression of hope.
And hope is better than resignation.
As we head into 2022, it's on the back of two years of pandemic, which was preceded by three years of drought, water restrictions, catastrophic bushfires and dust storms.
And these last two years have also included floods and mouse plagues.
I've got family that live on the land in parks, and they've felt the brunt of all this.
In light of all these events that are so far out of our control, it's worth pausing and asking, with life so unpredictable, how now should we live?
I've done the maths.
With 168 hours in a week, and hopefully you get at least eight hours sleep a night if you're lucky, that means we're awake for 112 hours a week.
In that time, there are so many voices vying for our attention, telling us how to live.
If we come to church once a week, or we're viewing online, and we're in a midweek Bible study group, and we read the Bible daily,
I'm pretty sure that will still only add up to maybe three, four, five hours of your waking week,
which is only about 3% or 4% of your week.
So what voice do we listen to?
If we really want to know how to live God's way in God's world, we need to go to the Maker's Manual, listen to God's Word, and look to Jesus.
As we begin a new year, a summer series from the Sermon on the Mount,
this sermon flips the expectations of society upside down,
as Jesus invites us to participate as members of the Kingdom of Heaven.
And that's the right side of history, by the way.
You hear that term a lot these days.
A couple of years ago, someone made a beautiful banner that hung outside their church where everyone could see it.
It depicted a thick, sluggish green caterpillar crawling up a twig,
at the top of which hovered a beautiful, iridescent butterfly.
And the caption based on Ephesians 4 verse 15 was simply,
If a caterpillar could see a butterfly and knew it was possible to be one, it would yearn to change.
How joyful to emerge from a chrysalis, stretch those soggy wings in the warm sun,
and to sort of heights never dreamed of.
And yet the metamorphosis cannot take place without a time of darkness,
and a struggle to be free from all that keeps one earth bound.
Transformational change is what Jesus is talking about in Matthew 5.
Surely, heading into 2022, with some honest self-reflection,
and in comparison to Jesus' life, there is only one conclusion we can come to.
Our New Year's resolution will involve change, to be like Jesus.
The number of books written on the Sermon on the Mount would fill a library.
There is something attractive and compelling that has driven numerous authors
to seek further understanding of this most famous of sermons.
John Stott says of the sermon,
It describes what human life and human community look like
when they come under the gracious rule of God.
The opening address of the Sermon on the Mount is also referred to as the Beatitudes.
Beautiful attitudes.
The statement, blessed, is like an exclamation of congratulations
to those who have the complete attitude of Jesus.
And the author of this gospel, Matthew,
was someone changed and transformed by Jesus.
Matthew would have originally been hated by his fellow Israelites,
as tax collectors were notorious for skimming a little bit off the top for themselves,
and as they sided with the Romans, they were considered traitors.
Change for Matthew began with a simple command from Jesus.
Follow me.
What joy for the despised outcast to be forgiven and accepted by the Son of God.
When Jesus said, follow me, where would this lead him?
He didn't know.
But how now would he live?
Matthew knew that whatever it took, it would involve change.
The Beatitudes listed by Jesus were to his followers as he commenced his public ministry.
How now shall we live in 2022 and beyond?
Jesus teaches us how to live as subjects in the long-awaited kingdom of God,
even though it may make us stand out,
even though it may put us at a disadvantage in our current society and culture.
If we're to be followers of Jesus, we must listen to Jesus' words and obey them.
The Sermon on the Mount is challenging,
as it asks us to make significant changes,
to live opposite to the way the world thinks,
as Jesus calls us to live, for all intents and purposes,
for a completely upside-down kingdom,
and involves the beautiful attitudes of Jesus.
Verse 3, Matthew chapter 5.
Jesus said,
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
In the last few years, they've been pretty full-on.
And if they haven't taken their toll on you,
I'd be really surprised.
Disheartened, dejected, lonely, broken.
Jesus says,
Blessed are those who are poor in spirit.
But why?
Because the poor in spirit know how much they need God
and recognise how much they rely on God.
Instead of self-belief, which the world advocates,
we need to take an upside-down approach.
Which the world doesn't agree with.
We need to depend on God, who is in control.
I've heard it said,
This makes God a crutch to lean on.
Well, the sick need a crutch.
I haven't met one person who is not broken in some way,
carrying some untreated pain,
some kind of unresolved relationship,
or unaddressed guilt.
To all those who are poor in spirit,
Jesus reminds me in Matthew 11,
Come to me, all who are weary and burdened,
and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I'm gentle and humble in spirit,
and you'll find rest for your souls.
Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for they will call on the name of the Lord Jesus and be saved,
and theirs will be the kingdom of heaven.
Verse 4,
Jesus said,
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Cut off from friends and family in lockdown,
unable to attend funerals,
there has been widespread grief,
locally, nationally,
and there's been an outcry globally,
as tears have been shed.
I think the latest counts,
nearly five and a half million deaths just from COVID.
What hope is there without Jesus?
Even Stan Grant made note of this in a recent ABC article.
He begins by acknowledging that growing up,
surrounded by Christian family members,
he felt blessed at Christmas,
as it was a time of prayer and hope.
But as our society is turning its back on the Christian message,
he notes,
Our world is immeasurably poorer
for the loss and derision of faith,
and the substitute of cynicism.
In other words,
this equals,
people are living without hope today.
Blessed are those who mourn,
and turn to Jesus,
for they will be comforted.
We're reminded of Revelation 21,
where Jesus says,
Behold, I am making everything new.
It's a real, tangible, physical place,
where God himself, we read,
will wipe every tear from our eyes.
It's such a beautiful image as a parent
when you wipe the tears from your children's face.
God himself will wipe every tear from our eyes.
There'll be no more death,
or mourning,
or crying,
or pain,
for the old world of things will have passed away.
God promises
He will comfort those who look to the hope of resurrection,
where all things will be made new.
This hope is upside down to the secular view in our society,
where death is final,
and there's nothing beyond.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Verse 5.
Jesus said,
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
There's a bit of confusion about the word meek,
so I've got a definition here for you.
It means slow to anger,
gentle with others,
someone who is strong,
but chooses to use their strength to help others.
God has a special blessing for those who are humble,
and put others first.
Have you ever noticed how our modern depiction,
one of the modern depictions of Jesus,
is that He was a real softy?
Just a bit wussy, actually.
But a quick clarification on this misrepresentation.
When Jesus saw injustice,
He turned tables.
He really stuck it to the religious elite.
The cross epitomizes meekness.
Which is truly a demonstration of Christ's strength.
What Jesus endured,
the betrayal,
false trial,
the mocking,
the scourging,
the beatings,
ultimately the crucifixion,
if we were there at that time,
just as Peter denied Christ,
if we were put under that sort of pressure,
we would capitulate.
We'd give up.
At any given time,
Jesus could have bailed out.
He had the power and strength to call on the heavenly host.
He could have said,
come and save me.
And by the way,
strike down all these people who are giving me grief.
Instead,
in His meekness,
He faithfully sought God's will
and used His strength to help others.
He died for us,
absorbing God's judgment so that we can be forgiven.
Even declaring of His enemies,
Father,
forgive them,
for they do not know what they do.
How upside down is that?
Laying down your life for others,
not self-promoting,
rather using His strength to help others.
In fact,
the scriptures remind us,
while we're still enemies,
so He's using His strength to help enemies,
Christ died for us.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will use their strength to help others.
Verse 6.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
I've found this one of the most misquoted of the Beatitudes.
It often is quoted as,
blessed are those who hunger and thirst.
And then they stop there.
I'm not sure whether it's a ploy for us to say,
blessed are the poor,
those who are homeless or downtrodden,
because of the state they find themselves in.
And as a result,
there's no obligation for us to help,
because apparently they're blessed.
Or maybe it's because if we leave out,
blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
if we leave that bit out,
then there's no compulsion for us to get our lives sorted with God.
I'm not sure,
but let's read it into its entirety.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.
In other words,
we're blessed if our greatest desire
is to be right with God
and live our lives worthy of His upside-down kingdom.
God has a special blessing for those
whose greatest desire
is to seek God's will.
God first,
followed by loving, selfless servanthood.
As we put God first and seek His kingdom,
we pray,
Your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
The trappings of the world
will just not deliver or satisfy.
I'm reminded here of Jesus' words
in John chapter 6, verse 35,
when Jesus said,
I am the bread of life.
Whoever comes to me will never go hungry,
and whoever believes in me
will never be thirsty.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled
when they come to Jesus
in repentance and faith.
Verse 7,
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Mercy is the compassion or forgiveness
shown towards someone
whom it is within our power
to punish or harm.
If you notice,
we live in a really unforgiving,
harsh,
ruthless age in history,
polarising political tribalism,
a cancelled culture dividing us,
religious bigots
with the freedom of faith
bill on the table.
God will be kind
and show mercy
to those who show mercy
and kindness to others.
Those who show compassion
who don't close their eyes
to human suffering and pain
and reach out into the world
with Jesus' hands
filled by God's spirit
to be a blessing to others.
Later in the Sermon on the Mount,
Jesus reminds us,
and we know it from
the Lord's Prayer,
which was shared with us
with the kid spot,
but he says this,
For if you forgive other people
when they sin against you,
your heavenly Father
also will forgive you.
But if you do not
forgive others their sins,
your Father
will not forgive your sins.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Verse 8,
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
God has a special place
for those who have pure thoughts,
words and deeds,
for one day they will see God.
I'm not advocating here
being completely naive or gullible,
but there's some things
it's better not to see
or ever to know about.
We're living in an age
where immorality
is at our fingertips,
where instant gratification,
self-indulgent individualism
is the norm.
We hear the catch cries,
whatever makes you happy,
as long as it's not hurting anyone,
or if it feels good,
do it.
In Proverbs 4 verse 23,
we're reminded,
Above all else,
guard your heart,
for everything you do
flows from it.
We need to take care,
be self-controlled.
What's in our heart
flows out into how we live.
It actually shapes our thoughts,
our actions,
our habits,
and our character.
So blessed are the pure in heart,
those who have a heart for God
and for others,
for they will see God.
Verse 9,
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called
children of God.
Those who try to bring peace
to a situation
will be God's children,
they'll be called God's children.
Peacemakers in Matthew
is closely related
to love of neighbour,
and so we're to make peace
and to be peace-loving,
forgiving others
and showing kindness,
even if they're our enemies.
In contrast,
the world is vengeful,
stirring up trouble,
causing fights and dissension,
holding grudges,
bitterness and resentment,
factional,
warring.
In fact,
when we watch movies
and the villain gets it in the end,
we kind of cheer
and there's a bit of a hooray.
Do you know someone
who is always causing a drama?
God's upside-down kingdom
is marked by peacemakers.
Congratulations to those
who make peace.
Verse 10,
Blessed are those
who are persecuted
because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
This is counterintuitive
and sounds masochistic,
but God has a special blessing
for those
who are insulted
or persecuted for Jesus.
Heaven is theirs.
While we don't like
being persecuted,
we will suffer
if we identify
as being Christian
and as followers of Jesus.
And in this,
we're to be rejoicing
because we're being faithful
and our reward
will be in heaven.
Now, there's a whole other sermon here
and I'd actually like to explore
this a bit more next week.
So stay tuned.
And it's going to be a bit heavy.
The Sermon on the Mount
is all about
the complete attitude of Jesus.
And I heard this story recently
and it involves
a baseball illustration.
So I'm hoping
you understand baseball.
Basically, there's nine innings
and one innings
is when three people get out
and the other team,
three out.
I'm hoping you've got
a bit of an idea of the game.
So in Brooklyn, New York,
excuse me,
Cush is a school
that caters to children
with developmental
and learning disabilities.
At a Cush fundraising dinner,
the father of a child
delivered a speech
that would never be forgotten
by all who attended.
After praising the school
and its dedicated staff,
he cried out,
where is the perfection
in my son's shire?
Everything God does
is done with perfection,
but my child cannot
understand things
as other children do.
Where is God's perfection?
The audience was shocked
by the question,
pained by the father's anguish
instilled by the piercing query.
I believe,
the father answered,
that when God brings
a child like this
into the world,
the perfection that he seeks
is the way people react
to this child.
He then told the following story
about his son,
Shire.
One afternoon,
Shire and his father
walked past a park
where some boys Shire knew
were playing baseball.
Shire asked,
do you think they'll let me play?
And Shire's father knew
that his son was not all athletic
and that most boys
would not want him
on their team.
But Shire's father understood
that if his son
was chosen to play,
it would give him
a comfortable sense of belonging.
Shire's father approached
one of the boys in the field
and asked if Shire could play.
And the boy looked around
for guidance
from his teammates
and getting none,
he took matters
into his own hands
and said,
we're losing by six runs
and the game is
in the eighth innings,
which is near the end
of the game.
I guess he can be
on our team
and we'll try to put him
into bat in the ninth inning.
So Shire's father
was ecstatic.
As Shire smiled broadly,
Shire was told
to put on a glove
and go out
and play short center field.
In the bottom
of the eighth inning,
Shire's team scored
a few runs
but were still behind
by three.
In the bottom
of the ninth inning,
Shire's team scored again
and now with two outs
and the bases loaded
with the potential
winning run on base,
Shire was scheduled
to bat.
Would the team
actually let Shire
bat at this junction
and give away
the chance to win the game?
Surprisingly,
Shire was given the bat.
Everyone knew it
was all but impossible
because Shire
didn't even know
how to hold the bat properly,
let alone hit with it.
However,
as Shire stepped up
to the plate,
the pitcher moved
a few steps
to lob the ball
in softly
to Shire
so he could have
a swing at it
and make contact.
But he missed.
The first pitch
went past him
as he clumsily swung
and one of Shire's
teammates came out
and helped him
hold the bat
as they faced
the pitcher
who then took
another step forward
to toss the ball
softly towards Shire.
As the pitch came in,
Shire and his teammates
swung at the ball
and together
they hit a slow
ground ball
straight back
to the pitcher.
The pitcher picked
up the ball
and he could have
easily thrown it
to first base
and he would have
been out.
But the pitcher
took the ball
and he threw it
in a high arc
over into the
outfield.
Everyone started
yelling,
Shire, run to
first base.
Never in his life
had Shire run
to first base.
He scampered
down the baseline
wide-eyed
and startled.
By the time
he reached first base
the right fielder
had the ball
and wasn't sure
what to do with it
but cottoned on
pretty quick
and he threw it
over the third
baseman's head
and they said,
run to second,
Shire, run to second.
He ran to second.
By this stage
it ran to third
and finally
both teams
run for home
and they were
cheering him on.
As Shire ran
from home
18 boys
lifted him
on their shoulders
and made him
the hero
as he'd just
made his first
home run
and won the game
for his team.
That day,
said the father
with tears
rolling down
his face,
those 18 boys
knew God's
perfection
as they did
what Jesus
would have done.
blessed
are the meek
they'll use
their strength
to help others.
Like those boys
needing their strength
to help others,
blessing and
congratulations
go to those
who have the
complete attitude
of Jesus.
We can't have
one
or a couple
where to have
the whole package
listed in the
Sermon on the Mount.
The demands
on us to be
kind of blessed
and fortunate
are high.
If we think of it
like a checklist,
oh yeah,
I was meek today
or I've been
a peacemaker,
I've shown some
mercy or I've
been pure in heart,
tick,
I've done all that,
we could easily
be discouraged
because actually
we don't get there
all the time
and our puny
attempts to change
can often be fought
with setbacks
and failures
and could result
in us actually
giving up.
The Sermon on the Mount
sets out an
impossible righteousness,
a standard
that only Jesus
fulfilled.
It cannot be a
checklist of things
to do,
but a reminder
of Jesus'
righteousness
where we need
to place our
trust in God
and in his
calling to be
like Jesus.
In a society
wandering further
from God,
demanding our
allegiance,
whose blessing
do we seek?
Whose voice
will we listen
to?
Does God's
blessing mean
more to us
than the approval
of our culture
or even our
loved ones?
How now
should we live
in 2022?
We have choices
to make this
new year
and each
and every
day of our
lives,
how we react,
how we respond,
how we step
out,
how we initiate.
Like caterpillars
longing to be
butterflies,
blessed are those
who walk in the
steps of Jesus
and emulate
his behaviour.
Remembering being
like Jesus
doesn't save us,
but as we place
our faith and
confidence and
trust in Jesus,
as we've been
shown mercy
and are saved
by grace,
we are then
blessed to do
the good works
that God has
prepared in advance
for us to do.
Blessed are those
whose resolution
is to seek
God's upside
down kingdom
and in God's
strength,
spirit filled,
display the
beautiful attitudes
of Jesus
as they are
being transformed
into the likeness
of Christ.
Let's pray.
Heavenly Father,
we just thank you
that you've revealed
yourself to us
fully through your
word,
through your
creation and
through Jesus.
Your word became
flesh and Lord,
as he lived
amongst us
and endured
what we endured
and walked in
our shoes,
he showed us
how to really
live and to
live life.
Just pray now
for each and
every one of us
that we choose
life and we
choose this year
to walk in
Jesus' steps,
to honour you
and to reflect
those beautiful
attitudes in
all we do and
say.
In Jesus' name
we pray.
Amen.