The Sermon on the Mount: The Contrarian Kingdom (Matthew 5-7)

“Contrarian” Rejects the majority view or current opinion Sees the world differently Examples: Christopher Columbus and Copernicus Jesus of Nazareth is the greatest contrarian!

I. Seeing the Unseen Jesus teaches us a “contrarian paradigm” See below the surface and beyond the obvious II Cor. 10:7 “You are only looking on the surface of things.” The Beatitudes

II. Living by the Spirit (“supernaturally,” not just “naturally”) Flesh – Default program, natural reaction Spirit – Following God’s Spirit rather than our human spirit Flesh and Spirit in Romans 8:5-9 applies to the Sermon on the Mount in Mt 6-7

III. Living Intentionally We choose Christ’s contrarian kingdom – We are not a Christian by accident or parentage God is too kind to force Himself upon us…. Mt. 7: Choose the narrow way Live with a higher purpose – Phil. 2:4-5, Mt. 16:25

IV. Living Courageously As contrarians, we go against the flow Mt. 7:13-14 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Rom. 12:2 “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…”

V. Accepting the Contrarian King Why should I accept Jesus’ contrarian view of reality? Because of Jesus’ credentials as Creator Because Jesus’ contrarian ways work, even when they don’t look like they “will fly”

A choice of two kingdoms We follow the flesh or the Spirit We are in darkness or light We see only the obvious, or we “see” the unseen We live blindly or intentionally We live comfortably or courageously “For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” -- Col. 1:13-14