1. “The Greatest Sermon Ever”
Introducing the
“Sermon on the Mount”
Matthew 5:1-2

2. This year, I resolve to…

3. This year, I resolve to…

4. This year, I resolve to…

5. This year, I resolve to…

6. This year, I resolve to…

7. Top 11 resolutions More time with family / friends
Exercise more / get fit
Loose weight / eat better
Stop smoking
Enjoy life more
Quit drinking alcohol
Get out of debt / stick to a budget
Learn something new
Help other people / be a better person
Get organised
Earn / save more money or get a better job

8. “Ours is a culture obsessed with lifestyle” (Nicky Gumbel)
What is the best way to live our lives?

9. Matthew 4:
“Jesus went throughout Galilee teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralysed, and he healed them…”

10. Matthew 4:25, 5:1 - 2
“Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.
Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them…”

11. “When he saw the crowds…”
What would the crowd look like today?
What effect did the crowds have on Jesus? (See Matt. 9:36)
What was the core of Jesus’ teaching?

12. Jesus is the authoritative guide in making sense of life.
A Christ-centred people need to encounter Jesus through His Word – the Bible

13. Two useful resources:

14. “His disciples came to him…”
What do we mean by “disciple”?
Analogy - In what way is a driving instructor like Jesus?
Who were these disciples?

15. A picture of church life
“A crowd of learners”
A picture of church life

16. The importance of participating in “Jesus’ master-class of life”
The world is watching us!
Are out lives transformed?
Don’t miss God’s best for you!
New life – for this life

17. A vision of “making disciples”
Defining discipleship
“A great commitment to the great commandments and the great commission will grow a great church”
“Every member growing”
Our focus in 2006

18. How can we meet Jesus’ standards?
“The Sermon on the Mount shows me my utter helplessness. Were it not for the new birth, I am undone…There is nothing that leads us to the gospel and its grace as this Sermon.” (Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
Jesus: “Blessed are the poor in Spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Mt. 5:3)
Christ makes it possible for me to live!