The Horizontal Effect 09/12/21

Porter Podcast

Series: Sermon on the Mount

The Horizontal Effect

Matthew 5:7-16

The real battlefield of humanity is in the heart.

People disagree as to the intended purpose of the sermon. Is it intended to expose our shortcomings or is it a pattern for living that brings God’s blessings?

the Beatitudes

Markarios: Happy because you are favored by God.

All of the Beatitudes are counter cultural.

merciful

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Matthew 5:7

Mercy can refer to forgiveness, or mercy can refer to compassion for the hurting.

pure in heart

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Matthew 5:8

peacemakers

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
Matthew 5:9

Peacemaking is not compromising our standards or always avoiding differences.

James 3:17

Peacemaking is seeking to restore relationships and replacing evil with good.

Persecuted

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. “You are blessed when they insult you and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of me. Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Matthew 5:10-12

2 Timothy 3:12

2 Corinthians 4:16-17

Today’s Takeaways:

Our relationship with God impacts the way we relate to others.

Our failure should lead to gratitude for the cross.

While we are not perfect, God uses our transformed lives in order to offer hope to others.

Matthew 5:13-16