The Sermon on the Mount — 6-Week Series

Jesus blesses the people the world overlooks, and then calls them salt and light.

Outline

1. Blessed are the poor in spirit (v. 3-6)
2. Blessed are the merciful and pure (v. 7-9)
3. Salt, light, and a city set on a hill (v. 13-16)

Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

Matthew 5:8 (KJV)

Application question: Which beatitude describes the person you least want to be?

Christ does not lower the law; He drives it inward, from the hand to the heart.

Outline

1. I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil (v. 17-20)
2. Anger, lust, and the interior life (v. 21-32)
3. Love your enemies (v. 43-48)

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

Matthew 5:17 (KJV)

Application question: Where have you settled for outward compliance?

Giving, praying, and fasting are all corrupted by the same thing — an audience.

Outline

1. Alms in secret (v. 1-4)
2. The Lord's Prayer (v. 5-15)
3. Fasting without a face (v. 16-18)

Thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

Matthew 6:6 (KJV)

Application question: What spiritual practice would you stop if no one ever knew you did it?

Anxiety is a theology problem: it assumes a Father who does not notice.

Outline

1. Treasure and the heart (v. 19-21)
2. Two masters (v. 24)
3. Consider the lilies (v. 25-34)

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Matthew 6:33 (KJV)

Application question: Name the thing you worried about most this week. What does verse 32 say about it?

Jesus forbids hypocritical judgment and then commands discernment in the same chapter — the difference is the beam in your own eye.

Outline

1. The mote and the beam (v. 1-5)
2. Ask, seek, knock (v. 7-11)
3. By their fruits (v. 15-20)

Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.

Matthew 7:12 (KJV)

Application question: What criticism do you make of others that is truest of you?

Both houses face the same storm; only the foundation differs — and the foundation is doing what He said.

Outline

1. Not everyone that saith, Lord, Lord (v. 21-23)
2. The wise builder (v. 24-25)
3. The fall of the foolish house (v. 26-27)

Whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock.

Matthew 7:24 (KJV)

Application question: What one saying from this series will you actually do this week?

Can this series run longer than six weeks?

Yes — twelve weeks works well by taking roughly half a section each Sunday.

Is the Sermon on the Mount for Christians today?

Yes. Jesus addresses His disciples directly (Matthew 5:1-2) and closes by calling all hearers to obey His sayings.

Is the series free to use?

Yes — free to preach, adapt, and print.