These verses about divorce have sparked much debate. It appears that Jesus is not making a comprehensive rule book for divorce but rather is siding on a contextual discussion. He honors and protects the ideal of covenant loyalty, and at the same time stands on the side of those with less power. So, with this tension. where does that leave us today and how can we be wise in interpretation? Divorce: It's not God's ideal. Sometimes it's wise. It always involves sin somewhere. It always hurts. And in Jesus, there is hope and healing. Message Notes 22/07/2024 Catch Up: YouTube  || Spotify  || iTunes Insights from Stats SA Peak Ages for Divorce in the 40s for Men, 30s for Women Women More Likely to Initiate Divorce (55%) More than half of Divorces Involve Minor Children Most Divorces from First Marriages of Less than 10 Years (42%) An Increase in Divorce Rates YoY (10.9%) 31 “It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery. Matthew 5:31-32 • Jesus is referencing one of the 10 commandments but something in the Torah: 1 If a man marries a woman who becomes displeasing to him because he finds something indecent about her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce, gives it to her and sends her from his house, Deuteronomy 24:1 The debate at the time of Jesus was about what "something indecent" was There were two prominent rabbinic schools Hillel Akibah - any reason, e.g. spoiling the food, or appearance Shammai - stricter interpretation, i.e. marital unfaithfulness 3 Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?” 4 “Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ 5 and said, ‘For this reason, a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? 6 So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” 7 “Why then,” they asked, “did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?” 8 Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. 9 I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.” Matthew 19:3-9 Jesus' answer here is less about the rules for divorce and more about dealing with religious men who were trying to trap him to discredit him Jesus shifts the conversation to God's ideal Creation - covenant, and loyalty. He is not adding anything new, but rather reminding us of what was. (NB to note that both Jesus & Paul have high views of marriage and singleness.) They challenge, trying to trap him again - why did Moses permit divorce? Jesus explains the Concession (the certificate was for protection as women had very little rights; divorce was brutal. Dallas Willard explains the adulterous status -without a certificate - refers to a degraded sexual condition that was a consequence of the time, and the options were either not remarry and live with family, or be re-married as damaged goods, or be a prostitute. NT Scholar Jeannine Brown talks about this tension as the Prototype & Proviso Jesus' point is without the hardness of heart they wouldn't even be having the conversation. Jesus highlights the consequences of a hard heart that divorces out of selfishness. It's not an accident Jesus deals with a divorce after anger contempt and lust…! Conclusion: Jesus is not making a comprehensive rule book for divorce but siding on a contextual debate. He • Honours and protects the ideal of covenant loyalty - Genesis account • He shows his heart to protect women from injustice - being discarded by hard-hearted men. This is a reoccurring theme we see in how Jesus treats people. So, with this tension. where does that leave us today - how can we be wise in interpretation? 1/ What does covenant loyalty look like to you? 2/ Would you rather be right, or righteous? 3/ What could you do to make your marriage great? 4/ Do you think Jesus would want you to stay in an endangering environment? 5/ Where could you find wise counsel? Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed Prov 15:22 RESOURCES The Divorce Debate (Bible Project) Marriage, Divorce, Remarriage, and Celibacy. An Exegesis of Matthew 19.3-12 (C.L. Blomberg) Sermon on the Mount: A Beginner's Guide to the Kingdom of Heaven - Amy Jill Levine -

We are living in a highly sexualized world. P*rn is normalized, and many sexual boundaries have been removed. Self-pleasure and objectification are everywhere - we've got to ask 'How are we doing?' Jesus is serious about dealing with lust - so serious that he says amputations would be better than the consequences of this distorted desire.  The good news is, that change, and transformation is possible:  in a world filled with lust, Jesus invites us to be formed into people of love. Message Notes 15/07/2024 Catch Up: YouTube || Spotify || iTunes 27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right-hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell. Matthew 5:27-30 I remember reading this very passage when I was in my early teens and feeling a sense of judgment, condemnation, and hopelessness. Your social environment* shapes you, and shame imprisons you, more than you can imagine. *Mimetic theory of desire us an explanation of human behavior and culture, originated with the French historian, literary critic, and philosopher of social science René Girard So much life energy is lost out on managing shame. This topic brings up pain and heartache for many people. We all feel the effects of sexual brokenness, either because of what we have done, or what has been done to us. Jon Tyson cites some references in his message on lust, link below, the removal of sexual restraint (you do you), through the sexual revolution, has turned us into the most sexualized society Porn is normalized, hookup culture is rife.  We have to ask "How are we doing?"  Some research shows that there is actually less sex and worse sex… We've got a fight on our hands for the next generation - check out the message from Christy Herselman - founder of The Chat, dealing with issues like sex, identity, social media, and pornography. Addressing some common narratives: "This seems like God is against sex and desire" Jesus is not against sex and desire! God created sex, it is a gift and it is good, designed to be within a covenantal marriage. Jesus is presenting a vision of human flourishing in a world of brokenness, and dealing with a distorted desire, not advocating for sexual repression. "If my spouse was - fill in the blank - then I wouldn’t have a struggle with lust; I wouldn't need to look around" This is blaming - externalizing a heart issue of self interest, comparison, contempt "If women just dressed modestly, lust wouldn't be an issue for me" -This is also externalizing the problem, rather, Jesus is saying: "There is something going on in your heart that needs dealing with" "It’s not harming anyone" More on this below "Just get married. Then you can have all the sex you want". Marriage doesn't solve a lust problem! Jesus shifts from external action (7th command) to internal attitude (10th command) This is an active, prolonged, continuous looking with the intent to derive pleasure. Jesus is not talking about an incidental glance but intentionally trying to make another person an object for consumption. This is ongoing looking/staring/focusing on / thinking about for the purpose of cultivating a fantasy. It's not wrong to think someone is attractive or good-looking, it is what you do with that that matters. 1/ Lust is the self-centered desire to please yourself Lust:  ἐπιθυμέω epithymeō;  to set the heart upon, i.e. long for (rightfully or otherwise): — covet, desire, Dallas Willard says: Lust is a habit of indulging feelings, from a sensualistic approach to life where feelings are treasured... It is important to understand 3 levels of sin so that you don't get enslaved in beating yourself up for something that is not sin Thought of sin (not sin) Inclination to sin - facing temptation (not sin) Readiness to sin (intentionally engaging) Of course, the goal of formation is to spend less and less time in 1 and 2 so that there is less risk of progressing to 3. Think of the story of David and Bathsheba. 2/ Lust is not exclusive to hetro-sexual males Though predominantly male and from a man's perspective here, women also struggle with this. Lust is a form of greed, envy - the desire for something that doesn't belong to us. Lust, then, is not only linked to pornography but any kind of misplaced, distorted desire. Reading erotic literature for cultiaving a fantasy is in the ballpark of what Jesus is talking about here. 3/ Jesus is serious about dealing with lust Cut off your hand, gouging out your eye is not literal, hyperbole and metaphor are often there to wake you up. Hell for Jesus is referencing Gehenna (garbage dump), where the evil leaders of old Ahab, Manasseh worshipped Baal through sex with temple prostitutes to trigger Baal to bring rain and child sacrifice, Mark 9:48 - The place where the fire never dies and the worms are always eating. Lust will turn your life into a living hell, so you should do anything to prevent this! Sexual sin will unleash hell in your life. 4/ Here's what lust does: a/ Dehumanizes People turns people that God loves into objects - and people start turning themselves into objects too. Lust doesn’t want the intimacy and responsibility b/ Destroys Relationships Lust takes, Love gives. Love wants a person, lust wants an experience Porn is increasingly cited as the reason for divorce. Sex is online rather than in relationships. 3/ Damages Your Brain A rewiring of pleasure centers takes places, forming neural pathways that make this habit diffuuclut to break (but not impossible) 4/ Distorts Sex Itself You are an integrated being - what we do with our body touches our soul. Trying to pass out intimacy. Porn teaches you that sex with yourself, without any responsibility, or connection. Hook-up culture: there is a deep cementing that happens during sex, at a hormonal level too. It is soul to soul, heart to heart, spirit to spirit. As a defense mechanism you produce less hormones the more partners you have - so fulfilling sex becomes increasingly difficult. (CH) God's greater vision for humanity: The heart of Jesus is not to stand in judgment, but to invite you into a different way. He restored my marriage and broke an addiction 16 years ago and is still working in my heart, changing me to be more like him. Jesus fulfills desires in a completely different way to the world: Lust is empty and ungratifying - ultimately, while what Jesus presents is deeply fulfilling - like fast food vs real food. You are not missing something good – you are missing something harmful and that can lead to worse things.. Imagine a community that is safe - that reflects how Jesus treated people. People of love who humanize one another. That reflects selflessness Marriages reflect something of the picture of Jesus and the church. You have to get a hold of this vision else there is no desire to change. Jesus' heart is for us to become people of love in a world of lust. It's not like the law of gravity that cannot be overcome. Sin can be overcome! 1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is —his good, pleasing and perfect will Romans 12:1-2 Surrender of self-will has to lay the foundation for stepping out of these behaviors Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. Hebrews 12:1-2 1/ Accept Jesus' Invitation (to heart transformation) 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36:26 3 You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. 2 Corinthians 3:3 It starts with heart transformation, not trying, not more willpower. A new heart means you are empowered to Surrendering your will - Means Giving up the right to lust, which means that you won't feel deprived. Choosing to be a person of love 2/ Recognize the Battle ​1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath Ephesians 2:1-3 Recognize there is a battle on 1. World system 2. Forces of evil 3. The flesh 3/ Persevere 3 It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honourable, 5 not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; 6 and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. 7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8 Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit. 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8 Formation doesn't happen overnight. New ways of thinking, relearning, Disciplines Make possible what is impossible through sheer effort (Dallas Willard) 4/ Deal decisively You won't defeat what you deal with in secret Throw off: Bring it into the light, name it. Ask for help! 5/ Examine the cause/root How did desires get distorted? This takes work. Something from childhood? Contempt? Dallas Willard points out how these flow from one to another, in order to deal with lust, you first have to deal with contempt. In a world free of contempt (self-centered superiority) there would be no dehumanizing, no porn, where we are willing to degrade others you will not feel deprived of anything because your self-will would have been surrendered There wouldn't be lust/adultery - wouldn’t look elsewhere. One of the things we can do is to decide to live without contempt and to rather live with love! The answer to contempt is love. You cannot have contempt for something you love. (By extension, you cannot lust after people if you love them and you wouldn't t lust/commit adultery if you loved your spouse) 6/ Fix your eyes on Jesus And his greater vision for human flourishing and abundant life. ______________________________________________________ Resources: Dallas Willard talks about anger, contempt, and lust - resist the urge to play at double speed - this is a profound teaching. https://youtu.be/22eeP1FK3qU?si=02Z8Xk-8KwK1eX8A Christy Herselman's full message on Sex, Selfies, and Social Media - a must-watch for parents! https://youtu.be/pC1qsOAfil0?si=GMsAS2y0crc-S2Sl Jon Tyson's Message on Lust, is well worth a listen https://open.spotify.com/episode/07D4Iz2nMfAn3urADLoB3r?si=d422f57af7454a49 Stephen Arterburn's book - Every Believer's Thought Life: Defeating Destructive Mental Patterns to Gain Victory Over Temptation

Jesus is presenting a TANGIBLE VISION OF A NEW REALITY! He does this by challenging conventional wisdom or the status quo at that time. The focus is the beginning of the main body of the sermon and a portion of scripture which is often misunderstood by the Church in general. Message Notes 23/06/2024 Catch Up: YouTube  || Spotify  || iTunes What is your relationship with rules like? The context within which the rules are being applied matters most. By and large, rules are put in place for a reason; to keep us safe and perhaps, so that peace & harmony prevail in society. Rules lose their usefulness when they appear like more of a punishment and not just to bring correction. Maybe you fall on the other side of spectrum, like this World War 1 fighter pilot, who remarked that “rules are for the obeyance of fools, and the guidance of the wise” - Harry Day The Fulfillment of the Law 17  “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.  18  For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.  19  Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.  20  For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. - Matthew 5: 17-20 Don’t Throw The Baby Out With The Bathwater. This idiom is a warning not “to lose something good or valuable in your attempt to get rid of what is unwanted” Jesus is speaking to Jewish people who are living under Roman occupation and oppression. The religious leaders of the time had also turned the laws into a confusing mass of rules which were difficult to keep pace with. It is into this story that Jesus is speaking about coming to fulfill the Law. From this passage of scripture, we see 3 main themes; 1. JESUS IS THE NEW MOSES 2. JESUS IS THE FULFILLMENT OF THE PROPHETS’ EXPECTATIONS 3. JESUS IS WISDOM PERSONIFIED JESUS IS ‘NEW’ MOSES 17  “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. The Law that Jesus is referring to is The Torah Torah is a Hebrew word meaning “to instruct”. It is the first 5 chapters of the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers & amp; Deuteronomy). In some instances, the Torah is also often referred to as the Law of Moses. Moses was the one through whom God gave Israel the law. In Old Testament times, the law was divided into 3 broad categories: CEREMONIAL LAWS These related specifically to the manner that the Israelites were to worship God. The ceremonial laws related to the proper way to offer sacrifices, perform rituals, and celebrate festivals. CIVIL LAWS These laws applied to daily living in Israel. They governed things such as marriage and divorce, sexual conduct and property rights etc… MORAL LAWS This is the direct command of God and reflected God’s holy, unchanging character. The Ten Commandments fall under the Moral Law and required strict obedience. Moses received the Ten Commandments from God on Mt. Sinai (Exodus 20). The Torah contained over 600 laws (613 to be exact) and together with all the other extras the religious leaders had introduced, following the law had become very difficult. Like Moses, Jesus has come to rescue not only all of Israel but all of humanity. Jesus is a greater ‘Moses’ who views the scriptures as something that points forward, a set of texts that create momentum instead of holding the people back. He provides the resolution to which the Torah and the Prophets are pointing to. JESUS IS THE FULFILLMENT OF THE PROPHETS’ EXPECTATIONS 18  For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. - Matthew 5:18 The Prophets includes most of the rest of the Old Testament and includes the writings of people such as Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and others were sent by God to deliver messages to Israel. They speak of one who is to come who will fulfill their prophecies. JESUS IS WISDOM PERSONIFIED 19  Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20  For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. - Matthew 5:19-20 It is clear from this verse that Jesus realised that the commands were not easy to fulfil. One can also deduct that the society had ranked the commands in terms of lesser or greater. However Jesus sets the standard that in order to be called ‘great’ in the kingdom of heaven, we have to honour every command, irrespective of it’s ranking. Every command in the Torah was important. Jesus then concludes by calling us to live a righteous life to enter the kingdom of heaven. We have learnt that righteousness comes from Dikaiosune Dikaiosune (Greek) = Righteousness Righteousness meaning living in right relationship with God, other people and all creation. We must live justly, honestly and faithfully according to God’s instructions. Some of the practical ways of living this out: Prayer & fasting Giving generously to the poor Forgiving others Loving our enemies To live this way is do right by God. Jesus claims that the Torah and the Prophets point to an even more radical behaviour change that is rooted in the transformation of our hearts. Later in Matthew’s gospel, Jesus illustrates to us a way of living that fulfills the Torah and the Prophets. 34  Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together.  35  One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question:  36  “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37  Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  38  This is the first and greatest commandment.  39  And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself. 40  All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” - Matthew 22: 34-39 Similar scriptures can also be found in some of Paul’s letters: Love does no harm to a neighbour. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. - Romans 13:10 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbour as yourself.” - Galatians 5:14 Living God’s Way: Love God, Love People-empowered

In Matthew 5:21-26, Jesus warns against the dangers of uncontrolled anger and contempt. He teaches that unresolved anger can lead to destructive consequences and emphasizes the importance of reconciliation and forgiveness to avoid unnecessary conflict and pain. Here are some ways to over come the destructive behaviour of anger and live The Better Way. Message Notes 07/07/2024 Catch Up: YouTube  || Spotify  || iTunes “21 You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.23 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First, go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.25 “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. 26 Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny." - Matthew 5:21-26 The Better Way 1. Surrender will You don’t always have to have your way! We said anger is a will phenomenon and it starts when our will is crossed. One of the biggest things you can do to step out of anger is to accept that you don’t always have to have your way – even if it is justified. Not about getting rid of your will, but rather, choosing to surrender your will to the will of God. With this in place – not getting what you want is no longer a big deal. Anger comes when you make things a big deal. Surrendered to the will of God helps us not only with our anger but effects pervasive change in all areas of our lives. But what about things that are wrong?  We can still act! It doesn’t mean that we become walk overs or door mats.  Jesus doesn’t let everything go without addressing it. Instead, we speak truth and live it - but not in anger or contempt. You are a calm person now and can engage with others accordingly and your behaviour reflects that. The reason is that we know God is taking care of us and our real interests are safe. For the big and small things that make us angry, the meaning of the cross is that there is life beyond and outside of this event. No matter what the event is – there is life outside of it! Surrender your will to the will of God and not needing to get your own way is the starting point of reducing the impact of anger in our lives. 2.        Surrender Contempt Let us not show contempt, or look down on / criticise / judge others, that which God has made in his own image. For by doing so we are criticising and showing contempt towards the same God who made us and will hold us accountable for the hatred in our hearts. This morning God is calling us to give up the right to have contempt of people!  You don’t have that right! A great moment for spiritual growth is the moment that we give up the right to be angry and say – “I am not going to exercise my anger, I am going to abandon contempt. I’m better off without it.” A decision we can make – to see others as made by God in his image and then to decide to live without contempt and to rather live with love! The answer to contempt is love. You cannot have contempt for something you love. Lord, please deal with my pride and arrogance. Humble me father! Give up my right to contempt! 3.        Jesus two simple pointers from v23-25 When we surrender will and contempt we can follow Jesus advice here: A.       Go and make right Go and make things right – that’s how much it matters! Your relationship with God is tied up in your relationship with others. If you sit here today and your relationship with God feels distant – it could be due to a number of potential factors. I want to ask you, Is there someone in your life that you’re not at peace with? If there is, there is no way around that – you need to go and deal with it. B.       Don’t delay Do it now before that intensity grows and the depth of that anger grows. Hold short accounts. Cycle of anger – less likely that you will act out in a way that you regret and 2 – it shows what living in the Kingdom looks like. 4.        Spiritual disciplines The answer to not being angry is not to try and be not angry. Change starts on the inside, and we then see the impact on the outside. When trying to modify behaviour, we have learnt that you don’t aim at the behaviour, you aim at changing the inside and when you do that, the behaviour changes. Practices of silence and solitude, time alone with Jesus, worship, admiration and reverence of God will transform us on the inside. A decision you can make to find yourself in those places. I promise you that you will then find you are no longer driven by feelings and needs but are driven by the sufficiency of God. Resources: How is anger the same as murder? https://open.spotify.com/episode/3P61i37iFWiqxpHBnQBxtn?si=725af1714e07411e Richard Rohrs book , Jesus Alternative Plan: https://www.google.co.za/books/edition/Jesus_Alternative_Plan/MxV_EAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0

Jesus has created you to bring flavour to the world, and light to the darkness! You have incredible potential! What is diluting your flavour, or blocking your light? Message Notes 23/06/2024 Catch Up: YouTube  || Spotify  || iTunes Here are three questions to think about! Where are we finding our salt and light? What kind of light are you? What is keeping you from being the salt and light that God has called you to be? Jesus says that YOU ARE the salt, YOU ARE the light. 13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. 14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven -Matthew 5:13-16 Ora -Torah - Yarah Ora = Light Torah = Instruction/Law Yarah = To teach/To Instruct The mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and all nations will stream to it.3 Many people will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.”The law will go out from Zion, the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. 4 He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. 5 Come, descendants of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the Lord. - Isaiah 2:2-5 Coming to the source We find our Identity in God Sunlight is a culmination of all colours. Resources: Extract from Amy Jill Levine’s book  (see the start of Ch3) As we move into Matthew 6, on practicing piety, disciples take with them the metaphors of salt and light, and they know in each case that the focus is not on them but on what they do, how they impact others, and the seasoning and the guiding they provide. Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6DNSNFr78JL3JlilRwA7U6?si=a988e7c8f0fc426e

Jesus came to reveal the Father and bring the Kingdom and invites you to be a part of it. Following Jesus means that people are going to be mean to you, but that's a sign that you're on the right track. Message Notes 16/06/2024 Catch Up: YouTube  || Spotify  || iTunes There might be pain in the past but there is hope in the future. Keep moving forward Hebrews 12:1-3 ​1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. It's Father's Day - my late dad met God in a moment and turned his life around - completely different! All of our cars over the years had Bible verses on, and some found it offensive! “A stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.” 1 Peter 2:8 Jesus is either a rock to build upon or a rock of offence - because it touches pride, performance, and self, and brings conviction. The world has a vision of what living is, and so does Jesus. The world tells us all kinds of lies, and there is a prevailing narrative that if you do good things you will go to heaven, if you do bad things you will go to hell. Jesus came to bring the Kingdom Matt 4:17), and reveal the Father (John 14:9) - and salvation is a gift, not earned! 24 “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. John 5:24 His teachings are no prescriptions to go to heaven but rather descriptions of what you begin to look like when you are part of the Kingdom. Matt 5:11-12 11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you Q1 - How do you feel when someone says something mean about you? I feel angry, hurt, wanting revenge! Q2 - What do you find challenging about what Jesus says here? How do you rejoice when insulted? Persectuion will come! Q3 - What do you find encouraging about what Jesus says here? There is a reward in heaven! Persecution is proof that you are on the right track! The proof is in the persecution! The self that Jesus proclaims is so grounded that it can consider persecution a blessing Thank you enemy; you are giving me proof that I am a child of God NB Persecution here is not because a cause, or doing silly things BUT because you are like Jesus. When you follow him, you carry his light, the darkness can't stand the light If you try to imitate Christ the world will praise you; if you become Christlike it will hate you.  Richard Rohr John 15:18-21 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. 20 Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. 21 They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me The world system is broken, full of lies and limitations, and does not know the Father. When you believe in Jesus, you no longer belong to the world, but to the kingdom of heaven. You are not slightly different, but completely different. You know the Father. 16 June is a commemoration of the youth that suffered during the evil apartheid regime - a world system that is limiting and oppreseive Fathers Day - in SA 45% of children have absent fathers - the trend going the wrong way - apartheid. Children who have unsupportive or absent fathers have a higher likelihood of poor mental health compared to children whose fathers are involved. International studies have shown that the country is unique in the extent that parents are absent from children’s daily lives Families form the foundation of norms and values for children and are responsible for behaviour patterns being passed down from one generation to the next. In South Africa only 42% of children live with both of their biological parents, 38.6% live with their biological father and 20% don’t live with either of their biological parents. Source UCT Children Count Deloitte and the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fun Report 2023 Jesus came to show us what the Father is like, the way to the Father who is full of love, grace, compassion, slow to anger, and sets people free from oppression, bondage God's calling you to stand up and make a difference - to show people, Jesus, to show people the Father.  it's going to cost - but the proof is in the persecution Watch this message that Rory Dyer shared at Urban Life Church last week at the Youth Conference - in light of Father's Day and Yout Day

There is a difference between being a peacemaker and a peacekeeper! Matthew 5:9-11 helps us understand the difference between the two and how to pursue a life of being a peacemaker. Message Notes 03/06/2024 Catch Up: YouTube  || Spotify  || iTunes Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. - Matthew 5:9 Summary: Tangible Vision for a New Humanity The beatitudes = Character, Descriptors of those living in the kingdom of God. Question: Who is blessed and how good is their life? Triad 1: God's Kingdom is coming to the least likely people. Triad 2: Character of people most at home in God's Kingdom. Triad 3: Cost and reward of following Jesus. What is your version of Peace? Does it look something like the image below, maybe it's being in Mosselbay or on a hike. " 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me." - Matthew 5:10-11 Seek Peace Peacemakers reflect the character traits of Jesus and God the Father. Biblical peace is not the absence of conflict, it is the presence of harmony. Peacemaker = Passive + Active Peacemaker does not = Peacekeeper "According to the Scripture, the trouble is in the heart of man and nothing but a new heart, nothing but a new man can possibly deal with the problem. It is out of the heart that evil thoughts, murders, adultery, fornication, jealousy, envy, malice, and all these other things proceed; and while mean are like that there will be no peace." - DM Llyod Jones It begins with a new heart! Make your primary concern the Glory of God. Learn not to speak. "19 My Dear brothers and sisters, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger, 20 for human anger does not accomplish God's righteousness." - James 1:19-20 View every situation in the light of the gospel. Actively Pursue Peace "11 Come my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. 12 Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days." - Psalm 34:11-12 Bring a state of peace wherever you go. "13 Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies. 14 Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it." - Psalm 34:13-14 Persecution. Righteousness: Living in the right relationship with God, other people, and all creation. Living justly, honestly, and faithfully according to God's Instruction. To end this off here is a question to think about: Are you a peacemaker or a peacekeeper? Preach by: RJ Vischer

What does it look like to be the kind of people God is forming in the Kingdom? It has so much to do with how we treat those around us. Message Notes 03/06/2024 Catch Up: YouTube  || Spotify  || iTunes Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Matthew 5:6 Righteousness means to be in right standing with God or to be on the side of justice. To be righteous is to be free from guilt or sin. We cannot be righteous on our own "All have fallen short" (Rom 3:23) The only way to be righteous is through faith in Jesus. If we believe we can work to earn righteousness we begin to become self-righteous. Self-righteousness is when someone thinks of themselves as morally superior to someone else, which we can easily get to through our efforts. We only become righteous by accepting that we are unrighteous and therefore need God to clothe us in His righteousness. When we are righteous, we receive righteousness as a gift and begin reflecting the image of God who is righteous. The world system tends towards self-effort which leads to self-righteousness or where there is no hunger for God’s ways/ Unrighteousness means devouring each other. Jesus is the standard of righteousness, to be righteous is to be like Jesus Himself. Hunger for righteousness… when you are hungry, you are aware that you are hungry, you know that you are lacking. So, to hunger and thirst after righteousness means to live in a constant state of awareness that you lack any righteousness by yourself and are completely reliant on God to supply you with the way to be in right standing with Him. We all want to die like the righteous, meaning we all want to be found worthy to enter heaven when we die… but in reality, we should all want to live like the righteous- meaning become more like Jesus by dying to ourselves and being raised to life with the power of the Holy Spirit on a daily basis. Our hearts are restless until they rest in God – Saint Augustine. Psalm 11:7 For the Lord is righteous, He loves righteous deeds. The upright will see His face. It’s for free, so, Be: - Righteous. We are righteous through faith, there is nothing we need to do to earn our righteousness. It’s for me, so, Do: - Because we are righteous, we want to do right by God AND by others. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Matthew 5:7 Hesed: love, generosity, loyalty, treat me like family, mercy, lovingkindness, mercy in action… This Hesed is the very essence of who God is. His hesed lovingkindness, grace, forgiveness, mercy is what lead Jesus to the cross. This hesed-ness of God is the very thing that makes it possible for us to call ourselves followers or disciples of Jesus in the first place. Like the previous point, we cannot fully extend mercy or hesed before we have received it for ourselves. When we have received this kind of mercy, we can call ourselves Christians and once we have received Hesed, we start to feel a sense of sorrow for those who are enslaved to sin our only response should then be to give it away freely to others. Mercy, forgiveness, Hesed, lovingkindness this is the whole gospel! Mercy is unearned, undeserved, and not owed, it’s a free gift to be received and then shared. In Matthew 18 Peter ask Jesus how many times we should forgive someone. Jesus tells the parable of the man whose large debt was forgiven, but who refused to go on and forgive someone else the debt that he was owed. How often are our hearts like that. We want to be forgiven, but we don’t want to forgive. Unforgiveness or withholding mercy is a trap. It’s like slowly sipping on poison and hoping the offender will die. We can finally be free when we can receive forgiveness and give it away without payment or punishment. There is no future for the human race without forgiveness – Desmond Tutu The refusal to forgive is a form of pride. It’s not the kingdom way. Even as Jesus hung on the cross, abused, he said of his abusers, Father forgive them, they know not what they have done.” If someone has wronged you in horrible ways and is unrepentant, you do not have to forgive and make up. Forgiveness doesn’t always have to lead to reconciliation. For your safety or the safety of others, sometimes it’s better to stay away from certain people. Forgiveness doesn’t need proximity. If this pain is gripping you today and you feel like nobody would understand, I want to remind you that this pain, your pain is what drove Jesus to give up his life so that you can have freedom from that pain. He made a way for you to find forgiveness for yourself, and to be able to release forgiveness to others. The mystery of forgiveness is God’s ultimate entry into powerlessness. When we realise we are powerless to save ourselves, to forgive ourselves and to forgive others, we realise that we freely receive and can freely give mercy, forgiveness, hesed loving-kindness, grace, love… Are you able/willing to receive forgiveness? Are you able/willing to forgive others? Are you able/willing to forgive yourself? It’s for free - Be: - Hesed by receiving mercy/ forgiveness/ hesed loving-kindness as a free gift through the finished work of Jesus on the cross. It’s for me - Do: - Hesed by Extend forgiveness/ mercy/ hesed lovingkindness out of a response to the knowing that you are free because you have been forgiven. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God Matthew 5:8 How’s your heart? “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” Jeremaih 17:9 NIV Heart = our mind, will, and emotions. – it’s who you are! Pure in heart: without hypocrisy. cleansed Like Jesus Our heart can be like a stream. A pure heart is a crystal-clear steam, it’s refreshing, it’s full of life! But along the way litter and rubbish is picked up and begins to pollute the stream. So, Jesus is reminding us here that we can live with a pure heart, we get to go in and clear up that litter with the help of the Holy Spirit who can lead us. We often get it so wrong; we try to fix the outside (hypocrisy), but God is interested in our heart. In our culture today we put a large emphasis on intellect, so we run a course or do a study, maybe watch a TED talk, and then we get frustrated when we are unable to change. The key is not in behavior modification but in heart purification. God is about character development does not habit staking. God is more interested in your heart's motivations than in your outward actions. We can’t change what we won’t confront. How do we get a pure heart? By recognizing that our hearts are sick and that the only way to healing is through Jesus. When we accept Jesus as our lord and saviour He gives us a new heart. We are transformed. The journey we go on after the moment of salvation is to learn what it looks like to walk in the ways of Christ and keep our hearts pure through loving God enough to continue turning back to Him in repentance to find grace and love so that we can walk in it. Keep turning back… repentance. Receive love. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ Mark 12:30 Loving God is the way to a pure heart. It’s for free - Be: - Loved by God, saved through Jesus and transformed by Him. It’s for me - Do: - allow your heart to be transformed through love, so that you can love God, love yourself and love others well. As we receive the unconditional love of God, our hearts are made pure and become pure. All 3 of these verses, show us that we cannot achieve the standard Jesus describes on our own. That we first receive fully from Jesus through His finished work of salvation. Only once we have received can we act accordingly. All 3 also show that God is not only interested in our right standing or our relationship with Him, But, also in how we relate to others - our mandate is to love God and to love others. The good life is for those who freely receive Righteousness, mercy and a pure heart so that they can freely extend righteousness & mercy, with a pure heart to others. There’s a scripture in Micah that sums these 3 Beatitudes up so well. Love Justice, do mercy, walk humbly. – Micah 6:8 He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. NIV Three possible responses: 1)        Righteousness. If you are not right with God, today you have the opportunity to make that decision and receive the free gift of salvation. 2)        Mercy. Who do you need to forgive? Maybe the person you need to forgive is yourself. 3)        Pure heart. How is your heart towards God and others. Are there some thoughts, emotions, or actions that are tainting the purity of your heart, Surrender those to God today.

Much of what Jesus says about his version of the good life is counter-cultural. Trying to gain eternal life is not the way to get eternal life, but rather powerlessness is the path to the Kingdom. Trying to avoid grief is not the way to find comfort. Rather, it’s good to grieve. Trying to possess things is not the way to possess things. Rather, humility paves the way to true ownership. Message Notes 26/05/2024 Catch Up: YouTube || Spotify || iTunes “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Matthew 5:3-5 *Artisans - likely the social class Jesus was in as a carpenter v3 The good life is an emptying of one's self, recognizing a dependence on God, not self (powerlessness)- in that process, you find the kingdom. That's living! Trying to gain eternal life is not the way to get eternal life POWERLESSNESS IS THE PATH TO THE KINGDOM v4 NOT - you're mourning, congratulations you should be happy! NOT: mourning is a blessing sent to you by God. NOT: following Jesus means be miserable all the time Culture narrative in general: Avoid trouble, do what makes you happy, avoid pain, distract, medicate, escape, minimize Soldier on, Cowboys don't cry, be strong, tears = vulnerability The more we have, the more we can distract ourselves. "We spend our lives trying to make tears unnecessary until eventually, they are impossible" Layer 1: Personal loss Loss is hard, loss is real "A heart that knows how to grieve is a heart that knows how to love" A.J. Levine St Ephraim of Syria "Until we have cried, we don't know God" St Francis "the gift of tears" Paul talks of "grieving with hope"1 Thes 4:13-18 - it's not the end of the story The good life requires a capacity for grief - in that process, you find comfort, healing, and hope. That's living! Layer 2 - Personal sin NOT - beating yourself up because of how bad you are NOT - ignoring sin, God will understand. Rather mourning here is a conviction that leads to change (comfort, frogivness, grace, mercy, healing, freedom). I see myself as helpless and hopeless, then receive the comfort / joy - God's grace and mercy "What you permit becomes permanent" Rom 7:25 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! The good life requires mourning over your sin/rebellion toward God - in that process, you find comfort, healing, and hope. That's living! Layer 3 - Corporate sin Mourning for the tragic state of a nation/society / humanity Jesus wept for Jerusalem "As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. Luke 19:41" The good life requires mourning over the state of the nation - in that process, you find comfort, healing, and hope in the certainty that God is at work taking the world to redemption. That's living Trying to avoid mourning is not the way to find comfort IT’S GOOD TO GRIEVE. v5 Strength, power, and violence were the ways to get land, and the land owners at the top, no one liked them. Israel had lost the land. They were expecting a Messiah, materialistic and militant. But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy peace and prosperity. Ps 37:11 Meek means "humble" the "servant king" nothing to prove, secure. Layer 1: PRESENT CONTENTMENT 1/ You can be content now if you are free from the lie that strength/power are the way to possess things. Everything belongs to God anyway! The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; Psalms 24:1 Layer 2: FUTURE INHERITANCE In the kingdom - where this is heading : 2 Or do you not know that the Lord’s people will judge the world? 1 Corinthians 6:2 We "own" things, and then they own us! Trying to possess things is not the way to possess things Humility paves the way to OWNERSHIP. Applications: Emptying of self - look at God and get to know Him! Jesus permits you to cry/grieve over loss and hardship, let it out! Dealing with personal sin - there is freedom and healing in Jesus Finding solidarity with others in pain - what could you do Serving on the DreamTeam - cultivating humility

Message Notes 12/05/2024 Catch Up:  YouTube  ||  Spotify || iTunes From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” Matthew 4:17 Jesus calls people to turn around because a new way of living has arrived. In what we know as the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus presents a tangible vision for a new humanity that is completely different from the world system. It's his version of "This is living!".   Some would say it's an impossible standard. Others might skip over and ignore it. Perhaps though, it is an invitation to choose the way of love, as Jesus takes the world to complete renewal  This is living, the Jesus way. The Sermon on the Mount is what most people would have heard of when it comes to what Jesus taught (Matthew 5 -7 verses) - sayings like "Don't judge, or your will be judged", "Turn the other cheek", "Go the extra mile", "Do not worry", "Salt of the Earth", "Love you enemies" can all be found within these 100 verses. Gandhi, Martin Luther King Junior, and Corrie Ten Boom were influenced by Jesus' teachings on the power of nonviolence and forgiveness. So, Is it just a powerful philosophical/ethical contribution, or is it something more? Into a Jewish socio-economic context of Roman-occupied territory, oppression, exploitation tribalism, sickness, poverty, marginalization, and classism, Jesus makes a massive statement: Repent (Hb Teshuva - turn around, Gk Metanoia - change your thinking) for the Kingdom of Heaven is arriving here, now. In other words, change everything! He then demonstrates what this Kingdom is like by healing the sick, welcoming the social outcasts, and setting people free from demonic forces. Then he begins to teach what it looks like to be part of the Kingdom and concludes with a choice - to either listen and put into practice what he has taught or only to listen. (Matt 7:24 -27) “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. Matthew 5:17 Jesus presents his INTERPRATION of the Torah - Jesus speaks with the authority of God (on a mountain) - as a Rabbi. The Torah (or Law) is the foundational story of a people called to live by the wisdom of God. Jesus fulfills the EXPECTATION of the Prophets  - Introducing a new way, where God himself brings about transformation. The Prophets looked forward to a future Messiah, and to a day when people would live as God had called them to live. “This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the LORD. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts.  I will be their God, and they will be my people. Jeremiah 31:33 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my law Ezekiel 36:26-27 Jesus is wisdom personified - REVELATION. His story of the two houses mirrors the wisdom literature of Proverbs - how to live well (by Godly wisdom). In summary, Jesus is presenting his version of what it means to live as God's transformed people, in the Kingdom of heaven. He is saying "This is living" A TANGIBLE VISION FOR A NEW HUMANITY Into our world system marked by status, individualism power, achievement, control, ego, money, overwhelm, anxiety, prejudice, and injustice, Jesus presents a new vision marked by justice generosity, humility, kindness, forgiveness, community, vulnerability, and love. Jesus is the answer to the human dilemma. He doesn't just talk about the ideal, but lives it out, and provides the power for his followers to do it too. Jesus comes as the grace of God, inviting and empowering those who follow him to become more and more like him in life and action for the sake of others. The Kingdom has arrived, and continues to expand, bringing restoration, transformation, and healing to all who will step into it as Jesus takes the world toward complete renewal. Being part of this Kingdom requires repentance (turning around!), trusting in Him, letting go of self-created egos (which are so deeply entrenched), and hearts that pray "Jesus your Kingdom come, and my kingdom go". “Much of what passes for Christianity today is a negation of the sermon on the Mount…Isn’t it is more important to do what Jesus wants us to do than to call him “Lord, Lord?” ~ Ghandi

We all have our vision of what the “blessed” life is. Jesus has a vision of that too - and it might be completely different from what you think! This week we unpack the first of the 9 Beatitudes - Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (Matt 5:3). Be prepared to let go of what you know, and rediscover what Jesus means. Message Notes 19/05/2024 Catch Up:  YouTube  ||  Spotify  || iTunes Introduction to the Sermon on the Mount Matt 5 (NIV): ​1 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them. The Beatitudes He said: 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "Beatitudes" comes from Latin beātitūdō (“happiness, blessedness”) and links to the 4th Century when Jerome translated the Greek scriptures into the Latin Vulgate. It doesn't speak of these being "beautiful attitudes", but rather, this is what happiness is according to Jesus. Sermon or Song on the Mount? Matthew never used the word "sermon" Sermon may lead one to anticipate rules prescriptions Sermons are often considered boring and not memorable Sermons are often listened to but seldom applied There is too much in these 100 verses to be contained in a single sermon This is most likely a collection of Jesus' most well-known teachings It could be thought of as a song of possibility - this is Jesus' vision of what humanity could be, living the kingdom way. It should be studied, slowly, asking questions and finding answers in community - finding revelation that leads to an application that leads to transformation! Mount is significant - there is an echo here: Jesus as a second Moses (think Siani and the 10 commandments in Exodus) - interpreting God's way of living to his people These are Descriptions, not Prescriptions Jesus is casting a vision of what living in the kingdom of heaven looks like… when someone is doing this, they resemble something of what it looks like to live in the Kingdom. They are not prescriptions that one must do to get to heaven one day! These are Perspectives, not Proclamations Most likely, the "Blessed" here is a subjective perspective, rather than a pronouncement or proclamation of blessing. In other words, Jesus is saying these people are blessed, because of some deeper truth that they have realized, rather than speaking a blessing upon them. The Greek word behind our English "Blessed" is Makarios. Jesus however would have spoken Aramaic or Hebrew. So, looking at the Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament, we find that the Hebrew word that gets translated as Makarios is ash'rêy אשרי. Blessed (ash'rêy אשרי) are those whose strength is in you, Psalms 84:5 The other Hebrew word that is translated as blessed in English is  bârûkh   בּרוך God blessed ( bârûkh   בּרוך ) them and said, “Be fruitful and increase in number… Genesis 1:22 Why does this matter? Jesus is pointing out that when people have got ahold of this truth, that is what the blessed life, the good life is. He is most likely not speaking a blessing over people who are in some undesirable position. "Poor in spirit" Jesus is not romanticizing poverty, and he is likely not speaking of the spiritually immature. Rather, he is speaking of those who are powerless and humble. Those who lack the power to do something about the situation they are in, thus they have realized their dependence is on God. People in this state, more easily receive this upside-down Kingdom. They are free from the lie that power and control will bring contentment. These people operate from humility  - they are not entitled and do not have a sense of pride or self-achievement. Their dependence is on God (everything comes from him), they recognize their dependence on others (community), and they realize a responsibility to help others. The Hebrew word behind the Greek word here is. “These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble (עָנִי ‘âniy)and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word. Isaiah 66:2 Kingdom of heaven It is not somewhere abstract out there, but arriving here (Matt 4:17). Not the tense: present. Theirs is the kingdom - now, here, today. Jesus is setting up a new community and showing how to live in this. We could paraphrase 5:3 like this: Happy are those who are free from a prideful spirit and are humble, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven, here and now, today! The good life looks like realizing complete dependence on God, and a freedom from striving for power and control. That's what living looks like. RECOMMEND RESOURCES TO GO DEEPER Sermon on the Mount: A Beginner's Guide to the Kingdom of Heaven by Amy-Jill Levine Jesus' Alternative Plan: The Sermon on the Mount Paperback by Richard Rohr O.F.M. The Bible Project: Sermon on the Mount Series

Almighty God We love you. You are our rock, our safe place, and our deliverer. We declare your goodness over our lives and our nation. Thank you, Lord, for our beautiful country. Our special nation is full of promise, diversity, and beauty. Would you bless South Africa Lord? Bless South Africa with Godly leadership, Bless South Africa with wise leaders Bless South Africa with Truth and Justice Bless South Africa with a beautiful future Bless South Africa with peace We trust you, Lord! Come and have your way in South Africa. In Jesus' name. Amen