The Italian Memorandum

“The world is too much with us; late and soon,

Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers…

We have given our hearts away, a sordid boon!”

(Wordsworth, The World is Too Much with Us)

Introduction: How will recovering the doctrine of the kingdom with power help us today? (see Matthew 6:13).

1. Settling the issue of ________________

2. Settling the issue of _________________

3. Settling the issue of _________________

Conclusion: “Power is always necessary to bring unity and order to a community” (Reinhold Niebuhr). Romans 1:16 remains relevant! Ephesians 3:20 will only be overlooked to the detriment of one’s soul.

controversy, n. [L. controversia, from controversus, turned in an opposite

direction; contra, against, and versus, to turn] 3. a discussion of a question in

which opposing opinions clash

“…the LORD has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land…”

(Hosea 4:1)

Introduction: There is controversy about the kingdom of heaven.

The Gospel of Matthew makes this explicit (esp. Matthew 1-7).

1. Matthew 1

2. Matthew 2

3. Matthew 3

4. Matthew 4

5. Matthew 5-7

Conclusion: Jesus is still at the center of a controversy because his kingdom is a controversial kingdom. Now, where do you stand in this controversy?

“…your own eye…your own eye…your own eye…”

(Matthew 7:3,4,5)

Introduction: Jesus wants to instill a difference by teaching (not robotics, Matt. 5:1). Matthew 7 concentrates on living with that difference in your life.

I. Review –

A. Ch. 5 ________________________________

B. Ch. 6 ________________________________

II. Now, Ch. 7 ________________________________

A. The importance of 21:43 (Rom. 11:26-27)

B. Emphasis on the Difference –

1. A personal difference 7:3,4,5

2. A rewarded difference 7:7-11

3. A vast difference 7:13-14

4. A recognizable difference 7:15-23

5. A measurable difference 7:24-27

Conclusion: “Why bother?” [A modern question!] Most won’t (see 7:13-14). Will you (8:1)?

(Matthew Ch. 6)

“And your Father who sees in secret will reward you”

                                                (Matthew 6:4,6,18)

Introduction:    In Matthew 5, Jesus spoke of making one’s religion public to glorify the Father (see esp. vv. 13-16).  Now, in chapter 6, he will emphasize hidden discipleship.

I.                   Three hidden devotions –

                   A.            6:1-4                 ____________________

                   B.            6:5-15               _____________________

                   C.            6:16-18             _____________________

II.                Three misdirected devotions –

             A.      6:19-21       ______________________

             B.      6:22-23       ______________________

             C.      6:24            ______________________

III.             How can this be?   (6:25-34)

 

Conclusion:    This chapter will be rejected by the merely curious, but embraced by the more consecrated, seekers of the kingdom of heaven.

“Seeing the crowds he went up on the mountain…”

                                                                                                (Mathew 5:1)

Introduction:  We will be emphasizing the blessedness of the ordinary in Matthew 5.  There is a wonderful tension in Matthew 5 which exposes the ordinary with the extraordinary.

I.                   5:1-2      __________________________

 

II.                5:3-12      __________________________

 

III.             5:13-20      __________________________

 

IV.              5:21-48      __________________________

 

  Conclusion:    The Lord longs to confer blessings.  He is the God who blesses.  But, only those who are seekers will appreciate what he has done; what he is doing; and, what he shall do hereafter.  Are you one of his today?

“Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven…”

                                (Matthew 5:12)

Introduction:    It is always a delight to return to the Great Galilean Ministry of Jesus, and his Sermon on the Mount.  Notice that Jesus does not endorse the Gothic, but  he endorses gladness.

I.                   A brief phrase – a dominant ________________ (5:12).

II.                We need to hear this again…

A.    this __________________

B.    this __________________

C.    this __________________

D.    this __________________

Conclusion:    How are you being?  Are you more defined by the brightness of light or the bitterness of darkness; by cheer or by drear?  The Galilean campaign would eventually collapse because Jesus would not conform to popular messianic expectations.  Jesus always evokes commitment or collapse. 

“…I have heard your prayers;
I have seen your tears…”

(2 Kings 20:5)

Introduction:   We will honor mothers today, and speak of the chemistry of a mother’s tear.

I.   Science of a mother’s tear

II. Stories of a mother’s tear

A.   See 1 Samuel 1 –
Hannah’s tears were tears for ______________

B.   See Ruth –
Naomi’s tears were tears for _______________

C.   See John 19:25-27 (Luke 23:26-31; 44-49)–
[Mary, the mother of Jesus, and a mother’s tear]
______________________________________

Conclusion:   “Grace was in all her steps, Heaven in her eye, In every gesture dignity and love” (Milton). Have you given the Lord your tears yet; your fears; and all your years (Ps. 56:8)? “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy” (Ps. 126:5).

“Ask the Lord for rain in the springtime…He gives showers of rain to men”

(Zechariah 10:1)

Introduction: What about singtime in Palestine?

I. Prophecies of a future/glorious springtime –

A. Song of Solomon 2:10-12
B. Isaiah 35:1-2
C. Zechariah (c. 520 B.C.)-

1. “On that day…”= ____________________
2. 1:7 – Shebat (the 11th month) = FebruaryThis makes _______________________
he Jewish religious New Year.
3. 13:1 – esp. regarding cleansing from _____

II. Springtime and the Life of Christ –

A. John

1. 11:53-12:1
2. 12:12-23 (compare 7:6,8)

B. Take Home Lessons –

1. The ____________was fulfilled in spring.
2. Rain is a ___________, without which there would be little or no harvest (see Acts 2:1)
3. Do you live with a theology of Springtime?

Conclusion: “Hard is the heart that loveth nought / In May” (Chaucer).  Isn’t it time to realize the spring (Eccl. 3:1-8)?

“The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold,
and the Lord tests hearts”

(Proverbs 17:3)

Introduction: What is this gold standard?

I. Why does Moses speak of gold in Genesis 2:10-12?

II. Why does the Bible end with gold in Revelation 21:15,18?

III. The Gold Standard reveals ______ ______ ______

Conclusion: When you and I have gone the last mile of the way, and it’s the end of the day, will you be able to say, I have given the Lord my best (Prov. 17:30)?

“…the Lamb at the center…”

(Revelation 7:17, NRSV)

Introduction: Judas missed the Christian center (mesos, Rev. 7:17) by his own egocentric lifestyle.

I. The “Center” in Scripture

A. Genesis 2:9 – The center is about ___________ .

B. Daniel 4:10 – The center is about ___________.

C. Revelation 7:17 – The center is about ________.

II. Egocentric Judas (5 observations)

A. Judas was a ________________.

B. Judas was a ________________.

C. Judas was a ________________.

D. Judas was in _______________.

E. Judas’ center could not hold (Acts 1:16-20)

Conclusion: Does your center hold? (The Second Coming, W.B. Yeats—“the center cannot hold”). The center will heave yet once more. Is the Lord your center today?