First UnitedMethodist Churchof Baton Rouge

The Best Life (part 2): Moral ExcellenceSermon Notes • August 19, 2018

930 North Blvd, Baton Rouge, LA225.383.4777 • www.firstmethodist.org

The Gift & Limitations of the Law

Deuteronomy 4:8What other great nation has statutes and ordinances as just as this entire law that I am setting before you today?

Leviticus 23:22When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap to the very edges of your field, or gather the gleanings of your harvest; you shall leave them for the poor and for the alien: I am the Lord your God.

Limit 1—The Law Is a Means, Not an End

Pharisee››› A member of an ancient Jewish sect, distinguished by strict observance of the traditional and written law.

Mark 7:9-139 Then he said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition! 10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘Whoever speaks evil of father or mother must surely die.’ 11 But you say that if anyone tells father or mother, ‘Whatever support you might have had from me is Corban’ (that is, an offering to God)— 12 then you no longer permit doing anything for a father or mother, 13 thus making void the word of God through your tradition that you have handed on. And you do many things like this."

13 You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its

saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot. 14 You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. 15 No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. 17 Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. 19 Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

MATTHEW 5:13-20

SERMON MOUNTon thethe best life

First UnitedMethodist Churchof Baton Rouge

The Best Life (part 2): Moral ExcellenceSermon Notes • August 19, 2018

930 North Blvd, Baton Rouge, LA225.383.4777 • www.firstmethodist.org

The Gift & Limitations of the Law

Deuteronomy 4:8What other great nation has statutes and ordinances as just as this entire law that I am setting before you today?

Leviticus 23:22When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap to the very edges of your field, or gather the gleanings of your harvest; you shall leave them for the poor and for the alien: I am the Lord your God.

Limit 1—The Law Is a Means, Not an End

Pharisee››› A member of an ancient Jewish sect, distinguished by strict observance of the traditional and written law.

Mark 7:9-139 Then he said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition! 10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘Whoever speaks evil of father or mother must surely die.’ 11 But you say that if anyone tells father or mother, ‘Whatever support you might have had from me is Corban’ (that is, an offering to God)— 12 then you no longer permit doing anything for a father or mother, 13 thus making void the word of God through your tradition that you have handed on. And you do many things like this."

13 You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its

saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot. 14 You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. 15 No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. 17 Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. 19 Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

MATTHEW 5:13-20

SERMON MOUNTon thethe best life

First UnitedMethodist Churchof Baton Rouge

The Best Life (part 2): Moral ExcellenceSermon Notes • August 19, 2018

930 North Blvd, Baton Rouge, LA225.383.4777 • www.firstmethodist.org

The Gift & Limitations of the Law

Deuteronomy 4:8What other great nation has statutes and ordinances as just as this entire law that I am setting before you today?

Leviticus 23:22When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap to the very edges of your field, or gather the gleanings of your harvest; you shall leave them for the poor and for the alien: I am the Lord your God.

Limit 1—The Law Is a Means, Not an End

Pharisee››› A member of an ancient Jewish sect, distinguished by strict observance of the traditional and written law.

Mark 7:9-139 Then he said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition! 10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘Whoever speaks evil of father or mother must surely die.’ 11 But you say that if anyone tells father or mother, ‘Whatever support you might have had from me is Corban’ (that is, an offering to God)— 12 then you no longer permit doing anything for a father or mother, 13 thus making void the word of God through your tradition that you have handed on. And you do many things like this."

13 You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its

saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot. 14 You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. 15 No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. 17 Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. 19 Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

MATTHEW 5:13-20

SERMON MOUNTon thethe best life

THINKING CAPS, ENGAGE!

Do you agree that morality is important and our actions matter?

Is being morally good a goal of your life? Why or why not?

Has following Jesus made you more aware of your moral choices?

Can you think of a time you’ve intentionally done the right thing because Jesus is part of your life?

How are you inviting Jesus to be more at the center of your life?

PRAY: Holy God, you are a God who cares deeply about right and wrong. Not because you want to keep me from having a good time, or revel in wagging your finger like a unhappy parent, but because you love me and want what is best for me. Help me to see that what is morally good IS what is best. Help me to seek and invite intimacy with you. Live in and through me. Shine in and through me. Remake me in your holy and righteous image. Amen.

Matthew 23:23Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. It is these you ought to have practiced without neglecting the others.

Limit 2—The Law Can Only Point to the Right Thing, It Can’t Empower Us to Do the Right Thing.

Romans 7:17-20 (MSG)But I need something more! For if I know the law but still can’t keep it, and if the power of sin within me keeps sabotaging my best intentions, I obviously need help! I realize that I don’t have what it takes. I can will it, but I can’t do it. I decide to do good, but I don’t really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. My decisions, such as they are, don’t result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time.

Romans 8:3 (NIV)...the law is powerless...

Moral Excellence is A Fruit of Life with God

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 (RSV)9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither the immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor sexual perverts, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor robbers will inherit the kingdom of God.

Matthew 23:25-2625 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may become clean.

Romans 3:21-2221 But now, apart from law, the righteousness of God has been disclosed, and is attested by the law and the prophets, 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.

John 15:4Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me.

The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us.-C.S. LEWIS

THINKING CAPS, ENGAGE!

Do you agree that morality is important and our actions matter?

Is being morally good a goal of your life? Why or why not?

Has following Jesus made you more aware of your moral choices?

Can you think of a time you’ve intentionally done the right thing because Jesus is part of your life?

How are you inviting Jesus to be more at the center of your life?

PRAY: Holy God, you are a God who cares deeply about right and wrong. Not because you want to keep me from having a good time, or revel in wagging your finger like a unhappy parent, but because you love me and want what is best for me. Help me to see that what is morally good IS what is best. Help me to seek and invite intimacy with you. Live in and through me. Shine in and through me. Remake me in your holy and righteous image. Amen.

Matthew 23:23Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. It is these you ought to have practiced without neglecting the others.

Limit 2—The Law Can Only Point to the Right Thing, It Can’t Empower Us to Do the Right Thing.

Romans 7:17-20 (MSG)But I need something more! For if I know the law but still can’t keep it, and if the power of sin within me keeps sabotaging my best intentions, I obviously need help! I realize that I don’t have what it takes. I can will it, but I can’t do it. I decide to do good, but I don’t really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. My decisions, such as they are, don’t result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time.

Romans 8:3 (NIV)...the law is powerless...

Moral Excellence is A Fruit of Life with God

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 (RSV)9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither the immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor sexual perverts, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor robbers will inherit the kingdom of God.

Matthew 23:25-2625 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may become clean.

Romans 3:21-2221 But now, apart from law, the righteousness of God has been disclosed, and is attested by the law and the prophets, 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.

John 15:4Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me.

The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us.-C.S. LEWIS

THINKING CAPS, ENGAGE!

Do you agree that morality is important and our actions matter?

Is being morally good a goal of your life? Why or why not?

Has following Jesus made you more aware of your moral choices?

Can you think of a time you’ve intentionally done the right thing because Jesus is part of your life?

How are you inviting Jesus to be more at the center of your life?

PRAY: Holy God, you are a God who cares deeply about right and wrong. Not because you want to keep me from having a good time, or revel in wagging your finger like a unhappy parent, but because you love me and want what is best for me. Help me to see that what is morally good IS what is best. Help me to seek and invite intimacy with you. Live in and through me. Shine in and through me. Remake me in your holy and righteous image. Amen.

Matthew 23:23Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. It is these you ought to have practiced without neglecting the others.

Limit 2—The Law Can Only Point to the Right Thing, It Can’t Empower Us to Do the Right Thing.

Romans 7:17-20 (MSG)But I need something more! For if I know the law but still can’t keep it, and if the power of sin within me keeps sabotaging my best intentions, I obviously need help! I realize that I don’t have what it takes. I can will it, but I can’t do it. I decide to do good, but I don’t really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. My decisions, such as they are, don’t result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time.

Romans 8:3 (NIV)...the law is powerless...

Moral Excellence is A Fruit of Life with God

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 (RSV)9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither the immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor sexual perverts, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor robbers will inherit the kingdom of God.

Matthew 23:25-2625 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may become clean.

Romans 3:21-2221 But now, apart from law, the righteousness of God has been disclosed, and is attested by the law and the prophets, 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.

John 15:4Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me.

The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us.-C.S. LEWIS