| Preface |
2 |
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| Reprint Guidelines |
5 |
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| Table of Contents |
7 |
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| Abbreviations and References |
12 |
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| Introduction to the Sermon on the Mount |
13 |
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| What Is Righteousness? |
13 |
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| An Unattainable Ideal? |
13 |
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| Radical Alternative to Modern Values |
14 |
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| Christian Counter-Culture |
14 |
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| Pipe-Dream or Possibility? |
14 |
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| Form and Structure of the Sermon on the Mount |
15 |
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| The Synoptic Problem |
15 |
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| Differences in Words and Setting |
16 |
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| The Jesus Seminar |
17 |
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| But Are These Jesus' Actual Words? |
17 |
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| Is the Sermon on the Mount a Single Unit? |
18 |
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| Conclusion |
18 |
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| I. Kingdom Citizens (Matthew 5:1-16) |
20 |
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| 1. Paradoxical People: The Beatitudes (5:1-12) |
21 |
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| Blessed are the poor in spirit (5:3) |
22 |
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| Blessed |
22 |
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| Blessed are those who mourn (5:4) |
23 |
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| Blessed are the meek (5:5) |
24 |
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| Blessed are the hungry for righteousness (5:6) |
25 |
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| Blessed are the merciful (5:7) |
26 |
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| Blessed are the pure in heart (5:8) |
28 |
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| Blessed are the peacemakers (5:9) |
29 |
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| Blessed are those who are persecuted (5:10-12) |
29 |
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| Rejoicing in Persecution (5:12) |
30 |
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| Excursus 1: What Is the Kingdom of Heaven that Jesus Proclaims? |
33 |
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| Son of David, Messianic King |
33 |
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| Kingdom of Believers |
34 |
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| Kingdom of Heaven or Kingdom of God? |
34 |
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| References to the Kingdom in the Sermon on the Mount |
35 |
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| 2. Witnessing People: Living as Salt and Light in the World (5:13-16) |
36 |
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| Salty Christians (5:13a) |
37 |
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| Salt as a Preservative |
37 |
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| Salt as a Seasoning |
38 |
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| The light of the world (5:14-16) |
39 |
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| Evoking praise towards God (5:16) |
40 |
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| Words verse deeds |
41 |
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| A light to the nations |
41 |
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| Excursus 2: The Religion of the Pharisees |
43 |
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| Who Were the Pharisees? |
43 |
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| Historical Origins |
43 |
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| The Tradition of the Elders |
44 |
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| Jesus' Criticism of the Pharisees |
45 |
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| II. The Kingdom and the Spirit of the Law (5:17-48) |
46 |
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| 3. The Spirit of the Law and Reconciliation (5:17-26) |
47 |
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| Old verse New, Law verse Grace |
47 |
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| Not to Abolish but to Fulfill (5:17) |
48 |
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| Jots and Tittles (5:18) |
49 |
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| Practicing and Teaching (5:19) |
49 |
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| Surpassing the Pharisees' Righteousness (5:20) |
50 |
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| How Did Jesus Fulfill the Law? |
50 |
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| Civil Law |
51 |
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| Religious or Ceremonial Law |
51 |
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| Moral Law |
51 |
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| You have heard that it was said ... but I tell you ... |
53 |
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| Do Not Murder (5:21) |
53 |
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| Anger and Insult (5:22) |
53 |
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| Woe to You Hypocrites! |
54 |
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| The Fire of Hell (22c) |
55 |
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| The Cleansing Process |
55 |
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| First, go be reconciled to your brother (5:23-24) |
56 |
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| Is Reconciliation Always Possible? |
57 |
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| Settle matters quickly with your accuser (5:25-26) |
57 |
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| The Golden Center |
58 |
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| Excursus 3: Did Jesus Believe in Hell? |
60 |
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| 4. Adultery, Lust and the Spirit of Marriage (5:27-30) |
62 |
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| Legalistic Righteousness |
62 |
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| Lust in the Heart |
62 |
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| Natural Sexual Desire verse Lust |
63 |
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| Pornography, the "Victimless" Crime |
64 |
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| Cutting off Your Hand -- or Worse (5:29-30) |
66 |
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| Breaking Free from Lust and Lure |
67 |
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| Looking with Love |
68 |
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| Excursus 4: Homosexual Lust |
70 |
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| 5. The Spirit of Marriage. Jesus' Teaching on Divorce (5:27-32 with Matthew 19:1-12) |
72 |
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| Various Interpretations |
73 |
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| Challenge from the Pharisees (19:3) |
73 |
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| In the Beginning (19:4-6) |
74 |
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| What God Has Joined (19:6) |
75 |
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| Homosexuality |
75 |
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| Certificate of Divorce (19:7) |
76 |
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| Because of Your Hardness of Heart (19:8) |
76 |
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| Love is the Fulfilling of the Law |
77 |
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| But I Tell You .... (19:9) |
78 |
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| Better Not to Marry (19:10-11) |
78 |
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| Eunuchs for the Kingdom of Heaven (19:12) |
79 |
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| Except for Marital Unfaithfulness ... (19:9) |
80 |
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| An Exception for Desertion? |
81 |
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| Application of the Principle |
82 |
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| Practical Considerations |
82 |
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| 6. The Spirit of Truthfulness and Love (5:33-48) |
86 |
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| Oath Taking in the Old Testament |
86 |
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| Occasions for Oaths |
87 |
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| Pharisees' Perversion of Oaths |
87 |
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| Don't Swear at All (5:34) |
88 |
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| Let Your "Yes" Mean "Yes" (5:37a) |
88 |
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| More Than This Comes from the Evil One (5:37b) |
88 |
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| Practical Application |
89 |
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| Refuse to Take an Oath? |
89 |
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| The Spirit of Love verse Retaliation (5:38-48) |
91 |
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| An Eye for an Eye (5:38) |
92 |
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| 1. Restraint |
92 |
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| 2. Judicial Administration |
93 |
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| Pharisees' Interpretation |
94 |
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| Personal Non-Retaliation (5:39-42) |
94 |
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| Cameos (5:39-42) |
94 |
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| Overcoming Evil with Good |
96 |
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| Christian Pacifism |
97 |
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| Be Perfect (5:48) |
99 |
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| Excursus 5: Loving Your Enemies Case Study: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. |
101 |
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| III. Piety in the Kingdom (6:1-18) |
103 |
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| 7. Giving, Prayer, and Fasting (6:1-8, 16-18) |
104 |
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| Care for the Poor in Judaism |
105 |
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| Attitudes Toward the Poor |
106 |
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| The Root of Pride (6:1) |
107 |
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| The Audience of One (6:3-4) |
107 |
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| Trumpeting Our Piety (6:2-3) |
108 |
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| Pride, the Universal Temptation |
108 |
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| Secret Prayer (6:5-6) |
110 |
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| Prayer in Few Words (6:7) |
111 |
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| Why Pray at All? (6:8) |
112 |
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| Fasting (6:16-18) |
113 |
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| Excursus 6. Verses on How God Looks at the Poor |
115 |
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| 8. The Lord's Prayer (6:9-15) |
117 |
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| Salutation (6:9) |
118 |
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| Who Art in Heaven (6:9) |
119 |
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| Petition 1: That His Name Be Reverenced (6:9c) |
119 |
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| Petitions 2 and 3: For His Kingdom and Will (6:10) |
120 |
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| Petition 4: For Daily Needs (6:11) |
121 |
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| Petition 5: Forgiveness (6:12, 14-15) |
123 |
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| Petitions 6 and 7: Help When Tempted (6:13) |
126 |
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| A Doxology (6:13c) |
127 |
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| The Disciples' Prayer |
127 |
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| IV. Materialism and the Kingdom (6:19-34) |
129 |
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| 9. Temptation to Idolatry (6:19-24) |
130 |
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| Storing Up Treasures (6:19-20) |
130 |
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| Treasures in Heaven (6:20) |
132 |
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| Your Heart Is the Key to Your Real Treasure (6:21) |
133 |
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| The Window of the Soul (6:22-23) |
134 |
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| A Tug-of-War Between Two Masters (6:24) |
134 |
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| Serving Money |
136 |
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| The Story of the Rich Young Ruler |
136 |
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| Where Is Your Heart? |
137 |
|
| 10. Temptation to Worry (6:25-34) |
139 |
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| Anatomy of Anxiety |
140 |
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| Illustrations of the Father's Care (6:26, 28-30, 32) |
140 |
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| What Worry Can't Do (6:27) |
141 |
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| Worry Is Sin (6:30-32) |
141 |
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| Seeking God (6:32-33) |
143 |
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| Seek God First and Foremost (6:33) |
143 |
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| Seeking God's Kingdom and Righteousness (6:33) |
144 |
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| All these things will be given to you as well (6:33b) |
145 |
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| Labor Still Needed |
145 |
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| Watchcare Still Needed |
145 |
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| Tomorrow Will Worry about Itself (6:34) |
146 |
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| V. Discernment in the Kingdom (7:1-29) |
148 |
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| 11. Judging Self and Others (7:1-6) |
149 |
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| Judge Not (7:1) |
149 |
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| Projection and Censoriousness |
150 |
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| Healing and Restoration |
152 |
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| The Measure You Use (7:1b-2) |
152 |
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| Judgment Day for Christians |
153 |
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| Sawdust Specks and Timber Beams (7:3-5) |
153 |
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| Pigs and Dogs (7:6) |
154 |
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| 12. Asking in Faith (7:7-12) |
157 |
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| Ask (7:7-8) |
157 |
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| Seek (7:7-8) |
159 |
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| Knock (7:7-8) |
160 |
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| Continuous Action (7:7) |
161 |
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| Parables of Persistence (Luke 11:5-10 and 18:1-6) |
161 |
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| Persistence and Faith |
162 |
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| Faith in God's Goodness (7:9-11) |
162 |
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| The Golden Rule (7:12) |
163 |
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| 13. Enter the Narrow Gate (7:13-29) |
166 |
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| The Small Gate and the Narrow Way (7:13-14) |
167 |
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| Leads to Destruction (7:13) |
168 |
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| Watch out for false prophets (7:15-20) |
169 |
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| Bad fruit |
170 |
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| Inedible Fruit |
170 |
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| Accountability |
171 |
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| Obedient followers verse mere professors (7:21-23) |
172 |
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| Self-Deception |
173 |
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| Faith and works |
174 |
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| False assurance |
174 |
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| The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Builders (7:24-27) |
175 |
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| As one who had authority (7:28-29) |
176 |
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| Appendices |
178 |
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| Appendix 1. Question Handouts for Group Participants |
178 |
|
| 1. The Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12) |
179 |
|
| 2. Witnessing People: Living as Salt and Light in the World (Matthew 5:13-16) |
180 |
|
| 3. The Spirit of the Law and Reconciliation (Matthew 5:17-26) |
181 |
|
| 4. Adultery, Lust and the Spirit of Marriage (Matthew 5:27-30) |
182 |
|
| 5. The Spirit of Marriage. Jesus' Teaching on Divorce (Matthew 5:27-32,19:1-12) |
183 |
|
| 6. The Spirit of Truthfulness and Love (Matthew 5:33-48) |
184 |
|
| 7. Giving, Prayer, and Fasting (Matthew 6:1-8, 16-18) |
185 |
|
| 8. The Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9-15) |
186 |
|
| 9. Temptation to Idolatry (Matthew 6:19-24) |
187 |
|
| 10. Temptation to Worry (Matthew 6:25-34) |
188 |
|
| 11. Judging Self and Others (Matthew 7:1-6) |
189 |
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| 12. Asking in Faith (Matthew 7:7-12) |
190 |
|
| 13. Enter the Narrow Gate (Matthew 7:13-29) |
191 |
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| Appendix 2. Songs and Hymns Based on the Sermon on the Mount and Related Themes |
192 |
|
| Appendix 3. Inductive Bible Study Questions for the Sermon on the Mount (online download) |
198 |
|
| Appendix 4. Readers Theater Scripts for the Sermon on the Mount (online download) |
199 |
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