Thank you for taking the time to read the Weekend Sermon. I thank the Lord for giving me the opportunity to post the sermon each week. I hope that everyone is having a very good week.
It was my birthday this week, and I went out to dinner with my brother. Writing is good this week, and I thank the Lord for that. We were supposed to have a lot of rain this week, but we didn't get much. It is getting very dry, and we could use a little rain. However, we don't want too much.
As you go to prayer this week, please pray for those in Texas facing the flooding. Some parts of that state have received way too much rain.
Continue to pray for peace in the places in this world where there is war and trouble. Syria, Libya, Yemen and Afghanistan need our prayers.
For out prayer focus countries this week, let us all pray for those in Israel and Gambia. Pray that many will hear about the love of Jesus.
Please pray for the children who have been separated from their parents due to the policies of the United States government. All the children need to be reunited with their parents immediately.
One a sad note, I heard yesterday that Koko the gorilla who knew how to use sign language passed away. I saw a couple of programs about Koko on PBS over the years, and I feel bad that she is gone. Pray for those who took care of Koko as they face this time of sadness.
Over the last few weeks, we have been in a series of messages called "Who is Jesus?" Today, I want to focus on the fact that Jesus was a great moral teacher.
Now, before anyone gets the notion that I am saying that Jesus was just a good teacher, let me point your attention to the messages I've posted previously in the series where I discussed the divinity of Jesus.
I think that I can say without fear of contradiction that even those who are not followers of Jesus or the Christian faith recognize the fact that Jesus was a great teacher of moral values. Those of us who know Jesus as Savior and Lord recognize the fact that one of the reasons that Jesus came to this earth was to demonstrate for us the way that we should conduct ourselves while we are in this world. Jesus lived a holy and sinless life as our perfect example.
The major moral teachings of Jesus can be found in Matthew chapters 5-7. This section of Scripture is known as the Sermon on the Mount. Another large body of Jesus' moral teachings can be found in Luke 6 which is often referred to as the Sermon on the Plain. It is very similar to the teachings found in the Sermon on the Mount.
Jesus' moral teachings are very radical. They were considered to be quite outside the norm for the day in which Jesus lived. Jesus taught that we are to love our enemies and do good to those who do wrong to us. This is at odds with the system of this world that says we are to hate our enemies and retaliate against those who try to hurt us. Jesus taught us to turn the other check. He ended the practice of an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.
Jesus taught the Golden Rule that tells us that we are to do unto others as we would have done unto us. He also gave a new commandment to all of His disciples telling them to love another just as He had loved them.
In another passage, Jesus would summarize the entire moral law in just two commandment. Jesus said that we are to love the Lord with all our heart, mind, soul and strength. We are to love our neighbors as ourselves. Jesus said that all of the Law and Prophets center around these two commandments.
Love is at the heart of the moral teaching of Jesus. We are to be filled with the love of Jesus. We are to be so filled with the awareness of Jesus' love that it causes us to want to do all that we can to please the Lord Jesus. If we are filled with the love of Jesus, and if we truly love Jesus, we will want to obey Him and do those things that He has called us to do. We do this not because we fear retribution if we fail to do them. We follow and obey Jesus because we love Him and want to please Him and make Him happy.
When we are filled with the love of Jesus, we are able to love others and treat them the way that Jesus would treat them if He was here on this earth right now. The love of Jesus compels us to help others and do all that we can to make this world a better place. The love of Jesus allows us to be compassionate people who help to heal the brokenhearted and those that feel as if they have been left behind.
Jesus in His moral teaching taught the way of non-violence and peace. Those who are His followers are not to seek violence as the solution. Love and justice are the solutions to this world's problems according to the Lord Jesus. He taught us to do good to others even when we do not receive what is good in return. Jesus taught the love will ultimately win in the end, and we are to be on the side of love, mercy and forgiveness.
In His moral teaching, Jesus taught that everyone is valuable in the sight of God. While others in Jesus' day excluded people from the ability to have a relationship with God, Jesus said that all where welcome to come to Him. He said that He would not cast aside any person who wanted to come to Him and know His love.
Love is at the core of the moral teachings of Jesus. When we act in love and love others, we are doing what Jesus taught us to do. When we think about helping others out of love, we are obeying the teachings of Jesus.
I hope that all of us will grow to love Jesus so much that we will let His love flow from us into a world where there is so much pain and sorrow. Only the way of Jesus and His love will change the world. Let us all be part of that change.
Next week, we will continue with our series about Jesus. On Monday, I will post the verses for the week. On Wednesday, there will be a review or a poem. May God bless you all. Amen.
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