1.NOTICE WHAT THE PEOPLE/FOLLOWERS OF JESUS ARE BECOMING:

•   Salvation
•   We are filled with the Holy Spirit. “The poor in Spirit” = humbled. “I am a sinner.”
•   Repentance = we mourn over what we have done.
•   Spirit-filled change
•   Meekness = strength and purpose under control. The control of who?
•   Hunger for righteousness = an unnatural, supernatural desire to serve the Lord.
•   Merciful = I needed it, and I give it. We are grace givers in our relationships with others.
•   A pure heart in my motives; a sense of innocence.
•   Peace makers, reconcilers

Matthew 5:1–16 1Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2and he began to teach them. He said: 3“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 6Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 7Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 8Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 9Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

THE LAST ONE: PERSECUTION IS THE RESULT OF FOLLOWING CHRISTS, AND THERE ARE DIFFERENT KINDS OF PERSECUTION.

Matthew 5:10-12 10Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

2. NOW TO THE FAMILIAR PASSAGE: SALT AND LIGHT

•   Notice that these kind of people are amazingly different.
•   Some of us think that if we were like this, we would be loved.
•   Sometimes this leads to open doors, but we forget that some hate the light.

Matthew 5:13-16 13You 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. 14You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither 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. 16In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

John 3:19–21 19This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.

2 Timothy 3:10–14 10You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, 11persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. 12In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it,

 3. JESUS’ DESIRE FOR HIS DISCIPLES: SALT AND LIGHT

• We are called to be salt.
  •  Brings flavor, preserves, and creates thirst for more
•   We are called to be light.
  •   Illuminates, represents the truth versus darkness/lies
  •   Illuminates not only our own steps but also those of others—lights up the whole room
  •   A city ( a collection of lights)

4. THE BOTTOM LINE:

•   Jesus is saying we are to be different through our good deeds and behaviors .
•   We have a different purpose: to bring glory to God. (See Matthew 5:16)
•   We will need to be steadfast, faithful, and courageous.
•   So many are not dealing with persecution because…
  •   They don’t look differently. They were not taught they were supposed to look differently.
  •   They go “underground.” They try to fit in with the culture.
  •   They get intentionally offensive in the wrong ways.

John 17:14–19 14I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 18As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.

John 12:42–43 42Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; 43for they loved human praise more than praise from God.

WHAT SHOULD LIVING DIFFERENTLY LOOK LIKE?

1. Live out a winsome, righteously loving life.
2. Look for opportunities to bring glory to Jesus (not your favorite politician).
3. When you speak, humbly share your faith.
4. When you share the truth, make sure they know you love them even though you disagree.
5. Put parameters around your life and family—behaviors and priorities that make you different.

QUESTIONS TO DISCUSS IN LIFE GROUP OR WITH YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS:

Passages to consider: Matthew 5:1-20

1. What passage or principle from the sermon is God using to strengthen your understanding of who He is and your relationship with Him?
2. Read Matthew 5:1-20. Who is Jesus talking to? What does He want people to understand?
3. What thought process is He challenging with His teaching?
4. What belief or behavior in your life is being challenged?
5. How will you respond to what God is showing you about Himself and you?