First United Methodist Church of Orange Texas Sermons

First United Methodist Church
502 Sixth Street; Orange, TX 77630

1. Sermon Series Planned for June 7th through August 2009

Life Lessons from Jesus; “The Sermon on the Mount”; Matthew 5-7

Recently, I preached a sermon from Matthew 6:25-34; a very famous part of Matthew’s very notable Sermon on the Mount. As I reflected on that marvelous scripture for that message, I was intrigued to try something that I’ve secretly wanted to do for a while—preach a series of sermons on Matthew’s Sermon on the Mount. So the secret becomes reality on June 7. The series will run from June through August.

This is no small undertaking for the Sermon on the Mount is a very concentrated, concentric teaching from our Lord Jesus Christ. It contains some of the most challenging teachings we Christians can take on. I decided early on in the planning process that the messages would be simple, as the teachings are simple. This is not to confuse simple with easy—far from it. We will all be challenged and tried by these teachings yet we will all become stronger and better Christians if we heed what they teach us.

There is a duality to the teachings of the Sermon on the Mount. They are meant for us as the Church — to model for the world, to witness to our brothers and sisters as the Body of Christ. Yet they are also for us as individual persons of faith to remake us and teach us God’s will and way for our lives as lived under the authority of Jesus Christ. These are not scriptures designed to help us “meet our spiritual needs” as so many today are fond of saying. These are lessons from our Savior and Lord to help us live as his Disciples; to transform a world crying out for help. These are lessons designed to remold ourselves first so we can make Jesus manifest in all that we do and say.

Each sermon will have a one word title that will best reflect the message and intent of the teaching it is taken from. Most of the sermons will only cover a few verses at a time. This is concentrated, powerful stuff. If you bite off more that a bit at a time, you will miss the flavor, content and intent of the teaching. When I was about 8, I discovered Delaware Punch. My mother bought it in concentrate form, and we mixed it up, pitcher by pitcher. One afternoon I decided that if a glass of Delaware Punch was good, a glass of concentrate must be better. What an awful experience that turned out to be. So it is with the Sermon on the Mount. A little goes a long way.

I hope that you will begin reading through Matthew 5-7. Reflect upon the directions given to you by Jesus. Ask yourself how can I follow this teaching. And come to worship each Sunday as we dig into the Life Lessons from Jesus. Click here to hear a reading of Matthew 5-7

Blessings,

Rev. Tom Stephenson

2. Stewardship Message by Rev. Tom Stephenson

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