Matthew and the Sermon on the Mount - Study Plan

The Sermon on the Mount

To begin this study of the Sermon on the Mount, the first passage of which brings us to the Beatitudes, we are first of all going to get a picture of the Sermon and introduction to the Book of Matthew - the setting in which Jesus’ is speaking. These studies, it is hoped, will be of benefit, accessible, to anyone no matter one’s experience with the Bible or studying it. Therefore, we are going to go in stages, one passage and one task at a time.

This study is going to run in three main stages, I think.

1 - Having selected a passage, the first stage will be to read it and to get an overview of the whole passage. In this case, we’re going to look at the first four chapters of Matthew. We will do this individually, of course, and as you read it for a survey of the passage, take some notes as to its structure or make-up. That is, don’t worry about noting much of what’s being said and it’s meaning, but rather, give yourself a summary picture of what the passage covers. An example might be, Chapter 1 – Genealogy of Jesus, from Abraham to Jesus. Chapter 2 – two main sections, Section 1 – etc., Section 2, etc. You could also note things like the genealogy focusing on Abraham, David and the Exile. Whilst you can certainly bear things in mind and be thinking, don’t worry about noting all your thoughts down immediately here. The point is to get an overview of the passage in question. It might be recommended that you read the passage at least two or three times to make sure you’re becoming familiar with it.

2 - The second stage is closely related to the first. This will be where we get and give first impressions and understanding as we move through the passages. It’s where we share thoughts that we’ve had. Obviously, this will require some thinking! So the focus in this stage is on interacting with the text more deeply. Take a look at what’s being said. Ask some questions of the passage – What does this mean? What has the author focused on here? Does he keep repeating anything? Why has he said this? That might be the most important question to ask. It might seem silly at first but what we have to remember is that no part of the Bible was written randomly. Sometimes it might seem random, or the order might not be clear, but these books, including Matthew’s Gospel, were written by an author who had a purpose in mind. They were put together with reason and thought, and often, a particular audience in mind. So when we come to a book of the Bible, it’s actually a good thing to ask oneself why a given passage or verse is included and what it is saying.

Some of your questions might resolve themselves, others might remain unanswered, but don’t worry. At this point the main thing is to begin interacting with the text. It’s amazing what God can reveal and what you can find when you start digging into Scripture a little bit, beyond just a reading of it. So, bearing in mind that we can expect to find things, get looking, read more deeply and note what you find! Don’t forget to ask God for assistance and to reveal things to/teach you. Then once you have some thoughts on the passage, we’re going to come back together and share those. Maybe discuss them briefly or answer some questions; see if we can’t start building something.

3 - The last stage of the process for the passage will be the outside stage or further digging stage. It’s where, having started to construct some understanding of the passage, we will go off and go to some outside resources to see what we can find. These will be allocated, and we’ll all have our tasks to do. Then, sharing the information we’ve found, we’ll have a look at it all, and see what’s of value and what might there is to consider. Also, and this is important, even aside from the outside sources this is where we can further consider what the passage is saying, and what we think of that, and what it might mean for us. There will be a chance to ask some questions and clarify anything that’s not been easy to understand and hopefully we’ll come to some conclusions, have found some new truth, and in the end, come somewhat closer to God and our knowledge of Him.

So that’s basically the plan for the study. Before we get going it would be good if everyone can get back to me to let me know this makes sense and doesn’t seem too hard or if you have any ideas or suggestions we can take a look at those.

Oh, and that reminds me. With regards to the time frame, I was thinking of doing a stage a week, and possibly doing stages one and two as a single stage. So, that would mean that in the first week we would read the passage, make a summary and then have a think about the passage, afterward sharing our thoughts. In the second week we would go to the outside sources (stage three). Alternatively, we could keep stages one and two separate meaning we would simply read and summarise the passage in the first week, sharing summaries and initial thoughts/reactions, and then in the second week do the initial deeper digging (sharing those results), before moving on to the outside sources in the third week.

Let me know your preference, thoughts or opinions. Once everyone is happy, we can begin.

God bless,

Galant.

The Heart of the Study

Alright, welcome to the Bible study! Below you’ll find a little on how the study will progress – God willing. Here though is a look at the heart of the study for those who are going to participate or are interested in doing so. If you would like to join in, drop me an email or leave me a comment and I’ll get back to you.

Read on!

The Heart of the Study

Knowing God and loving Him, that is what this is all about. Knowing God and loving Him and doing it as best we can - and better and better as we go on. For me, Bible study is treasure hunting. God has a treasury of truth and life in His word, amazing truths that will last for eternity and bring transformation even now. However, to get to that treasure we have to dig. That is the task He has given us, and it is the digging that we find strength and health just as the truths we find bring us closer to Him, to Love and Life Himself.

It’s such an astounding thing to read and study God’s word and have Him speak; to learn from God, from His word, and to grow in truth and love and eternal life. Jesus said, in John’s Gospel (15:1-3), “…And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” To think that just by spending some time with God, reading and studying the Scripture He has provided for us, I can come to know the Almighty God, to know Him, to find that He loves me, and to learn that I can love Him, know Him more and more without end, and even serve Him, is amazing! If anyone has ever read Ecclesiastes and resonated with it, or if you don’t know what that is but have wondered what’s the point of it all, this is, I believe, the answer to that question. I believe it body and soul; He loves me, and I love what He has said and what He has planned, and thus, I find in fact, I love Him.

As far as this study is concerned, I’m convinced that Christians being together matters. Not only that, but that Christians should be so in every way we can - to talk, to discuss, to celebrate, to praise, to mourn, to worship, to help, to love, and to learn. Is strongly believe the time of isolationist Christianity is coming to an end - if for no other reason than it’s impossible to love if you’re by yourself; and love is what I believe God has been and is going to be teaching us, and more and more as time progresses. Loving God, and loving others, and loving God with others are what this is all about. The thing is, loving can’t be done without knowing. It’s inevitable. If you start by loving, even someone you don’t know, you will end by knowing. If you start by knowing, with God, you will end up with loving, and then His love, will fill you and lead you to view others so differently, you’ll end up loving them too. And guess what, that will lead to knowing. To know God is to love Him, and to love Him is to get to know Him more and more.

That’s something that has been new life to me recently; the recognition, or remembrance that each day my focus, my goal, is simply to know God more and in doing so I will love Him. And this can be done by going to His word and by being with Him and praying. As Christians, we often pray because, “Well, I’m supposed to…it’s being spiritual!” We also often read the Bible for those reasons. It’s easy to begin to think that way, but instead, the truth is that the Bible and prayer are tools for building our relationship with God - by them we know God better. Imagine reading a love letter without thinking of the person who wrote it or responding to them. Without Him, prayer and the Bible are nothing. Without Him you may as well go read other books, and talk with other people. However, with God, they are a means to me knowing Him, and loving Him, and pleasing Him, and enjoying Him. That’s where our hearts need to be in this – focused on knowing Him. If we can keep them there, with His help, then all else follows.

As Oswald Chambers’ writing often reminds us, being a Christian isn’t about commitment to a religious viewpoint, a set of belief or doctrines, or a name, but rather a Personal Being. Being a Christian is about trusting in Christ and following Him. Never let us pursue anything if it leads us to leave behind the Person, and in all of these studies, may we only ever pursue them with His company and guidance.

G.