CITIZENS OF THE KINGDOM

KINGDOM LIFE. KINGDOM INFLUENCE.

THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT

BIBLE S TUDY JOURNAL
Sermon on the Mount by Carl Bloch (1877)
1
Introduction ....................................................................................................3

How to use this BIBLE STUDY JOURNAL .........................................................4

Week 1: The King of the Kingdom (overview) .............................................................5

Week 1: Sermon Notes .............................................................................................6
Week 1: Daily Inductive Devotionals ..........................................................................7
Week 1: Life Connections Group Bible Study ............................................................16

2
 INTRODUCTION
Many believe the Sermon on the Mount to be the greatest sermon ever delivered by the
greatest preacher who ever lived. St. Augustine was the first to attach this title to the long
discourse of Jesus, contained in Matthew 5-7. Over the centuries, preachers, teachers,
scholars, and just plain ordinary people, like us, have found these three chapters in
Matthew’s Gospel a treasure chest of Jesus’ teachings. Even non-Christians have praised the
sermon. Mahatma Ghandi said of the sermon, “It went straight to my heart.” And, of course,
that is the point of Jesus’ words and teachings, especially in this passage. Jesus’ instructions
to the disciples on that day, and to us this day, are intended to penetrate deep into the heart
of our existence and transform every space of our souls and living.

The odd thing is, people rarely study it as a whole. The sermon is so rich with spiritual
diamonds, that preachers and teachers have mined it for its individual nuggets. Within the
sermon are famous passages and sayings that many believers know by heart: the Beatitudes;
the challenge to be the “light of the world” and the “salt of the earth”; the Lord’s Prayer; the
lilies of the field and the birds of the air; seek first the Kingdom; the wise man who built his
house upon the rock. These are some of the very familiar stories and teachings in the
Sermon on the Mount, and they are best explored as parts of a whole. They were taught by
Jesus, at one moment in time on a Galilean hillside, where a crowd had followed him, and
with his disciples leaning in at his feet. Imagine that! It is a captivating sermon.

In this sermon, Jesus teaches his disciples what it means to live as a citizen in God’s
kingdom. It is not a list of rules, but it does present his kingdom ethic. It’s much more than
do’s and don’ts, but Jesus clarifies what is right and wrong, and where right and wrong are
birthed — in the heart. It’s Jesus’ first and supreme lesson on discipleship.

And this will be our focus: discovering what it means and how to live as Jesus’s disciples,
ruled in the heart by the Father’s kingdom principles. I am excited and filled with joyful
anticipation as we begin this journey together through The Sermon on Mount, and discover
who we are and how we live together as “Citizens of the Kingdom.”

David Crim
Senior Pastor, IBCM
March 2020

3
H OW T O U S E T H I S B I B L E S T U DY J O U R N A L

This journal consists of three parts: five daily inductive devotional pages for each week’s study; journal
pages for you to take sermon notes; and a Life Connection Home Bible Study discussion guide to be use
in your homes. The purpose of the journal is also three-fold: to serve as your guide through the study; to
help you learn in such a way that you can internalize what you learn in your heart and life, share what
you’ve learned with others, and to learn from others; and to become a “keepsake” of God’s truth that you
can return to in the future.

Here’s the path we will take, with our Bibles and journals in hand.
On the first Sunday (March 22), via a live-stream worship on our FaceBook page, Pastor David will
deliver a sermon that will introduce the Sermon on the Mount. The Sermon Notes page will help you
organize your thoughts and record your reflections. Next, during the week, we will work individually or
as families, through five Daily Inductive Devotional1 pages. These pages will look forward to the next
sermon passage and related themes. They will lead you to explore supplementary and complimentary
Scriptures that will help you internalize the spiritual truths, and develop a strategy of personal obedience.
Remember, we are learning to be Jesus’ disciples; and disciples obey their Master. Some may choose the
option of having a Skype, FaceBook, Zoom, or FaceTime virtual study, using the self-guided Life
Connections Group Bible Study (which follows the five-day devotional study). Groups can do this together
anytime after Day 5 and before the next sermon. The Life Connections Group Bible Study will provide a
path for us to share what God has taught us in the Word during our personal devotional times, learn from
each other’s discoveries, and celebrate and encourage each other’s strategies of obedience. It will be
important that each of these resources are used in concert with prayer, and led by the Holy Spirit.

Using these resources, led by the Spirit, is where the truths will really be crystalized in our minds and
formed in our hearts. Just wait and see what God does. It will be exciting!

So, to summarize, the path will be:

• Live-stream worship and sermon (Sunday morning at 10:30 a.m.)
• Daily devotionals (Monday thru Friday)
• Self-guided Life Connections Home Bible study (Saturday evening, or anytime between Day 5
Devotional and Sunday worship)

1The “Daily Inductive Devotionals” and “Life Connections Home Bible Study” guides have been purchased and adapted from “The Sermon on the Mount”. LifeWay
Christian Resources.

4
WEEK 1: THE KING OF THE KINGDOM (OVERVIEW)

Main Idea: To be citizens in God’s Kingdom, we must know the King.

When we think of a king establishing his kingdom, we quite naturally think in “Hollywood” visions: a
warrior-king, leading a conquering force; violence and bloodshed; the once-ruling monarch of the
conquered kingdom shamed and driven from his palace. What comes to mind is a “hostile takeover”. And
this is what the oppressed Jewish people in Jesus’ time were looking toward, hoping for, in their
promised Messiah. But this view was too earthly, too limited, too nationalistic. They missed the point.
They had forgotten God’s covenant with Abraham: “All the peoples of the earth will be blessed through
you” (Genesis 12:3). They failed to remember why God called Moses to deliver Israel from their bondage
in Egypt; not only to free them, but so that, “All Egypt will know that I am the Lord …” (Exodus 7:5).
They did not understand that God had in mind a spiritual kingdom, not a political kingdom. The idea of
God’s redemptive character and nature toward all people had been lost. And like First-century Israel,
many people today miss the point and truth of God’s kingdom on earth: it’s about a relationship with
God through faith in Jesus. To be a citizen of God’s kingdom, we must know the King.

Our Text: Matthew 4:23 – 5:2

Now Jesus began to go all over Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the
kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. Then the news about him spread
throughout Syria. So they brought to him all those who were afflicted, those suffering from various
diseases and intense pains, the demon-possessed, the epileptics, and the paralytics. And he healed them.
Large crowds followed him from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan.

When he saw the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and after he sat down, his disciples came to him.
Then he began to teach them …

5
WEEK 1: SERMON NOTES

How is Jesus unique as Sovereign King in His kingdom?

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

What four words describe Jesus as King?

1.

2.

3.

4.

What does Jesus the King and His kingdom bring?

1.

2.

3.

4.

What is our response?

1.

2.

3.

4.

6
W E E K 1 : D A I LY I N D U C T I V E D E V O T I O N A L S

Each week you will start you daily study by reading through the entire Sermon on the Mount from start
to finish. Then you’ll focus on a particular passage to discover its message and how it fits into the greater
context of the sermon as a whole. By the time you complete this study, you will have read the Sermon on
the Mount at least nine times As it grows more familiar to you, watch for how your understanding
deepens and expands. To help you with the process of deeper understanding, you’ll be asked to mark
certain words or phrases in your copy of Matthew 5–7. Keep a set of colored pencils or markers handy as
you read. (If you don’t have colored pencils or markers, don’t worry. Just use what you have.)

This week we’ll focus our study efforts on dissecting the eight short statements that form the opening to
Jesus’ message — statements commonly known as the Beatitudes. You may be familiar with some or all
of them. We’ll strive to look at them with fresh eyes, asking ourselves why, of all the ways Jesus could
have begun His inaugural message, did He begin with a list of “blesseds.”

DAY 1

PRAY. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you through this study, and to open your mind, heart and eyes to the
truths you need to apply to your life.

READ Matthew 5:1–7:29.

As you read, highlight each occurrence of the word righteousness with a blue pencil or marker. We will be
considering its meaning and use on Day 3.

1. Which section of the sermon seems unclear to you?

2. Which section seems most straightforward?

3. Look up the word beatitude in the dictionary. Record the definition:

7
4. Why do you think Jesus chose to begin the Sermon on the Mount with a list of “blesseds”?

DAY 2

PRAY. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you through this study, and to open your mind, heart and eyes to the
truths you need to apply to your life.

READ Matthew 5:3-4.

1. Look up the following passages and note what each teaches us about being poor:
a. Psalm 40:16-17

b. Psalm 69:32-33

c. Psalm 72:12-14

d. Isaiah 66:2 (humble is translated “poor” in the KJV)

2. Webster’s Dictionary defines poverty as “the state of one with insufficient resources.” Based on this
definition, what does it mean to be “poor in spirit”?

8
3. What did Jesus say belongs to those who are poor in spirit?

4. Why do you think Jesus said that the kingdom of heaven belongs to the poor in spirit?

5. Now look at the second Beatitude in Matthew 5:4. People can mourn for many reasons. What are
some things that cause us to mourn?

6. Compare Joel 2:12-13 and James 4:7-10. What do we learn about the role of mourning in these
passages?

7. In light of these passages and in light of the first Beatitude, what kind of mourning do you think Jesus
is referring to when He said, “Blessed are those who mourn”?

8. How has recognizing your lack of spiritual resources been a blessing to you? What role has godly grief
played in your repentance?

9. Give an example of a time each of these two blessings has been experienced in your life.

9
10. Rewrite (paraphrase) the first and second Beatitudes in your own words, as close to their intended
meaning as you can.

DAY 3

PRAY. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you through this study, and to open your mind, heart and eyes to the
truths you need to apply to your life.

READ Matthew 5:5-6.

Webster’s Dictionary defines meek as “enduring injury with patience and without resentment.” A meek
person is someone who is not occupied with self, someone who does not insist on a set of personal
rights.

1. Read Isaiah 53. Based on this prophetic passage and on Webster’s definition of the word meek, how
did Christ perfectly demonstrate meekness?

2. How would having a true estimate of ourselves in relation to God help us be meek?

3. What would the world say is a synonym for meek?

4. How does the third Beatitude contrast with the world’s opinion of who will inherit the earth?

5. In what sense do you think the meek will inherit the earth?

10
6. If a meek person is someone who does not insist on a set of personal rights, how meek are you? What
rights do you feel entitled to or take for granted in your home, church, workplace, or community?

7. How can a sense of entitlement stifle your relationship with God or twist your perception of God?

8. Now look at the fourth Beatitude in Matthew 5:6. On Day 1, you highlighted the word righteousness
with a blue pencil or marker. How many times does it occur in the Sermon on the Mount?

9. Look up the word righteousness in the dictionary. Record the definition.

10. Look up the following passages and answer the questions for each.
a. John 4:7-10:

• Who is speaking?

• What is offered?

• What is satisfied?

b. John 6:35:

• Who is speaking?

• What is offered?

• What is satisfied?

11. Read 1 Corinthians 1:26-31. According to verse 30, who is our righteousness?

11
12. We hunger and thirst after many things besides righteousness. What are you hungering and thirsting
for (craving) right now? Can these cravings ever be fully satisfied? List your thoughts.

13. In what ways are theses things poor substitutes for Christ?

14. Rewrite (paraphrase) the third and fourth Beatitudes in your own words, as close to their intended
meaning as you can.

DAY 4

PRAY. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you through this study, and to open your mind, heart and eyes to the
truths you need to apply to your life.

READ Matthew 5:7-8.

1. How would you define mercy? How does justice relate to mercy? Use a dictionary or thesaurus to help
you with your answer.

2. Read Matthew 7:1-2. What concept is presented in this later passage of the Sermon on the Mount
that is also presented in verse 7, the fifth Beatitude?

3. How will the way we treat others affect how God treats us?

12
4. To whom do you have difficulty showing mercy? How could you adjust your perspective so that
showing mercy to that person becomes natural?

5. Now look at the sixth Beatitude, Matthew 5:8. Think about what Jesus meant by “pure in heart.” How
would you respond to someone who defined “pure in heart” as sinless? Read John 1:8 to help with
your answer.

6. If being pure in heart is not being perfect or free from sin, what is it?

7. Why do you think the pure in heart will “see God”?

8. Read Isaiah 6:1-8. Was Isaiah “pure in heart”? Why or why not?

9. In what specific areas of your life do you battle impurity of the heart?

10. How do these areas often cloud your ability to “see God”?

13
11. Rewrite (paraphrase) the fifth and sixth Beatitudes in your own words, as close to their intended
meaning as you can.

DAY 5

PRAY. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you through this study, and to open your mind, heart and eyes to the
truths you need to apply to your life.

READ Matthew 5:9-10.

1. Look up the word peacemaker in a dictionary and record the definition. Note any synonyms you think
would fit with the way Jesus used the word peacemaker in verse 9, the seventh Beatitude.

2. Read Isaiah 9:6. Which of the titles given for Jesus relates to the seventh Beatitude?

3. Read Galatians 4:4-7. Based on these verses and your answer to the previous question, why do you
think the peacemakers will be called the “sons of God”?

4. What are practical ways to be a practicing peacemaker? Think of specific ways we can use our speech
and actions to be peacemakers, and note them:

• In our home:

• In our church:

• In our community/workplace

• In our city

14
 • In our nation

5. What is the contrast between the seventh and eighth Beatitudes? In other words, why would a
peacemaker ever be the object of persecution?

6. For what reason does the eighth Beatitude say persecution will occur?

7. Look back at Day 3, question 11. Who did we learn is our righteousness? (See 1 Cor. 1:30.) How does
Matthew 5:11 confirm this connection?

8. Have you ever been persecuted “for righteousness’ sake”? Think about how the experience changed
you. Did you feel “blessed”? Journal your thoughts.

9. Rewrite (paraphrase) the fifth and sixth Beatitudes in your own words, as close to their intended
meaning as you can.

CONNECT THE DOTS

What impacted you most in this week’s passage from the Sermon on the Mount? How has Jesus
challenged your concept of what it means to be “blessed”?

15
W E E K 1 : L I F E C O N N E C T I O N S G RO U P B I B L E S T U DY

PRAY. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide the group through this study, and to open each mind, heart and set of
eyes to the truths that need to be applied.

Introductory Questions:
We often think that famous or rich people are the ones who are blessed. Do you agree? Why or why not?
What does it mean to “be blessed”?

Read Matthew 5:3-10.

1. Reflect: Based on your Day 2 study this week, why should we desire to be poor in spirit and mourn?

• Apply: [Day 2, questions 8-9] How has recognizing your lack of spiritual resources been a
blessing to you? What role has godly grief over sin played in your repentance?

2. Reflect: [Day 3, question 1] Based on Isaiah 53, how did Christ perfectly demonstrate meekness?

• Apply: [Day 3, questions 6-7] If a meek person is someone who does not insist on a set of
personal rights, how meek are you? What rights do you feel entitled to or take for granted in your
home, church, workplace, or community? How can a sense of entitlement stifle your relationship
with God or twist your perception of God?

3. Reflect: On Day 4 we learned about being merciful and pure in heart. How are these two blessed
qualities related to each other? Can we be one without the other?

• Apply: [Day 4, question 4] To whom do you have difficulty showing mercy? How could you
adjust your perspective so that showing mercy to that person becomes natural?

4. Reflect: What is a peacemaker? How was Jesus a peacemaker?

• Apply: [Day 5, question 4] What are some practical ways to be a peacemaker in your home,
church, community/workplace, city, nation? Be specific. Make a list.

5. Do: Now that we have studied together this passage from the Sermon on the Mount…

• What is most significant truth for your life?

• How has Jesus challenged your concept of what it means to be “blessed”?

• What steps of obedience do you hear the Holy Spirit speaking to you for your walk as a citizen in
Christ’s Kingdom? Again, be specific.

16