A Culture of Change

A Series on the Beatitudes
 (Click on the link below to read the verses.)
Matthew 4:17-5:2

[In this series, we will be looking at the Beatitudes in the context of the Old Testament Jewish culture. When Jesus spoke, what images, what scripture came to the mind of his listeners? And then to look at how those same words can change your life today.]

  

 

I love college football! The fall weather, the marching band, the mascot, the traditions, the energy of game day, and of course, the game itself. Even if your team doesn’t win, there’s something special about college football.

 

As for the team, each coach has to establish his own culture. Communication is the key element. The coach has to set clear expectations for his players, and then find a way for the players to buy into them. In a sense, he’s molding them into disciples that believe in him and will follow him anywhere.

 

That’s what Jesus was doing as he began preaching the Sermon on the Mount, starting with the beatitudes. The Jews had been anxiously waiting for generations for the Messiah. They were sure that he would take them out of the oppression of Rome and establish their own country; their own kingdom.

 

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus spoke a great deal about the kingdom of God, but it wasn’t the kingdom that the Jews were expecting. It was to be a kingdom based on faith and relationship and repentance.

 

¹⁷ From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” NIV

 

Jesus had just started his ministry by telling people about “the good news of the kingdom”. He was also meeting their physical needs by “healing every disease and sickness”. He began to call individual men to be his disciples. And as he did all of this, large crowds began to follow him.

 

To establish his kingdom, he needed to set expectations; to let his followers know that his was not a political kingdom, but a spiritual kingdom. He needed to establish a culture of change.

 

The beatitudes were the beginning of setting those expectations for his disciples. They needed to make a shift in their understanding of what the Messiah was going to do; a shift in their understanding of what the kingdom of God meant; a shift in their values, beliefs and attitudes.

 

Things aren’t so different today. The kingdom of the world has its own expectations pressing in on you. But those expectations are drastically different from Jesus’. As his disciple, Jesus is still speaking to you and leading you. He is still establishing his kingdom; his culture. It’s up to you and me to listen to him and follow him.

 

Copyright 2021 Joseph B Williams

 

 

The Top Twenty-Five

Galatians 5:13-26

(Use the link below to read the verses.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians+5%3A13-26&version=NIV;NLT

 

College football is upon us! We’re approaching the fifth week of the season and, as far as I know, no coaches have been fired yet. Every week the AP Poll and Amway Coaches

Poll comes out ranking the top twenty-five teams. For a coach whose team is ranked, they can feel secure in their job. For a coach whose team isn’t ranked, they might want to step it up.

 

In the world of athletics, success is based on victory. Iconic coach, Vince Lombardi, is quoted as saying, “Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing.” But winning all the time is a struggle because, not only is your opponent trying to beat you, but also you have to overcome adversity during the course of the game; and your own self-doubts and weaknesses.

 

Our life is like that too. Sometimes the circumstances of life can be very difficult; or you might face a struggle within yourselves. Sometimes we even face a competitor that wants to bring us down. There’s a constant battle going on. Paul wrote about this struggle to the Galatians.

 

¹⁷ The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.       NLT

 

As a believer, what we have going for us is that our sinful nature has been crucified on the cross, and although we still struggle, and may not win every battle, the war has already been won. So we have been called to live by the Spirit.

 

²⁴ Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. ²⁵ Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.   NLT

 

A college football coach can easily measure his success by wins and losses and by where his team ranks in the weekly polls. What about you? How do you measure your success as a believer?

 

Even though you struggle; even though you aren’t always victorious; your name will appear in the top 25 as undefeated. You are undefeated because the victory has already been won by Christ.