Living Out the Sermon on the Mount


Last Sunday I finished a series of pulpit studies on the Sermon on the Mount — the best advice every given by the greatest man who ever lived in the greatest sermon ever preached. Here is the simple outline I developed to guide the series. Perhaps it will be of encouragement to you in your personal Bible study or teaching ministry. The Sermon on the Mount, recorded in Matthew 5-7, falls into three parts, which I title A, B, and C. Jesus began with His introduction, giving us a set of attitudes that should characterize Kingdom people. Then He applied those attitudes by listing behavioral examples to follow. He concluded with a set of challenges, ending with an appeal to build our lives on a solid foundation.

  • Attitude (Matthew 5:1-16)
    • The Beatitudes (5:1-12)
    • Salt and Light (5:13-16)
  • Behavior (Matthew 5:17 – 7:12)
    • The thesis of the sermon (Matthew 5:17-20)
    • Murder (5:21-26)
    • Sex (5:27-32)
    • Honesty (5:33-37)
    • Retaliation (5:38-48)
    • Generosity (6:1-4)
    • Prayer (6:5-15)
    • Fasting (6:16-18)
    • Money (6:19-24)
    • Anxiety (6:25-34)
    • Criticism (7:1-5)
    • Prayer (7:6-12)
  • Commitment (Matthew 7:13-48)
    • The Narrow Gate (7:13-14)
    • The False Prophets (7:15-20)
    • The False Disciples (7:21-23)
    • The Solid Foundation (6:24-27)

You can find the podcasts, webcasts, and manuscripts for all these messages at www.donelson.org.