WATCH OUT!
“Be wary of false preachers who smile a lot, dripping with practiced sincerity. Chances are they are out to rip you off some way or other. Don’t be impressed with charisma; look for character. Who preachers ARE is the main thing, not what they say. A genuine leader will never exploit your emotions or your pocketbook. These diseased trees with their bad apples are going to be chopped down and burned.” –Jesus, Matthew 7, Msg

BEST IMPRESSION?
“Knowing the correct password–saying ‘Master, Master,’ for instance–isn’t going to get you anywhere with me. What is required is serious obedience–DOING what my Father wills. I can see it now–at the Final Judgement thousands strutting up to me and saying, ‘Master, we preached the Message; we bashed the demons, our God-sponsored projects had everyone talking.'[ And do you know what I am going to say? ‘You missed the boat. All you did was use me to make yourselves important. You don’t impress me one bit. You’re out of here.'”–Jesus, Matthew 7, Msg

“THE RAINS CAME DOWN AND THE FLOODS CAME UP”…
“These words I speak to you are not incidental additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundational words, words to build a life on. If you work these words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who built his house on solid rock. Rain poured down, the river flooded, a tornado hit–but nothing moved that house. It was fixed to the rock.” -Jesus

“But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don’t work them into your life, you are like a stupid carpenter who built his house on the sandy beach. When a storm rolled in and the waves came up, it collapsed like a house of cards.” –Jesus

THE BEST TEACHING EVER!
“When Jesus concluded his address, the crowd burst into applause. They had never heard teaching like this. It was apparent that he was living everything he was saying–quite a contrast to their religion teachers! This was the best teaching they had ever heard.”
–Jesus, Matthew 7, Msg

Dear Heavenly Father, You came down to earth in human form, not only to save us, but to teach us in ways that are like none other by anyone else. For you are God and we are not. Thank you for this message on the mount that is more than relevant for today. I know You were thinking of us then and now as you taught. Thank you. Now, help us live what we have just understood as rightous living by your Holy Spirit’s power in us. Thank you, dear Lord. Thank you.
In Jesus Name, Amen