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The Weekly Show - Episode 82: Study Four: Salt and Light

Join Tim and John as they study Salt and Light.
Theme: https://uppbeat.io/t/northwestern/a-new-beginning and https://uppbeat.io/t/pecan-pie/halloween-time
Transition Song: https://uppbeat.io/t/all-good-folks/
Introduction
Right after describing the blessed life of His followers, Jesus uses two simple, everyday pictures that everyone understood: salt and light.
“You are the salt of the earth…” “You are the light of the world…” — Matthew 5:13–16
These aren’t suggestions. They aren’t goals for “extra-spiritual” people. Jesus says:
“You are.”
If you belong to Him, you already are salt and light.
What Does That Mean?
In Jesus’ day:
Salt preserved food, purified it, and added flavor.
Light revealed truth, guided travelers, and pushed back darkness.
Jesus chose these images because they describe what His followers are meant to be in the world:
People who help slow the moral and spiritual decay around them
People who show God’s truth and goodness
People whose lives bring grace, compassion, and hope
People whose actions help others see God clearly
Jesus is saying:
“You represent Me in this world. Your life makes My kingdom visible.”
Why Here, Why Now?
Jesus puts this teaching right after the Beatitudes on purpose.
The Beatitudes show what kind of people His followers are becoming. Salt and Light show how those people influence the world.
The world needs:
humility
mercy
purity
courage
peace
The world doesn’t need more darkness. It needs more light.
Jesus and the Law
Right after calling His followers salt and light, Jesus explains His relationship to the Old Testament:
“I didn’t come to abolish the Law and the Prophets, but to fulfill them.”
“The Law and the Prophets” was the Jewish way of saying “the Bible”—what we call the Old Testament.
Jesus didn’t come to throw it away. He came to complete it, show its true meaning, and live it out perfectly.
Then He adds something surprising:
“Unless your righteousness goes beyond the Pharisees, you won’t enter the kingdom.”
The Pharisees were known for strict outward obedience. But Jesus wants something deeper—a righteousness that comes from a changed heart, not just external rule-keeping.
The Purpose
Jesus finishes by explaining why we shine as salt and light:
“…so that people may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Not to make ourselves look good, but to lead others to see how good God is.
The Salt of the Earth
Immediately after describing the character of His kingdom people, Jesus uses a simple household image to explain their influence:
“You are the salt of the earth.” — Matthew 5:13
Everyone in Jesus’ day knew exactly how valuable salt was. It wasn’t a seasoning you sprinkled casually—it was essential for survival. When Jesus called His disciples “salt,” He was giving them a profound and world-shaping identity.
1. Salt Preserves
In the ancient world, refrigeration didn’t exist. Salt was the most common way to preserve meat and keep it from rotting.
Jesus is saying:
“My followers slow the decay of the world.”
How?
by living holy lives in an unholy culture
by standing for righteousness when others compromise
by protecting the vulnerable
by seeking justice and doing good
by living in such a way that pushes back corruption
Where believers live out the Beatitudes, society is preserved from moral and spiritual decay.
2. Salt Adds Flavor
Salt makes food taste like what it was created to taste like.
Christians bring:
joy to despairing places
grace to hardened hearts
compassion to the ignored
truth to confusion
hope to hopelessness
the “flavor” of God’s goodness into everyday life
A Christian who reflects Christ makes the world more livable, more beautiful, and more meaningful.
You don’t have to preach a sermon— your life carries the flavor of the kingdom.
3. Salt Purifies
Salt was also used as a cleansing agent.
Christians purify the world by:
confessing sin honestly
living with integrity
refusing corruption
speaking truth in love
living in holiness
pointing people to Christ, the true purifier
Where Christians live the gospel, purity spreads.
4. A Follower of Jesus Who Blends In Is a Contradiction
Salt is only useful when it’s distinctly salty.
Jesus warns that salt can lose its taste— not chemically, but practically, when it becomes mixed with dirt or impurities.
Likewise:
A believer who hides their faith is not salty.
A believer who blends into the world’s darkness is not salty.
A believer who compromises biblical convictions becomes spiritually ineffective.
This is not about perfection—it’s about distinction. If your life looks no different from the world, you’re not seasoning anything.
The world desperately needs the flavor, purity, and preserving power of Christians who live boldly and humbly for Christ.
5. “Of the Earth” — A Global Mission
Jesus didn’t say:
“You are the salt of your neighborhood.”
“You are the salt of your friend group.”
“You are the salt of your church.”
He said:
“You are the salt of the earth.”
Salt doesn’t stay in the shaker—it gets scattered.
Wherever Christians go:
homes
workplaces
schools
cities
communities
nations
they carry the influence of the kingdom of God.
6. Salt Shows Us Our Calling
Jesus is calling His followers to:
stand out, not blend in
live by God’s design, not the world’s standards
reflect grace, truth, holiness, and compassion
be a preserving, healing, purifying presence
Salt doesn’t work by shouting. Salt works by being present.
Christians don’t transform the world by intimidating it, but by infiltrating it with Christlike character.
The Light of the World
After calling His disciples the salt of the earth, Jesus adds a second identity—one that focuses not on subtle influence, but on bold visibility:
“You are the light of the world… Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” — Matthew 5:14–16
Light is one of Scripture’s most powerful symbols. It represents truth, purity, guidance, holiness, and the very presence of God.
And Jesus says: “That’s what you are in this world.”
1. Light Is Meant to Be Seen
Jesus gives two examples:
A city on a hill cannot be hidden.
No one lights a lamp only to cover it with a basket.
He’s saying:
“The world should see the difference I’ve made in you.”
Christianity is not a secret life. Discipleship isn’t a private hobby. A silent, hidden faith is as contradictory as a covered lamp.
Jesus didn’t make you light so you could hide— He made you light so you could shine.
2. Our Good Works Are the Glow
Jesus says that our good works are what give off the light.
What does that mean?
Good works are not:
showing off
performing for people
trying to look spiritual
earning God’s favor
Instead, they are:
acts of compassion
generosity
integrity
purity
forgiveness
mercy
courage
obedience
righteousness lived out visibly
Our good works are not the source of the light— God is. But they are the shining of the light.
When people see the way Christians live, love, serve, repent, and forgive, they should see the radiance of God’s work in us.
3. The Purpose of Our Light: God’s Glory
Jesus gives the purpose right up front:
“…that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
This is crucial.
Our shining is never meant to bring glory to:
ourselves
our talents
our reputation
our church
our ministry
Our light is meant to be a spotlight that points upward.
When people see Christlike character in us, they should be drawn, not to us, but to the Father who changed us.
Light that shines for self-promotion isn’t kingdom light. Kingdom light always points to the King.
4. Light Reveals What God Has Changed
Jesus says that the change God brings should be noticeable.
You don’t need to announce your light— people will see it:
when you forgive instead of retaliating
when you speak gently instead of harshly
when you refuse to compromise your convictions
when you are patient under pressure
when you put others first
when you live with integrity
when you show mercy
when you endure suffering with joy
when you treat every person with dignity and love
Kingdom light shines brightest in the darkest places.
Your life is meant to make people ask: “What is different about them?”
5. Light Pushes Back Darkness
Light does not argue with darkness. It doesn’t debate it. It doesn’t fear it.
It simply shines—and darkness retreats.
Christians shine the same way:
by speaking truth
by living holy lives
by reflecting Christ
by loving boldly
by carrying God’s hope into despairing places
You don’t have to be loud to shine. You just have to be faithful.
6. Light Shows the Way
Light guides travelers. Likewise, kingdom people show others the way to God:
by our words
by our actions
by our example
by our compassion
by our unwavering hope in Christ
Many people won’t pick up a Bible, but they will watch your life.
In that sense, you may be the first gospel they ever “read.”
The Good News
Jesus doesn’t say you should become light. He says you already are light because He lives in you.
And because He is the Light of the World (John 8:12), His light shines through His people wherever they go.
This is both a calling and a privilege:
You are meant to shine God’s goodness in a world desperate for hope. You are meant to live in such a way that people see Christ in you. You are meant to point the watching world to your Father in heaven.
Let your life shine—and let your light point to Him.
Jesus and the Old Testament
After calling His followers salt and light, Jesus makes a bold and necessary clarification:
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” — Matthew 5:17
To Jesus’ Jewish audience, this was a massive statement. They knew exactly what He meant when He said “the Law and the Prophets.”
1. “The Law and the Prophets” Was Their Bible
Before the New Testament existed, the Old Testament was the Scripture—the authoritative Word of God. It contained:
The Law (Torah) — the commands God gave through Moses
The Prophets — God’s messages calling His people back to faithfulness
The Writings (included under the same heading in Jesus’ day)
When Jesus refers to “the Law and the Prophets,” He’s referring to all of the Old Testament. And He wants them to know exactly where He stands.
2. Jesus Did Not Come to Abolish the Old Testament
Some people expected the Messiah to overthrow or ignore the old system. Some assumed He would set aside Moses and bring a brand-new teaching.
Jesus immediately corrects that idea:
“I didn’t come to throw out the Old Testament.”
Jesus never:
dismissed Scripture
contradicted Moses
rejected the Prophets
discarded the promises
replaced God’s Word with something cheaper
Instead, He affirms the unchanging authority of Scripture:
“Until heaven and earth pass away, not a single stroke of the pen will disappear from the Law.” — Matthew 5:18
In other words:
God’s Word stands. Always.
3. Jesus Came to Fulfill the Old Testament
This is the heart of the passage.
Jesus didn’t come to remove the Old Testament— He came to complete it, embody it, explain it, and accomplish it.
He fulfills the Old Testament in several ways:
1. He fulfills its prophecies.
The Messiah promised by Isaiah, Jeremiah, Micah, and the rest has arrived.
2. He fulfills its promises.
Every covenant blessing finds its “Yes” in Jesus.
3. He fulfills its patterns and symbols.
the sacrifices pointed to Him
the temple pointed to Him
the priests pointed to Him
the kings pointed to Him
the feasts pointed to Him
the Exodus pointed to Him
Everything in the Old Testament was leading forward to Jesus.
4. He fulfills its commands.
He obeys the Law perfectly, inside and out, becoming the righteous representative we never could be.
Jesus is the only person in history who never broke the Law—not even once.
4. Jesus Raises the Standard of Righteousness
At the end of this section, Jesus gives a shocking statement:
“Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” — Matthew 5:20
The Pharisees were known for strict obedience to external laws. If righteousness were about rule-keeping, they were the elite.
So what is Jesus saying?
Righteousness is not merely external— it is internal.
The Pharisees:
focused on outward behavior
perfected religious appearance
performed rituals flawlessly
But inside, Jesus said, they were full of hypocrisy and pride.
Jesus demands more—not more rules, but more heart.
He teaches that true righteousness:
goes deeper than externals
reflects God’s character
flows from a transformed heart
begins on the inside
shows up on the outside
External obedience without internal transformation is not kingdom righteousness.
5. Jesus Came to Make Us the Right Kind of People
This is the key.
Jesus does not simply call us to do the right things. He calls us to be the right kind of people.
People who:
love God
love others
obey from the heart
desire holiness
walk in humility
reflect Christ’s character
Jesus fulfills the law so that we can live out its true meaning—not through external pressure, but through internal transformation.
The Beatitudes have already shown us the kind of hearts Jesus forms. Now, Jesus will show how this new heart transforms how we live out God’s commands.
Conclusion: From Salt and Light to Only Perfect People
Jesus’ teachings about being the salt of the earth and the light of the world show us how deeply He intends His followers to influence the world around them. Salt preserves what is good. Light reveals what is true. Both images tell us the same thing:
A disciple transformed by Jesus cannot be hidden.
But as soon as Jesus describes the impact His followers should have, He shifts to an equally important truth: influence without integrity is empty.
Salt that loses its distinctiveness is useless. Light that hides itself brings no benefit. A disciple who merely appears righteous on the outside—without inward transformation—fails to reflect God’s heart.
This is why Jesus moves directly from Salt and Light to His teaching on the Old Testament and righteousness. He wants His disciples to understand:
He did not come to abolish God’s Word,
He came to fulfill it,
And He expects His followers to embody its true meaning.
The Pharisees focused on external rule-keeping. Jesus calls for something deeper—a righteousness that begins in the heart.
He says plainly:
“Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” — Matthew 5:20
In other words:
You cannot shine outwardly unless you are being changed inwardly.
This sets the stage for everything Jesus teaches next. He is about to explain what true righteousness looks like in real life—how it touches our anger, our purity, our relationships, our honesty, and even our love for enemies.
Jesus is calling His disciples not merely to behave differently, but to be different—to be whole, mature, and sincere.
And that is why this section ends with the striking command:
“Be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Jesus is not demanding instant flawlessness. He is calling for a wholehearted, undivided devotion—the kind of internal transformation that only the Holy Spirit can produce over time.
Salt and Light show our mission in the world. “Only Perfect People” begins to show our character in the world.
Jesus wants disciples who are:
inwardly renewed
outwardly distinct
filled with integrity
and transformed from the heart outward
so that their good works point not to themselves, but to their Father in heaven.

Message: trusting God When You Don’t Understand

Sermon Date: 01/25/2026
Bible Verses:
Various 
Speaker: Rev. Timothy "Tim" Shapley
Theme: https://uppbeat.io/t/northwestern/a-new
Introduction: We Want Control, God Wants Trust
We live in an age of planning, predicting, and protecting ourselves.
We track.We insure.We analyze.We worry.
And when life still goes sideways, we ask the same question in different forms:“Why didn’t this work?”“What did I miss?”“How do I fix this?”
Scripture doesn’t shame those questions—but it does redirect them.
God does not promise us full explanations.He promises His faithfulness.
And the call of Scripture is not: figure everything out—It is: trust Me.
Point One: Trust the Lord — Not Yourself
Proverbs 3:5–6
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart,and do not lean on your own understanding.In all your ways acknowledge Him,and He will make straight your paths.”
This passage does not say understanding is bad.It says understanding is limited.
The problem isn’t that we think—it’s that we lean.
To lean is to put your weight on something.To depend on it to hold you up.
And Scripture is blunt:Your understanding cannot carry the weight of your life.
God does not ask for partial trust.Not 80%.Not trust-until-it-hurts.Not trust-until-it-costs.
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart.”
That includes:
The unanswered prayer
The confusing diagnosis
The broken relationship
The closed door you were sure God would open
And notice the promise:
“He will make straight your paths.”
Not easy paths.Not pain-free paths.But directed paths.
Trust does not eliminate uncertainty.It anchors you inside it.
✦ Faith is not knowing where God is taking you—it’s knowing who is taking you.
Point Two: Perfect Peace Comes From a Fixed Mind
Isaiah 26:3
“You keep him in perfect peacewhose mind is stayed on You,because he trusts in You.”
Perfect peace does not come from perfect circumstances.
It comes from a focused mind.
The Hebrew phrase here is literally “peace, peace”—complete, settled, guarded peace.
But notice the condition:
“Whose mind is stayed on You.”
Stayed means:
Anchored
Held
Fixed
Refusing to wander
An anxious mind rehearses fear.A trusting mind rehearses truth.
Peace is not pretending things aren’t hard.Peace is choosing where your thoughts live.
This verse does not say:
God keeps everyone in peace
God keeps the distracted in peace
God keeps the panicked in peace
It says He keeps the trusting in peace.
✦ Peace is not the absence of trouble—it is the presence of trust.
Point Three: Cast Your Cares — Don’t Carry What God Invites You to Release
1 Peter 5:7
“Casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.”
This verse assumes something important:
You have anxieties.
God is not surprised by them.He is not disappointed by them.He invites you to throw them on Him.
Casting is not gently setting down.It’s not managing stress.It’s not spiritual stoicism.
Casting is forceful release.
Why?
Because you were never meant to carry what only God can handle.
And here’s the reason—simple, profound, and deeply personal:
“Because He cares for you.”
Not vaguely.Not theoretically.Not generally.
You.
Your worries matter because you matter to God.
✦ God does not ask you to trust Him blindly—He asks you to trust Him relationally.
Putting It All Together
Proverbs tells us where to place our trust.Isaiah tells us what trust produces.Peter tells us how trust is practiced.
Trust the Lord fully
Fix your mind on Him continually
Cast your cares on Him honestly
This is not a one-time decision.It is a daily posture.
Sometimes hourly.Sometimes moment by moment.
Trust is not passive—it is practiced.
Conclusion: Let God Carry What You Cannot
You don’t have to understand everything.You don’t have to control everything.You don’t have to carry everything.
God is not asking you to figure life out.He is asking you to trust Him with it.
✦ What you release to God is not lost—it is secured.

The Weekly Show - Episode 81: Study Three: The Eight Beatitudes (Part Two)

Join Tim and John as they study the last Four Beatitudes.
Theme: https://uppbeat.io/t/northwestern/a-new-beginning and https://uppbeat.io/t/pecan-pie/halloween-time
Transition Song: https://uppbeat.io/t/all-good-folks/
Introduction to the Last Four Beatitudes
If the first four Beatitudes describe the heart of a disciple, the last four describe the life of a disciple—how a transformed heart expresses itself in a broken world.
These final Beatitudes show what happens when the inner work of God overflows into outward relationships, attitudes, and actions.
The progression is intentional:
A person who knows they need God (poor in spirit),
Who grieves their sin (mourning),
Who surrenders their pride (meekness),
And who longs for God’s righteousness…
…will naturally begin to treat others in a radically different way.
The last four Beatitudes describe this outward expression:
Merciful — We respond to others with compassion.
Pure in heart — We pursue integrity and sincerity before God.
Peacemakers — We work to heal and reconcile.
Persecuted for righteousness — We endure suffering with joy because our hope is in eternity.
These final four Beatitudes form the fruit of kingdom character.
They show:
How kingdom people love the weak
How they pursue holiness
How they heal relationships
How they stand firm when opposition comes
While the world honors power, comfort, and success, Jesus honors:
Mercy
Purity
Peacemaking
Perseverance
These are the unmistakable marks of a disciple who is becoming like Christ.
The first four Beatitudes shape who we are. The last four shape how we live.
Together, they form the full portrait of the flourishing life in God’s kingdom—a life only Jesus can create in us.
5. Mercy for the Merciful
Jesus shifts from the inward transformation of the first four Beatitudes to the outward expression of a changed heart:
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.” — Matthew 5:7
This Beatitude reveals something essential about kingdom people: Those who have received mercy become people who give mercy.
What Is Mercy?
Mercy is compassion expressed in action. It is kindness toward those in misery, sin, weakness, or need.
Mercy means:
Not giving people what they deserve
Offering forgiveness instead of revenge
Showing patience instead of harshness
Helping the weak instead of ignoring them
Being moved by compassion rather than judgment
Where grace gives us what we don’t deserve, mercy withholds what we do deserve.
Why Are Kingdom People Merciful?
Because they know firsthand what it feels like to need mercy.
When you know that God has:
forgiven your offenses,
carried your shame,
healed your wounds,
lifted your burdens, and
shown compassion in your failure,
it becomes much harder to withhold mercy from others.
Mercy is the overflow of a forgiven heart.
What Mercy Looks Like in Everyday Life
Merciful people:
Forgive quickly
Assume the best
Help the hurting
Love the weak
Care for the outcast
Show patience with annoying people
Give generously
Pray for those who wrong them
Treat others the way God treated them
Mercy is not weakness—it is strength governed by compassion.
A Word of Warning: The Opposite of Mercy
Mercy stands in stark contrast to:
a harsh spirit
a judgmental attitude
an unforgiving heart
a desire to see others "get what they deserve"
indifference toward suffering
Jesus repeatedly warns against becoming a “merciless disciple.” Nothing contradicts the heart of the kingdom more than receiving God’s mercy but refusing to show it.
The Promise: “They Shall Receive Mercy.”
This promise works in two ways:
1. We Experience God’s Ongoing Mercy Here and Now
God continually pours mercy into the lives of those who extend it to others.
This doesn’t mean we earn mercy— it means we walk in the stream of mercy that God delights to give.
2. We Will Experience God’s Final Mercy in the Last Day
At the judgment, God will show mercy to those whose lives demonstrated mercy.
Not because their mercy saved them, but because their mercy proved they were saved.
Mercy is evidence of genuine faith.
The Christlike Example
Jesus is the ultimate picture of mercy.
He touched lepers.
He wept with the grieving.
He forgave sinners.
He restored the broken.
He prayed for His executioners.
He bore our sin on the cross.
No one is more merciful than Jesus.
So when Jesus calls His followers to mercy, He’s calling them to reflect His heart.
The Good News
The kingdom belongs to people who know they have been forgiven much and therefore love much.
God says to the merciful:
“The mercy you give will never outgrow the mercy you receive.”
In God’s kingdom, mercy is a two-way street, and no one who walks it will ever walk alone.
 6. The Pure in Heart See God
Jesus moves deeper into the inner life of His disciples with one of the most breathtaking promises in all of Scripture:
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” — Matthew 5:8
This Beatitude reaches the core of true discipleship. It’s not about external religious performance—it’s about the condition of the heart.
What Does “Pure in Heart” Mean?
In Scripture, the “heart” is the center of who we are:
our thoughts
our desires
our motivations
our will
our affections
It is the inner person, the part of you no one else can see.
To be pure in heart means:
an undivided devotion to God
sincerity rather than hypocrisy
integrity rather than double-mindedness
a desire to please God in what no one else sees
a life where the inside matches the outside
Purity of heart is not moral perfection. It is wholeheartedness—a heart that belongs fully to God.
The Opposite: A Divided Heart
A divided heart says:
“I want God… but also my sin.”
“I want to follow Jesus… but only when it’s convenient.”
“I want holiness… but I still want control.”
It’s spiritual double-vision. And Jesus makes it clear: His kingdom is not for the half-hearted.
Why Is This Beatitude So Important?
Because Christianity is not just about:
what you do
or what others see
or how you appear
or what you perform publicly
God cares most about who you truly are before Him.
A person can impress everyone around them and still be far from God inwardly. Jesus frequently rebuked the Pharisees for this very reason—they looked clean on the outside but were corrupt inside.
God is not fooled by outward behavior. He is concerned with the heart.
How Does Someone Become Pure in Heart?
Not by self-effort.
Purity of heart is a work of God:
Cleansed by the blood of Christ Jesus paid for sin and gives us a new heart.
Renewed by the Holy Spirit The Spirit reshapes our desires and changes what we love.
Strengthened by God’s Word Scripture refines and corrects our motives.
Guarded by disciplined obedience We pursue holiness by saying “yes” to God and “no” to sin.
Purity of heart is both a gift to receive and a lifestyle to pursue.
The Promise: “They Shall See God.”
This is the highest promise in all the Beatitudes.
What does it mean?
1. Seeing God Now (Spiritually)
The pure in heart experience:
deeper intimacy with God
clearer understanding of His character
joy in His presence
spiritual discernment
a more vibrant relationship with Christ
Purity clarifies our spiritual vision. Sin clouds it.
2. Seeing God in Eternity (Literally)
One day, the pure in heart will see God face to face.
Revelation 22:4 says:
“They will see His face…”
This is the ultimate hope of every believer: unbroken fellowship with God in a renewed creation.
Practical Application
Pure-hearted people:
confess sin quickly
fight temptation seriously
are honest with God
seek integrity in private and public
ask God to search their hearts
pursue Christ more than image
desire holiness because they love Jesus
They don’t pretend—they pursue.
The Good News
Jesus doesn’t bless those who are outwardly impressive. He blesses those whose hearts are becoming whole, sincere, and devoted to Him.
And the reward is beyond imagination:
The pure in heart will see the God who made them, saved them, and loves them.
This Beatitude invites us to pray with David:
“Create in me a clean heart, O God.” — Psalm 51:10
And Jesus promises that God loves to answer that kind of prayer.
7. God’s Children Making Peace
Jesus now turns from the inward purity of the heart to the outward work of reconciliation:
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” — Matthew 5:9
This Beatitude reveals a powerful truth: God’s children look like their Father. And one of the clearest family traits is peacemaking.
What Is a Peacemaker?
A peacemaker is someone who actively works to bring about:
reconciliation
healing
harmony
unity
restoration
Peacemaking is not the same as:
avoiding conflict
pretending everything is fine
keeping everyone happy
staying silent to avoid trouble
That’s peacekeeping. Peacemaking is far more courageous.
Peacemakers step into conflict with the goal of bringing God’s peace— not their comfort.
Why Are Peacemakers Blessed?
Because they share God’s mission.
God is the ultimate Peacemaker:
He reconciled sinners to Himself through Christ.
He breaks down the walls that divide.
He heals relationships torn apart by sin.
He brings peace to hearts, homes, and nations.
When God’s people join Him in this work, they reflect His heart to the world.
The Heart of Peacemaking
Peacemakers:
pursue reconciliation, not retaliation
speak truth with love
refuse to gossip or stir up conflict
confront sin gently when necessary
work to restore broken relationships
help others work through conflict Biblically
bring the message of the gospel—which is the ultimate peace
Romans 5:1 says:
“We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
By sharing the gospel and calling people to Christ, we become agents of peace between God and humanity.
Peacemakers Look Like Their Father
Jesus says peacemakers “shall be called sons of God.”
This means:
They resemble their Father.
People recognize God’s character in them.
They display the family likeness.
They carry the DNA of heaven.
Peacemakers show the world what God is like— a God who takes enemies and makes them children.
A Prophetic Dimension
This Beatitude echoes Romans 8:19–23:
Creation longs for the day when the “sons of God” are revealed— when the curse is lifted, peace is restored, and God’s children reign with Christ in the new creation.
Peacemakers are living previews of that future.
Practical Application
Peacemaking shows up in everyday life:
resolving conflict Biblically
apologizing first
forgiving genuinely
speaking gently
refusing revenge
listening with empathy
helping reconcile others who are divided
sharing the gospel with humility and compassion
Peacemakers ask:
“How can I bring God’s peace into this situation?”
The Cost of Peacemaking
Peacemaking can be messy.
It’s easier to run.
It’s easier to ignore problems.
It’s easier to stay silent.
It’s easier to pretend.
But Jesus calls His children to something higher: kingdom courage rooted in God’s heart.
The Good News
Peacemakers don’t create peace by their own strength. They carry the peace they’ve received from Jesus.
They are blessed because:
They reflect their Father.
They join God’s mission in the world.
They anticipate the future kingdom where peace reigns forever.
Every time you choose peacemaking over pride, you are displaying the very heart of God to a watching world.
8. Rewards for the Persecuted
Jesus ends the Beatitudes with a shocking reversal—one that no one in His original audience expected:
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” — Matthew 5:10
Then He repeats the same blessing in personal form:
“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on My account.” — Matthew 5:11
Jesus is not whispering here. He is preparing His disciples for reality: Following Him will bring opposition.
And yet—He calls the persecuted blessed.
Why Would the Persecuted Be Blessed?
Because persecution arises when your life looks like Jesus’ life. And Jesus does not abandon His people in suffering—He honors them.
Persecution is not a sign of God’s absence. It is often proof of His presence working through you.
What Kind of Persecution Does Jesus Mean?
Not suffering because of:
bad decisions
personal mistakes
being rude
being obnoxious
stirring up trouble
general hardships of life
Jesus is talking specifically about persecution for righteousness’ sake— suffering that comes from obeying God and following Christ.
This includes:
being mocked for your faith
losing friendships
facing rejection
being misunderstood
being falsely accused
being pressured to compromise
suffering socially, emotionally, or physically for Christ
Jesus emphasizes: “on My account.”
Persecution for righteousness connects you directly to Him.
The Promise: “Theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.”
Notice this is the same promise given to the poor in spirit. The first Beatitude and the last form a perfect frame.
The kingdom belongs to those who:
begin with humility
continue with devotion
and endure with faithfulness
When Jesus says the persecuted receive the kingdom, He means:
God recognizes them as His true citizens
They share in Christ’s glory
They receive eternal rewards
They are honored in heaven
They will reign with Christ in the new creation
Persecution may cost them now, but the kingdom pays eternal dividends later.
A Strange Command: “Rejoice and Be Glad”
Jesus doesn’t merely say to endure persecution. He says to rejoice.
Why?
Because your reward in heaven is great. Not small. Not symbolic. Not sentimental. Great. God sees every tear, every insult, every wound— and He repays with joy beyond measure.
Because you stand in the line of the prophets. Jesus says:
“For so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
You’re in the same company as:
Moses
Elijah
Jeremiah
Daniel
Isaiah
John the Baptist
You are walking the same road they walked— a road Jesus Himself walked.
Persecution isn’t a detour in the Christian life; it is often the confirmation that you’re on the right path.
The Paradox
To the world:
Persecution looks like defeat.
Insults look like weakness.
Loss looks like failure.
But Jesus says:
Persecution produces blessing.
Insults produce reward.
Loss produces gain.
The world cannot take anything from you that God will not restore infinitely more.
Practical Application
Kingdom people:
stand firm under pressure
stay faithful when misunderstood
respond with grace instead of bitterness
refuse to compromise righteousness
trust God when obedience is costly
remember eternity when the present is painful
Persecution doesn’t mean God has abandoned you. It means you are living a life that reflects Christ.
The Good News
This final Beatitude ties the entire list together.
The poor in spirit enter the kingdom. The persecuted endure in the kingdom. And the King Himself walks beside them every step of the way.
Jesus promises:
“When the world rejects you for My sake, Heaven receives you with joy.”
This is not misery—it is victory. It is not the end of blessing—it is the gateway into eternal blessing.
Conclusion to All Eight Beatitudes
The Beatitudes form one of the most beautiful and challenging portraits of kingdom life found anywhere in Scripture. They are not eight isolated sayings—they are a single, unified description of what it looks like when Jesus transforms a person from the inside out.
They begin with the heart and end with the cost. They move from dependence to devotion, from character to calling, from humility to hope.
Taken together, the eight Beatitudes show a clear progression:
1. The First Four: The Inner Work of God
These Beatitudes describe the roots of discipleship—how God reshapes the heart:
Poor in spirit — We admit our need for God.
Those who mourn — We grieve sin and brokenness.
The meek — We surrender our pride and control.
Those who hunger for righteousness — We long for God’s holiness and justice.
This is the work God does within us. The Spirit softens, cleanses, humbles, and awakens our hearts.
2. The Last Four: The Outward Life of the Disciple
Once God reshapes the heart, He reshapes how we live among others:
Merciful — We show compassion like God showed us.
Pure in heart — We live with integrity and sincerity.
Peacemakers — We carry God’s peace into relationships and the world.
The persecuted — We stand firm with courage when following Jesus is costly.
These final Beatitudes describe the fruit of transformed character—how grace overflows into words, actions, relationships, and even how we respond to suffering.
A Kingdom Exposed—and Revealed
The Beatitudes reveal something profound:
The kingdom Jesus brings does not look like the kingdoms of this world.
The world celebrates:
power
wealth
pride
success
comfort
revenge
image
popularity
But Jesus blesses:
weakness
humility
grief over sin
longing for righteousness
compassion
purity
reconciliation
endurance in suffering
It is the upside-down kingdom that is actually right-side up.
These Traits Come From Christ, Not Ourselves
The Beatitudes do not describe “naturally good people.” They describe supernaturally transformed people.
These blessings:
cannot be earned
cannot be forced
cannot be manufactured
cannot be faked
They grow only from a heart renewed by Jesus and filled with the Holy Spirit.
Each Beatitude Carries a Promise
Jesus never calls His followers to something without offering hope:
The kingdom is theirs.
They will be comforted.
They will inherit the earth.
They will be filled.
They will receive mercy.
They will see God.
They will be called sons of God.
Great is their reward in heaven.
Every sacrifice comes with a promise. Every struggle comes with strength. Every tear comes with future joy.
The Beatitudes Are an Invitation
Jesus isn’t just describing kingdom life— He is inviting us into it.
He is inviting:
the broken
the weary
the humble
the hurting
the hungry
the longing
the faithful
the persecuted
to find their true life, true joy, and true identity in Him.
The Beatitudes show us:
This is the life you were made for. This is the life Jesus gives. This is the life that flourishes under the blessing of the King.

Sermon: Apostle’s Creed Week Three - The Holy Spirit

Sermon Date: 01/18/2026
Bible Verses:
Various 
Speaker: Rev. Timothy "Tim" Shapley
Theme: https://uppbeat.io/t/northwestern/a-new
Introduction: The Most Misunderstood Line in the Creed
When we say “I believe in the Holy Spirit,” many people get uncomfortable.
Some think of emotional excess.Some think of strange behavior.Some think of vague spiritual feelings.Others quietly think, “I believe in God the Father… I believe in Jesus Christ… but the Spirit feels fuzzy.”
But the Holy Spirit is not an optional add-on to Christianity.He is not the background music of faith.He is not a force, a vibe, or a spiritual mood.
The Holy Spirit is God present with and within His people.
Christianity does not function without the Spirit. Without Him, we have information but no transformation, belief without power, obedience without strength.
That’s why the Creed insists we say it out loud:
“I believe in the Holy Spirit.”
Point One: The Holy Spirit Is God With Us — and In Us
Jesus promised the Spirit before the cross:
“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper… the Spirit of truth.” (John 14:15–17)
Jesus calls Him Helper—not a substitute Savior, but God’s own presence continuing Christ’s work in us.
The Spirit is not less God than the Father or the Son. He is fully God—personal, active, and intentional.
Paul presses this truth home:
“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit…?” (1 Corinthians 6:19–20)
That means God no longer dwells in buildings made by hands.He dwells in His people.
Christian belief says:
God walked among us in Christ
God now lives within us by the Spirit
You are not spiritually alone.You are not abandoned.You are not expected to follow Jesus by sheer willpower.
✦ The Christian life is not lived for God—it is lived with God.
Point Two: The Holy Spirit Helps Us When We Are Weak
One of the most comforting promises in all of Scripture is this:
“The Spirit helps us in our weakness… intercedes for us.” (Romans 8:26)
Notice what that assumes: we are weak.
The Holy Spirit is not given because we are strong—but because we are not.
When we don’t know what to pray, the Spirit prays for us.When we don’t have the words, the Spirit carries our groans to the Father.When faith feels thin, the Spirit sustains it.
The Spirit is not disappointed by your weakness.He was sent because of it.
✦ Grace does not eliminate weakness—it meets us inside it.
Point Three: The Holy Spirit Empowers the Church for Witness
Jesus was clear:
“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses.” (Acts 1:8)
The Spirit does not exist to make Christians strange.He exists to make Christ known.
Power in Scripture is not about control or spectacle—it is about faithful witness.
The Holy Spirit:
Gives courage where there is fear
Gives clarity where there is confusion
Gives boldness where there is hesitation
The early church did not grow because it was impressive.It grew because the Spirit made ordinary people faithful.
✦ The Spirit’s power is not about drawing attention to us—but to Jesus.
Point Four: The Holy Spirit Produces Obedience from Love, Not Fear
Jesus said:
“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” (John 14:15)
And then immediately promised the Spirit.
Why?
Because obedience without the Spirit becomes legalism.And love without obedience becomes sentimentality.
The Holy Spirit bridges the gap.
Paul says:
“God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 5:5)
The Spirit does not just tell us what God wants—He reshapes our desires so we begin to want what God wants.
Obedience becomes response, not pressure.Holiness becomes joy, not burden.
✦ The Spirit changes us from the inside out.
Point Five: The Holy Spirit Makes Faith Personal and Present
Jesus said the world cannot receive the Spirit—but believers can:
“He dwells with you and will be in you.” (John 14:17)
That means Christianity is not merely historical—it is present tense.
The Spirit convicts
The Spirit comforts
The Spirit teaches
The Spirit reminds
The Spirit sanctifies
The Holy Spirit is the reason belief doesn’t stay theoretical.He is the reason the Creed moves from words to life.
✦ What Christ accomplished, the Spirit applies.
Conclusion: Belief That Breathes
To say “I believe in the Holy Spirit” is to confess that God has not left us to figure this out alone.
The Father planned salvation.The Son accomplished salvation.The Spirit applies salvation—daily, personally, powerfully.
Belief in the Spirit means:
You are not alone in your obedience
You are not abandoned in your suffering
You are not powerless in your witness
The Christian life is not self-improvement.It is Spirit-dependence.

The Weekly Show - Episode 80: Study Two: The Eight Beatitudes (Part One)

Join Tim and John as they study the first Four Beatitudes.
Theme: https://uppbeat.io/t/northwestern/a-new-beginning and https://uppbeat.io/t/pecan-pie/halloween-time
Transition Song: https://uppbeat.io/t/all-good-folks/
Introduction
As Jesus opens the Sermon on the Mount, He doesn’t begin with commands, warnings, or theological arguments. He begins with blessing. Before He tells His disciples how to live, He tells them who they already are in His kingdom.
The Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3–12) form the doorway into the entire sermon. They are not random sayings or poetic lines—they are the foundation stones of kingdom identity. Jesus is painting a picture of the kind of people who flourish under His reign. And, as we discovered in Study One, flourishing in God’s kingdom often looks nothing like flourishing in the world.
Where the world celebrates strength, Jesus blesses poverty of spirit. Where the world avoids sorrow, Jesus blesses those who mourn. Where the world rewards pride, Jesus blesses the meek. Where the world hungers for power, Jesus blesses those who hunger for righteousness.
It’s an upside-down kingdom that is—if we’re honest—the right way up.
Each Beatitude contains two powerful parts:
A description of the kind of person God blesses
A promise of the blessing God gives
These descriptions are not entry requirements for salvation. They are the evidence that someone belongs to Jesus and is being reshaped by His grace.
In this study, we will take each Beatitude one at a time and look carefully at what it means—and why Jesus calls these people “blessed.” We’ll see that:
The poor in spirit are given the kingdom.
The mourners receive comfort.
The meek inherit the earth.
The hungry for righteousness are satisfied.
The merciful receive mercy.
The pure in heart see God.
The peacemakers are called God’s children.
The persecuted gain eternal reward.
These aren’t personality traits. They’re kingdom traits—the character Jesus forms in those who follow Him.
And as we unpack each one, we will see something incredibly hopeful:
Jesus blesses people the world overlooks, and He transforms people the world underestimates.
The Beatitudes invite us to examine our hearts, embrace the grace of Jesus, and grow into the flourishing life God designed for us.
Now let’s step inside this kingdom doorway and explore each Beatitude in detail.
1. The Poor in Spirit Are Given the Kingdom
Jesus begins His list of blessings with a statement that instantly cuts against the grain of every culture, ancient or modern:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” — Matthew 5:3
What Does It Mean to Be “Poor in Spirit”?
Jesus is not talking about financial poverty, personality weakness, or lack of confidence. He’s talking about spiritual poverty—a deep awareness that:
We bring nothing to God that can earn His acceptance.
We cannot save ourselves.
We cannot impress God with our goodness.
We are spiritually bankrupt apart from His grace.
To be “poor in spirit” means standing before God and saying:
“I’ve got nothing. You have everything. I need You.”
This is humility at the deepest level. Not self-hatred. Not insecurity. But honest dependence.
Why Is This the First Beatitude?
Because this is where life in God’s kingdom begins.
You cannot receive the kingdom while your hands are full of pride. You cannot follow Jesus if you still think you’re your own savior.
Jesus starts here because:
Grace begins where self-sufficiency ends.
Salvation begins where spiritual pride dies.
Transformation begins where humility takes root.
The whole Sermon on the Mount is built on this foundation.
The Paradox of the Kingdom
Here’s the wild part:
The ones who admit they have nothing… are the ones who are given everything.
Jesus promises that the kingdom of heaven belongs to the poor in spirit.
Not “will belong.” Not “might belong.” Not “someday after judgment.”
It is theirs—right now.
What Does It Mean to “Have the Kingdom”?
It means:
You belong to Jesus.
You are a citizen of His kingdom.
You live under His rule and blessing.
You have access to His presence, power, and promises.
You are adopted into God’s family.
You are part of God’s work on earth.
This is the greatest reversal in Scripture:
Those who have nothing to offer receive everything God offers.
Practical Application
Being poor in spirit shows up in everyday life:
You pray with dependence instead of self-confidence.
You confess sin quickly instead of hiding it.
You give God credit instead of stealing the spotlight.
You approach others with humility instead of superiority.
You seek God daily because you know you need Him constantly.
Poverty of spirit is not a moment—it’s a lifestyle.
Why This Is Good News
If Jesus had said, “Blessed are the impressive… the strong… the morally flawless,” most of us would pack up our Bibles and go home discouraged.
But Jesus begins with blessing for those who know they fall short.
He says, “Come empty, and I’ll fill you. Come broken, and I’ll restore you. Come poor, and I’ll give you My kingdom.”
This Beatitude is the doorway into grace, the foundation of the Christian life, and the promise that God delights to lift up those who bow before Him.
2. Comfort for Those Who Mourn
Jesus continues His kingdom portrait with another surprising declaration:
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” — Matthew 5:4
At first glance, this sounds impossible. How can mourning—deep sorrow—be a mark of those who flourish?
But Jesus is not glorifying sadness. He is pointing to a very specific kind of mourning found in kingdom people.
What Kind of Mourning Is Jesus Talking About?
This is not the everyday sadness of life—though God cares deeply about those pains too.
The mourning in this Beatitude is primarily:
Grief over sin in the world
Grief over sin done to you
Grief over your own sin
This is the sorrow that comes from seeing our world the way God sees it:
Brokenness
Injustice
Suffering
Rebellion
The cost of sin
The pain it causes people we love
The pain it causes in our own hearts
This kind of mourning is actually evidence of new life inside you. Only those who belong to God begin to hate what God hates and long for what God loves.
Why Do Blessed People Mourn?
Because their hearts are becoming like God’s heart.
God is not indifferent to evil. God is not numb to suffering. God is not casual about sin.
Kingdom people mourn because:
They understand how sin wounds God.
They feel the weight of sin’s damage in their own lives.
They see a world groaning under the curse.
They long for God’s righteousness to heal everything.
This is part of genuine repentance— not just admitting sin, but grieving over it.
But Here Is the Promise: “They Shall Be Comforted.”
God doesn’t leave mourning people in mourning. This Beatitude carries one of the most tender promises in Scripture:
God Himself will comfort them.
How?
1. God Comforts Through Forgiveness
When we mourn our sin, God does not turn us away. He forgives. He restores. He cleanses. The comfort of a forgiven heart is deep and lasting.
2. God Comforts Through His Presence
Psalm 34:18 says:
“The LORD is near to the brokenhearted.”
Kingdom comfort is not simply relief—it is God close to you in your sorrow.
3. God Comforts Through His People
He brings brothers and sisters who weep with us, pray for us, and help us carry burdens.
4. God Comforts Through His Hope
Revelation 21:4 promises a future where:
every tear is wiped away
death is no more
mourning is no more
pain is no more
The comfort Jesus promises is both present and future, both internal and eternal.
The Paradox of Kingdom Mourning
In the world’s eyes:
Mourning is weakness.
Sadness is a setback.
Tears are something to hide.
But in Jesus’ kingdom:
Mourning is evidence of a soft heart.
Grief over sin is a sign of spiritual life.
Tears often water the soil where God grows righteousness.
The world avoids sorrow at all costs. Kingdom people face it honestly—with hope.
Practical Application
Those who mourn in a kingdom way:
Grieve their sin instead of excusing it
Go to God instead of running from Him
Confess quickly
Repent genuinely
Long for God to heal what sin has broken
Offer comfort to others, because they’ve received it themselves
The Good News
This Beatitude teaches us that those who take sin lightly will never know the joy of deep comfort. But those who mourn find themselves held by a God who restores, heals, forgives, and promises to set all things right.
Jesus is saying:
“Don’t hide your tears—bring them to Me. I can turn mourning into comfort.”
3. The Meek Inherit the Earth
Jesus continues His kingdom description with a statement that seems completely upside down to the world:
“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” — Matthew 5:5
If you asked the world, “Who will inherit the earth?” most people would respond:
the powerful
the assertive
the influential
the loud
the ambitious
the ones who make things happen
the ones who push their way to the front
But Jesus says the exact opposite.
What Does It Mean to Be Meek?
Meekness is one of the most misunderstood words in Scripture.
Meek does not mean:
weak
timid
passive
a doormat
easily intimidated
never standing up for anything
Biblical meekness is strength under control.
It is a heart posture, not a lack of courage. It is humility expressed in how we respond to others—especially when mistreated.
A meek person is:
gentle instead of harsh
humble instead of arrogant
patient instead of defensive
self-controlled instead of explosive
trusting God instead of retaliating
relying on God instead of fighting for their own way
In short:
Meekness is power held in God’s hands.
The Meek Trust God’s Kingship
At the core of meekness is this belief:
“God is the King—I’m not.”
Meek people don’t need to grab control, because they trust the One who already has it.
They don’t panic when others mistreat them. They don’t have to prove themselves. They don’t take revenge to defend their pride.
Meekness rests in God’s justice, God’s timing, and God’s authority.
Why Are the Meek Blessed?
Because they are free from the tyranny of pride.
Pride is exhausting. Pride fights constantly for attention, recognition, control, and revenge.
Meekness frees you from all of that and anchors your soul in God’s rule.
The Promise: “They Shall Inherit the Earth”
This is a stunning promise.
In everyday life, the meek often look like the ones who lose.
They don’t push ahead.
They don’t dominate.
They don’t manipulate.
They don’t destroy others to get what they want.
But Jesus says:
In My kingdom, the meek are the true heirs. They receive the inheritance of the earth—not because they seize it, but because God gives it.
This echoes Psalm 37:11:
“The meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace.”
What Does “Inherit the Earth” Mean?
It points to the future reign of Christ when:
God renews creation
The curse is lifted
Heaven and earth are made new
God’s people reign with Him
The earth finally becomes what God intended
In other words:
The meek get the world that God restores—not the broken one people fight over now.
Practical Application
Meekness shows up in everyday life:
Responding to insults with calm instead of anger
Serving others without needing credit
Choosing patience over retaliation
Speaking truth with gentleness
Letting God defend your reputation
Trusting God when treated unfairly
Yielding your preferences when it blesses others
Putting others first because Jesus put you first
This is a supernatural posture. No one naturally chooses meekness. It is a work of the Spirit growing the character of Christ within us.
The Good News
Jesus Himself is the perfect picture of meekness. He describes His own heart as:
“I am gentle and lowly in heart.” — Matthew 11:29
And yet:
He calmed storms
Cast out demons
Confronted hypocrisy
Carried a cross
Rose from the dead
Meekness is not weakness—it’s Christlikeness.
Jesus promises that those who entrust themselves to God—even when wronged— will one day reign with Him in the renewed creation.
The world fights to take the earth. The meek wait—and inherit it.
4. Hungering for Righteousness
Jesus now describes a different kind of longing—one that marks every true citizen of His kingdom:
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.” — Matthew 5:6
This Beatitude moves us from weakness (poor in spirit), sorrow (mourning), and humility (meekness) into holy desire—a longing that defines the heart of someone transformed by God.
What Does It Mean to “Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness”?
Think about hunger and thirst in Jesus’ day:
No refrigerators
No clean running water
No DoorDash
No late-night snacks
If you were hungry or thirsty, it wasn’t just a mild craving— it was a desperate need. A life-or-death longing.
Jesus uses this picture intentionally.
To hunger and thirst for righteousness is to have a deep, driving desire for:
God
God's character
God’s ways
God’s will to be done
God’s justice to prevail
God’s holiness to shape your life
God’s kingdom to come in fullness
It is wanting what God wants more than anything else.
Three Dimensions of Righteousness
1. Personal Righteousness
This is longing to be right with God and to live a holy, obedient life.
Kingdom people want:
purity instead of sin
obedience instead of rebellion
growth instead of stagnation
holiness instead of compromise
They don’t hunger for sin—they hunger for righteousness.
2. Social Righteousness (Justice)
This is longing for God’s justice in the world.
Kingdom people care deeply about:
the oppressed
the abused
the marginalized
the mistreated
the forgotten
the harmed
They want God to make wrong things right—both now and in the future.
3. Ultimate Righteousness (New Creation)
This is longing for the day when:
sin is removed
evil is defeated
justice is perfect
creation is renewed
the curse is broken
Jesus reigns visibly and finally
This is what Peter describes in 2 Peter 3:13:
“We are looking for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.”
In other words: Kingdom people long for the world that God has promised.
The Promise: “They Shall Be Filled.”
This is an incredible promise.
Those who hunger for righteousness will not stay hungry.
God will satisfy them:
1. In Salvation
God fills us with the righteousness of Christ.
2. In Sanctification
God grows righteousness in us through His Spirit.
3. In Kingdom Work
God uses us to bring glimpses of righteousness into the world now.
4. In the New Creation
God will fully satisfy this longing when Christ returns.
One day, we won’t hunger for righteousness anymore— because it will fill the whole world.
Why Are These People Blessed?
Because their desires align with God’s heart.
What you hunger for reveals who you are. What you hunger for shapes your life. What you hunger for determines what will satisfy you.
Kingdom people have been transformed at the core. Their appetites have changed.
Instead of sin, they desire holiness. Instead of selfishness, they desire justice. Instead of the world’s values, they desire God’s kingdom.
Practical Application
People who hunger for righteousness:
Feel convicted when they sin
Desire spiritual growth
Seek God in His Word
Long for God’s kingdom to influence their family, work, and relationships
Pray for justice and work toward it
Repent quickly
Love God’s commands
Desire revival
Crave the presence of God
Support and help those who suffer injustice
It’s not a perfect hunger, but it’s a real one.
The Good News
Jesus doesn’t bless people who have already “arrived.” He blesses those who hunger—those who long for more of God and His righteousness.
And He promises:
“I will fill you.”
Not with temporary satisfaction, not with worldly comfort, but with the righteousness your soul was created to crave.
This is a promise only Jesus can fulfill.
Conclusion to the First Four Beatitudes
The first four Beatitudes describe a powerful spiritual transformation taking place in the hearts of God’s people. They paint a picture of what it looks like when someone begins to live under the gracious rule of King Jesus.
These four Beatitudes focus on our inner posture before God:
Poor in spirit — We acknowledge our spiritual need.
Mourning — We grieve over sin and its damage.
Meekness — We surrender our pride and trust God’s authority.
Hungering for righteousness — We long deeply for God to make us holy and for His justice to fill the world.
Together, these describe the birth of true discipleship. They show how God reshapes our hearts before He reshapes our behavior.
These blessings are not about personality. They are not natural traits. They are supernatural works of grace—the fingerprints of the Holy Spirit on a transformed life.
The first four Beatitudes focus inward:
Our need
Our sorrow
Our surrender
Our longing
They describe a disciple learning to depend on God, trust God, and desire God above all else.
They are the roots of kingdom character.
And just like healthy roots produce healthy fruit, the next four Beatitudes show what kind of life flows outward from a heart shaped by grace.

Sermon: Apostles’ Creed Week Two - In Jesus Christ

Sermon Date: 01/11/2026
Bible Verses:
Various 
Speaker: Rev. Timothy "Tim" Shapley
Theme: https://uppbeat.io/t/northwestern/a-new
Introduction: Belief Has a Name
Last week, the Apostles’ Creed confronted us with a decision:
“I believe.”
Two words. A personal declaration. A line in the sand.
But belief does not float in the abstract. Belief always has an object. You don’t just believe something—you believe someone. And this week, the Creed presses us further. It refuses to let belief remain vague.
Because belief without an object is meaningless.
Christian faith is not generic spirituality. It is not belief in belief. It is not positive thinking wrapped in religious language. It is not a set of values, a moral framework, or a comforting tradition.
Christian faith is belief in a Person.
A Person with:
a name
a history
a body
a cross
a tomb
and a throne
That’s why the Creed doesn’t say “I believe in goodness” or “I believe in love” or “I believe things will work out.” It gets specific. It gets concrete. It gets uncomfortable.
“And in Jesus Christ…”
That name is not neutral. It divides history into before and after. It confronts every culture. It unsettles every conscience. And it demands a response.
You can admire Jesus.You can study Jesus.You can reference Jesus.But you cannot remain undecided about Jesus.
Because the moment His name is spoken, neutrality dies.
Point One: And in Jesus Christ, His Only Son, Our Lord
This phrase answers the most important question anyone will ever face—not just theologically, but personally:
Who is Jesus?
Not “Who do you think He is?”Not “What does He mean to you?”But who is He—really?
Paul answers with shocking simplicity:
“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord…” (Romans 10:9)
Notice what Paul doesn’t say.He doesn’t say “Jesus is inspiring.”He doesn’t say “Jesus is helpful.”He doesn’t even say “Jesus is Savior” first.
He says Lord.
Not a lord.Not one option among many.Not your truth.
Lord.
Philippians takes that claim and stretches it to cosmic scale:
“God has highly exalted Him… that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow.” (Phil. 2:9–11)
Every knee.
In heaven
On earth
Under the earth
That includes emperors and slaves, skeptics and saints, kings and commoners. Some will bow in joy. Some will bow in regret. But all will bow.
Why?
Because Jesus is:
God’s only Son — unique, eternal, not created, not adopted later
Our Lord — sovereign, authoritative, ruling now, not waiting for permission
Jesus Himself claimed this authority without apology:
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.” (Matthew 28:18)
Not most authority.Not shared authority.All.
And Revelation seals it with the final title history will ever need:
“King of kings and Lord of lords.” (Revelation 19:16)
To say “Jesus is Lord” is not a religious slogan.It is not a worship lyric.It is not church language.
It is a declaration of allegiance.
It means:
You don’t vote Him in.
You don’t negotiate His authority.
You don’t redefine His commands.
You don’t domesticate His claims.
You either submit—or you resist.
There is no third category.
And the Creed puts that decision right at the front because Christianity does not begin with comfort. It begins with lordship.
Point Two: Who Was Conceived by the Holy Spirit
Jesus did not begin at birth.
The Creed includes this line to protect us from one of the most common and dangerous misunderstandings about Jesus—that He was simply a good man who became important, a moral teacher who was later elevated, or a prophet who happened to be exceptional.
No.His very conception was divine.
This was not mythology.This was not symbolism.This was intervention.
The Holy Spirit overshadowed Mary—not as a metaphor, but as a miracle—so that salvation would be:
Fully God’s work
Fully God’s initiative
Fully God’s power
No human effort produced the Savior.No lineage earned redemption.No strength of will brought Christ into the world.
Redemption did not rise up from the earth—it came down from heaven.
This matters because it tells us something essential about the gospel:We do not save ourselves.
Christianity does not begin with human potential—it begins with divine grace. It does not begin with what we offer God, but with what God gives us.
✦ Christianity begins with grace, not genetics.
From the very first moment, Jesus is God reaching toward humanity, not humanity climbing toward God.
Point Three: Born of the Virgin Mary
The Creed now grounds the miracle of Christ’s conception in the soil of history.
“Behold, the virgin shall conceive…” (Isaiah 7:14)
Matthew and Luke go to great lengths to tell us this wasn’t a legend passed down through whispers—it was an event anchored in names, places, rulers, and timelines.
Why does this matter?
Because the Creed insists that Jesus was not half-God and half-human. He was not God pretending to be human. He was not a divine visitor wearing a human costume.
Jesus was:
Fully God — conceived by the Spirit
Fully human — born of a woman
He didn’t appear human.He became human.
That means something profound for us.
Because He was born of Mary:
He understands weakness.
He knows hunger, exhaustion, grief, and pain.
He experiences temptation without sin.
He enters our world from the inside.
God did not shout salvation from heaven.He did not issue commands from a distance.He stepped into our skin.
The incarnation means God meets us not above our suffering, but within it. The Creator entered creation. The Eternal entered time. The Holy entered humanity.
Point Four: Suffered Under Pontius Pilate
The Creed now names a Roman governor—and it does so deliberately.
This was not:
“Spiritual suffering”
Symbolic injustice
A poetic way of talking about hardship
This happened in real time, under real authority, in recorded history.
Pontius Pilate was not a theological concept—he was a Roman official whose name still exists in historical records. The Creed anchors the cross to history so no one can dismiss it as legend or metaphor.
Pilate examined Jesus and declared:
“I find no guilt in Him.” (Luke 23:4)
And still—He suffered.
Jesus was innocent. Everyone knew it. Pilate knew it. Herod knew it. The religious leaders knew it. And yet injustice won.
But here’s the crucial truth:Jesus was not a victim of circumstances.
He did not lose control.He did not get trapped by politics.He did not suffer because things went wrong.
He submitted.
He willingly placed Himself under unjust authority to save the unjust. He stood silent before false accusations so that guilty sinners could go free. He absorbed injustice so that mercy could flow.
The Creed forces us to confront this reality:
Our salvation was not cheap.It was not abstract.It was not painless.
It was purchased with suffering—chosen suffering—endured out of love.
Point Five: Was Crucified, Died, and Was Buried
The Creed slows us down here on purpose—because the gospel hinges on this moment.
It does not rush past the cross.It does not soften the language.It does not allow metaphor or escape.
“Christ died for our sins… and was buried.” (1 Corinthians 15:4)
That sentence dismantles every attempt to dilute the gospel.
Jesus did not:
Fake death
Pass out temporarily
Escape early
Survive and recover
He was crucified.He died.He was buried.
Isaiah had already told us why:
“He was pierced for our transgressions… crushed for our iniquities.” (Isaiah 53:4–5)
The cross matters because justice was satisfied there. God did not look the other way. He did not excuse sin. He dealt with it fully—by placing it on His Son.
The burial matters because it confirms the death. Bodies are buried, not appearances. Tombs are sealed when life is gone. Roman executioners did not make mistakes.
And here’s the weight of it:
If Jesus did not truly die, sin remains unpaid for.
If Jesus truly died—and He did—redemption is complete.
The cross is not an example to admire.It is a payment to trust.
When Jesus said, “It is finished,” He meant nothing is left outstanding.
Point Six: He Descended into Hell (Sheol / Hades)
This line has caused confusion for centuries, so the Creed forces us to be precise.
Scripture does not teach that Jesus went to a place of torment after His death.
In the Bible:
Sheol (Hebrew)
Hades (Greek)
Both refer to the realm of the dead—a temporary place where souls await resurrection and final judgment. This is distinct from the lake of fire, which Scripture describes as the final place of judgment (Revelation 20).
Jesus Himself tells us when His suffering ended:
“It is finished.” (John 19:30)
The suffering was complete at the cross. The debt was paid. There was no more punishment required.
So why does the Creed say He descended?
Because Jesus did not descend to suffer—He descended to proclaim victory.
Peter tells us:
“He was made alive in the spirit… and proclaimed to the spirits.” (1 Peter 3:18–20)
Paul explains the result:
“He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame.” (Colossians 2:15)
Jesus entered the realm of death not as a prisoner—but as a conqueror. He did not arrive defeated. He arrived triumphant.
Death thought it had won.Hell thought it had the final word.And then Jesus showed up.
He walked into death’s domain—and walked out holding the keys.
✦ He did not suffer there.He conquered there.
Point Seven: On the Third Day He Rose Again from the Dead
The resurrection is not an optional doctrine.It is not a symbolic ending.It is not a poetic hope.
It is the hinge of history.
Jesus predicted it clearly:
“The Son of Man will be raised.” (Matthew 20:18–19)
And then it happened:
“He is not here, for He has risen.” (Matthew 28:6)
No body.No alternate explanation.No successful cover-up.
If the resurrection didn’t happen:
Sin still wins.
Death still rules.
The cross means nothing.
Faith is pointless.
Paul is blunt about this:
“If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile.”
But the tomb was empty.
Christian belief is not built on a philosophy.It is not built on moral teaching.It is not built on spiritual feelings.
It is built on an event.
Jesus rose bodily, historically, permanently. And because He lives:
Sin is defeated.
Death is broken.
Hope is justified.
The future is secure.
The resurrection is God’s declaration that the cross worked.
Point Eight: He Ascended into Heaven
Jesus didn’t disappear.He didn’t fade into memory.He didn’t become a spiritual idea.
He ascended.
“He was lifted up, and a cloud took Him out of their sight.” (Acts 1:9)
The ascension is not an afterthought—it is the completion of the gospel story. The same Jesus who walked out of the tomb walked into glory.
The ascension means three critical things:
His Work on Earth Was Complete
The cross was finished.The resurrection was confirmed.Nothing more needed to be added.
Jesus did not leave unfinished business behind. Redemption was accomplished fully and finally.
His Reign in Heaven Began
The ascension is a coronation.
Jesus does not return to heaven as a wounded survivor—He returns as a victorious King. The One who humbled Himself is now exalted.
His Return Is Guaranteed
The angels said it plainly:
“This same Jesus… will come back in the same way you have seen Him go.”
The ascension points forward. Jesus is not absent—He is enthroned. And because He ascended bodily, He will return bodily.
✦ Jesus reigns now—not someday.
Point Nine: And Is Seated at the Right Hand of God the Father Almighty
The Creed now moves us from movement to position.
Jesus is seated.
That word matters.
“After making purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.” (Hebrews 1:3)
Seated Means Finished
Priests in the Old Testament never sat down—their work was never done. Sacrifices kept coming. Blood kept flowing.
But Jesus offered one sacrifice, once for all—and then He sat.
Nothing remains unpaid.Nothing needs to be repeated.Nothing can be improved.
Right Hand Means Authority
In Scripture, the right hand is the place of power, honor, and rule.
Jesus is not waiting for authority.He has it.
Right now:
He intercedes for His people
He reigns over heaven and earth
He governs history toward God’s purposes
Jesus is not pacing heaven anxiously, hoping things work out.He is ruling confidently, ensuring they will.
✦ The throne of the universe is not empty—and that changes everything.
Point Ten: From There He Will Come to Judge the Living and the Dead
This final line does not end in fear—it ends in hope.
Judgment has become a frightening word because we imagine it without Christ. But the Creed reminds us that the Judge is the same One who was crucified for us.
“They came to life and reigned with Christ.” (Revelation 20:4)
Judgment means:
Evil does not win.
Injustice does not get the last word.
Truth will be revealed.
Faithfulness will be honored.
For those in Christ, judgment is not terror—it is vindication. It is God publicly setting things right. It is wrongs exposed, wounds healed, and righteousness established.
The One who judges is the One who bled.The One who reigns is the One who saves.
So the return of Christ is not something believers dread—it is something we long for.
✦ History is not spiraling toward chaos.It is moving toward Christ.
Conclusion: Belief Has a Center
Christian belief is not vague.It is not flexible.It is not whatever we need it to be in the moment.
It has a center.
It has:
a name
a face
a cross
a throne
To say “I believe in Jesus Christ” is not to check a theological box. It is to make a confession that reshapes everything.
It is to confess:
He is Lord — not advisor, not consultant, not optional
He is Savior — not self-help, not backup plan
He is King — reigning now, not waiting later
He is Coming — to judge, to restore, to reign forever
And belief like that cannot remain theoretical.
Belief has weight.Belief has direction.Belief has consequences.
If Jesus is Lord, then obedience is not oppression—it’s freedom.If Jesus is Savior, then grace is not cheap—it’s costly love.If Jesus is King, then our allegiance is settled.If Jesus is coming, then faithfulness matters.
The Creed does not ask if you admire Jesus.It asks if you belong to Him.
So the question before us is not:
“Do you know these words?”
But:
“Does your life orbit the Christ you confess?”
Because belief that does not change how we live is not belief—it is familiarity.
And the good news is this:The same Jesus we confess is the Jesus who sustains us, intercedes for us, reigns for us, and will return for us.

The Weekly Show - Episode 78: Study One: Setting the Stage

Join Tim and John This New Year as they set the stage for the Sermon on the Mount. 
Theme: https://uppbeat.io/t/northwestern/a-new-beginning and https://uppbeat.io/t/pecan-pie/halloween-time
Transition Song: https://uppbeat.io/t/all-good-folks/
1. The Setting
A Sermon Unlike Any Other
Matthew 5–7 records the longest continuous sermon of Jesus that we possess. While Jesus preached many times, this sermon stands out for its scope, depth, and clarity. It is the kingdom manifesto—a concentrated look at what life under Jesus’ reign truly looks like.
Scholars place this sermon early in Jesus’ three-year ministry, shortly after:
His baptism
His temptation in the wilderness
The calling of His first disciples
His early miracles and healings
Jesus had just begun turning Galilee upside down, and people were starting to whisper, “Who is this Teacher with real authority?”
A Hillside Classroom
Matthew tells us that Jesus went up on a mountainside (Matthew 5:1). This is a subtle but meaningful detail—it echoes Moses ascending Mount Sinai to receive and deliver God’s law.
But unlike Moses, who brought down tablets, Jesus sits down and speaks with His own authority. He isn’t just quoting God’s Word—He is God’s Word made flesh.
Who Was Jesus Talking To?
The sermon begins with an intentional audience:
Primary audience: His disciples They were the ones who gathered close, ready to learn how to follow Him.
But Jesus never stays small for long.
A Rapidly Growing Crowd
As Jesus taught, people flocked to Him. Matthew 4:23–25 explains why:
He healed the sick
He cast out demons
He taught with authority
He drew people from all over Galilee, the Decapolis, Judea, and beyond the Jordan
In other words, Jesus had gone “viral” before the internet existed.
By the time the Sermon on the Mount hits full stride, the crowd is massive. Picture families, skeptics, fishermen, religious leaders, the curious, the desperate—everyone gathering to hear the Rabbi who spoke like no one else.
Honestly, if Jesus preached this sermon today, you’d need:
Ushers
Orange parking cones
A shuttle service
A backup shuttle service
And you still wouldn’t fit everybody.
Why the Crowd Matters
This mixture of disciples and curious onlookers is important. It means everything Jesus teaches has a dual edge:
Instruction for believers – “This is how you live in My kingdom.”
Invitation to the seekers – “This is the life you’re being called into.”
Jesus never separates mission from discipleship. He teaches the committed while reaching the curious at the same time.
2. God’s Original Purpose
A Blueprint from the Beginning
Before the Fall, before the brokenness, before the flood of bad news in human history, God had a clear and beautiful intention for humanity. Scripture opens with this foundational truth:
“Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule…” — Genesis 1:26
From day one, God designed us for three core callings:
1. We Were Created to Represent Him
Human beings were made “in His image”—a royal, relational, and spiritual identity. In the ancient world, kings placed images of themselves in far-off territories as signs of their rule. God did the same—except His “images” breathe, think, love, and make questionable life choices.
To be human is to reflect God’s character, His goodness, His creativity, and His love into the world.
2. We Were Created to Rule His World Under His Authority
This wasn’t domination—it was stewardship.
We were meant to:
Tend creation
Build culture
Develop communities
Shape the world with justice, wisdom, and compassion
God entrusted His world to humanity—not as owners, but as caretakers carrying His heart.
3. We Were Created to Flourish in Relationship
Flourishing wasn’t an optional add-on like leather seats in a minivan—it was central.
We thrive when we live:
With God — in trust and obedience
With one another — in unity, love, and mutual care
Within creation — working, resting, producing, and enjoying life as God intended
This is biblical flourishing—the life of peace, purpose, and joy God always intended for His people.
The Purpose That Refuses to Die
Humanity rebelled. Sin entered the world. Everything cracked—our relationships, our desires, our purpose.
But here’s the good news: God didn’t shred the blueprint.
Even after sin’s damage:
God still desires relationship.
God still calls us to represent Him.
God still invites His people to flourish under His reign.
The Old Testament is filled with God patiently pulling humanity back to Himself. By the time Jesus steps onto the scene, people are starving for this restored life.
Enter the Sermon on the Mount
The Sermon on the Mount is Jesus standing on a hillside and saying:
“Here is the life you were made for. Here is the way back to flourishing. Here is My kingdom—and this is what My people look like.”
It’s not a list of rules. It’s a portrait of renewed humanity—the life God always intended, now made possible through Christ.
Jesus is restoring what was lost. He’s redefining greatness. He’s revealing the heart of the King and the character of His kingdom.
This sermon is nothing less than an invitation to live the life you were created for.
3. What the Sermon on the Mount Is About
Not a Collection of Random Teachings
The Sermon on the Mount is often treated like a spiritual greatest-hits album—some Beatitudes here, a prayer there, a life lesson sprinkled in.
But Matthew didn’t record this as a grab-bag of wisdom. This sermon is one unified message.
It’s not spiritual fortune-cookie advice. It is a kingdom manifesto—Jesus setting out the values, character, and lifestyle of the people who belong to Him.
A Kingdom, Not a Club
From the first words to the closing parable, Jesus draws a line in the sand:
“This is what life looks like when I am King.”
This sermon reveals the nature of the kingdom He came to establish—not a political state, not a nationalism project, not a self-help system, but the rule of God taking root in human hearts and spreading through human lives.
What Jesus Describes in This Sermon
The Sermon on the Mount reveals four major things:
1. What His Followers Are
Jesus begins with identity—not behavior. Before He tells His followers what to do, He tells them who they already are:
Blessed
Salt of the earth
Light of the world
Children of the Father
Citizens of the kingdom
People who hunger and thirst for righteousness
Jesus doesn’t build a kingdom from the outside in. He transforms people from the inside out.
2. How They Live
Once Jesus grounds His followers in identity, He then describes the life that flows from it:
A life of mercy
A life of purity
A life of integrity
A life free from revenge
A life marked by love, even toward enemies
A life that values God above wealth
A life that trusts God instead of worrying
A life built on obedience
He isn’t describing how to get into the kingdom. He’s describing what kingdom people look like.
3. How They Shine
Jesus uses two household objects to make a global point:
Salt — preserving, purifying, flavor-giving
Light — visible, guiding, revealing
His people don’t hide. They don’t blend in. They don’t become spiritual chameleons.
Kingdom people stand out—not by being loud or flashy, but by being different in all the best ways.
Jesus essentially says, “If you’re following Me, the world should notice—not because you’re obnoxious, but because you’re luminous.”
4. How They Relate to God, Each Other, and the World
Across the sermon, Jesus reshapes every relationship:
With God:
Trust, not anxiety
Intimacy, not performance
Seeking His kingdom first
Knowing Him as Father
With Others:
Mercy over judgment
Reconciliation over resentment
Forgiveness over revenge
Love over hate
Integrity over manipulation
With the World:
Doing good publicly—but for God’s glory
Standing firm in trials
Praying for those who oppose you
Displaying the Father’s love in every context
This is the kingdom ethic—the way of life that reflects the heart of Jesus in a broken world.
A Portrait of Flourishing Humanity
The Sermon on the Mount isn’t a burden—it’s an invitation. It’s Jesus holding up a mirror and saying:
“This is the life you were made for— the life that flourishes under My gracious reign.”
Not a life without hardship, but a life rooted in the King, filled with purpose, peace, hope, and shining influence.
4. The Beatitudes – Matthew 5:1–12
A Kingdom Upside Down (or Right Side Up)
Jesus begins His sermon with a shocking declaration: the most blessed people in God’s kingdom don’t look anything like the “blessed” people of the world.
The world says the blessed are:
successful
wealthy
powerful
impressive
secure
self-made
comfortable
Jesus flips that on its head—and then flips our hearts right-side up.
What “Blessed” Really Means
The word “blessed” comes from the Latin beatus, which means:
favored by God
flourishing
thriving in the deepest sense
experiencing God’s approval
This is not surface-level happiness. This is deep, soul-level flourishing rooted in the presence and promise of God.
Psalm 1 and the Beatitudes
Psalm 1 gives an Old Testament picture of the blessed person:
“He is like a tree planted by streams of water…”
Deep roots. Steady strength. Life that thrives even when the weather changes.
Jesus now paints the New Testament portrait of the same kind of flourishing—but in kingdom color.
The Eight Beatitudes
Here are the people Jesus calls “blessed”—and why.
1. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
These are people who know they need God. Not self-sufficient. Not proud. They recognize their spiritual bankruptcy—and God gives them His kingdom.
2. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”
This isn’t general sadness—it’s grieving over sin, brokenness, and the pain of the world. And Jesus promises God Himself will comfort them.
3. “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”
Meekness is not weakness. It is strength under control, humility that trusts God’s timing. These are the people God entrusts with His world.
4. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.”
These are people starving for the things that please God—justice, holiness, faithfulness. Jesus promises they will be satisfied, because God Himself meets that hunger.
5. “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.”
Kingdom people freely give what God has freely given them—mercy, forgiveness, compassion. And in God’s kingdom, mercy never runs out.
6. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”
Purity isn’t perfection—it’s undivided devotion. A heart that belongs wholly to God gets the greatest gift imaginable: seeing Him.
7. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”
These aren’t peace-keepers (avoiding conflict), but peace-makers—people who bring reconciliation and healing. They resemble their Father—and the world notices.
8. “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Following Jesus won’t always make you popular. But Jesus says the cost is worth it because the reward is His kingdom.
Bonus Beatitude (vv. 11–12)
Jesus ends by getting personal:
“Blessed are you when people insult you… rejoice and be glad!”
Why? Because suffering for Jesus ties us to the stories of the prophets and anchors us in eternal joy.
A Hard but Beautiful Reality
Jesus never promises:
an easy life
instant success
a trial-free existence
What He promises is far better:
Life with God, life like God, and life under God’s blessing— a life that flourishes even in storms.
The Beatitudes aren’t a checklist. They’re a portrait of the kind of person God forms in His kingdom.
They’re not requirements—they’re results of belonging to Jesus.
Conclusion: Setting the Stage
Before Jesus ever delivers a single command, challenge, or promise, Matthew wants us to see where we are and why it matters.
On a Galilean hillside, the King of Heaven sits down to describe life in His kingdom. His disciples lean in. A curious, hurting crowd gathers around. And Jesus speaks words that have shaped believers for two thousand years.
Everything He is about to teach grows out of three anchor truths:
1. God’s Purpose Has Never Changed
Humanity was created to flourish under God’s reign—representing Him, walking with Him, and living with one another in love and unity. Sin distorted that purpose, but it did not destroy it.
2. Jesus Came to Restore What Was Lost
The Sermon on the Mount is Jesus unveiling the life we were designed for. He is not offering self-help tips or moral upgrades. He is describing the transformed life of kingdom citizens—a life that only He can give.
3. Kingdom Life Looks Different
The Beatitudes prove right away that Jesus’ kingdom values run opposite to the world’s. Where the world applauds power, Jesus blesses humility. Where the world rewards pride, Jesus honors purity. Where the world demands revenge, Jesus celebrates mercy. Everything is turned upside down—and actually turned right-side up.
Why This Matters for Us
The Sermon on the Mount is not just ancient teaching for ancient people. It is the portrait of flourishing humanity—the life you were created for, the life Christ invites you into, and the life the Holy Spirit empowers you to live.
As we step into the rest of the study, remember this:
You’re not climbing a ladder to earn God’s approval. You’re learning how to walk in the life Jesus already opened to you.
So take a deep breath. Lean in like those first disciples did. The King is about to speak—and His words still change everything.

Sermon: Apostles' Creed Week One - I Believe

Sermon Date: 01/04/2026
Bible Verses:
Various 
Speaker: Rev. Timothy "Tim" Shapley
Theme: https://uppbeat.io/t/northwestern/a-new
Introduction: Belief Is Not Neutral
The Apostles’ Creed does not begin softly.It doesn’t ease us in.It doesn’t ask how we feel.
It doesn’t say:
“I feel like…”
“I hope that…”
“I was raised to believe…”
It begins with a declaration that demands ownership:
“I believe.”
Those are not polite words. They are dangerous words. Because the moment you say “I believe,” you are no longer neutral. You have stepped off the fence. You have chosen a side.
Belief is never just internal—it always leads somewhere. What you believe determines what you trust, what you obey, and ultimately what you worship. Everyone believes something. The only question is what and who.
Jesus never treated belief as optional or abstract. He didn’t say, “Consider these ideas,” or “Adopt this philosophy.” He said, “Follow Me.” He spoke of belief as a road you walk, a foundation you build on, a gate you pass through.
That’s why He framed belief as a fork in the road:
A narrow way or a broad way.
A house on the rock or a house on the sand.
Life or death.
You don’t accidentally end up following Christ. You don’t drift into faith like a leaf on the wind. Drift always takes you away from God, not toward Him. Faith requires a decision—a deliberate turning of the heart, mind, and will.
To say “I believe” is to say:
“This is true—even if it costs me.”
“This is real—even if it confronts me.”
“This will shape my life—not just my opinions.”
The Apostles’ Creed begins here because Christianity does not start with behavior—it starts with belief. But belief is never content to stay in the head. It moves into the hands, the feet, the calendar, the wallet, and the conscience.
So before we recite ancient words, we must ask a modern question:
Do I believe—or am I just familiar?
Because belief is not neutral.Belief is allegiance.Belief is direction.Belief is destiny.
And once you say “I believe,” there is no turning back to indifference.
Point One: I Believe — Two Worldviews, One Choice
Jesus does not offer belief as a preference. He presents it as a decision with consequences.
“Enter through the narrow gate…” (Matthew 7:13–14)
That verse doesn’t sound tolerant, and that’s because truth rarely is. Jesus says there are two gates, two roads, and two destinations. One is easy, crowded, and familiar. The other is hard, costly, and life-giving.
He presses the point further:
“Everyone who hears these words of mine and does them…” (Matthew 7:24–27)
Notice what Jesus doesn’t say. He doesn’t say, “Everyone who agrees with my words.” He says, “Everyone who hears and does.” Belief that never reaches obedience isn’t belief—it’s noise.
Moses framed it the same way centuries earlier:
“I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life.” (Deut. 30:15)
Scripture does not give us a philosophical spectrum. It gives us a fork in the road. You don’t get a third option. You don’t get to stand in the middle forever. You choose by how you live.
Two Worldviews
The Biblical (Covenant) Worldview
(And yes—bilabial works beautifully here: belief spoken and belief lived.)
This worldview says:
God is real.
God has spoken.
Truth is revealed, not negotiated.
Obedience flows from trust, not fear.
This worldview does not say God is one voice among many.It says God defines reality.
At its core, it confesses:
“God defines what is true—and I submit to it, even when it costs me.”
Faith here is not blind—it’s anchored. Not naïve—it’s obedient.
The Secular Worldview
This worldview sounds free—but it enslaves.
It says:
Man is the final authority.
Truth is flexible.
Desire becomes doctrine.
Feelings outrank Scripture.
This worldview claims independence, but it quietly replaces God with self.
At its core, it confesses:
“I decide what’s right—and God can weigh in later, if at all.”
Jesus does not pretend both foundations work. When the storm comes—and it will—only one stands.
Same storm.Same rain.Same wind.Different foundations.
That’s why this matters:
Belief is not what you claim on Sunday.Belief is what you build your life on Monday.
Point Two: I Believe in God — Can We Know Him?
That single phrase—“I believe in God”—raises one of the most important questions a human being can ask:
Who is God—and can He actually be known?
The Bible answers without hesitation.
“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.” (Deut. 6:4)
God is not a vague force. Not a cosmic suggestion. Not a spiritual placeholder. He is one, personal, distinct, and self-existent.
And remarkably—He does not stay distant.
“The LORD your God is in your midst… He will rejoice over you with gladness.” (Zeph. 3:17)
Let that sit for a moment.The infinite, eternal, holy God doesn’t merely tolerate His people—He rejoices over them. That’s not the language of an abstract deity. That’s the language of relationship.
But Scripture keeps us grounded:
“My thoughts are not your thoughts…” (Isaiah 55:8)
We don’t climb our way to God through intellect or effort. We don’t reason Him into submission. We know God because He chooses to be known.
And John says it plainly:
“God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God.” (1 John 4:16)
Not “God loves sometimes.”Not “God shows love occasionally.”God is love.
So how do we know Him?
We know God because:
He reveals Himself — not hiding, but speaking
He acts in history — not myth, but incarnation
He speaks through His Word — not confusion, but clarity
He draws us by love — not coercion, but grace
Christian belief is not believing about God.It is trusting the God who came looking for us first.
We don’t believe in an idea.We believe in a God who reaches for us.
Point Three: I Believe in God the Father Almighty — Abba
This is where belief stops being theoretical and starts being relational.
Not just God.Not just Almighty.Father.
That one word changes everything.
Paul says:
“You have received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’” (Romans 8:15–17)
Abba is not formal language. It’s not religious polish. It’s not “Dear Sir” or “Most Holy Deity.” It’s the word a child uses when they run into the room needing comfort, protection, or reassurance.
It’s closer to “Dad.”
Christian belief does not say God merely rules over you.It says God welcomes you.
That means:
You are not tolerated—you are adopted.
You are not managed—you are loved.
You are not kept at arm’s length—you are brought near.
The gospel doesn’t move God closer to us—it moves us closer to God.
“Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith.” (Hebrews 10:22)
Notice the confidence there. Not fear. Not hesitation. Assurance.
And here’s the key tension the Creed holds beautifully:God is Father and Almighty.
His love is not fragile.
He protects.
He provides.
He disciplines.
He sustains.
Some people struggle with God’s authority because they’ve known authority without love. But Scripture flips that assumption on its head. God’s authority doesn’t compete with His love—it guarantees it.
Because if God were loving but not almighty, He could mean well and still fail you.If He were almighty but not loving, you’d never trust Him.
But He is both.
Only an almighty Father can be trusted completely.
Point Four: Creator of Heaven and Earth — Nothing Is Accidental
The Creed anchors belief in creation for a reason. If God is not Creator, then everything else collapses into opinion. But Scripture opens with certainty:
“In the beginning, God created…” (Genesis 1)
Before chaos—God.Before matter—God.Before time—God.
Creation doesn’t begin with randomness. It begins with intention.
John makes it unmistakable that Jesus is not a side character in the story of existence:
“All things were made through Him.” (John 1:3)
And Paul removes any remaining doubt:
“By Him all things were created… visible and invisible.” (Colossians 1:16)
That means creation is not neutral. It belongs to Christ. It exists for Him.
So let’s say this plainly:
You are not an accident.
Your life is not random.
History is not meaningless.
Creation belongs to Christ.
The universe is not cold and indifferent—it is intentional and declared.
“The heavens declare the glory of God.” (Psalm 19:1)
Creation preaches every day.Sunrises preach faithfulness.Seasons preach order.Stars preach power.Breath in your lungs preaches mercy.
The world is not screaming, “There is no God.”It’s whispering—sometimes shouting—
“You were made for Him.”
And that changes how you see everything:
Your suffering has context.
Your calling has purpose.
Your obedience has meaning.
Your worship has direction.
You are not floating through a godless universe.You are living inside God’s creation, under God’s authority, held by God’s love.
Conclusion: “I Believe” Is a Line in the Sand
The Apostles’ Creed does not begin with theology—it begins with commitment.
Two words. No qualifiers. No escape hatches.
“I believe.”
Not:
“I agree in theory.”
“I was raised to think this.”
“I like these ideas.”
“I’ll circle back to this later.”
But:
“I believe.”
And belief is never neutral.
Belief chooses a road.Belief lays a foundation.Belief names God as Father.Belief confesses Christ as Creator.
Belief doesn’t just shape what you say—it shapes how you stand when the storm hits.
Jesus was honest about this. Storms don’t discriminate. They come to the obedient and the disobedient, the believer and the skeptic, the churchgoer and the church skeptic alike. The difference is never the storm—it’s the foundation underneath.
Once you say “I believe,” you don’t get to leave it in the pew.You carry it into your work, your relationships, your suffering, your decisions, your obedience.
Because belief that never changes how you live is not belief—it’s familiarity.
So the question today isn’t:
“Do you understand the Creed?”
The question is:
“Which foundation are you building on?”
Because storms are coming either way.
And when they do, only one confession will stand.