As Opposition Mounted…
• Jesus chose men to represent him and who
would carry on his message after he was goneApostles
• He continued to speak the truth and care for the
needs of people
• He challenged all who would follow him with the
radical kind of life needed to change the world:
– A radical life toward God
– A radical life toward people
Messengers Chosen- Apostles
6:12-16
Jesus’ Impact is Noted
6:17-19
Truth without Compassion produces
apathetic intellectualism- No heart
Compassion without truth produces
ignorant emotionalism - No insight
Philippians 3:12-15
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have
already been made perfect, but I press on to take
hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of
me. 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have
taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what
is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I
press on toward the goal to win the prize for which
God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. 15
All of us who are mature should take such a view of
things. And if on some point you think differently,
that too God will make clear to you.
A Radical Life is Urged
6:20-28 Toward God
Blessings and Woes
Blessings on the Person
who is…
Woes on the Person
who is…
Poor
Dependent on
God
Get the
Kingdom!
Rich
Focused on
this world’s
Wealth
That is all
you get
Hungry
Craving God’s
truth
Satisfied in
the
Kingdom!
Well fed
Enjoying this
world’s fares
Future
Hunger
Weeping
Saddened by
World’s needs
and direction
Joyful in the
Kingdom!
Laughing
Enthralled with
this world’s
good life
Future
mourning
and weeping
Hated,
excluded,
reviled,
spurned
Rejected by
the World for
their
association
with Jesus
Approved by
this World’s
people
Associated
with the
False
prophets of
Old
Rewarded in
Well
Heaven
spoken of
Notice…
• Each list describes one kind of person- and four
qualities in each of their lives
• God is intimately aware of our lives- he sees into
our hearts!
• Our choices here and now have consequences
for eternity- to provide for us blessing both here
and now and in the future or to remove it from
us.
• God vindicates the Faithful and warns the Selfcentered
A Radical Life is Urged
6:20-28 Toward God
6:29-38 Toward People
Matthew 9:36
When he saw the crowds, he had
compassion for them, because they were
harassed and helpless, like sheep without a
shepherd.
2 Corinthians 4:4
The god of this age has blinded the minds of
unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light
of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the
image of God.
Four Key Applications
6:39-49
4 Key Applications
1. Choose your teachers wiselythey will determine your identity
and Habits (“be like them”) VV.
39-40
4 Key Applications
2. Choose your Perspective
carefully- It will determine your
usefulness in the lives of others
(“take out the
speck…”)
VV 41-42
4 Key Applications
3. Choose your thoughts
selectively- they will determine
your reputation (“Known by good
or evil) VV. 43-45
4 Key Applications
4. Choose your actions
faithfully- they will determine
your ultimate success or ruin
VV. 46-49