This morning’s sermon was a look at the next of Jesus’ topics in the sermon on the mount. The manner of Jesus’ sermon was certainly ear-catching – In reference to adultery, “If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.” Mt 5:29. Evidently Jesus didn’t literally mean that if we look at woman (or man) lustfully, we should gouge our offending eye, as even without eyes, we can have lustful thoughts. What he meant was that sin is so grievous that we should try our utmost to avoid it. In the case of lust, don’t look, don’t even dwell upon it. No point in praying “Lead us not into temptation” and then walking into temptation.

Of course, the whole sermon on the mount is aimed at those who acknowledge they are poor in spirit (Mt 5:3) and put their faith in Christ to forgive them. It is not aimed at showing us how to be right with God, but how the poor in spirit should live.

The evening sermon was examining the three signs of a healthy (local) church.

1. There should be unity, not petty bickering.
2. There should be good works, using the gifts given by God.
3. There should be spiritual growth. Learning more of God through his word.

Do we, as a local church, have these qualities?