King and Country: the King’s Constitution

Strength to Strength welcomed John D. Martin to discuss the third segment of this “King and Country” series.

The Sermon on the Mount is often referred to as the constitution of the Kingdom of God. Is that just an oft-repeated phrase, or is there reason to understand this sermon as foundational?

When Jesus concluded this sermon, “the people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes” (Matthew 7:28, 29). If we understand Jesus’ authority in these words, how will it affect our lives?

Too many times we try to preach the sermon without the demonstration… make sure that you are showing before you are telling.

No interpretation of Scripture is the proper interpretation if it violates the teachings of Jesus.

An interactive question-and-answer period follows.

John D. Martin is an itinerant Bible teacher with interests in a diversity of Christian topics including church history, economics, music, and church as community. He compiled the hymnbook Hymns of the Church.

One of John’s passions is to help people see that the main theme of Scripture is not the “scarlet thread” of Jesus’ atonement, but rather the Kingdom of God; our salvation is a means to and end, the end being the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom is intended to demonstrate the excellence of God’s character and his manifold wisdom, and this theme runs through the entire Bible.

He lives in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania and is a part of Shippensburg Christian Fellowship.