A Life Transformed by Grace

The Sermon on the Mount is an inventory of a holy life and an invitation to join Jesus on mission to fish for men. (Matthew 4:19). Matthew chapters five through seven paint a picture of a holy life. They are not intended to be a checklist or a to-do list by which we can earn our salvation. Rather, they are an illustration of a life that has been transformed by grace. The sermon bids us to examine our lives in the light of its precepts.

• What is the fruit in our lives as those who have been saved by grace, filled with the Holy Spirit, and committed to following Jesus?
• Can we see how grace is working in us and through us?
• How is grace changing our passions, pursuits, and priorities in life?

One is assisted in this pursuit by the big questions posed in the Sermon itself:

• How can I forgive someone who has wronged me?
• How many times should I forgive?
• How should I relate to money and material goods?
• With all that is going on in the world how do I live a life of faith rather than fear?
• In a world with so much confusion concerning human sexuality how do I live a life of purity?

These are samples of the questions in the Sermon on the Mount. The goal is to grow in holiness and to live out a life of grace. “We were called to confound, confront, and convert a world out of darkness and into the peace-giving, love-animating, joy-filled reign of God - not in our effort alone, but in the grace of God so generously poured out for us.” (Villodas, p.xiv)

The Sermon on the Mount also serves as an invitation to fish for men. The bait for this endeavor - a holy life. It is the life that has been and is being transformed that draws those who are lost in the darkness of sin toward the light of grace. In other words, your holiness is not just a personal matter, but rather serves a very public purpose of inviting others to follow Jesus. The Great Commandment demonstrates this calling to love God (personal holiness) and to love neighbor (public holiness). This is how the Kingdom is coming. As grace transforms you, you then become a transforming agent in the world. Thus, as we study, we will be looking for opportunities both to grow in grace and fish for men.

I am looking forward to walking this path with you in the weeks ahead. Please read ahead and bring a notebook and your Bible as I am expecting the Lord to speak to you through His word.

Here are the texts and dates for the sermon series entitled An Invitation to A Holy Life, which began last Sunday. 
2/1/2026 Matthew 5:1-12
2/8/2026 Matthew 5:13-20
2/15/2026 Bishop Alex
2/22/2026 Matthew 5:21-30