1317) When I was a Bible teacher, one of my favorite things to teach was the Sermon on the Mount. How in the world would a bunch of high schoolers enjoy and even relish an event that had very little action? It’s all in the presentation.

As I read and studied the Sermon on the Mount, I saw a theme run through all of Jesus’ words and thoughts. It aligned perfectly with 1 Samuel 16:7. Unfamiliar with this verse? It says, “For the Lord sees not what man sees. Man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart.” When I taught the Sermon on the Mount, I guided the kids to see it’s too easy to just look at someone and determine who they are and what they stand for, but that’s not how God does it. This was a relief to many teens because, at that age, appearance is very important and others have hurt them because of this very thing.

Paul warns that in the last days, many will have a form of godliness. (2 Timothy 3:5) But as Jesus pointed out in the Sermon on the Mount, giving and praying so others can see you and be impressed is not what God notices. God notices your heart and motives.

There have always been people who claim to be followers of God and some of them actually appear like it, but we must be wise in our response to anyone claiming to represent God. Is what they teach biblical? Is the individual teaching the doctrine of the Bible or are they taking the doctrine of the Bible and manipulating it to back up what they say?

The scary thing about this is, if you don’t know the Bible well, it’s going to be very difficult to decipher when someone represents God and when they represent themselves and, ultimately, Satan.

Study up!

To purchase the Sermon on the Mount Bible Study, it is found here: https://www.susan-grant.com/product/the-sermon-on-the-mount/