Lenten Reading: A couple of thoughts on the Sermon on the Mount

Last updated on: March 7, 2013 at 9:27 am by Christopher Smith

Lenten Reading: A couple of thoughts on the Sermon on the Mount 2013-03-07T09:27:58-05:00 Christopher Smith

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

A couple of thoughts have popped into my mind the last few days as I read and reflected on the SOTM…

First, John’s decision to give up his iPhone reminded me of a similar choice by my friend Ragan Sutterfield:

In Praise of Single Function Devices

Ragan writes here:
I’ve been wearing a watch recently. It’s nice—it tells me the time. I’ve also been carrying a pocket calendar. It has dates with space to put in appointments and a few blank pages for notes. I also have a phone I’ve been using. It has internet access if I absolutely need it, but a painful pared down version—it is not “smart.” I text now only for critical messages, my phone’s non-QWERT keyboard is too cumbersome.

Shortly before Christmas my iPhone broke, so I pulled an old phone from my drawer that somehow resurrected, and I have been using it ever since. Since my iPhone was my phone and calendar I’ve had to fill those functions with other things and somehow in the process I rediscovered the joys of single function devices.
Read the full post…

Secondly, Scot McKnight has a wonderful new reflection on how we read the Sermon on the Mount…

Jesus’ Major Sermon

He concludes:
There is something fundamental to the Sermon in the form Jesus gave it: powerful kingdom demands for kingdom people. The demand is Jesus’ evangelistic confrontation with his audience to decide whether they want to come to him and follow him or not.

Read the full post…

Lent

Scripture

Previous Post

March 4, 2013

Lenten Reading: Sermon on the Mount #5

Next Post

March 14, 2013 Inhabit Conference - Earlybird registration ending soon...

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Abundance Advent Books Community Conferences Conversations Ecology Economics Emergent Eucharist Family Food Gratitude Happenings Health history Hospitality Justice Lent Meditations Neighborhoods News Peace Place Poetry Politics Sabbath Scripture Stories Technology The Table Theology Uncategorized What is Slow Church? Youth

Select a Month January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 March 2016 June 2015 March 2015 February 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Which book of the Bible contains the most direct prophecies about the Messiah?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Micah Zechariah Psalms Isaiah