Sun. July 7, 2013 (J. Evan Kreider)

Evan Kreider’s sermon focused on the difficult and demanding passages of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. These passages are often seen as pointing to the essence of the Anabaptist understanding of the Christian way. While Luther emphasized salvation by faith and grace alone, the Anabaptists emphasized obedience. Evan developed two themes: your righteousness must exceed that of the Pharisees, and Jesus saying “you have heard that it has been said but I say to you…” and thereby rewriting the understanding of OT teaching. Turn the other cheek… if someone takes your cloak… go the second mile… love your enemies, etc. These blunt statements all focus on how we act under pressure. The Sermon on the Mount has not a word about correct beliefs, only words about what to do. The practice of religion is about how we treat others and the Sermon on the Mount provides clear direction on this point. (HN)

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