Peter Fitch revisits the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12) and once again compares them to Isaiah 42:1-4. He wonders if these sayings are the beginning of Jesus's formation message to help His followers grow into His likeness. As part of this talk was lost, we've included a longer blurb to explain the missing piece. The recorded part that's here does work well on its own, though. 

  Introduction to this talk

I began this sermon by drawing from Dietrich Bonhoeffer's beginning to his book, The Cost of Discipleship, where he describes  "cheap" grace. Sometimes Christians cover everything over in love to such an extent that people are not challenged to live at a higher standard, to become better than they are. Bonhoeffer's words remind us that there is a need for a strong formation process to become people of authentic faith, disciples of Jesus. Unfortunately, this has often been done badly, by trying to make people conform to a certain image instead of allowing them to grow completely into Christ in their own unique ways. 

 Next I referred to a wonderful convocation address that Kurt Vonnegut gave at Agnes Scott College in Georgia in 1999, where (with characteristic humour) he calls for us to live in extended families--a call to community. (This is not the internet hoax talk that Vonnegut did not deliver at MIT in 1997, but a real talk that is both brilliant and funny). You can find it through Google--I read the part about Jesus and extended families that is in the middle.

Both of these ideas form the backdrop for what will follow. Last week, while preaching in a somewhat stumbling fashion about the Beatitudes, and admitting that I didn't understand them very well, I happened to say that there was quite a connection between these sayings and the pattern of ministry that Jesus adopts for Himself from Isaiah 42:1-4. Suddenly this week it occurred to me that Jesus might have been consciously trying to bring formation ideas to bear for his disciples with the sayings of the Beatitudes. In other words, each one of these ideas may be a necessary step toward becoming the kind of person that He was. He may have been using these words to call together His community of disciples and teaching them about the qualities they would need to represent Him well in the world. As such, it would be a formation message for the new community. If we want to live for Him, we will need to follow these steps, too.

Peter Fitch wrestles with Jesus' teaching about the Beatitudes in the Matthew 5, the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount. He says that Jesus calls His followers to operate in the same way that he did, and compares Matthew 5:1-12 to Isaiah 42:1-4. Emptying ourselves of improper attitudes and emotions leads to a filling of God's power that allows us to do His work in the world with His attitudes and strength.

Peter Fitch continues his 'Higher Ways' series. In this talk, he focuses on some of Jesus' teaching about the problems with judging others. He also looks at a better way to live.

Peter Fitch speaks about how God's ways are higher than our ways. In this talk he looks specifically at how Jesus shared God's love with the Samaritan woman in John chapter 4.