Climb the mountain. In Matthew 5, Jesus delivers his most famous teaching—the Sermon on the Mount—and unveils a radical blueprint for life in God's kingdom. This isn't religion as usual. It's not about checking boxes or following rules on the surface. It's about a righteousness that goes deeper than the scribes and Pharisees ever imagined: a heart-deep obedience that transforms everything.
Over three Sundays, we'll walk through the Beatitudes, the call to be salt and light, and Jesus' stunning reinterpretation of the Law. God doesn't choose the powerful or the put-together. He chooses the poor in spirit, the meek, the merciful—the ones the world overlooks. And he calls them to shine.
This series isn't just about what Jesus said. It's about what he calls us to do. The Beatitudes' bliss. The witness blaze. The antitheses' edge. Three Sundays of Sermon fire. The reward? Heaven's great glory—rejoice! Join the ascent.
Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12a (The Beatitudes)
First Reading: Zephaniah 2:3; 3:12-13 ("I will leave a people humble and lowly")
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 (God chose the foolish to shame the wise)
Psalm Response: "Blessed are the poor in spirit; the kingdom of heaven is theirs!"
Focus: The Beatitudes flip the world's values upside down. Blessed are the poor, the meek, the mourning, the merciful, the peacemakers, the persecuted. God doesn't choose the powerful—he chooses the humble. If we live as children of God, it may bring persecution, but it also brings the kingdom. Embrace poverty of spirit. Adopt meekness. Show mercy. Make peace.
Gospel: Matthew 5:13-16 (You are the salt of the earth, the light of the world)
First Reading: Isaiah 58:7-10 ("Then your light shall break forth like the dawn")
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 (Faith resting on God's power, not human wisdom)
Psalm Response: "The just man is a light in darkness to the upright."
Focus: Jesus doesn't say "try to be" salt and light—he says "you ARE." But salt can lose its flavor, and lights can be hidden under bushels. Our call is to preserve and flavor the world, to shine as a city on a hill. Good works aren't for our glory—they glorify the Father. Isaiah reminds us: when we share bread with the hungry and shelter the oppressed, our light breaks forth like the dawn.
Gospel: Matthew 5:17-37 (I came not to abolish the Law but to fulfill it)
First Reading: Sirach 15:15-20 (Before you are life and death—choose)
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 2:6-10 (God's wisdom, hidden and revealed)
Psalm Response: "Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!"
Focus: Jesus doesn't lower the bar—he raises it. "You have heard it said... but I say to you." It's not enough to avoid murder; don't nurse anger. It's not enough to avoid adultery; guard your heart. Let your yes be yes and your no be no. The Law pointed to something deeper: a righteousness that flows from the heart, not just behavior. Choose life. Choose love. Do what love demands.
Quick guides to help each ministry connect their programming to the series themes.
Jesus went up a mountain and taught his friends what it means to be happy in God's way. Being kind, sharing, and helping others—even when it's hard—makes us blessed!
Activity Idea: Create a "Beatitude Mountain" craft. Kids draw or build a mountain and add one beatitude they want to practice this week.
Jesus said we are like salt that makes food taste good and like a light that helps people see. We can make the world better by being kind and doing good things!
Activity Idea: Flashlight game—turn off the lights and talk about how one small light makes a big difference. Give kids a paper "candle" to write one way they'll shine this week.
Jesus taught that following God isn't just about rules—it's about having a loving heart. When we're kind in our thoughts AND our actions, we're following Jesus.
Activity Idea: Heart craft—draw a heart and write kind thoughts on the inside, kind actions on the outside. Talk about how they go together.
Take-Home Question: "What's one way you can be salt and light in our family this week?"
The Beatitudes are weird by the world's standards. Blessed are the poor? The meek? The persecuted? Jesus is saying that God's kingdom runs on different rules than Instagram or TikTok.
Discussion: Which beatitude is hardest for you to believe? Which one do you most want to be true?
Salt that loses its flavor is useless. A light under a basket is pointless. Jesus isn't asking us to try to be something—he's telling us what we already ARE. The question is whether we'll live like it.
Discussion: Where in your life are you tempted to "hide your light"? What would it look like to let it shine?
Jesus didn't come to throw out the rules—he came to show us what they were really about all along. It's not enough to avoid the big sins; God cares about what's happening in your heart.
Discussion: Jesus talks about anger, honesty, and relationships. Why do you think he focuses on the heart, not just actions?
Connection to Life: The Sermon on the Mount isn't a checklist—it's a vision of what life looks like when God is truly King.
Paul reminds the Corinthians that God chose the foolish, the weak, the lowly—not to embarrass them, but to show that real power comes from somewhere else. The Beatitudes are the job description for kingdom citizens.
Reflection: Which beatitude feels most countercultural to you right now? What would it cost you to live it out?
Isaiah says our light breaks forth when we share bread with the hungry and shelter the homeless. Being salt and light isn't about being noticed—it's about showing up for others so consistently that people can't help but notice God.
Reflection: Where has someone else been salt or light in your life? How did it affect you?
"You have heard it said... but I say to you." Jesus takes the Law and intensifies it. Not murder? Don't even nurse anger. Not adultery? Guard your eyes and heart. He's after transformation, not just behavior modification.
Reflection: Is there an area of your life where you've been following the "letter" of the law but not the spirit? What would heart-level change look like?
Sponsor Connection: Ask your sponsor which beatitude they find most challenging. What has helped them grow in that area?
The world says: blessed are the rich, the powerful, the famous. Jesus says: blessed are the poor in spirit, the meek, the persecuted. One of these is lying. Which one?
Discussion Questions:
Salt was so valuable in the ancient world that soldiers were paid with it (that's where we get "salary"). Light in a dark world was life or death. Jesus isn't giving us a nice metaphor—he's giving us a mission.
Discussion Questions:
Jesus doesn't lower expectations—he raises them. It's not just about what you do; it's about who you're becoming. Anger, lust, dishonesty—these aren't just sins, they're symptoms of a heart that needs healing.
Discussion Questions:
Challenge: Pick one beatitude and one "you have heard... but I say" teaching. Focus on living both this week. Come back ready to share what happened.
Jesus went up a big mountain to teach his friends. He told them that God loves people who are kind, who share, and who help others—even when it's hard. That makes us BLESSED!
Activity: "Happy Helpers" coloring page showing kids doing kind things. Talk about how helping others makes us and them happy.
Jesus said, "You are like SALT that makes food yummy and LIGHT that helps people see!" When we do good things, we help others see how much God loves them.
Activity: Give each child a glow stick or small flashlight. Turn off the lights and watch how even small lights shine bright in darkness!
Jesus wants us to be kind in our hearts, not just with our hands. When we think kind thoughts AND do kind things, we're following Jesus the best way!
Activity: Make a paper heart with two sides—one side for "kind thoughts" and one for "kind actions." Decorate and take home.
Memory Phrase: "I am salt! I am light! I will shine for God!"
For parents to use at home, in the car, or at dinner.
For adult small groups meeting during this series.
Lord Jesus, you climbed the mountain and showed us what life in your kingdom looks like. Open our ears to hear your teaching. Open our hearts to receive it. And give us courage to live it—together. Amen.
Share one thing from the Sermon on the Mount you want to put into practice this week. Close by praying for each other's "mountain do's."
