The highest command of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount is found in the call to love one’s enemy. It is perhaps the defining mark of a follower of Jesus. We may be able to pull off being religious, moral, self-disciplined, and even kind to those like us. But the will and ability to love your enemy is evidence of something special – something which God’s enemy-love alone can produce.

Study Guide: 11.01.09 Living Like Royalty: Enemy-Love

One person has said that this part Sermon on the Mount is the ‘most admired and most resented’ of Jesus’ teaching. Not only is it a hard teaching for us, it also raises all sorts of questions. Is Jesus a pacifist? Is Jesus opposed to self-defense or the state using force? What we find is Jesus leading us beyond vengeance.

Study Guide: 10.25.09 Living Like Royalty: Beyond Vengeance (The Restraint of Love)

“He’s got commitment issues!” “She’s got commitment issues!” This is a common complaint in dating culture. But the truth is, all of us have commitment issues. As Jesus talks about the practice of people taking oaths/vows he gets to the heart of commitment.

Study Guide: 10.18.09 Living Like Royalty: Commitment Issues

While divorce rates have gone down among a select group of people, everyone would agree there are far too many divorces. Yet the solutions to reduce divorce don’t seem to help. As Jesus teaches on divorce, he points us to a solution: the oneness of marriage.

There is no Study Guide for this week’s sermon. Instead, please do our What Are Community Groups Study.

As Jesus warns his followers about lust, the modern listener can easily interpret his words as primitive, prudish and perhaps proof that the Bible is against sexuality. However, the more we come to understand what is at the heart of lust, the more we begin to see why his warning is so appropriate.

Study Guide:10.04.09 Living Like Royalty: The Ultimate Consumer

Righteous (good) anger is found throughout the Bible; God himself is the model of what it looks like. However, much of what we understand to be ‘righteous’ anger is in fact the opposite – unrighteous (bad anger).  Jesus identifies this as a major problem in his day and ours is no different.  Yet what we find is not just warning from Jesus but also a way out.

Study Guide:09.27.09 Living Like Royalty: The Danger of Anger

We tend to have a love/hate relationship with the Law. We want it around to protect us but not to catch us. We are glad for the order it brings, yet resentful for the way it limits us. We bring all of these attitudes and more when it comes to our feelings about God’s Law. Jesus goes on record with his feelings on the matter and his take might surprise you.

Study Guide: 09.20.09 Living Like Royalty: Who’s Above the Law

Washington DC is known as a city of significant influence. It is also a city that prizes influence – sought after as a precious commodity. How does Jesus Christ, the most influential man in history, understand influence?

Study Guide: 09.13.09 Living Like Royalty Inevitable Influence