How to Understand and Teach the Sermon on the Mount (feat. Jeremy Bacon)

If you want to dive deeper, check out Jeremy Bacon's book “Sermon on the Mount: 40 Days of Learning the Ways of the Kingdom” available at RENEW.org. It’s a great resource for anyone wanting to grow in understanding and living out Jesus’ teachings. You can find it here: renew.org/product/sermon-on-the-mount-40-days-of-learning-the-ways-of-the-kingdom. Until next time, keep living out your faith in real life.

Today’s episode will help us move beyond seeing the Sermon on the Mount as a set of rules and instead embrace its call to heart transformation and kingdom living.

In this episode, Jeremy Bacon shares his journey exploring the Sermon on the Mount. Starting with a funny travel story from Illinois and a vacation to Nova Scotia, he warmly connects with the audience before diving into the topic. Though initially hesitant—thinking the sermon was overdone—Jeremy’s deep study, sparked by teaching Maasai pastors in Kenya, transformed his view.

He explains that the Sermon on the Mount isn’t just a list of rules. Instead, it reveals God’s character and calls us to change our hearts to reflect His. For example, Jesus’ teaching on anger isn’t about hiding frustration but confronting the deeper issue of contempt that harms relationships.

Jeremy describes the sermon as a blueprint for kingdom living, showing how God’s kingdom intersects with our broken world and invites a supernatural transformation. This process takes time and requires surrender to God’s guidance.

Practically, Jeremy encourages us to seek God’s heart behind each teaching rather than focusing on rigid rules. He stresses the importance of understanding both the big picture and the details to avoid misinterpretation.

He also addresses today’s cultural tensions, urging leaders to shepherd communities with a kingdom mindset, trusting God despite fears and division. The episode wraps up with a Q&A, where Jeremy offers thoughtful advice on applying the sermon’s teachings in real life.

Overall, Jeremy’s relatable style and insights invite us to move beyond legalism and embrace the transformative power at the heart of Jesus’ message.