Publisher's Synopsis
Originally titled, "The Sermons on the Mount, on the Plain and in the Valley, Part 1," this book started out as an inductive study of the first half of the Sermon on the Mount. It puts the reader back with the audience in that grassy amphitheatre on the North shore of the Sea of Galilee, by portraying the historical background, the crowd's attitude and revealing the Lord's intent for the message from his use of rhetoric, repetitions and figures of speech. But much to the author's surprise, it turned into a vivid portrait of Jesus Christ himself through his words, revealing his sheer genius and deep compassion and his real design for the sermon: He was reaching out to the crowd to revitalize them from the ravages of the religious repression of the Pharisees and to launch a counter-culture of genuineness to counteract the hypocrisy of the religious establishment. Consequently, this volume was renamed: "Reversing Religious Repression - A New Subtitle for the Sermon on the Mount." The Sermon on the Mount is the greatest speech ever, the greatest treatise against legalism and the best example of Jesus' profound teaching ability. Even his opponents admitted, "No man has ever spoken like this man." His message contains gem-like, multi-levels of understanding and timeless truths which heal believers from religious abuse, reversing its effects: replacing them with genuine love and virtue and rekindling their desire to walk for God again. Some other facets covered include: Faith 101 - The Virtues of Faith, The Letter of the Law vs. its Spirit, How to Overcome Evil with Good and The Beatitudes - The Most Profound Statements Ever Uttered. Once you have heard the words of Jesus portrayed as the historical background, structure and figures of speech indicate their real intent, you may never be the same!
