Third Baptist Church 10/19/25 Dr. Tommy Simons "The Work of the World: Blood Cries from the Ground"

Pledge season ends tomorrow morning and count begins early next week.
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In ancient Jewish tradition, teachers sat as sign of authority.
Rabbis frequently sat down in synagogues or schools when delivering important lessons.
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Jesus, early in his ministry, drew large crowds from public healings and exorcisms. One day Jesus arrived on Galilean shore and saw the multitudes...
And went back "up the mountain" and sat down, surrounded by standing disciples.
This dramatic scene signifies importance of lesson to follow:
Matthew 5:2
He opened his mouth and began to teach.
Disciples, what you are about to hear is not casual conversation but message of profound importance. The disciples will hear ethical and spiritual foundations of the Kingdom of God.
The Sermon on the Mount begins with 8 Beatitudes or Declarations of Blessing.
Sunday's sermon focuses on final phrases of beatitude's paradoxical blessing on peace and persecution: Matthew 5:9-12:
Blessed are the peacemakers
for they will be called children of God
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.
Rejoice, for your reward in heaven will be great...
The final beatitudes are viewed through persecution of Christians in Nigeria—what is our response as blood cries from the ground?
Around 6,000 miles from Grand and Washington are community of Jesus followers—requiring our attention, prayers and contemplation in the morning.
Grace and Peace,
Tommy