First Baptist Church Litchfield
chapel 9/10

      • Psalm 119:9–16ESV

      • Psalm 119:9–16ESV

  • Sovereign One
  • W-I-S-D-O-M

      • Hebrews 4:12ESV

      • Hebrews 4:12ESV

  • Word of God

  • Everybody’s Working for the Weekend

    You’ve probably heard the phrase: “Everybody’s working for the weekend.” What does that mean? It means people drag themselves through the week, waiting for Friday night, hoping that the weekend will finally bring the happiness they’ve been searching for.
    And the world around us tells the same story. Commercials, YouTube ads, TikTok videos, and Instagram posts—they all promise the “good life.” Work hard, then play hard. Buy the right shoes. Take the right trips. Show off the highlight reel.
    Years ago, commercials even told people you could find the good life in a bottle of beer. Today, the world says you can find it in likes, followers, and the latest thing you buy.
    But here’s the problem: none of those things can really satisfy. Our hearts are cracked. They’re divided. We chase the good life in the wrong places—weekend thrills, approval from friends, more stuff, the next post. And no matter how much we get, we’re still empty.

    “The good life is not found in chasing weekends, clicks, views, or the approval of friends. It is found in following King Jesus every single day.”

    Jesus Teaches the Good Life (Matthew 5:1–2)

    Let’s read God’s Word:
    Matthew tells us,
    “Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them…” (Matt. 5:1–2).
    Do not miss the details here. The Holy Spirit included them for a reason.
    First, the Mountain. Moses once went up Mount Sinai to receive God’s law, carved in stone. Now Jesus climbs the mountain to give God’s Word written on human hearts. He is the greater Moses, the Teacher-King who fulfills the Law. Just as those first disciples gathered around Him, the Lord has gathered you here in chapel today—not by accident, but by His sovereign hand—to hear the words of Christ.
    Second, He Sat. When rabbis sat down, it was a sign of authority. They were not sharing opinions; they were declaring truth. And when disciples sat at their feet, it was a posture of humility and readiness to learn. Brothers and sisters, that is how you must come to chapel—not distracted, not casual, but humble, as if you were seated at the very feet of Jesus Himself.
    Third, the Disciples Came. The crowds listened from a distance, but disciples drew near. The crowd is content to hear, but disciples commit to obey. Many of you will sit under the preaching of God’s Word in this chapel, but only disciples will rise to follow Jesus. The question is simple: will you be part of the crowd, or will you be a true disciple?
    Beloved, Jesus is about to describe what it means to live the good life—not the world’s version of happiness, but God’s vision of human flourishing. Before we dive into the Beatitudes and the rest of the Sermon on the Mount, we need five guideposts that will help us understand and apply His teaching.

    Five Guideposts for Following Jesus

    “Blessed” = Flourishing (Matt. 5:3–12)

    When Jesus says “blessed,” He isn’t talking about luck, chance, or a shallow sense of happiness. He is describing a life that flourishes under the favor of God, even in the midst of hardship. Blessedness is not about having everything go your way—it is about having God’s smile upon you, regardless of your circumstances.
    Think of C. S. Lewis’ The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Edmund craved Turkish Delight, and the White Witch used that desire to ensnare him. What looked sweet left him enslaved. That is the world’s version of happiness—candy-coated promises that rot the soul. But Aslan offered a true feast, rich and lasting. That is what Jesus’ blessings are like. They are not temporary pleasures that leave you emptier than before; they are soul-deep satisfactions that endure forever.
    The world says you flourish when you gain applause, possessions, or ease. Jesus says you flourish when your heart is remade by His grace. True blessedness is not about shiny moments on the outside—it is about a new heart on the inside, a heart at rest in God.

    “Be Perfect” = Be Wholehearted (Matt. 5:48)

    When Jesus says, “Be perfect, as your Father in heaven is perfect” (Matt. 5:48), He is not demanding sinless performance, as though you could live this life without ever stumbling. The word “perfect” carries the idea of being whole, mature, undivided—having a heart completely set apart for God.
    Jesus is calling you to give Him what He deserves: a single-minded heart-united loyal love that shows itself in obedience. Not half-hearted devotion. Not one foot in the kingdom and one foot in the world. But a heart united and whole, like the psalmist prays: “Unite my heart to fear your name” (Ps. 86:11).
    Think of a phone with a cracked screen. It may still function, but the cracks distract you and distort the image. In the same way, our sinful hearts are fractured, divided, and distracted. But Christ heals those cracks. By His cross and resurrection, He takes our fragmented love and makes it whole again.
    The good life is not found in divided loyalties but in a heart completely pointed at God. It is a life committed to Jesus with single-minded devotion—an undivided love that flows into daily obedience.

    “Righteousness” = Right Living from the Inside Out

    Righteousness is not putting on a mask to look good in front of others. It is not polishing up the outside while your heart is cold inside. True righteousness is living God’s way because you love Him. It flows from a heart made whole—a heart united in loyal love for Jesus—that shows itself in obedience.
    Jesus said plainly, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15). That is not the voice of a tyrant demanding rule-keeping; it is the voice of a Savior inviting you into a life of love. He modeled it Himself. How do we know Jesus loved the Father? Because He obeyed the Father’s will—even when that will led Him to the cross.
    Think of it this way: a sports team may have the best playbook in the league, but the best athletes are not the ones who merely memorize the plays. They become the kind of players who live the game—they instinctively play with heart, not just head knowledge. In the same way, Jesus wants righteousness to become part of who we are.
    Kingdom life is not rule-deep; it is heart-deep. It is not about pretending to be good to impress people, but about being transformed by Christ so that your obedience flows from love.

    “Hypocrisy” vs. “Heart”

    The word hypocrisy comes from the Greek word hupokrisis, which referred to the response of an actor on stage. It literally means “to wear a mask.” That is what hypocrisy is—living a double life. On the outside, your lips say, “I love God,” but on the inside, your heart whispers, “I love myself.”
    It’s like painting over rust. For a short time, the surface looks fresh and clean, but soon the rust breaks through again. You can cover sin with religious polish or outward appearances, but the corrosion of the heart always shows. Only Jesus can remove the rust of sin from the inside.
    That is why He calls His disciples to integrity. Kingdom life is not about putting on a show; it’s about being the same person in private as you are in public. The Jesus you sing to in chapel is the Jesus you obey in the classroom, on the ball field, and in your home. Christ doesn’t want actors—He wants disciples whose hearts are undivided and whose lives reflect His grace.

    Where are you tempted to wear a mask?

    “Kingdom, Father, Reward”

    Kingdom. Jesus is not waiting for some future throne—He reigns right now. His kingdom is advancing, not with armies or politics, but in the hearts of men and women who bow to Him as Lord. Every act of obedience, every soul converted, every heart made new is evidence that His kingdom is growing today. And one day, that kingdom will stretch from shore to shore, filling the whole earth with His glory.
    Father. Throughout the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus repeats a tender phrase: “your Father.” Not a distant deity, not an impersonal force—your Father. If you trust Jesus, then the God who rules heaven and earth also calls you His child. He is personal, loving, near, and attentive to you.
    Reward. God sees what others overlook. His eyes are on every hidden act of faithfulness. You may clean up after lunch when no one else volunteers, or whisper a quiet prayer for a friend who is struggling, and nobody thanks you. But your Father sees. And His “well done” will echo long after the applause of people fades. His reward is eternal.
    So here is the truth: we live for a King who reigns, loved by a Father who cares, trusting a reward that will never perish.
    Closing Call for Response The world says: live for likes, applause, and attention. But the kingdom says: live for the smile of your Father. One day, when this life is over, the only words that will matter are not the cheers of a crowd but the voice of your Father saying, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
    So let me ask you:

    Whose approval are you chasing?

    Will you live for the fading applause of men, or will you live for the eternal joy of your Father in heaven?

    Jesus makes flourishing possible for you!

    Here’s the good news: we all chase the good life in the wrong places. But Jesus, the King on the mountain, came down from a higher mountain. He lived a perfect life. He died on the cross for our sins. He rose again in victory. And now He gives us new hearts by His Spirit.
    He doesn’t just tell us how to flourish. He makes flourishing possible.
    Main Truth: The good life is not something we perform. The good life is Someone we follow—Jesus.

    How to Practice Flourishing This Week

    One Beatitude a week: Write it on a card. Ask, “How can I live this at school or at home?”
    One secret act: Do something kind without telling anyone. Whisper, “Father, You see.”
    Phone fast—kingdom first: Turn off your phone for 30 minutes. Read Matthew 5. Ask, “Where is my heart divided?”
    Peacemaking practice: Choose one relationship to repair—apologize, forgive, or listen well.
    Family question: At dinner ask, “Where did you choose kingdom-flourishing over weekend-chasing today?”

    Conclusion — From Weekend-Chasing to Kingdom-Living

    We began with the world’s slogan: “Everybody’s working for the weekend.” But Jesus gives us something better: “Work with Me, walk with Me, every day.”

    The world promises the good life in posts, purchases, or parties. But Jesus promises the good life in a Person—Himself.
    So don’t live for Fridays. Live for the Father. Don’t chase the weekend. Follow the King.

    Closing Prayer

    “Father in heaven, give us whole hearts. Make us disciples who hear Jesus and do what He says. Teach us to flourish in Your kingdom—today and every day. Amen.”

      • Matthew 5:1–2ESV

      • Matthew 5:48ESV

  • His Mercy Is More

      • Romans 8:38–39ESV

  • Empowered by the Spirit, Guided by the Word
First Baptist Church Litchfield
pastorjason.fbcl@gmail.com
217-324-4232
http://www.firstbaptistlitchfield.org/
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