Blessings and Persecution

Matthew 5:1-16 is the opening section of Jesus’ sermon on the mount. The passage includes the beatitudes and Jesus’ message, ‘you are the salt of the earth’ and ‘you are the light of the world.’

In this sermon I focussed especially on Matthew 5:10-12, ‘Blessed are those who are persecuted,’ asking: are we willing to be persecuted for being Christians, even here in the UK? Do we want to be visible as salt and light in our post-Christian secular society? Or does it seem easier to blend in, to hide our light under a bushel?

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