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Sermon on the Mount
Friday, June 5, 2026 by Rick Stockwell
Sermon on the Mount
READ Isaiah 55
.. so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
-- Isaiah 55:11 (ESV)
The pastor of the church I formerly attended issued a challenge to his entire congregation: memorize the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). Committing a Bible verse to memory can be daunting, but memorizing an entire chapter, or even worse, three chapters, seemed overwhelming. Those who completed the task were invited to a celebration dinner at the pastor’s home. I made an attempt, but couldn’t finish by the deadline.
Sometime later, one of the people who completed the challenge recited the Sermon on the Mount from memory—in front of the entire church. It was one of the most moving spiritual experiences of my life. This event brought the scriptures alive for me. At that moment, I decided to attempt the challenge again. After a year or so, I recited the entire passage to my pastor at a restaurant. He then laid his hands on me and asked that I be filled with the Holy Spirit. As soon as he did, I felt something like electricity zapping through my entire body. My first thought was, “Wow! This man sure has a connection with God.”
Some twenty-five years later I recited the Sermon on the Mount for my current church’s Sunday School class, comprised of about fifty kids spread across grades 1 – 4. My hope is that they will one day be inspired to read and memorize God’s word too.
Photo: The Sermon on the Mount (1877), by Carl Bloch (public domain)
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
It may take a while, but God’s Word does not return void.
Prayer: Father in heaven, may your word accomplish your purposes in our lives.
Prayer Focus: PASTORS
Rick Stockwell
Rick Stockwell retired from a career in information technology, teaches Sunday school for first graders, served as an elder at his church, has been married for thirty-five years, and has two children and six grandchildren.
Rick is the author of two novels in his Heavenly Realms series called The Wall and The Battle. Audio, eBook and paperback versions are accessible via this link: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B07HQ8G3MJ
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