Sermon on the Mount Video Series – Part 1: Introduction (Matthew 5:1–2)
We are living through a global spiritual upheaval. Yet this transformation remains largely unnoticed. In an age captivated by political drama, technological innovation, and economic tension, the most explosive movement on the planet today is the unrelenting growth of the Kingdom of God.
Since approximately 1980, we’ve been witnessing a surge of spiritual revival—particularly in places where we might least expect it. While the Western world’s gaze remains fixed on its own postmodern anxieties, the non-Western world has seen an eruption of conversions, discipleship, and church growth unlike anything previously recorded. The world is not as it was. And this movement is not merely numerical; it’s deeply transformational—socially, economically, and spiritually.
A Global Explosion of Faith
In 1970, it was estimated that only 71 million born-again believers had a radical vision to reach the world for Christ. By 2000, that number had skyrocketed to over 707 million—an astounding tenfold increase in just three decades. By then, believers made up over 11 percent of the world’s population.
The major shift isn’t just in numbers, though. It’s in geography. Before 1960, Western evangelicals outnumbered their non-Western counterparts two to one. But by 2000, that ratio had reversed. Latin Americans, Africans, and Asians had begun leading the way. By 2010, non-Western Christians outnumbered Western Christians by a ratio of seven to one.
This shift redefines the global church. For the first time in history, more missionaries are being sent from non-Western countries than from Western ones. Nations that once received missionaries are now sending them.
The evangelical church in Latin America has experienced remarkable growth over the past several decades, reshaping the region’s religious landscape. This transformation is characterized by a significant shift from traditional Catholicism to evangelical Protestantism.
In the 1960s, only about 4% of Latin Americans identified as evangelicals. Today, that number has risen to approximately 19%, while Catholic affiliation has declined to 54% . This shift is especially pronounced in countries like Brazil, where evangelicals are projected to outnumber Catholics by 2032 .
The Nature of This Revival
This is not mere nominal Christianity. The people driving this movement are deeply committed, Spirit-empowered believers. This revival is marked by what’s often referred to as the “Third Wave” of the Holy Spirit—a distinct manifestation of God’s power through signs and wonders. This includes healing, prophecy, words of knowledge, and spiritual deliverance. These are not fringe activities but central expressions of God’s power that are resonating profoundly with cultures where spiritual authority is measured by the presence of real power.
This is especially evident in regions like Africa, the Middle East, and South America. In places like the Congo and across Islamic nations, it is not uncommon for people to come to faith after experiencing a dream or vision of Christ. God is doing something new—something that echoes the Book of Acts. He’s meeting people where they are, bypassing institutional norms, and revealing Himself in deeply personal and supernatural ways.
Such stories are being documented by researchers like George Otis Jr. and organizations such as the Sentinel Group. Their “Transformation” videos chronicle entire communities undergoing radical change—where crime drops, economies revive, and spiritual darkness is pushed back by the light of Christ.
A Movement Hidden in Plain Sight
Why is this not making headlines? Why do we not hear about this global revival in mainstream media? Perhaps it’s because the world often misunderstands the things of the Spirit. Or perhaps it’s because these movements aren’t happening in New York, Paris, or London—but in places like Bogotá, Nairobi, and Jakarta.
Nevertheless, the truth remains: God is at work, and He is doing a new thing. He is expanding His Kingdom in ways that challenge our expectations and compel us to reexamine our own spiritual temperature.
The Authority of Jesus: A Key to the Sermon
As we transition to the text of the Sermon on the Mount, it is important to understand the context of Jesus’ ministry. The Gospels present Jesus not just as a miracle worker or moral teacher, but as one who speaks with authority—divine authority. In Matthew 5:1–2, Jesus ascends the mountain, sits down, and begins to teach His disciples. This posture echoes that of Moses on Mount Sinai, yet Jesus does not simply repeat the law—He fulfills and transcends it.
He opens His mouth and teaches—not like the scribes or Pharisees, but as one who possesses inherent, divine authority. The Sermon on the Mount, then, is not a mere collection of ethical sayings. It is a manifesto of the Kingdom. It lays out the values and the character of those who belong to God’s reign.
But before we unpack the Beatitudes and the rest of Jesus’ teaching, we must consider the audience. Who is Jesus speaking to? Though the crowds are present, His words are directed to His disciples. These are people who have left much to follow Him. They are not perfect, but they are teachable. And the teachings that follow are not for casual hearers—they are for those who are willing to be transformed.
Transformation Through Kingdom Vision
The Sermon on the Mount invites us into a new way of seeing. It challenges our values, priorities, and affections. The kind of people Jesus describes—those who are poor in spirit, those who mourn, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness—do not rise to prominence in worldly systems. But in God’s Kingdom, they are blessed.
To receive these teachings in the right way, we must be willing to see with Kingdom eyes. This involves repentance—a radical reordering of our lives around God’s purposes. We do not approach these teachings merely for intellectual engagement. We approach them to be changed.
The revival sweeping across the globe today, and in recent history, is evidence that such change is possible—not just for individuals, but for entire cultures. The Kingdom of God is not a future hope alone. It is breaking in now. And the Sermon on the Mount shows us what life in that Kingdom looks like.
Jesus is not merely giving us rules to follow. He is painting a picture of what we can become through the power of the Spirit. It is a call to character transformation. And just as the early Church turned the world upside down with this vision, so too can we—if we dare to live it.
Let us not be passive observers but active participants in what God is doing. The Sermon on the Mount is more than a message—it is an invitation. And it is extended to all who would follow Christ—not just in word, but in life.
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Questions for Reflection
- Are you aware of what God is doing around the world right now? How might your perspective shift if you understood your faith as part of this global Kingdom movement?
- The early verses of Matthew 5 show Jesus sitting down to teach with authority. What does it mean to submit to Christ’s authority in your everyday life?
- The Sermon on the Mount was directed to Jesus’ disciples, not the general crowd. What does this tell you about the kind of relationship Christ desires with you?
- Many people in non-Western nations are encountering Jesus through visions and miracles. How open are you to God working in unexpected ways in your own life?
