Dear Geoff,
I Corinthians 2:13 talks about speaking words given to us by the spirit to explain spiritual truths. Your recitation of the Sermon on the Mount is a great example of fulfilling this passage. I can't remember when I have heard a more powerful presentation. I was truly blessed. I read the Word of God daily, and benefit greatly from doing so. However, hearing your verbatim "speaking" of the Word made it even more relevant to me.
Since hearing your presentation, I have thought about what made it so powerful. And I think the answer lies in the Lord's providence. For about 1700 of the 2000 years since our Lord came to Earth, almost nobody had access to the written Word. So, the gospel was almost always spread by the spoken word. God gave these spiritual truths a special power when spoken. While Jesus occasionally read the Word in the temple, almost all of his teaching was through speaking the Word. You are continuing this tradition.
Thanks so much for "speaking" the Sermon on the Mount to us. You are a blessing.
Mike Henderson
The Fountain Church
Oak Ridge, TN
Mike, thanks for the wonderful comments
It was a great joy to visit "The Fountain" church in Oak Ridge and do the presentation.
I look forward to returning again soon!
God Bless,
Geoff