On one memorable day in 2010, the world watched as 33 Chilean miners were brought to the surface after 69 days trapped underground. Television audiences worldwide watched as the men were literally ‘raised to life’ from under 700 million tons of solid rock. For many days, no one knew if the men were alive or dead. In fact they were living, but were not in the world of the living. It was as though they were in a separate kingdom; a kingdom of darkness, hopelessness and despair. There was nothing they could do to rescue themselves.

Opening Dr Kendall’s ‘Sermon on the Mount’, Ed Stetzer, president of Lifeway Research reminds readers that, in the Bible, Paul uses this same of imagery to illustrate how God has delivered his children from death into life: “He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the Kingdom of the son he loves, in whom we have redemption and forgiveness of sins.” I Colossians 1:13-24 (Holman’s Translation). Stetzer goes on to say that too many followers of Christ have the lost the sense of that dynamic of being rescued, of being transferred from darkness to light, of being raised to life – in this life and for this life.

Rather, he suggests, Christians see this rescue as somewhere in the future; our final transfer to the eternal kingdom beyond this world. He reminds us that the Kingdom is not only ‘dying and going to heaven’, it is also – and primarily a directive to make alivel the line from the Lord’s Prayer, ‘your will be done on earth as it is in heaven’. Believers must not forget the personal and corporate implications of Christ’s current reign in this world, as well as in the next.

This is where R T Kendall’s book comes in. With a thorough, verse by verse exploration of Jesus’ major teachings to his followers, he integrates the reality of God’s Kingdom in the here and now with the ministry of God’s spirit under the New Covenant of Christ’s death and resurrection. Stetzer’s hope is that, by better understanding Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount through Kendall’s expansive work, Christians will re-evaluate the presence of God’s Kingdom in their own lives, and be encouraged to seek his Kingdom and bring about its reality, making it a priority in their daily dealings with family, friends, colleagues and community. – Les Ellison

Based on Jesus' teachings in Matthew 5-7, this is the definitive resource on the most famous sermon in the world. With a foreword by Greg Haslam, Pastor of Westminster Chapel.

The Sermon on the Mount is one of history's best known and most loved teachings. The words may be humble and accessible, but they carry a revolutionary impact. Verse by verse, phrase by phrase, Dr Kendall delves into the depths of these Kingdom principles, exploring the background thinking, the theological underpinnings and immediate practical application of every element. Packed with fascinating insights and rich truths, this book demonstrates RT Kendall's superb expository preaching at its best.

For many years Dr R T Kendall was the minister at Westminster Chapel, London. He now lives in Hendersonville, Tennessee, from where he conducts a widespread teaching ministry. He is the author of over 50 books.