SALT & LIGHT 3 BECOMING GOD S BLESSED PEOPLE

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1 SALT & LIGHT 3 BECOMING GOD S BLESSED PEOPLE

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3 SALT and LIGHT SERIES 3 BECOMING GOD S BLESSED PEOPLE A STUDY OF THE BEATITUDES Matthew 5:3-10 The Sermon on the Mount was never intended to be a set of rules to live by. Jesus berated the Pharisees for their outward show of keeping the Jewish laws, while inwardly having hardened hearts towards others misery, needs or welfare. If we want to be the Salt and Light to the world, we need softened hearts. We need to hear the Lord s well done and blessed are you when we strive to walk hand in hand with Jesus through the Beatitudes. This 4 week study is a soul searching walk through some of the best known words of Jesus. 1. Matthew 5:3-4 p Matthew 5:5-6 p Matthew 5:7-8 p Matthew 5:9-10 p. 14 This series can be used at your own pace guided by the Holy Spirit. Feel free to answer all or some of the questions listed in this booklet.

4 WEEK 1 - MATTHEW 5:3-4 Matthew 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Introduction The Beatitudes begins and ends with a distinctive phrase, the kingdom of heaven. As we explore these beautiful, but compelling words, we realise that Jesus is talking about the kingdom of God. He is urging us to be kingdom people. 1 Chronicles 29:11 says:...yours, O Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. This is the underlining message of the Beatitudes. In this blessed kingdom, the Lord God is exalted over all. If we want to be citizens of this kingdom, the following verses show us how to exalt our Creator. Ice Breaker What favourite saying of your mother or father when you were young has stayed in your mind? 1

5 Questions 1. How would you define the word poor in our present day? 2. One of the definitions in the dictionary is being in want. Can you relate this definition to the phrase poor in spirit? Compare with this verse: The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. (Psalm 23:1) 3. Why do you think we need to recognize our human poverty before we can become citizens of God s kingdom? 4. How do you think being aware of how much we need the Holy Spirit helps us to be kingdom people? How does this verse help?...i live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit,... (Isaiah 57:15) 2

6 Matthew 5 : 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Introduction When we realise from verse 3 how deep is our poverty of Spirit, we weep to see how far we fall short of being true kingdom people. We mourn over the sin in our own lives and that of the society we live in. We ache to have that pain that sin brings removed. Questions 1. In 2 Corinthians 7:9, we read:... yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance... Do you think this verse means we have to be overcome with guilt? 2. What is the encouraging promise in Matthew 5:4? 3. How can confession be part of being comforted and how does this bring about a blessing from God? 3

7 4. Who does the comforting? Read 2 Corinthians 1:3-4. Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. 5. How can we use this beautiful message that after sincere mourning comes comfort, to help others who may be mired in guilt because of unresolved sin? Personal Reflection How have these first two steps on our walk through the Beatitudes changed your ideas about what it means to be blessed? You may want to check these verses for more on this blessed kingdom: Matthew 6:33; Mark 1:15; Luke 4:43. 4

8 WEEK 2 - MATTHEW 5:5-6 Matthew 5:5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Introduction Jesus always startled his listeners when he spoke and this particular Beatitude seems to be at odds with the Jews past history of honouring war-like heroes like David, but when we delve into the meaning of meek we begin to grasp what Jesus was implying. The Oxford Dictionary lists these words for the meaning of meek; pliant /gentle/humble/free from self will Jesus describes himself thus,...for I am gentle and humble in heart,.... (Matthew 11:29) A wonderful example for us to follow. Ice Breaker When you were young, were you shy and retiring or were you the one who could make the whole class laugh? 5

9 Questions 1. Do you think in our present day society that meekness is praised? Why? Why not? 2. If we take the meaning of meek to be humble, what are the key words for us in this verse? Psalm 25:9 He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way. 3. How can being self willed (not pliant) spoil our walk with the Lord? 6

10 4. When we are pliant to God s will, we become his heirs to his treasures. What are the treasures God is so longing to bestow on us? Colossians 2:2c-3 says:...namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. How does knowing that help us in our struggles here on earth? 7

11 Matthew 5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Food and water are the two essential substances for life and after we have recognized our poverty of spirit and have mourned the sin in our lives and have become more pliant to our Saviour s will, we are filled with a hunger and a thirst not for our physical bodies, but for our souls. Questions 1. What would you say people hunger and thirst for in the secular world? 2. If wealth was one of the answers,what is the warning in this verse? Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death. (Proverbs 11:4) 3. What is the promise here? Can we earn righteousness? How are we delivered from death? 8

12 4. Discuss how we will be filled after we hunger and thirst. Isaiah 32:17 says: The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever. Personal Reflection Would you say that at the moment you are hungering and thirsting after righteousness? You may want to check these verses in Isaiah 55:1-3 9

13 Introduction WEEK 3 - MATTHEW 5:7-8 Matthew 5:7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Hosea 6:6 says: For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgement of God rather than burnt offerings. The Hebrew word used here for mercy is hesed and refers to our attitude and compassion towards our fellow human beings as well as respect for God s laws. God would prefer for us to be merciful to one another rather than have an insincere and outward show of worshipping him. Micah records this as he praises God:...You do not stay angry forever, but delight to show mercy. (Micah 7:18) When we are merciful, we are displaying the mighty characteristic of God. Ice Breaker Did you have a nickname as a child? Did you like it? Why or why not? 10

14 Questions 1. What do you think is the opposite of mercy? 2. I n Luke 6 :36-37 we read, Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. What merciful actions are noted here? How is being shown mercy depicted here? 3. Do you think there is a cost for us in being merciful? 4. Daniel 9 :9 says: The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving... How does remembering this convince us to be more merciful? 11

15 Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God John Stott on commenting on this verse described being pure in heart as a quality to be transparent before God and his people. The dictionary has several definitions for pure such as; unsullied, untainted, nothing that has been defiled, not corrupt. David cries out to God to give him this beautiful quality so that he can once more come into God s presence after sinning against him. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. (Psalm 51:10) Questions 1. Can you think of a substance found in nature that is classified as pure? What qualities would it have to be called pure? 2. Do you think any of us can ever have pure motives? 3. Discuss John Stott s definition of pure. Do you agree with him? 12

16 4. Do you think that when our thinking becomes defiled,we lose sight of God and how he is viewing a situation? Discuss how that can happen. Personal Reflection After reading Matthew 5:8, can you see God in your actions? Are you more ready to be transparent before him? You may want to check these verses: 2 Timothy 2:22; Philippians 4:8. 13

17 WEEK 4 - MATTHEW 5:9-10 Matthew 5 : 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Introduction We tend to think of the word peace to mean a time when there is no war or conflict and we are familiar with the word peacekeeper, but here Jesus is using the word peace maker A word that embodies action. An action of reconciliation; an action of bringing about wholeness ; an action that would define those who are kingdom people. When Isaiah is prophesising about the coming of the Messiah, he tells us that one of his titles will be...prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). He is the reconciler we need to emulate. Ice Breaker When your life is overfull and frantic, what do you do for peace and quiet? Long hot bath/special place/your own special solution. 14

18 Questions. 1. When God gave the priestly blessing to Moses he said to use these words: The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. (Numbers 6:24-26) Where does the world seek peace of mind? Bank balance? Bullet proof vest? Think of other examples. If we are kingdom people what is this verse telling us about seeking peace? 2. If we truly seek to be peacemakers, James has a good job description for us. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace -loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. (James 3:17) Can you find the words in this verse that relate to the messages of the Beatitudes that we have already studied? 15

19 3. James 3:18 says: Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness. What is the blessing of being a peacemaker? How would you describe this blessing? 4. Being a peacemaker has been described as bringing about wholeness. How does this quote help you understand our role in this? Wholeness happens when brokenness is brought to the Father to be healed 16

20 Matthew 5:10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Introduction This final Beatitude seems to strike a note of discord after we have explored the previous blessings, but Jesus, our Prince of peace, was persecuted and warns us who yearn to be kingdom people that many outside his sacred boundaries will try to undermine us. John 15:20b says, If they persecute me, they will persecute you also... Questions 1. In our present day society do you think Christians are persecuted? Give examples. 2. This Beatitude is not implying that we have to live in fear of persecution. 1 Peter 3:14 says: But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear do not be frightened. What do you think people fear? Why should we not be afraid? Have you got an example of reassurance from the Lord when you had a frightening experience? 17

21 3. 1 Peter 4:4 says: They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation and they heap abuse on you. How do these words explain attacks on Christians? Do you agree with these words? 4. As we look back on these beautiful words how would you describe a person who is a citizen of the kingdom of heaven. 18

22 Personal Reflection What yearning has awakened in your heart after studying what it takes to be a kingdom person? Read what Jesus says about the kingdom of heaven in Matthew 13:

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24 Produced by St. Simon s Church North Vancouver North Vancouver, BC