Reading 1 and 2 – Matthew 5:1-12
Read verses 1-12 both days. Answer 4 questions on each day.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=MAtthew+5%3A1-12&version=NKJV
Study Help (Verses 1-12):
The beatitudes: See 3.5 minute clip on the beatitudes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGdeCsKRLig
- Poor in Spirit – see this 2minute clip on what is meant by poor in spirit. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAPJUH7PARs
Definition: Being poor in spirit includes recognizing you have nothing, and know it, and practice your need for God in everything.
Question: Why do you think Jesus said of the poor in spirit that theirs is the kingdom of heaven? How can you practice being poor in Spirit?
2. Those that mourn – see 2 minute clip. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xTn1lKNxaE
Definition: Mourning as the response to recognizing our poverty of spirit and how needy we are before God.
Question: Why do you think Jesus said those that mourn are blessed because they will be comforted? How can you practice this type of mourning to receive His comfort?
3. Blessed are the meek – see 2 minute clip
Definition: The meek are those who surrender their will and agenda to follow and obey Christ (from the inside out). As they walk in surrender to His teachings and will, the kingdom and rule of God is produced in them and around them. Their inheritance is the fruit that comes out of their surrender and obedience to Christ both in this life and the one to come.
Question: How can we practice meekness?
4. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness: See 1.5 min video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gC7_lNqGQs4
Definition: Hungering and thirsting for righteousness is strongly desiring the will of God inside of you, in your actions, and around you. As you strongly desire His will and surrender to and do the will of God, you will have a contentment within yourself like a hungry person who has eaten a good meal.
Question: How
can we practice being hungry and thirsty for God’s righteousness?
5. Blessed are the Merciful for they will be shown mercy
Watch 1.5 minute video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfojaehMnaE
Definition: Being merciful is giving others grace instead of what they deserve. When you follow Christ, you realized that God has been merciful to you because of Christ so you extend that grace to others.
Question: How can you practice being merciful?
6. Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God
See 1.5 minutes video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTv9hFbOzGE
Definition: The pure in heart have turned from their rebellion, sin, and self-righteousness to put their faith in Christ as their righteousness. They continue in this process of purifying their hearts to follow Christ. Those who are pure in heart will see God at work in this life, and see Christ in eternity.
Question: How can we practice being pure in heart.
7. Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the sons of God
Watch 1 minute video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pO6PTrRlDw
Definition: Peacemakers are those who have come to peace with God through Jesus Christ, the prince of peace. Because He has made peace with us, we act as His agents to make peace with others. Our desire becomes being like Him in being a peace maker and with the desire that others may come to know, or come to know better, the prince of peace as well. See the difference between peace making and peace keeping. http://refineus.org/peacekeeping-vs-peacemaking/
Question: Where in your life can you begin practicing peace making rather than peace keeping, and what does that look like?
8. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake for theirs is the kingdom of heaven
Watch 1.5 min video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbHpzhCiwAA
Definition: Being persecuted for righteousness sake is being persecuted for doing God’s will or what is right before God, when it seems wrong to this broken sinful world. The kingdom of heaven belongs to those who surrender to and do the will of God. Being persecuted for doing what is right before God reminds us that we belong to His kingdom rather than Satan’s.
Question: How can we change our perspective on this so we are not taken by surprise when it happens?
Reading 3, Matthew 5:13-26
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5%3A13-26&version=NKJV
9. Question: What enables us to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world (13-16)? How can we be salt and light to those around us?
10. Question: In verses 19-20, how can we become great in the kingdom of heaven and how do you think our righteousness needs to exceed the Pharisees to enter the kingdom of heaven? What do we need to practice?
11. Question: What do you get out of verses 21-26 and how can you put this into practice?
Reading 4, Matthew 5:27-27
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5%3A27-37&version=NKJV
12. Question: What do you learn from verses 27-31 and how can you practice doing what pleases God?
13. Question: Why do you think Jesus says that oaths (binding yourself to more than Yes or No) is from the evil one (33-37)?
Reading 5, Matthew 5:36-48
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5%3A36-48&version=NKJV
14. Question: Why love our enemies (36-48)? How can we practice this?