Our response to hearing the Sermon on the Mount needs to be obedience. However, the Holy Spirit will need to change our hearts in order for us to obey, because we cannot do it in our own power.
Beatitude #6 - Pure in heart. Read Matthew 5:8. God sees what is truly in our heart. Being 'pure in heart' is all about the inside. The key is Authenticity: Blessed are those who are real with God and one another. Spiritual growth is hindered when we are not authentic. When you are not genuine it is like "wearing a mask with a forced smile".
Beatitude #7 - Peacemakers. Read Matthew 5:9. Being a peacemaker is all about inter-personal relationships and loving people for Christ's sake. When there is conflict address it with gentleness and confess your feelings, dont confront.
Beatitude #8 - Persecuted because of Righteousness. Matthew 5:10. Verbal and emotional persecution is widespread in the U.S. There are 160,000 martyr's around the world each year. Matthew 5:12 says to rejoice even when it is difficult. Live your life all out for Jesus.
Discussion Questions:
1. How can we follow Jesus and yet try to impress one another?
2. Where in your life is pretense, phoniness, or posing?
3. Do you pretend to be someone your not?
4. Do you feel free to be yourself?
5. Do you stir up trouble because you are an angry, bitter, or grumpy person?
6. Do you stir up trouble because you hold grudges and won't forgive?
7. Do you avoid conflict resolution in your life.... in your marriage?
8. When others are at odds, do you pour out water or gasoline on that situation?
9. Are you willing to follow Christ no matter how uncomfortable you may get or what it might cost?
10. Have you fully surrendered your life to Jesus Christ?
11. Are you living for the next world or for this world?
Sermon on the Mount: Part 2
"When we are empty of self and full of God, then we can overflow into the world around us."
- Greg Johnson
Beatitude #3 - Meek. What do you think of when you hear the word "meek"? Meekness is strength under control. Read James 4:6. Being full of self puts you in the opposite direction of God.
Beatitude #4 - Hunger and Thirst for Righteouness. What does it mean to "thirst for righteousness"? Thirsting for Righteousness = dependence, humility, and desperation for God. Read Luke 9:23. This is a daily decision; dying to ourselves, asking to be filled with the spirit, and taking up our cross.
Beatitude #5 - Merciful. Mercy is not getting what we deserve. Being merciful means offering compassion, humility, forgiveness, and restoration. The world offers vengeance, payback, and judgment. Read Ephesians 4:32. Give mercy because you have received it already. Give mercy because you could end up in that same state of sin.
Discussion Questions:
1. Who do you know that exemplifies "meekness"?
2. How do dependence, humility, and desperation make for a more compelling story than the story of self?
3. What does it look like when you are filling up with God?
4. Think of a difficult situation you were/are in with another person. Are you offering mercy or are you offering the ways of the world? How can you show mercy and still address the brokenness within a relationship? Is it possible to extend mercy and yet walk away from a relationship?
- Greg Johnson
Beatitude #3 - Meek. What do you think of when you hear the word "meek"? Meekness is strength under control. Read James 4:6. Being full of self puts you in the opposite direction of God.
Beatitude #4 - Hunger and Thirst for Righteouness. What does it mean to "thirst for righteousness"? Thirsting for Righteousness = dependence, humility, and desperation for God. Read Luke 9:23. This is a daily decision; dying to ourselves, asking to be filled with the spirit, and taking up our cross.
Beatitude #5 - Merciful. Mercy is not getting what we deserve. Being merciful means offering compassion, humility, forgiveness, and restoration. The world offers vengeance, payback, and judgment. Read Ephesians 4:32. Give mercy because you have received it already. Give mercy because you could end up in that same state of sin.
Discussion Questions:
1. Who do you know that exemplifies "meekness"?
2. How do dependence, humility, and desperation make for a more compelling story than the story of self?
3. What does it look like when you are filling up with God?
4. Think of a difficult situation you were/are in with another person. Are you offering mercy or are you offering the ways of the world? How can you show mercy and still address the brokenness within a relationship? Is it possible to extend mercy and yet walk away from a relationship?
Sermon on the Mount: Part 1
To be blessed is to have a deep, abiding joy no matter what happens and knowing God is with you at all times. In this series on the "Sermon on the Mount" we will be going through the Beatitudes and asking God to transform us!
Beatitude #1 - Poor in spirit. Read Matthew 5:3. The bottom line is you ARE desperate for God! The test of "spiritual poverty" is Prayer. The more you pray, the more you realize you are spiritually poor. If you don't pray much, you don't think God is much! Read Genesis 32:22-23 which exemplifies being poor in spirit. Why does God start the Beatitudes with "poor in spirit"? The chief sin is PRIDE.
Beatitude #2 - Those who mourn. Read Matthew 5:4. What does Jesus want us to mourn for? For loss of a loved one, for pain, for injustice, suffering in the world, and sin. Read 2 Corinthians 1:3-4. There are lost people all around us who don't know there is a God in heaven who loves them. Read Romans 9:2-3
Discussion Questions:
1. What do you think of when you hear "spiritual poverty"?
2. Is there a part of you that doesn't want God to make you desperate? Can you be desperate without something being wrong in your life?
3. Think about and discuss the following: The self-sufficient do not pray. The self-satisfied will not pray. The self-righteous cannot pray.
4. In what areas of your life do you see sin? Areas of pride?
5. How do you feel about the tragedy in Haiti?
6. Are you living in an area of rebellion or disobedience?
7. How do you feel about following Paul's example in Romans 9:2-3?
Beatitude #1 - Poor in spirit. Read Matthew 5:3. The bottom line is you ARE desperate for God! The test of "spiritual poverty" is Prayer. The more you pray, the more you realize you are spiritually poor. If you don't pray much, you don't think God is much! Read Genesis 32:22-23 which exemplifies being poor in spirit. Why does God start the Beatitudes with "poor in spirit"? The chief sin is PRIDE.
Beatitude #2 - Those who mourn. Read Matthew 5:4. What does Jesus want us to mourn for? For loss of a loved one, for pain, for injustice, suffering in the world, and sin. Read 2 Corinthians 1:3-4. There are lost people all around us who don't know there is a God in heaven who loves them. Read Romans 9:2-3
Discussion Questions:
1. What do you think of when you hear "spiritual poverty"?
2. Is there a part of you that doesn't want God to make you desperate? Can you be desperate without something being wrong in your life?
3. Think about and discuss the following: The self-sufficient do not pray. The self-satisfied will not pray. The self-righteous cannot pray.
4. In what areas of your life do you see sin? Areas of pride?
5. How do you feel about the tragedy in Haiti?
6. Are you living in an area of rebellion or disobedience?
7. How do you feel about following Paul's example in Romans 9:2-3?
Ten in Ten
The Theme of the Bible is God's redeeming love for us. God wants us to love Him back. Read Luke 10:27. Because of God's overwhelming love for us, we seek to love Jesus and journey together in order to change the world. Love God and Love Others! Five Ways to Love Jesus are:
1. Bless the people God brings our way. Read Genesis 12:2-3. What about asking people: "How can I ask God to bless you today?"
2. Find a place to Serve individually or as a group, either at WoodsEdge or in the community. Every one has a purpose. Read Mark 10:45.
3. Give generously to God as an act of joyful worship. Read Matthew 6:24. Critical to loving Jesus is giving generously to God. Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
4. Be a person of extraordinary Prayer. We challenge you to attend our Wednesday night prayer service either individually or as a group 10 weeks in a row.
5. Meet with God in the Bible every day. To meet with our God is the greatest privilege we have, seek the face of God (Psalm 63:1). When you read your Bible, say to God "Lord speak to me..."
"The only way we can accomplish these five challenges is from our love for Jesus. We can't do it out of discipline." - Jeff Wells
Discussion Questions:
1. How can we bless people?
2. What are your talents? Where can you use those talents to find a place to serve?
3. Why do we hold on so tightly to our money?
4. Brainstorm ways to meet God in the Bible every day.
5. Do you feel like you are in a relationship with God? Why? Why not?
1. Bless the people God brings our way. Read Genesis 12:2-3. What about asking people: "How can I ask God to bless you today?"
2. Find a place to Serve individually or as a group, either at WoodsEdge or in the community. Every one has a purpose. Read Mark 10:45.
3. Give generously to God as an act of joyful worship. Read Matthew 6:24. Critical to loving Jesus is giving generously to God. Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
4. Be a person of extraordinary Prayer. We challenge you to attend our Wednesday night prayer service either individually or as a group 10 weeks in a row.
5. Meet with God in the Bible every day. To meet with our God is the greatest privilege we have, seek the face of God (Psalm 63:1). When you read your Bible, say to God "Lord speak to me..."
"The only way we can accomplish these five challenges is from our love for Jesus. We can't do it out of discipline." - Jeff Wells
Discussion Questions:
1. How can we bless people?
2. What are your talents? Where can you use those talents to find a place to serve?
3. Why do we hold on so tightly to our money?
4. Brainstorm ways to meet God in the Bible every day.
5. Do you feel like you are in a relationship with God? Why? Why not?
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