Upside Down

Upside Down

Upside Down

The Givers

The Beatitudes are typically associated with the nine statements of blessing that appear in Matthew 5:2-12; however, these are not the only “blessed” statements attributed to Jesus. In Acts 20:35, Paul quoted Jesus as saying, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Although this statement is not recorded in the Gospels, it does succinctly summarize the attitude of Jesus in regards to wealth in the kingdom of heaven. Sermon Handout In all things I have shown you that…
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The Persecuted

In Matthew 5:10-12, after pronouncing blessings on the poor in spirit, the mourners, the meek, the hungry and thirsty, the merciful, the pure in heart, and the peacemakers, Jesus pronounced two blessings on those who are persecuted. In pronouncing this double blessing on the persecuted, Jesus is effectively establishing an expectation that those who live according to the values of the kingdom of heaven will be persecuted. Sermon Handout 10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs…
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The Peacemakers

In Matthew 5:9, Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” Peacemaking is not a quality that is valued in the world, but it is a quality valued in the kingdom of heaven. Since peacemaking is not valued in the world, it is a trait that has to be learned, and, in this lesson, we will learn what it takes to make peace as well as why being a peacemaker is important to God.…
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The Pure In Heart

In Matthew 5:8, Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” God has always possessed an interest in the heart of man instead of the appearance of man (1 Samuel 16:7). That is why the heart is repeatedly at the heart of Jesus’ teaching (Matthew 6:21; Mark 7:21-23; 12:30; Luke 6:45). In this lesson, we will explore why God looks at the heart and what it will require to possess a pure heart. Sermon Handout…
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The Merciful

In Matthew 5:7, Jesus said, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.” This is not the only time Jesus spoke about mercy. In Luke 6:36, He said, “Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.” Mercy is a rare quality among the kingdoms of men but it is an essential quality within the kingdom of heaven. In this lesson, we will explore what it means to be merciful, identify why mercy matters, and examine the nature of mercy.…
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The Hungry And Thirsty

In Matthew 5:6, Jesus said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” What does that mean? Why did Jesus use the analogy of eating in drinking in a beatitude? In this lesson we will define righteousness, examine what it means to hunger and thirst for righteousness, then explore what such a hunger and thirst entails. Sermon Handout 6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. – Matthew…
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The Mourners

In Matthew 5:4, Jesus said, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” In other words, Jesus indicated that citizens of God’s kingdom manifest good grief, but what is He talking about? The mourning that is blessed is that which laments the absence of God’s reign. Thus, good grief is, as one preacher said, “mourning any time the will of God is not being done on earth like it is in heaven.” Sermon Handout 4 “Blessed are those who…
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The Poor In Spirit

The first thing Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount about the kingdom of heaven is the essentiality of poverty. In Matthew 5:3, He said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Thus, the first character quality of kingdom citizens identified by Jesus has to do with what we think about ourselves. Today we explore what it takes to become “poor in spirit” and why it is a necessary quality for kingdom citizenship.…
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Charter Members

One preacher referred to the Sermon on the Mount as “the charter for the kingdom of heaven.” A charter is a document that outlines the responsibilities and benefits of membership in an organization. The Sermon on the Mount can be called the charter for the “kingdom of heaven” because it identifies the code of conduct for its citizens, and it begins with a section known as the Beatitudes. What are the Beatitudes and why do they matter? Sermon Handout 5 Seeing…