Week 14 - Matthew 5:8
"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God."
Have you seen God recently? Where have you seen him?
I've been able to think of people in my life who are poor in spirit, merciful, and righteous, but I'm racking my brain trying to come up with someone who is pure in heart and I'm having a difficult time.
I have some idea that children are more pure than adults, but there are moments I'm not even sure about the purity of my 2-year old's heart as he learns to share with others.
I don't have any models for this one.
Besides, can anyone see God anyway?
I guess you can tell I have my doubts this week.
As you dwell in Matthew 5:8, here are a few questions to consider and comment on:
1) John 1:18 and 1 John 4:12 say that no one has ever seen God. How does this beatitude change your view on that?
2) Is the blessing (seeing God) a blessing for the end of days or a blessing that changes our vision today?
3) What does it mean to be pure in heart?
4) How does one become more pure in heart?
5) What are some of the ways that Christians (those committed to putting the kingdom on display) might seek to implement this passage in order to proclaim the good news in 2012?
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
"The Good life" - Week 13
Week 13 - Matthew 5:7
"Blessed are merciful, for they will be shown mercy."
Mercy.
It's something we beg for. It's the word we force people to say when we've got them in a compromising position. It's a word that rarely describes our world.
I've heard it said this way:
"Grace is to get something we don't deserve. Mercy is to not get something we do deserve."
This beatitude is the only one where God pronounces a reflexive blessing. The merciful receive...well...mercy.
I think there are some good reasons why this beatitude in particular is rewarded with an overflow of what we have already given to others. Meditate deeply on that idea this week.
As you dwell in Matthew 5:7, here are a few questions to consider and comment on:
1) Do you consider yourself to be a merciful person?
2) The parables of Jesus are full of examples of mercy. How do the parables change your perspective on true Christianity?
3) Why does God give mercy to the merciful? How is the gift relevant to the action?
4) Is there any link between our ability to receive mercy and give mercy?
5) Chicken or the Egg: Which comes first, receiving mercy or giving mercy?
6) What are some of the ways that Christians (those committed to putting the kingdom on display) might seek to implement this passage in order to proclaim the good news in 2012?
"Blessed are merciful, for they will be shown mercy."
Mercy.
It's something we beg for. It's the word we force people to say when we've got them in a compromising position. It's a word that rarely describes our world.
I've heard it said this way:
"Grace is to get something we don't deserve. Mercy is to not get something we do deserve."
This beatitude is the only one where God pronounces a reflexive blessing. The merciful receive...well...mercy.
I think there are some good reasons why this beatitude in particular is rewarded with an overflow of what we have already given to others. Meditate deeply on that idea this week.
As you dwell in Matthew 5:7, here are a few questions to consider and comment on:
1) Do you consider yourself to be a merciful person?
2) The parables of Jesus are full of examples of mercy. How do the parables change your perspective on true Christianity?
3) Why does God give mercy to the merciful? How is the gift relevant to the action?
4) Is there any link between our ability to receive mercy and give mercy?
5) Chicken or the Egg: Which comes first, receiving mercy or giving mercy?
6) What are some of the ways that Christians (those committed to putting the kingdom on display) might seek to implement this passage in order to proclaim the good news in 2012?
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
2 Week Break
I'll get back to posting in a couple of weeks because I'll be taking a two-week break from the pulpit.
This week, Jim Reynolds will be leading our small group leadership conference and preaching for us on Sunday.
Next week is the Sunday when we honor our graduates. Clint Askins will be bringing the word.
Thanks for checking in and involving yourselves in this community.
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
"The Good Life" - Week 12
Week 12 - Matthew 5:6
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled."
My definition of the blessed is unthinkingly biased toward those who have gained success through hard work and determination.
I'd like to re-write this beatitude. "Blessed are those who fill their hungry bellies, for they are filled."
But that's not what Jesus says. He says, "Blessed are those who have found emptiness because God is able to fill those who aren't already full [of themselves]."
As you dwell in Matthew 5:6, here are a few questions to consider and comment on:
1) What is righteousness? How is the idea of righteousness related to justice?
2) How does fasting connect us to a hunger and thirst for righteousness?
3) Who is an example in your life of someone who hungers and thirsts for righteousness?
4) How does God fill those who hunger and thirst for him?
5) What are some of the ways that Christians (those committed to putting the kingdom on display) might seek to implement this passage into order to proclaim the good news in 2012?
My definition of the blessed is unthinkingly biased toward those who have gained success through hard work and determination.
I'd like to re-write this beatitude. "Blessed are those who fill their hungry bellies, for they are filled."
But that's not what Jesus says. He says, "Blessed are those who have found emptiness because God is able to fill those who aren't already full [of themselves]."
As you dwell in Matthew 5:6, here are a few questions to consider and comment on:
1) What is righteousness? How is the idea of righteousness related to justice?
2) How does fasting connect us to a hunger and thirst for righteousness?
3) Who is an example in your life of someone who hungers and thirsts for righteousness?
4) How does God fill those who hunger and thirst for him?
5) What are some of the ways that Christians (those committed to putting the kingdom on display) might seek to implement this passage into order to proclaim the good news in 2012?
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
"The Good Life" - Week 11
Week 11 - Matthew 5:5
"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth."
When is the last time you used the word "meek"? I'm guessing it wasn't lately unless you spend much time talking with friends about the beatitudes.
In fact, in the NIV translation, there are 4 times the Greek word translated as meek in Matthew 5:5 is used in the New Testament. Three times it is translated as "gentle." Only once is it translated as "meek."
Most people I've spoken with during the past week equate meek with weakness. We tend to think of a meek person as someone who lets people "walk all over them." But that doesn't exactly define meek.
But possibly the more difficult thing to understand is the reward given to the meek. They get the earth.
The earth? Couldn't the meek have gotten something better than the earth?
Perhaps we need to take a closer look at this beatitude. It's deep and the layers are numerous.
Study up and let me know what you think Jesus is getting at.
As you dwell in Matthew 5:5, here are a few questions to consider and comment on:
1) How would you define meekness? How is it different than weakness?
2) Who is someone in your life whom you would describe as the epitome of meekness?
3) What good is there in inheriting the earth? What does that challenge about your assumptions regarding the earth and eternity?
4) What are some of the ways that Christians (those committed to putting the kingdom on display) might seek to implement this passage in order to proclaim the good news in 2012?
"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth."
When is the last time you used the word "meek"? I'm guessing it wasn't lately unless you spend much time talking with friends about the beatitudes.
In fact, in the NIV translation, there are 4 times the Greek word translated as meek in Matthew 5:5 is used in the New Testament. Three times it is translated as "gentle." Only once is it translated as "meek."
Most people I've spoken with during the past week equate meek with weakness. We tend to think of a meek person as someone who lets people "walk all over them." But that doesn't exactly define meek.
But possibly the more difficult thing to understand is the reward given to the meek. They get the earth.
The earth? Couldn't the meek have gotten something better than the earth?
Perhaps we need to take a closer look at this beatitude. It's deep and the layers are numerous.
Study up and let me know what you think Jesus is getting at.
As you dwell in Matthew 5:5, here are a few questions to consider and comment on:
1) How would you define meekness? How is it different than weakness?
2) Who is someone in your life whom you would describe as the epitome of meekness?
3) What good is there in inheriting the earth? What does that challenge about your assumptions regarding the earth and eternity?
4) What are some of the ways that Christians (those committed to putting the kingdom on display) might seek to implement this passage in order to proclaim the good news in 2012?
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Update
This Sunday, Philippe Dauner, one of our missionaries from Marseilles, France, will be preaching at Littleton. He'll preach on the story of the 10 lepers out of Luke 17.
I'll be preparing sermons over Matthew 5:5 (Lucky are the meek) & 5:6 (Lucky are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness) for the following two Sundays.
Next week I'll be back with more on the Good Life.
I'll be preparing sermons over Matthew 5:5 (Lucky are the meek) & 5:6 (Lucky are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness) for the following two Sundays.
Next week I'll be back with more on the Good Life.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
"The Good Life" - Week 10
Week 10 - Matthew 5:4
"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted."
Once again, on first glance, it's easy to wonder why Jesus would call people who mourn blessed. It seems trite, doesn't it? It seems a bit too Disney.
If my logic follows, people who suffer mourn.
In the time of Jesus, suffering was a seen as a result of sin. The only doubt about the person suffering was which sin they might have committed. They certainly wouldn't have been considered "lucky!"
In our day, we keep death and mourning as far away as possible. Mourning isn't something we excel in.
Our churches also aren't equipped to bless worshipers who are in a place of mourning.
In fact, 40% of the Psalms are psalms of lament. But guess what percentage of the songs in our song books are songs of lament: 4%. That should alarm us and tell us something. Our churches aren't exactly equipping our people for times of mourning.
As you dwell in Matthew 5:4, here are a few questions to consider and comment on:
1) What situations of suffering do you associate with mourning?
2) Are there things other than the death of a loved one that we mourn? What are they?
3) What makes those who mourn blessed or "lucky"?
4) In the process of grieving, is it possible to skip mourning? What are the results of a failure to mourn difficult circumstances in our lives?
5) Is there any place for mourning in a positive transition in your life? Give an example.
6) What are some of the ways that Christians (those committed to putting the kingdom on display) might seek to implement this passage in order to proclaim the good news in 2012?
"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted."
Once again, on first glance, it's easy to wonder why Jesus would call people who mourn blessed. It seems trite, doesn't it? It seems a bit too Disney.
If my logic follows, people who suffer mourn.
In the time of Jesus, suffering was a seen as a result of sin. The only doubt about the person suffering was which sin they might have committed. They certainly wouldn't have been considered "lucky!"
In our day, we keep death and mourning as far away as possible. Mourning isn't something we excel in.
Our churches also aren't equipped to bless worshipers who are in a place of mourning.
In fact, 40% of the Psalms are psalms of lament. But guess what percentage of the songs in our song books are songs of lament: 4%. That should alarm us and tell us something. Our churches aren't exactly equipping our people for times of mourning.
As you dwell in Matthew 5:4, here are a few questions to consider and comment on:
1) What situations of suffering do you associate with mourning?
2) Are there things other than the death of a loved one that we mourn? What are they?
3) What makes those who mourn blessed or "lucky"?
4) In the process of grieving, is it possible to skip mourning? What are the results of a failure to mourn difficult circumstances in our lives?
5) Is there any place for mourning in a positive transition in your life? Give an example.
6) What are some of the ways that Christians (those committed to putting the kingdom on display) might seek to implement this passage in order to proclaim the good news in 2012?
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