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?
Tuesday, April 24, 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?
Thursday, April 5, 2012
"The Good Life" - Week 9
Week 9 - Matthew 5:3
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
To the Beatitudes we go.
The churchy word would be "blessed." But Jesus doesn't use the churchy word. He uses the secular word. Makarios is better translated "lucky" or "Congratulations!"
I have to say, it's an interesting choice of word for the list we'll study over the next couple of months. Lucky are the poor in spirit, those who mourn, and those who are persecuted? Interesting.
Obviously the kingdom of God does things a bit differently from the kingdoms of this world.
I like the way The Message translates Matthew 5:3. "You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule."
Anybody at the end of their rope? Good, there's good news coming your way!
As you dwell in Matthew 5:3, here are a few questions to consider and comment on:
1) Matthew says the poor in spirit are lucky. Luke says its the poor that are lucky. What's the difference between the two? Are these two terms more alike than many would believe? Why or why not?
2) Why would Jesus describe the poor in spirit as "lucky"?
3) Should we seek to become poor in spirit? Or is this a blessing for those who are already poor in spirit? Are the Beatitudes prescriptive or descriptive?
4) How is this good news for the lost in your community? How does this verse impact our sharing of the good news?
5) What are some 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 poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
To the Beatitudes we go.
The churchy word would be "blessed." But Jesus doesn't use the churchy word. He uses the secular word. Makarios is better translated "lucky" or "Congratulations!"
I have to say, it's an interesting choice of word for the list we'll study over the next couple of months. Lucky are the poor in spirit, those who mourn, and those who are persecuted? Interesting.
Obviously the kingdom of God does things a bit differently from the kingdoms of this world.
I like the way The Message translates Matthew 5:3. "You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule."
Anybody at the end of their rope? Good, there's good news coming your way!
As you dwell in Matthew 5:3, here are a few questions to consider and comment on:
1) Matthew says the poor in spirit are lucky. Luke says its the poor that are lucky. What's the difference between the two? Are these two terms more alike than many would believe? Why or why not?
2) Why would Jesus describe the poor in spirit as "lucky"?
3) Should we seek to become poor in spirit? Or is this a blessing for those who are already poor in spirit? Are the Beatitudes prescriptive or descriptive?
4) How is this good news for the lost in your community? How does this verse impact our sharing of the good news?
5) What are some 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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