BLESSED – STEP BACK INTO RELATIONSHIP
MATTHEW 5:5-6
Ice Breaker: Tell about a time in your life when you experienced great joy in a relationship!
Review:
Blessed describes the state of what already exists. Blessed refers to the distinctive joy accrued to those who have salvation in the kingdom of God. Blessed is what you are, not what you hope to be.”
Matthew 5:1-2 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountain-side and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them.
Introduction:
1. In Pastor Dave’s sermon, he told us that “Blessed is the current state of Christian’s life”. How would you explain our state of being Blessed to non-Christians? Do you feel blessed? What do you think we can do to feel more blessed?
2. In his “Why you need this sermon” statement, Pastor Dave said, “Sin management is not the same as a relationship with God.” How does Matt 7:21-23 relate to the concept of sin management?
Matthew 7:21-23 21″Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
Matthew 5:5-6 5Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
THE MEEK ARE THOSE WHO HUMBLY SEEK GOD. NOT TOO BOLD, NOR TOO TIMID.
3. The word for “meek” in Greek(praus) means gentle, meek, mild. (Matt 5:5; 11:29; 21:5; 1Peter 3:4) How would you describe a meek person?
4. How does our faith in God affect our meekness? (Ephesians 4:2; 2 Tim 2:25; 1Peter 3:15)
5. In the study of meekness how does Jesus shift the focus from old covenant thinking? (compare Psalm 37:9,11,29 with Matt 5:5; Rom 4:13)
Psalm 37:9 For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.
Psalm 37:11 But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy peace and prosperity.
Psalm 37:29 The righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever.
Romans 4:13 It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.
CAUSELESS ANGER IS THE EXACT OPPOSITE OF MEEKNESS.
6. How would you compare causeless anger (self righteous anger) to meekness?
7. How is causeless anger a spiritual battle?
8. What are examples of causeless anger?
GOD DEFINES JUSTICE AND GIVES IT OBJECTIVE AUTHENTICITY.
Matthew 26:6-13 6While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper, 7 a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table. 8 When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. “Why this waste?” they asked. 9 “This perfume could have been sold at a high price & the money given to the poor.” 10 Aware of this, Jesus said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 11 The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. 12 When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. 13 Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.
9. What is the difference between the way the disciples looked at the perfume being poured on Jesus and the way that Jesus saw the act?
10.How is the church today struggling with the same issues?
BEING MEEK IS IN HARMONY WITH BEING ANGRY OVER INJUSTICE INFLICTED ON OTHERS.
11. How can we show meekness in response to injustice?
THE BLESSED HUNGER AND THIRST FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
Matthew 5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
12. Where does our standard of righteousness come from?
13. What does it mean to hunger and thirst for righteousness? (Psalm 42:1-2)
14. How can we help our children grow to hunger and thirst for righteousness?
15. How can we increase our hunger and thirst for righteousness? What would that look like practically?