Blessed- Flip Pride & Pains for Gains
Ice Breaker: Can you describe a time in your life when you experienced an abundant and unexpected happiness?
Pastor Dave defines the beatitudes: “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 5:1-4
1 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them. He said: 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Focusing on Matthew 5:3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
1. What does it mean to be poor in spirit?
“The one who is poor and contrite in spirit, already possesses the Kingdom of Heaven.” BLESSED describes the secure assurance of who you already are in Christ. But secure in Christ doesn’t mean proud, arrogant and unashamed. – Pastor Dave Flaig
2. Are there points of pride in our lives that unexpectedly emerge? Can you describe an instance?
3. Paul warns us in Romans 12:3 to “think of ourselves with sober judgment”. How might we do a better job of this?
Romans 12:3
3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.
4. Why is self–judging important to Christians? (2 Cor. 13:5) How are we to test ourselves?
2 Corinthians 13:5
5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?
5. How might we improve our humility? (Philippians 2:2-4)
Philippians 2:2-4
2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
Read Matthew 14:6-23
6 On Herod’s birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for the guests and pleased Herod so much 7 that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. 8 Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” 9 The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted 10 and had John beheaded in the prison. 11 His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother. 12 John’s disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus. 13 When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. 14 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.
15 As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.”
16 Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” 17 “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.
18 “Bring them here to me,” he said. 19 And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. 20 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 21 The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children. 22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone,
6. What verses in Matthew 14 might indicate Jesus mourning?
7. What happens next to prevent his withdrawal?
Focusing on Matthew 5:4 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
8. Can you think of a time when you wanted to grieve, but life had to go on? How does God provide comfort in such times?
9. How might we provide comfort for those who are mourning?
10. How does “mourning” act like a teacher? (2 Timothy 2:10, 2 Cor. 6:10)
2 Timothy 2:10-12
10Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. 11 Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; 12 if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us;
2 Corinthians 6:10
10 sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
11. How does our suffering make us more sensitive to others? (James 1:12)
James 1:12
12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
Pastor Dave also enlarged the meaning of mourning a bit to include: “We also mourn over evil in our own lives as we realize our ability to conquer is unaided. We have a Holy Spirit who helps us mourn the opportunities we passed over to love our neighbors and quickens us to love next time. Stop saying if only and replace it with next time.”
12. Can you think of a time when you mourned over something you wished you had done differently? You might begin telling us your story with an “If only”. How might you change it to a “Next time”?
13. The main message was to “Flip our pain to experience gain”. Can you think of some way God might use your pain as a testimony? Can you pray about God actually using it?
Matthew 5:3,4
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.