Beatitudes First Light Summer 2016

Contact Information Rich Porter: Cell: Mike Lynch: Cell: Joe Kelty: Work

Premises The Bible is inerrant. Revelations in the Bible look forward or backward. God sees at once the future, the present and the past. The the nature and character of the Trinity never changes. There is a spiritual realm and a material realm that coexist. Through His word, God has made the spiritual realm knowable to us.

The Human Spirit What is the human spirit? How does the human spirit relate to God, the angels and the animals? What are some of the scriptures that address the human spirit? (James 4:5) Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? (John 4:24) God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” (Romans 8:16) The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, (Psalm 146:4) When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing.

The Human Spirit Where does the human spirit hang out in the body? How did the “heart” become the metaphorical home for the human spirit? What do scriptures about the heart tells us about the human spirit? (Ezekiel 36:26-27) And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. (Luke 2:35b) so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.” (Matthew 13:15) For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.’

The Human Spirit (Mark 11:23) Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. (Romans 10:10) For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved (Ephesians 6:6) not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, (John 14:1) “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. (Luke 6:45) The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Beatitudes

General Observations In general, what does the word “blessed” tell us about the Beatitudes? In general, what do the last phrase of each Beatitude suggest? In general, what do the middle phrases of each Beatitude suggest? Is there anything of great importance to God not mentioned in the Beatitudes?

Preparing The Team Where are we in our study of Jesus and His public ministry? (Matthew 5:1) Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. (Luke 6:17a) And he came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people

Why The Beatitudes? What was Jesus’ intent in teaching the Beatitudes? (Romans 12:1-2) And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. 2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. (Romans 8:29) For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

Why The Beatitudes? How is becoming a follower of Jesus different than becoming like Jesus? Are Jesus’ disciples “saved,“or“unsaved”? (John 3:3) Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (1 Corinthians 6:19) Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, (John 14:16) And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,

Why The Beatitudes? If the disciples are not saved, what are they? (John 13:9-10) Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 10 Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.” (John 15:3) Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. (John 14:17) even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.