Jesus’ Teaching Matthew 7 Oct When life gets your down 5:1-6 14 Oct Making a difference 5:7-11 21 Oct Salt, Light and Law 5:13-20 28 Oct Anger and Murder 5:21-26 4 Nov Adultery and Divorce 5:27-32 11 Nov Love for enemies 5:38-48 18 Nov Truth Telling: Yes and No 5:33-37 25 Nov Giving 6:1-4 2 Dec [Christingle] 9 Dec Prayer and fasting 6:5-18 16 Dec Treasure in heaven 6:19-24 23 Dec [Advent Carols] 30 Dec Worry 6:25-34 6 Jan Judging others 7:1-6 13 Jan Ask, Seek, Knock 7:7-12 20 Jan Jesus' way 7:13-28

Good News God is there for the poor, bereaved & oppressed: In the Bible (Matthew 5:3-5) Jesus proclaimed Good News for the poor, bereaved & oppressed: God is there

The Story so Far Some things we need to face up to: Poverty - Death - Oppression We need to be affected: Broken spirit - Mourn - become Meek We need to hear the good news: Here is where the Kingdom of God is There is resurrection - Oppression will end But what are we going to do about it?

Matthew 5 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. 5 Blessed are the oppressed,     for they will inherit the promised land.

6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful,     for they will be shown mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart,     for they will see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers,     for they will be called children of God. 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,     for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Thank God for his written Word to us

Some things we need to face up to: Poverty - Death - Oppression We need to be affected: Broken spirit - Mourn - become Meek We need to hear the good news: Here is where the Kingdom of God is There is resurrection - Oppression will end But what are we going to do about it? Make Peace

To Make Peace Feel the pain Desire what’s right Be forgiving Be pure in heart Expect grief And you’ll be called a child of God Jesus’ words Matthew 5:3-12

2 Corinthians 5: The ministry of Reconciliation 14 Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. 16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 19 God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them.

14 Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. 16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

To Make Peace Feel the pain Desire what’s right Be forgiving Pray for those relationships where we are called … To Make Peace Feel the pain Desire what’s right Be forgiving Be pure in heart Expect grief And you’ll be called a child of God Jesus’ words Matthew 5:3-12

Our Gathered worship has ended, our Worship & Service continue From Amen to Action May you know the blessing of feeling the pain of others of desiring what’s right of forgiving of being pure in heart of enduring grief Today and every day, for ever. Amen? Amen Our Gathered worship has ended, our Worship & Service continue