OUR MISSION: To guide those far from God into the new start found in Jesus Christ.

Review The scene is set… Jesus is preaching out in the open Jesus is preaching out in the open Luke 6:17-36 Four cultural identifiers… wealth wealth comfort comfort power power fame fame Luke 6:17-36 Week One Blessings and Judgments Week Two Kingdom Principles

Who are you? Matthew 5:1-10 The Beatitudes First The Beatitudes cannot be divided or looked at individually Jesus starts and ends with the statement… “for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” “inclusio” = an ancient theological literally device Each one of these statements should define who you are

Second These descriptions indicate the essential difference between the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of this world What does The World value? Self confidence Self confidence Self expression Self expression Sensuality Sensuality Wealth Wealth Power Power Comfort Comfort Fame Fame What does Religion value? Moralism Moralism Who are you? Matthew 5:1-10 The Beatitudes

The Blessing of Brokenness Beatitude #1 Matthew 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” “All the characteristics in the Beatitudes are in a sense a result of ‘being poor in spirit’…” Studies in the Sermon on the Mount - D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones The Gospel of Matthew has a Jewish context Romans 3:10-12 As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away; they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one."

The Blessing of Brokenness Beatitude #1 Matthew 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” ‘Poor in spirit’ does not mean… Weak Weak Lacking courage Lacking courage Suspension of personality Suspension of personality “To be poor in spirit is to acknowledge honestly and with understanding our spiritual poverty— indeed our spiritual bankruptcy—before God.” - John Stott

The Blessing of Heartache Beatitude #2 Matthew 5:4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” If being poor in spirit is not a financial statement, then Jesus in not referring to natural mourning – sadness, loss or pain In the Old Testament – weeping and mourning is connected to transgressions and sin Psalms 119:136 “Streams of tears flow from my eyes, for your law is not obeyed.” Romans 7:24 “What a wretched man I am!”

The Blessing of Surrender Beatitude #3 Matthew 5:5 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” Psalms 37:11 “But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace.” ‘meek’ Gentle Gentle Humble Humble Considerate Considerate Submissive Submissive James 3:3-4 “When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go.”

The Blessing of Neediness Beatitude #4 Matthew 5:6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” ‘righteous’ to be approved to be approved to be accepted to be accepted ‘accusative’ case versus ‘genitive’ case ‘hunger’ [ peinao– “a poor person that toils in order to fight off starvation” ‘hunger’ [ peinao ̄ ] – “a poor person that toils in order to fight off starvation” ‘thirst’ [ ] “a painful need for water to stay alive” ‘thirst’ [ dipsaō ] “a painful need for water to stay alive”

The Blessing of Neediness Beatitude #4 Matthew 5:6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” Psalms 42:1-2 “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?” Revelations 7:16-17 “Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst… For the Lamb at the centre of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water.” “For the essence of sin is man substituting himself for God, while the essence of salvation is God substituting Himself for man.” “The Cross of Christ” – John Stott

OUR MISSION: To guide those far from God into the new start found in Jesus Christ.