2. MATTHEW 5:1-12 5 ONE DAY AS HE SAW THE CROWDS GATHERING, JESUS WENT UP ON THE MOUNTAINSIDE AND SAT DOWN. HIS DISCIPLES GATHERED AROUND HIM, 2 AND HE BEGAN TO TEACH THEM. 3 “GOD BLESSES THOSE WHO ARE POOR AND REALIZE THEIR NEED FOR HIM, FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS THEIRS. 4 GOD BLESSES THOSE WHO MOURN, FOR THEY WILL BE COMFORTED. 5 GOD BLESSES THOSE WHO ARE HUMBLE, FOR THEY WILL INHERIT THE WHOLE EARTH.

3. CONTINUED……. 6 GOD BLESSES THOSE WHO HUNGER AND THIRST FOR JUSTICE, FOR THEY WILL BE SATISFIED. 7 GOD BLESSES THOSE WHO ARE MERCIFUL, FOR THEY WILL BE SHOWN MERCY. 8 GOD BLESSES THOSE WHOSE HEARTS ARE PURE, FOR THEY WILL SEE GOD. 9 GOD BLESSES THOSE WHO WORK FOR PEACE, FOR THEY WILL BE CALLED THE CHILDREN OF GOD.

4. CONTINUED…….. 10 GOD BLESSES THOSE WHO ARE PERSECUTED FOR DOING RIGHT, FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS THEIRS. 11 “GOD BLESSES YOU WHEN PEOPLE MOCK YOU AND PERSECUTE YOU AND LIE ABOUT YOU AND SAY ALL SORTS OF EVIL THINGS AGAINST YOU BECAUSE YOU ARE MY FOLLOWERS. 12 BE HAPPY ABOUT IT! BE VERY GLAD! FOR A GREAT REWARD AWAITS YOU IN HEAVEN. AND REMEMBER, THE ANCIENT PROPHETS WERE PERSECUTED IN THE SAME WAY.

5. INSPIRED LIVING DIFFERENTLY

6. MATTHEW 5:3 3 “GOD BLESSES THOSE WHO ARE POOR AND REALIZE THEIR NEED FOR HIM, FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS THEIRS.

7. BEATITUDES 1. POOR IN SPIRIT // PRIDE

8. KEY: YOU CAN’T BE FILLED WITH GOD WHEN YOU’RE ALREADY FULL OF YOURSELF.

9. MATTHEW 5:4 4 GOD BLESSES THOSE WHO MOURN, FOR THEY WILL BE COMFORTED.

10. BEATITUDES 2. MOURNING // PLEASURE

11. KEY: REPENTANCE IS NECESSARY BEFORE RESTORATION CAN OCCUR.

12. ACTS 3:19 19 NOW REPENT OF YOUR SINS AND TURN TO GOD, SO THAT YOUR SINS MAY BE WIPED AWAY.

13. MATTHEW 5:5 5 GOD BLESSES THOSE WHO ARE HUMBLE, FOR THEY WILL INHERIT THE WHOLE EARTH.

14. BEATITUDES 3. MEAKNESS // POWER

15. KEY: YOU MUST FIND CONTENTMENT IN THE SITUATION WHERE GOD HAS PLACED YOU.

16. MATTHEW 5:6 6 GOD BLESSES THOSE WHO HUNGER AND THIRST FOR JUSTICE, FOR THEY WILL BE SATISFIED.

17. BEATITUDES 4. RIGHTEOUSNESS // PERSONAL SATISFACTION

18. KEY: AWARDS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS WILL STILL LEAVE YOU EMPTY.

19. MATTHEW 5:7 7 GOD BLESSES THOSE WHO ARE MERCIFUL, FOR THEY WILL BE SHOWN MERCY.

20. BEATITUDES 5. MERCY // COMPLACENCY

21. KEY: CARRYING FOR OTHERS OVERCOMES BYSTANDER APATHY.

22. MATTHEW 5:8 8 GOD BLESSES THOSE WHOSE HEARTS ARE PURE, FOR THEY WILL SEE GOD.

23. BEATITUDES 6. PURE IN HEART // DECEPTION

24. LUKE 11:39 39 THEN THE LORD SAID TO HIM, “YOU PHARISEES ARE SO CAREFUL TO CLEAN THE OUTSIDE OF THE CUP AND THE DISH, BUT INSIDE YOU ARE FILTHY— FULL OF GREED AND WICKEDNESS!

25. KEY: MAKE SURE THAT WHAT YOU’RE DOING TODAY IS WHAT YOU CAN LIVE WITH TOMORROW.

26. MATTHEW 5:9 9 GOD BLESSES THOSE WHO WORK FOR PEACE, FOR THEY WILL BE CALLED THE CHILDREN OF GOD.

27. BEATITUDES 7. PEACEMAKER // CONFLICT

28. KEY: HEALTHY CONFLICT IS NECESSARY FOR GROWTH

29. MATTHEW 5:10 10 GOD BLESSES THOSE WHO ARE PERSECUTED FOR DOING RIGHT, FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS THEIRS.

30. BEATITUDES 8. PERSECUTED // COMPROMISE

31. MATTHEW 28:20 20 TEACH THESE NEW DISCIPLES TO OBEY ALL THE COMMANDS I HAVE GIVEN YOU. AND BE SURE OF THIS: I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS, EVEN TO THE END OF THE AGE.”

32. MATTHEW 5:11-12 11 “GOD BLESSES YOU WHEN PEOPLE MOCK YOU AND PERSECUTE YOU AND LIE ABOUT YOU AND SAY ALL SORTS OF EVIL THINGS AGAINST YOU BECAUSE YOU ARE MY FOLLOWERS. 12 BE HAPPY ABOUT IT! BE VERY GLAD! FOR A GREAT REWARD AWAITS YOU IN HEAVEN. AND REMEMBER, THE ANCIENT PROPHETS WERE PERSECUTED IN THE SAME WAY.

33. KEY: YOU WILL NEVER FIND HAPPINESS UNTIL THE CAUSE OF CHRIST BECOMES MORE IMPORTANT THAN YOUR OWN CAUSE.

34. INSPIRED LIVING DIFFERENTLY