1. The Ethics of Discipleship in the Sermon on the Mount The Good Life – Part 2 (Matthew 5:6-12)
Introduction

2. Makarios
…not part of a wish and not to invoke a blessing. Rather they recognise an existing state of happiness or good fortune…
(Raymond Brown in, Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes…by Kenneth E. Bailey)

3. Participation
Grace is God’s deliverance, his transforming initiative and not our human effort, high ideal, hard striving achievement. It is a gift from God that we do not deserve; it is not self-righteousness that we achieve by our own works… Stassen & Gushee… (Kingdom Ethics, p36)

4. Participation
Some have erroneously taken grace to imply passivity, disempowerment of those who receive God’s grace: if God is giving grace, it means that we are doing nothing. Dietrich Bonhoeffer calls this…Cheap Grace… Stassen & Gushee…(Kingdom Ethics, p36)

5. Participation in God’s Righteousness
Blessed are those who hunger
and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled…
(Matthew 5:6)

6. Participation in God’s Righteousness
Blessed are those who hunger and
thirst for a justice that delivers and
restores to covenant community, for
God is a God who brings such
justice… Stassen & Gushee…(Kingdom Ethics, p43)

7. Participation in God’s Mercy
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy… (Matthew 5:7)
Blessed are those, who, like God, offer compassion in action, forgiveness, healing, aid and covenant steadfastness to those in need…
I desire mercy, and not sacrifice… (Hosea 6:6)

8. Participation in God’s Purity
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God… (Matthew 5:8)
Who may ascend the hill of the LORD?
Who may stand in his holy place?
He who has clean hands and a
pure heart… (Psalm 24:3-4)

9. Participation in God’s Peacemaking
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God…
(Matthew 5:9)
Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift… (Matthew 5:23-24)

10. Participation and Persecution
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven… (Matthew 5:10)

11. Participation and Persecution
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven… (Matthew 5:10)
Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you… (Matthew 5:11)