1. The beatitudes
November 5th, 2017

2. Announcements Groupme Snack time Selah’s play – November 8th
Gospel Training – November 11th
Operation: Christmas Child – third week of November
Shivani

3. Discussion time!
What comes in mind when you think about today’s verse?
Matthew 5:10-12
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven
Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake
Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you

4. What does “blessed” mean?
This is our last lesson on the Beatitudes
Why has Jesus stressed so much about the ones who are blessed?

5. Matthew 5:10
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness's sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven
What does it mean by being righteous?
What other verses from the Beatitudes mentions being righteous?
Persecuted in the Greek: Dediogmenoi/Dioko
to flee, to drive away, to run swiftly in order to catch someone/something

6. Righteousness and persecution
Righteousness is the cause of persecution
There is something about the gospel that brings out the worst in those who oppose the gospel
1st John 3:13
Why do you think that the gospel brings the worst in those who oppose it?
The Christian life is not all butterflies and rainbows
Christians need to expect to be persecuted
Persecution involves the preparation and orientation of God’s will
Why?
1 John 3:13New International Version (NIV)
13 Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters,[a] if the world hates you.

7. Persecution All who desire Jesus will suffer persecution
2nd Timothy 3:12
1st Peter 4:12-14
What are some stories in the bible where others were persecuted?
1st Peter 5:10
Matthew 5:10
What other verses did we see in the Beatitudes that also ends in “For theirs is the kingdom of heaven”?
2 Timothy 3:12New International Version (NIV)
12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
1 Peter 4:12-14New International Version (NIV)
Suffering for Being a Christian
12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.13 But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you
1 Peter 5:10New International Version (NIV)
10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.
Matthew 5:10New International Version (NIV)
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,     for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

8. Matthew 5:11
Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake
Verse 10 explains the slander of persecution, and now verses 11 and 12 elaborate on it

9. revile Revile means to insult In the Greek: Oneidzo (on-i-did-zo)
To show one’s teeth, mock, caste blame, to disgrace, verbal abuse

10. Matthew 5:12
Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you
Jesus uses two words for joy: rejoice and glad
Rejoice – chairete
Rejoice, “all hail”
Glad – agalliaeo (ag-al-lee-ah-o)
Jumping for joy in celebration
When you rejoice, you went through grief by trails
We rejoice to the extent we partook in Christ sufferings
1st Peter 1:6-8
1 Peter 4:13
1 Peter 1:6-8New International Version (NIV)
6 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,
1 Peter 4:13New International Version (NIV)
13 But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.

11. Suffering A person properly oriented to God’s will in suffering
What rewards is this talking about?
Matthew 6:19-20
If the prophets expect persecution, we shouldn't be surprised if we are too
Always keep your mind set eternally
Acts 5:41
Romans 8:18
Hebrews 11:24-26
Matthew 6:19-20New International Version (NIV)
Treasures in Heaven
19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
Acts 5:41New International Version (NIV)
41 The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.
Romans 8:18New International Version (NIV)
Present Suffering and Future Glory
18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
Hebrews 11:24-26New International Version (NIV)
24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. 25 He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.

12. What have we learned throughout this semester?
Does anyone know ALL the beatitudes?
Please tell me!
No tangible prize! But the real prize is having God’s word in your heart! <3
Use it as an arsenal against the devil!!!

13. For this week Challenge Journal Question
Identify the people or things in your life who prosecute you
Pray for them and be specific! What has God laid on your heart for the ones who are against you?
This is our last Beatitude as we close for the lesson’s this semester
Reflect on what God has been teaching you throughout our times together the past several weeks
What certain attitudes you have that are in need of improvement after learning all these Beatitudes?