Matthew 5:1-12A
Lead in: In the Beatitudes, Jesus turns conventional wisdom on its head. While the world clamors for power, prestige and status, Jesus tells us that true freedom comes when we humbly let go of our need for anything that elevates us to higher status in the eyes of the world.
Prompt: Where in your life does the drive for power, prestige and status show itself in the way you show up in the world?
Prompt: Life has a way of humbling us. Can you think of a time when life humbled you, but you came out a better person because of it?
Lead in: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Or, as the Message
Translation puts it, “You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you, there is more of God to work in your life.”
Prompt: When you were at the end of your rope, and with less of you, were you able to make more room for God?
Lead in: “Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.” Said another way, “Blessed are you when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One who is most dear to you.”
Prompt: When you experienced a deep loss, how were you able to work your way through that loss?
Lead in: “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land.” Said another way, “You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are—no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourself the proud owner of everything that can’t be bought.”
Prompt: Think about your life from your growing up years to where you are today. The struggle to be content with “just who you are, no more, no less” is a journey with many stops and starts.
Prompt: Based on how you’re feeling these days, on a scale of one to ten with ten being high on
contentment, what number would you give yourself?
Prompt: Reflect on a time when you were less content with yourself. What helped you come to greater contentment?
Lead in: “Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.” Said another way, “Blessed are you when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. His food and drink are the best meal you’ll ever eat.”
Prompt: As you think about your life, was there anything in particular that awakened a hunger for God in you?