Step Eight

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
- Matthew 5:10

3”Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.

5 Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.

6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.

7 Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.

8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.

9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.

10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
- Matthew 5:3-10

To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
- 1 Peter 2:21

Hupagrammos = a writing copy, given to beginners as an aid in learning to draw  

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
- Matthew 5:3

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
- Matthew 5:10

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Mixer

What is your favorite sweet treat?

Discuss

1.     What are 3 words to describe your week?

2.     What caused you anxiety this week?

3.     What brought you joy this week?

Self-Reflect

In this week’s episode of As Normal As Weird Can Be, Pastor Jared & Mike Foster talked about addiction.  

1.     Is there an area of your life that needs grace?

2.     Are you reaching toward something for connection?

If you would like to talk to someone, we are here for you.

Chat with us via the chat bubble in the bottom right corner.

Sermon Questions

1.     Review Matthew 5:10. Was there ever a time that you tried to do the right thing and it backfired?  Being a peacemaker will, at times, cost you something.  Describe your own experience.

2.     As Pastor Jared indicated, the bigger the problem, the more resistance we will encounter.  How can we use Jesus as our blueprint when solving big problems?

3.     Keeping in mind that the Beatitudes are not a list, but a loop that begins and ends with the promise of the kingdom of heaven, think of a time that you failed and decided to start at the beginning.  Did your perseverance pay off?

Go Deeper

My friends have always joked with me about my reaction to crying. I get really uncomfortable when someone around me cries. I want so badly to take away their hurt, but because I feel helpless, I remain stoic and get kind of awkward. I have always seen this as a fault.

It’s always troubled me that when a friend is seeking comfort, I feel like I fall short because I don’t get emotional as well. However, a close friend recently told me that she found comfort around me during difficult times.  She felt that I was the strong one and appreciated that I didn’t become a bumbling mess (her words) when she was falling apart.

Job 37: 5-6 says, “God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding. He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the rain, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’  Essentially, He’s telling the snow to just fall and the rain to rain. Although I know this verse illustrates God’s mighty power, it speaks to me in this simple way, “Just do the thing I’ve created you to do.”

We often criticize ourselves because we don’t possess an endless list of qualities we think we should have. God made me to be strong. He made me to be a friend that others find strength in. It may not be a sympathetic tear, but it certainly is a comfort that others can depend on.

Next time you find yourself being self-critical, especially towards a quality that others respect, rest in knowing that it was exactly how God made you to be.

(Jaden Duncan)

Suggestions to Serve

Good Neighbor Day | The Church at RB | Thursday, May 14 9AM-3PM

Prayer

Popcorn pray as a group.

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