LIFESTYLES OF THE POOR AND NAMELESS

Matthew 5:1-5

THE DISCIPLE’S HANDBOOKStudies in the Sermon on the Mount

15%

30%

55%

1. Why do you think God allows bad things to happen to Christians?

To make us feel helplessTo punish us for sins we've committedTo warn us about how bad things can become if we engage in sinBecause those bad things are the very best things that can happen to us

THE DISCIPLE’S HANDBOOK

Disciple’s Character

Code

Worship Economy

Relationships

Choices

THE KINGDOM OF GODPhilippians 3:20 … our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ

The “Kingdom of God” in the Bible

Moses David Jesus

G.K. Chesterton:

“On the first reading of the Sermon on the Mount you feel that it turns everything upside down, but the second time you read it, you discover that it turns everything right side up. The first time you read it, you feel that it is impossible, but the second time you feel that nothing else is possible.”

Matthew 5:1-2

Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to

him, 2 and he began to teach them

What is a disciple?

Apprentice

Student

Follower

Learner

THE DISCIPLE’S CHARACTERMatthew 5:1-16

4% 4%

20%

72%

2. What do you think is the best description of the "blessed" people in Matthew 5:1-5?

The best and brightest peopleThe most beautiful peopleThe strongest and bravest peopleThe world's outcasts

THE DISCIPLE’S CHARACTERLifestyles of the Poor and Nameless (5:1-5)

With Liberty and Justice for Me (5:6-8)

Peace Without Honor (5:9-12)

Oh, My Goodness! (5:13)

Now You See Me (5:14-16)

LIFESTYLES OF THE POOR & NAMELESSThe Disciple’s Three Great Needs

BLESSED ARE …

100%

3. When Jesus said "Blessed are the poor in spirit," to whom was he referring?

Beggars on the street cornersThose who don't have enough money to surviveThose who can't find workThose who feel they have no inherent goodness to offer to God

BLESSED ARE …The Spiritually Bankrupt

Blessed are …• Matthew 5:3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for

theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Spiritually Bankrupt

• Matthew 5:4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.Deeply Dismayed

• Matthew 5:5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.Totally Inadequate

Luke 18:10-12 "Two men went up to the temple to pray,

one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men--robbers,

evildoers, adulterers--or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a

tenth of all I get.'

Luke 18:13

"But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even

look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God,

have mercy on me, a sinner.'

Luke 18:14

"I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home

justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will

be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

Philippians 3:4-8

... If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness,

faultless. 7 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider

everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ

Blessed are …• Matthew 5:3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for

theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Spiritually Bankrupt

• Matthew 5:4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.Deeply Dismayed

• Matthew 5:5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.Totally Inadequate

BLESSED ARE …The Deeply Dismayed

Blessed are …• Matthew 5:3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for

theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Spiritually Bankrupt

• Matthew 5:4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.Deeply Dismayed

• Matthew 5:5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.Totally Inadequate

6%3%

20%

71%

4. When Jesus said "Blessed are those who mourn," to whom was he referring?

Because of bad things that have happened to themBecause of the terrible shape the world is inBecause of the awful plight of people who suffer here and in other countriesBecause they, themselves, are not what they ought to be

Happy are the Sad?!!!

Blessed are

those who

MOURN!

Blessed are

those who

MOAN!NOT

BLESSED ARE …The Totally Inadequate

97%

3%

5. How would you describe yourself?

A "can-do" person who is resourceful and self-confi-dent as you face just about any challengeA "no-can-do" person who feels totally inadequate to meet most challenges and who expects to fail

Blessed are …• Matthew 5:3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for

theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Spiritually Bankrupt

• Matthew 5:4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.Deeply Dismayed

• Matthew 5:5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.Totally Inadequate

1 Corinthians 1:26-29

Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things--and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him.

Matthew 18:3

“Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

Blessed are …• Matthew 5:3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for

theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Spiritually Bankrupt

• Matthew 5:4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.Deeply Dismayed

• Matthew 5:5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.Totally Inadequate

CONGRATULATIONS!The kingdom of heaven is yours!