The Beatitudes Bible study

The Beatitudes Bible studyLesson 9: Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.Matthew 5:9

Effective peacemaking provokes persecution

PERSECUTION

Jesus Life

He followed his Fathers direction every single dayJesus Life

He manifested Gods love to everyone around him.Jesus Life

He stood up against all evil and any opposition to Gods commandmentsJesus Life

He discipled his followers daily, showing them His way.Jesus Life

He was constantly prepared for worldly reactions to his actions

This Is How Love Wins from The Story sung by Steven Curtis ChapmanShow the video This is How Love Winds by Steven Curtis Chapman from The Story DVD after the previous slide.

If you do not have the DVD this can be downloaded from You Tube. See the Media Summary for Lesson 9. After you download the video it should be converted to WMV format and inserted onto this slide.Expect unjust persecution in this world

For righteousness sakeThose who refuse to renounce the scared place of God in their lives!

Proclaiming the name of Jesus!

NO MATTER WHAT!We will follow our Lord, wherever persecution leads us

In the early church, persecution was brutal and relentless

For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.Martyrs are those who live in a constant state of readiness to sacrifice their life for his cause

How do you begin your day?Where do you focus your day?How do you react to others?Is God in the middle of every moment?Righteous living like JesusBe ready to make a defense of the Gospel at any moment

WHY we are different than the world!

Lord, into Your Hands I commend my spirit and my reputation.

T. W. Hunt and Claude N. King, Mind of Christ

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord Your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9

Bishop of Smyrna

Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.Matthew 11:6

The Precipices of the PersecutedWe Are Martyrs Daily for Christ!

BE A HERO FOR CHRISTHero by KutlessInsert on the previous slide the audio file Hero by Kutless from their album Believer. This can be downloaded as a single song from Amazon, iTunes, etc.

Once you insert the file in the previous slide, go to Animations and click on the Animation Pane, then Effect Options and set the song to run for 15 (fifteen) slides.

Dont forget to delete this instructional slide or it will end one slide too early!

The Beatitude Moment for the Persecuted

Am I ready to be persecuted for Christ, whether it be daily in pieces, or all at once?

Be preoccupied for Christ and his purposes, not with the worlds perception of you.

Be prepared to plainly identify with and suffer for him in this world.

Have you thanked God for any persecution experienced today for his cause?

How is God preparing you to be more his martyr each day?

Thoughts for meditation:

Concluding prayer from Hebrews 12:1-3