Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (5.3)

What did Jesus mean by poor in spirit? Do I have to give away my iPod now?

+Listen to Matthew 5:1-12 (Bible Experience) & read The Message version

+Write down your first thoughts.

+What are some things nonChristians might say in response?

+Why do you think it is hard to follow the beatitudes literally?

+What were you challenged by?

++The poor in spirit recognize that they have no spiritual “assets.” They know they are spiritually bankrupt. They must therefore ask for Christ to meet their spiritual needs.

+Why did Jesus preach the Beatitudes?

+Jesus delivered the famous “Sermon on the Mount” at a time when his popularity was soaring. Crowds pursued him wherever he went, obsessed with one question: Has the Messiah come at last? On this unusual occasion Jesus skipped the parables and granted his audience a full-blown “philosophy of life,” somewhat like a candidate unveiling a new political platform.

+Who was Jesus addressing?

+As the multitudes continued to flock to Jesus, He went up on a mountainside and sat down. It was the custom of rabbis (teachers) to sit as they taught. His disciples came to Him and He began to teach them. Matthew 5-7 is commonly called “the Sermon on the Mount” because Jesus delivered it on a mountain. Though the mountain’s exact location is unknown, it was undoubtedly in Galilee (Mt. 4:23) and was apparently near Capernaum on a place which was “level” (Luke 6:17). “Disciples” refers not to the Twelve, as some suggest, but to the crowds following Him.

+What is the main idea of the Beatitudes?

+The sermon showed how a person who is in right relationship with God should conduct his life.

Click on the link below and read with your small group. Then discuss and respond to the blog questions.

“Happy News For Sad People”

[Special thanks to our friends at Ignite Your Faith Magazine!]

+Blessed are the poor in spirit—blessed are the desperate—with no where else to turn, the desperate just may turn to Jesus, the only one who can offer the deliverance they long for.

+ The meaning of the word “poor” in Greek means one who has nothing and is completely empty. Was Jesus saying the economically poor are blessed? No, for there is no spirituality in poverty. It means that the poor are those who realize that they can never achieve salvation on their own and instead put their complete faith and trust in Jesus Christ.

+The poor in spirit are those who are not self-assertive, self-reliant, self-confident, self-centered, or self-sufficient. They do not boast in their God given characteristics such as their birth, their family, their nationality, their education, their physical looks, their race, their wealth, or their culture. None of that matters. The poor in spirit are those who are conscious of their sins and know in their hearts that they are completely unworthy of the grace that a most holy and loving God pours down upon them. They realize that all their righteousness is, as Isaiah said, like filthy rags before a holy God.

+Only the poor in spirit will enter into the kingdom of God. Why? Because they come to God having full knowledge of their own lostness and their own sinfulness. They readily confess that they are full of guilt and are totally unqualified to enter into the kingdom of God. The poor in spirit are the ones who have put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ.

Discuss the following questions and type you response in the “comment” section below. The user name is your adult leader’s name (ex: “Todd’s Group” or “Todd, Claire, Brian, Steve, Emily”). Be sure to add the question number (ex: “B1″)

B1+How do I easily acknowledge my needs/think of myself?

B2+Why is it a struggle to depend on God and on other people?

B3+Am I more likely to compete or cooperate? Why?

B4+How do you think that studying the Beatitudes will be challenging to you?

Today is the first time you are meeting in your small group. You will hanging out with them on Sunday nights all summer.

In your small group, you will be discussing the beatitudes and sharing ideas on the blog (when we have a “normal” youth group night). You will also be going offsite together (meet at the church first) about every third Sunday night (five total).

Your small groups needs to choose one activity that will help you learn how to “be the beatitudes”. Ex: make a connection with an elderly person (shut-in) and visit with them each time we are offsite.

You only have from 6:30-8:15 so please be careful to choose a location that is within 15 minutes of the church.

You must go to the same location all summer.

Our first offsite night is June 15th. It is a good idea to have your activity chosen by June 8th (next Sunday night).

Don’t forget to be at the church by 6:30 so you can leave on time!

How did today’s experience help you to adjust your attitude? Take a look at the video below (with your group or at home if you run out of small group time). Respond on the blog. (Use “AA” to help us know what you are talking about.)

AA1+Tell a story about how you have been spiritually “poor.”

AA2+Which category do you fit in better: pharisee or tax collector?

 

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I AM BLESSED BECAUSE IN MY LONELINESS, MY FEARS, AND MY INNER STRUGGLES, GOD HAS PROMISED ME A BEAUTIFL FUTURE. THAT PROMISE HELPS ME SEE MY STRUGGLES WITH NEW EYES.