Now when Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to Him, and He began to teach them.

Matthew 5.1-3

NIV:

Now when Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to Him, and He began to teach them. He said:

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

AMP:

Seeing the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and when He was seated, His disciples came to Him. Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:

Blessed (happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous - with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favour and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the poor in spirit (the humble, who rate them- selves insignificant), for theirs is the kingdom of heaven!

THE MESSAGE:

When Jesus saw His ministry drawing huge crowds, He climbed a hillside. Those who were apprenticed to Him, the committed, climbed with Him. Arriving at a quiet place, He sat down and taught His climbing companions.

This is what He said:

You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and His rule!

Week One: Be Poor to be really rich

(Continued on next page)

Scripture reading2:

Read 1 Timothy 6 from three different translations, pausing after each to ask yourselves:

(i) What am I hearing from God through His Word today?

(ii) What surprises me?

(iii) What challenges me?

(iv) What changes should I/we make in the light of this?

Then spend time sharing your reflections together.

Further Questions: (if needed/time!)

(1) Who are the poor in spirit?

(2) Is it possible to be rich in material terms and poor in spirit?

(3) Is it possible to be poor in material terms and rich in spirit?

(4) Have you known the blessing of being poor in spirit? Describe your experiences.

Week One: Be Poor to be really rich

(Continued)

Matthew 5.4

NIV:

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

AMP:

Blessed and enviably happy [with a happiness produced by the experience of God’s favour and especially con- ditioned by the revelation of His matchless grace] are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted!

THE MESSAGE:

You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.

2: Be Comforted

Scripture reading2:

Read Psalm 119:63-72 from three different translations, pausing after each to ask yourselves:

(i) What am I hearing from God through His Word today?

(ii) What surprises me?

(iii) What challenges me?

(iv) What changes should I/we make in the light of this?

Then spend time sharing your reflections together.

Further Questions: (if needed/time!)

(1) Who are the mourners that Jesus has in mind?

(2) What kind of comfort does God promise us?

(3) In Psalm 119:63-72, the Psalmist can see the “goodness” of blessing of his affliction - what blessing do you think there is for those who mourn?

(4) Have you known the blessing of being comforted in mourning? Share your experiences.

Matthew 5.5

NIV:

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

AMP:

Blessed (happy, blithesome, joyous, spiritually prosperous—with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favour and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the meek (the mild, patient, long-suffering), for they shall inherit the earth!

THE MESSAGE:

You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are—no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought.

3: Be Meek

Scripture reading2:

Read Phil 2.1-11 from three different translations, pausing after each to ask yourselves:

(i) What am I hearing from God through His Word today?

(ii) What surprises me?

(iii) What challenges me?

(iv) What changes should I/we make in the light of this?

Then spend time sharing your reflections together.

Further Questions: (if needed/time!)

(1) What is meekness?

(2) Why might meekness lead to inheritance in God’s Kingdom?

(3) In Phil 2.1-11, we see meekness and majesty in Jesus - is meekness a character trait or a choice?

(4) Have you known anyone truly meek? Share your experiences.

Matthew 5.6

NIV:

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

AMP:

Blessed and fortunate and happy and spiritually prosperous (in that state in which the born-again child of God enjoys His favour and salvation) are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God), for they shall be completely satisfied!

THE MESSAGE:

You’re blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat.

4: Be Hungry

Scripture reading2:

Read Psalm 63 from three different translations, pausing after each to ask yourselves:

(i) What am I hearing from God through His Word today?

(ii) What surprises me?

(iii) What challenges me?

(iv) What changes should I/we make in the light of this?

Then spend time sharing your reflections together.

Further Questions: (if needed/time!)

(1) What is righteousness?

(2) What does it mean to hunger and thirst for it?

(3) When have you felt most spiritually hungry? Was there a blessing in the hunger?

(4) Describe times when we have been “filled” spiritually - share your experiences.

Matthew 5.7

NIV:

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

AMP:

Blessed (happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous—with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favour and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy!

THE MESSAGE:

You’re blessed when you care. At the moment of being ‘care-full,’ you find yourselves cared for.

5: Be Free

Scripture reading2:

Read Luke 6:27-42 from three different translations, pausing after each to ask yourselves:

(i) What am I hearing from God through His Word today?

(ii) What surprises me?

(iii) What challenges me?

(iv) What changes should I/we make in the light of this?

Then spend time sharing your reflections together.

Further Questions: (if needed/time!)

(1) What is mercy? What does it mean to be merciful?

(2) Why is mercy so hard?

(3) What is justice? How do justice and mercy work together?

(4) Read: Colossians 3.13 - How does the experience of being forgive help us in forgiving others?

(5) If you feel able to, describe times when we have been forgiven and/or forgiving - share your experiences.

Matthew 5.8

NIV:

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

AMP:

Blessed (happy, enviably fortunate, and spiritually prosperous—possessing the happiness produced by the experience of God’s favour and especially conditioned by the revelation of His grace, regardless of their out- ward conditions) are the pure in heart, for they shall see God!

THE MESSAGE:

You’re blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.

6: Be Pure

Scripture reading2:

Read 1 John 4.7-21 from three different translations, pausing after each to ask yourselves:

(i) What am I hearing from God through His Word today?

(ii) What surprises me?

(iii) What challenges me?

(iv) What changes should I/we make in the light of this?

Then spend time sharing your reflections together.

Further Questions: (if needed/time!)

(1) What does heart purity look like?

(2) Why does purity allow us to see God?

(3) In what places/ways does this purity allow us clearer vision of God?