The Sermon on the Mount: The Beatitudes

An overview

The Sermon on the Mount: The Beatitudes I love ‘em and

I hate ‘em!

The Sermon on the Mount: The Beatitudes

Like the extraction

of a rotten tooth

The Sermon on the Mount: The Beatitudes

And yet . . .

The Sermon on the Mount: The Beatitudes

And yet . . .

Rom. 8:37; Eph 1:5

The Poor The mourners, The meek, The hungry & thirsty, The merciful, The pure, The peacemakers, The persecuted

The Poor – Heaven The mourners, The meek, The hungry & thirsty, The merciful, The pure, The peacemakers, The persecuted – Heaven

They point to three relationships:

They point to three relationships: Our relationship/view of ourselves;

They point to three relationships: Our relationship/view of ourselves;

Our relationship with God;

They point to three relationships: Our relationship/view of ourselves;

Our relationship with God; Our relationship with

others.

Consequently, the more these traits become a part of who I

am, the happier I will be with God, with self and

with others.

Memorized by the early church, part of a required catechism.

Each of the beatitudes is interrelated and interdependent.

Each of the Beatitudes reflect the character of our Savior.

3Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count

others more significant than yourselves.

4Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the

interests of others.

5Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,

6who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with

God a thing to be grasped,

7but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the

likeness of men.

8And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming

obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Phil. 2:3-8

The Beatitudes depict the ideal disciple of Christ. This is

how we all should look, think, feel.

The Beatitudes are not like the gifts of the Spirit. They are more

like the fruit of the Spirit – we are to have each attribute.

Though we are called to partner with Christ, we can’t do it alone.

Though we are called to partner with Christ, we can’t do it alone.

What? Why not?

The beatitudes are not natural to us. In fact, they are absolutely

contrary to our old nature. There is no innate desire to be poor,

meek, and merciful!

Blessed are the Poor in Spirit

Blessed are the Poor in Spirit Vs.

The American ideal of the “self-made man.”

The American view that “success” can be counted, measured,

weighed, photographed and featured on my Facebook page.

American individualism Vs.

The Eastern view that the group’s welfare is more important than

the individual.

The Eastern view that learning contentment with what you have .

They are the men who, in a world of schools, academies, colleges and other

institutions of learning, are often compelled by unfriendly circumstances to

acquire their education elsewhere and, amidst unfavorable conditions, to hew out for themselves a way to success, and thus

to become the architects of their own good fortunes. Frederick Douglas

Blessed are the Poor in Spirit

Who am I, O LORD God, and what is my house, that you have brought

me thus far? 1 Chron. 17:16

Blessed are the Poor in Spirit

Depart from me for I am a sinful man O Lord. Luke5:8

Blessed are the Poor in Spirit

God, have mercy on me, a sinner. Luke 18:13

Blessed are the Poor in Spirit

I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one

of your hired servants. Luke 15:19

To be “poor in spirit” means that realizes that despite all his God-

given gifts, talents, and treasures, he can accomplish nothing of eternal value or worth on his

own. Only with God . . .

Without poverty of spirit,