Posts Tagged ‘ Bible reading ’
His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence
2 Peter 1:3, ESV
God expects perfection. Thankfully, He has sent the Holy Spirit to fill in all of the many places we fall short as He clothes us in His Son, the only Perfect One.
I have started a small group series on Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). I am sharing my notes in case anyone else wants to use them with their group.
Matthew 5:1-2:
Jesus wants to teach the crowds: Who are they? Jewish disciples: People who understand the
Scriptures (at least to a point). Notice from 7:28 the crowds still came along, but this teaching is for His disciples.
What does “blessed” mean? How do you understand it?
The word “blessed” appears 306 times in the ESV Bible (in 288 verses; 302x in 287 vv. in KJV)
Happy (definitely deeper than this), Revered, Content, Worshiped, Made holy, Fortunate, Well-off
Matthew 5:3-6
We see the coming of repentance: people who know their wretchedness (poor in spirit), lament their sin (those who mourn), and realize their need to someone to save them (meek).
Matthew 5:6-9:
• v. 6: Hunger and thirst for righteousness = Seeking out God’s strength and righteousness as only
found in and through Christ by the power of the Spirit.
• Psalm 42:1-6a; 2 Timothy 2:20-21
• v. 7: Mercy = not giving what is deserved. Merciful people withhold anger and refuse to retaliate
when wronged.
• Luke 6:36; Proverbs 19:17; 2 Timothy 1:16; Hebrews 6:10
• v. 8: Pure in heart = cleansed of sin and looking on this world as if through God’s eyes. The pure do
not see others as objects (thus, not to be lusted after or “discarded” based on shifting desires nor to
break promises flippantly. Love overflows.
• Psalm 24:3-6; 2 Timothy 2:20-22; James 4:7-10; Titus 2:11-14
• v. 9: Peacemakers = foster order, love, and compassion around them.
• (2 Timothy 2:22-26; Matthew 10:34-36) James 3:13-18
What does it look like to live out this blessing?
We see salvation. We come to faith in Christ. We also become voracious consumers and seekers of God’s Word and
presence. (Bible reading, sermons, Bible studies, Prayer)
We also become ambassadors of Christ.
• 2 Corinthians 5:1-6:1
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
Romans 1:16, ESV
It is one thing to be shy, but to deny the truth of the Gospel is to deny the God who loves us enough to become one of us and suffer and die for us.
I have started a small group series on Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). I am sharing my notes in case anyone else wants to use them with their group.
Matthew 5:1-2:
Jesus wants to teach the crowds: Who are they? Jewish disciples: People who understand the
Scriptures (at least to a point). Notice from 7:28 the crowds still came along, but this teaching is for His disciples.
What does “blessed” mean? How do you understand it?
The word “blessed” appears 306 times in the ESV Bible (in 288 verses; 302x in 287 vv. in KJV)
Happy (definitely deeper than this), Revered, Content, Worshiped, Made holy, Fortunate, Well-off
Matthew 5:3-12: The Beatitudes
Matthew 5:3-5
• v. 3: The Poor in spirit = those who realize their own depravity and therefore need for God.
• Jeremiah 17:9; Isaiah 61:1-2; 66:2
• v. 4: Who mourn = Mourning the sin that separates us from God.
• Psalm 51:3-5; James 4:9
• v. 5: The Meek = Meekness is realizing we can do nothing apart from God.
• Mark 10:23-27
What does it look like to live out this blessing?
We see the beginning of repentance. We find contentment in this life knowing that though we are wretched, we find peace in Christ with the hope of eternal life in the age to come.
• Isaiah 61:1-2, 66:2; 2 Corinthians 7:10 – God’s Word reveals The Word, Jesus, who came to show us
He is the Truth. The truth is we are guilty of sin, and it should make us realize our poorness and feel
shame for our sin. Therefore …
• John 16:20-24; Romans 3:10-12 – Because of our sin, we do not seek God. He helps us, and in our
meekness, we see that we need His help to be saved from our sin. Only when we trust Him do we
find our mourning turn to joy.
• Revelation 21:4 – And one glorious day, He will remove all need of mourning when He renews all
things.
• Psalm 35:9-14 – We also lament the sin of others, even when they don’t deserve our love and pity.
(Grace. And a Segway into the next few verses!)
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 1:7, ESV
We cannot know God if we do not know about who He is. We must remember first that He is a God of wrath who must punish sin, then we can know the God of grace and forgiveness.
Then we can begin to rightly understand our world and ourselves.
bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
Colossians 3:13, ESV
There are enough issues in this world. Forgive brothers and sisters in Christ, as Christ has forgiven us. (We did nothing to deserve His!)
“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33, ESV
With all that can happen in this world, we can expect persecution and problems. But out hope and strength is in Christ, who defeated the grave and the devil.
Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.
Isaiah 26:4, ESV
God has proven Himself faithful and true, as shown through the cross. We can trust Him.
Trust Him.
Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation. Selah
Psalm 68:19, ESV
This life is not our own. We cannot save ourselves, and we need God’s help each day. (Whether we realize it or not.)
Give me thankful praise.
The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.
Zephaniah 3:17, ESV
The Holy Spirit regenerates us and lead us into salvation through Jesus’ life, sacrifice, and resurrection, giving us how for eternity in His joyful presence.
a simple man of God 