Small Group Questions - Blessed: I Want to See God!

Read:

God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God. —Matthew 5:8

Ask:

1.) What comes to mind when you think of a “pure heart?”

Scripture often uses the phrase “pure heart” to mean moral cleanness. The Kingdom servant has a heart that is driven to live a holy life. Purity of heart is not manufactured by the believer but is granted by the God of mercy to those who mourn their spiritual bankruptcy and who seek His righteousness. God removes our desires for sin and instead empowers believers to grow out of impurities and into holiness. —Commentary Note

Read:

I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. ⁸ Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ ⁹ and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness (purity) through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous (pure) through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith. ¹⁰ I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, ¹¹ so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead! —Philippians 3:7-11

Ask:

1.) Pastor Jeff said, “A pure heart is received from Jesus, not achieved for Jesus.” What do you see as the difference between these two things?

2.) Paul mentioned his spiritual accomplishments in Philippians 3:4-6, and then in verse 7 he called them worthless. How have you, if ever, been tempted to believe that your accomplishments were enough to be made right with God?

3.) Do you ever struggle with the idea that faith in Jesus alone is enough, or are you tempted to believe you also have to do something to earn God’s favor?

4.) What are some areas of your life that you know you have grown in purity? Examples might be language, anger, gossip, patience, etc.

The man who is quite satisfied with the name of a Christian without the life of a Christian will never see God nor anything at all until his eyes are divinely opened. —Charles Spurgeon

5.) Do you agree with Spurgeon’s statement? Why or why not?

I am first and foremost a citizen of Heaven. Not just that I will be in Heaven one day, but I live in the Kingdom of Heaven today…because the King of Heaven lives in me. —Pastor Jeff
6.) Do you believe that we are citizens of Heaven right now and foreigners of this land? What should the perspective of life be if we believe that? How should it change our thoughts, actions, attitude, priorities, etc.?

Apply:

1.) What is one thing from this message that stood out to you the most?

2.) Share an area of victory over sin in your life (past or present) that your group can celebrate.

3.) If comfortable, share an area of sin or temptation that your group can pray for. How can your group help you grow spiritually mature in this area? What steps can you take this week to start moving towards victory? (Splitting the group into men and women for this question may allow the group to feel more comfortable sharing)