Matthew 5:1-5 (ESV)

1 Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”

Intro: What do you learn about an establishment by its entrance?

AUTHORITY & BLESSING
What does it mean to be blessed under God and His good design?

WHY POVERTY, GRIEF & HUMILITY
Because of our sin, how is everything out of sorts?

THE UPSIDE-DOWN KINGDOM
By His grace, how is this offer from Jesus actually hopeful?

YOU CAN PRAY WITH US …
1 - Worship the LORD, who is Blessed forever, in all of His goodness. Praise Him, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, that He is the source and giver of all good things, and that our ultimate privilege is to find our joy in Him.

2 - How have you lived as if Jesus’ assessment of goodness and blessedness is wrong, especially where He ties it to suffering? Confess your pride and unbelief to Jesus, asking Him to forgive you and to change your heart.

3 - Give thanks to Jesus for His gracious work to meet us in our poverty and grief. Thank Him for humbling Himself under our guilt and shame, to redeem us from the curse of God’s Law that we could be blessed in Him.

4 - Who do you know that is seeking to flourish but in all the wrong ways, apart from Jesus? Pray for them, asking the Lord to open their eyes to their folly, and to persuade them of His goodness and grace.

5 - Ask the Holy Spirit to bear in you His fruit of love, joy and goodness. Pray for the Spirit’s help in trusting that in Christ Jesus, He is working all things together for our good, even our hardships and failures.