Jesus Unfiltered

Small Group Curriculum for week of 9/27

Week Two: The Beatitudes

This past Sunday we heard that the Beatitudes (from Latin beatus, meaning "blessed" or "happy") are blessings from Jesus recorded in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew and the Sermon on the Plain in Luke. The blessings in Luke refer to external situations while those in Matthew refer more to spiritual or moral qualities.

Last week we talked about the Kingdom of (God) Heaven. Jesus said in Luke 17:21“…the kingdom of God is within you.” Paul said, “God's Way is not a matter of mere talk; it's an empowered life.” (I Corinthians 4:20 Message)

In other words we need to be empowered to walk out the Beatitudes.

Discussion Questions:

As you read as a group through Matthew 5:3-11

·        What life experiences have you had that cause one of these Beatitudes to ring true?

Matthew 5:5:6 If we are hungry and/or thirsty, we eat and drink. In the same way, we must have a hunger and thirst to live right before God (righteousness) and then we will be filled.

·        How do you increase your spiritual appetite?

·        What practices has helped you in the past?

Matthew 5:8 You're blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.

·        What can you do to put your inside world – your mind and heart- right? Hint read Philippians 4:6-9