At City on a Hill we have just completed an amazing series on Jesus’ Beatitudes from The Sermon on the Mount in Matthew chapter 5. You can see some of the promotional material on this post. This was the first time I’ve actually slowed down to consider each one of the “Blessed are…” statements from Jesus. I was struck by the relevance of Jesus’ teaching and radical picture of what it looks like to be a member of the Kingdom of Heaven.
See below for the sermons in the series. If you only have time for 2, listen to the first and last.
And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:2-12 ESV)
Happiness Is – The Poor – Matthew 5:3 – by Pastor Guy Mason
“Jesus is introducing to you a way of life that will lead to lasting happiness and incomparable joy. Not superficial pleasure bound to our circumstances, but ‘makarios’ – a rich blessedness. This is true happiness in the fullest and deepest sense.”
Happiness Is – The Mourners – Matthew 5:4 – by Pastor Guy Mason
“There is not one who makes it through life unscathed. We all – to varying degrees – suffer misfortune, betrayal, rejection, abuse and ultimately death. Godly sorrow sees the horror. It experiences the hurt and knows the pain. It feels the anguish – and with tear-filled eyes it cries out to God for help. Mourning gives voice to the full orchestra of human emotion, which includes the brokenness of this world seen with the eyes of our own broken heart.”
Happiness Is – The Meek – Matthew 5:5 – by Pastor Dave Miers
“Meekness is a gentleness and a mildness and a subdued character, but it is not weakness. It is power under control… It is a by-product of self-emptying, of self-humiliation, of brokenness before God. It is the taming of the lion.”
Happiness Is – The Hungry – Matthew 5:6 – By pastor Guy Mason
“He has made us for himself, and so our heart is restless until it rests in thee.” – Augustine
Happiness Is – The Merciful – Matthew 5:7 – By Pastor Guy Mason
“Mercy is not icing on the cake of our Christian walk. If we claim to follow Jesus then it is fundamental that we are motivated by love and moved by empathy towards those in need – whether that is with the hand of forgiveness or the hand of compassion.”
Happiness Is – The Pure – (Matthew 5:8) – By Pastor Nick Coombs
“Jesus promises that the pure in heart will see God. Thankfully, Jesus himself makes us pure and empowers us to become who we already are in Him.”
Happiness Is – The Peacemakers – Matthew 5:9 – By Pastor Guy Mason
“Peace is not merely the absence of conflict – it is the presence of reconciliation and unity.”
Happiness Is – The Persecuted – Matthew 5:10-12 – By Pastor Guy Mason
“The beatitudes introduce to us the rich blessedness of Jesus’ kingdom. And yet what began as a quest to find our paradise in the Mediterranean has become an island with 21 men, face down and surrounded by a sea of blood.”
I also spoke at City on a Hill Geelong on “The Merciful” (MP3 link) and City on a Hill West on “The Pure” (no link).