The Beatitudes, found in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, outline eight characteristics of a blessed life in God’s kingdom. These qualities include being poor in spirit, mourning over sin, showing meekness, hungering for righteousness, extending mercy, maintaining purity of heart, making peace, and enduring persecution. Rather than being requirements to earn God’s favor, these characteristics naturally emerge in those who have already received God’s grace through faith. They represent a spiritual progression from recognizing our need for God to actively participating in His kingdom work.
Discussion Questions:
- What does it mean to be ‘poor in spirit’ and why is this the first Beatitude?
- How does mourning over our own sin change how we view and relate to others?
- What’s the difference between meekness and weakness? How does the imagery of a bridled horse help explain this?
- What does it look like to hunger and thirst for righteousness in practical terms?
- How does receiving God’s mercy enable and motivate us to show mercy to others?
- What’s the connection between purity of heart and our ability to ‘see God’?
- What does it mean to be a peacemaker in today’s world? How can we fulfill this calling?
- Why should Christians expect persecution and how should we respond to it?