4.1 Discussion. Blessed, Are We?
Getting Started
Imagine a beautiful day in the mountains. You have heard His name and your small town has been talking about this man named Jesus for a long time. Someone whispers that He and His disciples are coming to the area this very week. You gather your family and you all set out. You see Him and think, “Hmm… He doesn’t look like anything special. What’s all the fuss about? He looks ‘normal’ enough. Oh, and there’s Matthew. I haven’t heard great things about him. Well, let’s just hear what this man Jesus has to say…”
You watch as Jesus takes His place at the center, among His disciples. They are gathered around Him, hanging on His every word. You hear Jesus begin to speak to them, to teach them, to astonish them: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”
Wait a minute! What does He mean that we are blessed if we are “poor”? How in the world could the Kingdom of Heaven belong to those who are poor, let alone poor in spirit? Moreover, how can anyone feel blessed when mourning? Even if we are comforted, we can never be comforted to the point of being “blessed” while grieving, can we?
Upon successful completion of this discussion, you will be able to:
· Identify three things that are different about Jesus’ teachings and what the world teaches us about happiness/blessedness.
· Share your perspective on the first two “blessings” in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount.
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Resources
· Bible
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Background Information
In Matthew, Chapter 5, Jesus begins to preach to us. He tells us that He has come to bless us! His message is of the Kingdom of Heaven. He shares that this Kingdom is “near,” but what does this mean? Does this mean that it is approaching? Does this mean that it is close by in proximity? Does this mean that it is so close, so near, that it is within us?
Jesus outlines the many blessings and those who are blessed by them. In His message, He gives us the pathways and doorways to His Kingdom. Most of us misunderstand, and thus miss His message altogether. What is He trying to tell us?
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Instructions
1. Read the devotional, “Blessed, Are We?” on this page.
2. Navigate to the threaded discussion below and respond to the following:
a. Identify three things that are different about Jesus’ teachings and what the world teaches us about happiness/blessedness.
b. Share your perspective on the first two “blessings” in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount.
3. Your postings should also:
a. Be well developed by providing clear answers with evidence of critical thinking.
b. Add greater depth to the discussion by introducing new ideas.
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