1. The first four beatitudes focus on our needs, and on God’s blessing – our being poor at being spiritual and needing help to connect with God, our need for comfort in our mourning, our need for strength when we feel weak, our longing for justice and righteousness. Which of these needs have you felt in your own life? How have you experienced God’s blessing in your need?
2. The next three beatitudes call for an active response – to be merciful, to be pure in heart, to be a peacemaker. Where might God be calling you to be more merciful or pure, or to work for peace?
3. In what ways might StoneBridge, as a community, be called to show mercy, promote purity or work for peace?
4. The last two beatitudes warn that there may be resistance or even persecution as believers seek to live as followers of Christ? Have you experienced either, and if so when and how? What makes it hard to follow Christ today?
6. Jesus ends with a call to change the world – to bring light to the dark places and to bring out hidden goodness. How are we as a church changing lives – for our members, in our community, and in our world? Are there any new places to be salt and light?