Today we are continuing our sermon series going through the Gospel of Matthew.

3 Observations:
1. This message is for believers
2. The Beatitudes are not pick and choose
3. This message was radically different than what was expected

The Beatitudes:
1. Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven
Matt. 5:3, Luke 18:9-14, Titus 3:5
2. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted
Matt. 5:4, 2 Cor. 7:10, Luke 18:13, 1 John 1:9
3. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth
Matt. 5:5, 2 Tim. 2:15, Rom. 12:3, Matt. 27:11-14, Acts 21:27,-22:30
4. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied
Matt. 5:6, 1 Pet. 1:16, Rom. 12:1-2
5. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy
Matt. 5:7, James 4:11-12, 5:19-20
6. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God
Matt. 5:8, Ps. 51:10, 1 Pet. 1:22, 1 John 3:3, 1 John 1:9
7. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God
Matt. 5:9, 2 Cor. 5:18, Rom. 12:17-21, 8:28
8. 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.
Matt. 5:10-12, 1 Pet. 4:15-16, James 1:2-4, 2 Tim. 3:12, Matt. 10:22, 1 Cor. 2:9

Getting Started
Have you ever read or heard about this story before?
What stood out to you as we were talking about it?
Where have you seen the Beatitudes used before?
Have you ever heard someone refer to the Beatitudes in a way that doesn’t really reflect the meaning that Jesus had when He gave the Sermon on the Mount?
If you’re going through these questions in a small group, share about any observations that you may have had about this message.


Diving In
Read Matthew 5:1-12. This week’s reflection questions are going to be a little different than normal. After reading the passage, spend some time in prayer, asking God how well you embody each one of the Beatitudes.

As you go read through the list, which one(s) of the Beatitudes stand out to you, and why?
Go through each Beatitude, and prayerfully ask God how you’re doing with each one.
As you prayed about how well you embody each one of the Beatitudes, which one would you say you do the best in? Which one do you need the most amount of work in?
How do you think embodying each one of these Beatitudes would change your life?
What practical step(s) can you take to better embody each Beatitude.

Applying the Scripture
What are your biggest takeaways from this passage of God’s Word?
What practical step(s) do you need to implement in your life to apply what God has taught you in this passage of Scripture?
How would applying this affect your life and your relationship with the Lord? Who can you ask to keep you accountable to applying this to your life?

CHURCH FAMILY NEEDS: Pray for Katy, as she recovers from her wrist surgery. Pray for Carolyn Dodd and what’s going with her thyroid. Pray for Jerry Jamrozy, who has bone cancer.

MISSIONARIES: This month pray for the Mishkins.


FAMILY OF THE WEEK: Each week we’ll pray for a different family in our church. This week pray for the Dylan.

HILLSIDE HAPPENINGS: Pray that the church would continue to stay unified under Christ. Pray for our livestream and for the people joining us there. Pray for Casa Del Alfarero, the Spanish-speaking Missionary Church 5 minutes from our building.

CURRENT HAPPENINGS: Pray for the war in Israel.Pray for the war in Ukraine.

Attendance
In-person on 1/28: 55
Online views (through 2/1): 9

Giving
Online (1/22/24-1/28/24): $270 for general
In-Person on 1/28/24: $3480 for general, $270 for missions, $500 for outreach
Total general needed weekly to meet budget: $1623

Ladies, mark your calendars for the regional denominational retreat! This year, it is happening on Saturday, March 2nd, at St. Mark Missionary Church. Please see Tammi for more details.

This is a great time to join a small group! Joining a small group is a great way to grow in your faith. There is a small group that meets on Sunday mornings, at 9:30am, and men’s and women’s groups that meet every other Tuesday evening. For more information, please see Pastor Josh.

Our Samaritan's Purse boxes all went to Mexico this year! They were shipped out at the beginning of December. Thank you to everyone who had any part in packing a shoebox. It isn't too early to start thinking about starting for this year. If you need ideas, please reach out!

If you do not receive our weekly emails, announcements, and prayer requests, please join our email list! You can do so by going to hmcworship.com/im-new

TECH: Our worship team is looking for someone who would like to run sound and/or slides. Please see Pastor Josh.

WORSHIP TEAM: Would you like to help out on the worship team? Please see Carolyn Dodd for details.

PRAYER GUIDE: Will you be in prayer for Hillside? Prayer guides are available at the welcome counter. Also, if you would like to be a prayer advocate, please see Pastor Josh.

MAINTENANCE TEAM: Would you like to help out on the maintenance team? We need help inside and outside the building. Please see Jeff Soule for details.