The Bridge Church
Happiness According to Jesus - The Poor and Mourning
August 4, 2024
Locations & Times
Englewood SKY Academy
871 S River Rd, Englewood, FL 34223, USA
Sunday 9:00 AM
Sunday 10:30 AM
Blessed (Greek: Makarios) - happy, privileged, favored by God, fulfilled
The beatitudes are the attributes that are evident in the life of true Christ-followers.
1. Happy are those who recognize their spiritual poverty
Ptochos: extreme poverty, even begging
"Poverty of Spirit, then, is the personal acknowledgement of spiritual bankruptcy." D.A. Carson
2. Happy are those who mourn, for they will receive God's comfort.
Mourn (pentheo) - to express deep sorrow or grief
"The holier a man becomes, the more he mourns over the unholiness which remains in him." Charles Spurgeon
MY NEXT STEP TODAY IS:
I need to receive Jesus Christ as my personal Savior for the first time.
https://thebridgevenice.churchcenter.com/people/forms/500390
I need to be baptized.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/baptism
I need to attend Starting Point.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/starting-point
I need to join a serve team.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/serve
I need to join a small group.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/bridge-groups
I need to receive Jesus Christ as my personal Savior for the first time.
https://thebridgevenice.churchcenter.com/people/forms/500390
I need to be baptized.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/baptism
I need to attend Starting Point.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/starting-point
I need to join a serve team.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/serve
I need to join a small group.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/bridge-groups
Dig Deeper:
1. Are there different definitions of the word “happiness”? Do synonyms of this word vary in providing the same definition? If so, why is happiness a challenging word to summarize?
2. Blessed, or happy, comes from the Greek word Makarios, which means “happy, privileged, favored by God, fulfilled. How might this definition be different from those discussed from question one?
3. Who is searching for happiness? Why?
4. Read Matthew 4:24-25. Describe what is happening in the passage. What is Jesus experiencing? What are his disciples experiencing?
5. Read Matthew 5:1-2. Why do you think Jesus makes a conscious decision to “teach” at this moment?
6. Describe a time when an experience allowed you to share (or teach) a new idea or discovery as a result of it.
7. What are the beatitudes? Why do they all begin with “blessed are”?
8. How are the beatitudes similar to the Ten Commandments? How are they different?
9. What does it mean to be “blessed”?
10. Read Matthew 5:3. What does it mean to be “poor in spirit”? What does it not mean?
11. For someone who is “poor in spirit,” describe that person’s view of God. Then, describe that person’s view of themselves.
12. Do you know someone you would describe as “poor in spirit”? What is it like to be in their company? How are they viewed by others?
13. Does our culture value being poor in spirit? Provide examples.
14. Why do you think this is the first beatitude Jesus shares? Are we “poor in spirit” just once or ongoing?
15. Read Luke 18:10-14. Who in this passage is poor in spirit? How about rich in spirit? Provide examples.
16. How is religious performance different than a relationship with Jesus?
17. Read Matthew 5:4. How can mourning and happiness be in the same sentence? Does this mean we should always be in a state of mourning? If not, what does it mean?
18. Think of a time when you were in a state of heartfelt, deep grief. Were you comforted during that time? How?
19. Read 2 Corinthians 7:10. When we are led away by sin, what does repentance bring? How is happiness involved this process?
20. Read Psalm 34:10. What is the difference between mourning with hope and mourning without hope?
21. Which of the two beatitudes do you connect with the most today? Why?
22. What is one way in which you can receive the blessings that God has promised through these two beatitudes?
Live It Out:
This week, memorize these two beatitudes and reflect on them.
1. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. Do you recognize your own spiritual poverty? Is being “poor in spirit” a desire of your heart? Self-sufficiency is the enemy of spiritual growth in the kingdom of God. We must admit and depend only on the grace of God for salvation and spiritual growth. Through time with God this week, admit to Him any way you have been living “rich in spirit.” Then, ask Him to turn your focus to dependence only on His grace. Praise Him for who He is and for what He promises!
2. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. If you are mourning, know that you will receive God’s comfort. Is there is any sin in your life that you need to “mourn” and turn over to God? If so, share it with Him. When we come to Jesus to mourn over sin and loss, we experience His comfort. Throughout the week, write down how you have seen God comfort you through your experience of mourning. Keep this list nearby when you doubt or don’t understand why circumstances in life are oftentimes difficult. Turn to God regularly as you mourn so that you can experience His comfort.
1. Are there different definitions of the word “happiness”? Do synonyms of this word vary in providing the same definition? If so, why is happiness a challenging word to summarize?
2. Blessed, or happy, comes from the Greek word Makarios, which means “happy, privileged, favored by God, fulfilled. How might this definition be different from those discussed from question one?
3. Who is searching for happiness? Why?
4. Read Matthew 4:24-25. Describe what is happening in the passage. What is Jesus experiencing? What are his disciples experiencing?
5. Read Matthew 5:1-2. Why do you think Jesus makes a conscious decision to “teach” at this moment?
6. Describe a time when an experience allowed you to share (or teach) a new idea or discovery as a result of it.
7. What are the beatitudes? Why do they all begin with “blessed are”?
8. How are the beatitudes similar to the Ten Commandments? How are they different?
9. What does it mean to be “blessed”?
10. Read Matthew 5:3. What does it mean to be “poor in spirit”? What does it not mean?
11. For someone who is “poor in spirit,” describe that person’s view of God. Then, describe that person’s view of themselves.
12. Do you know someone you would describe as “poor in spirit”? What is it like to be in their company? How are they viewed by others?
13. Does our culture value being poor in spirit? Provide examples.
14. Why do you think this is the first beatitude Jesus shares? Are we “poor in spirit” just once or ongoing?
15. Read Luke 18:10-14. Who in this passage is poor in spirit? How about rich in spirit? Provide examples.
16. How is religious performance different than a relationship with Jesus?
17. Read Matthew 5:4. How can mourning and happiness be in the same sentence? Does this mean we should always be in a state of mourning? If not, what does it mean?
18. Think of a time when you were in a state of heartfelt, deep grief. Were you comforted during that time? How?
19. Read 2 Corinthians 7:10. When we are led away by sin, what does repentance bring? How is happiness involved this process?
20. Read Psalm 34:10. What is the difference between mourning with hope and mourning without hope?
21. Which of the two beatitudes do you connect with the most today? Why?
22. What is one way in which you can receive the blessings that God has promised through these two beatitudes?
Live It Out:
This week, memorize these two beatitudes and reflect on them.
1. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. Do you recognize your own spiritual poverty? Is being “poor in spirit” a desire of your heart? Self-sufficiency is the enemy of spiritual growth in the kingdom of God. We must admit and depend only on the grace of God for salvation and spiritual growth. Through time with God this week, admit to Him any way you have been living “rich in spirit.” Then, ask Him to turn your focus to dependence only on His grace. Praise Him for who He is and for what He promises!
2. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. If you are mourning, know that you will receive God’s comfort. Is there is any sin in your life that you need to “mourn” and turn over to God? If so, share it with Him. When we come to Jesus to mourn over sin and loss, we experience His comfort. Throughout the week, write down how you have seen God comfort you through your experience of mourning. Keep this list nearby when you doubt or don’t understand why circumstances in life are oftentimes difficult. Turn to God regularly as you mourn so that you can experience His comfort.
Reading Plan:
Monday: Matthew 4:24-25
Tuesday: Matthew 5:1-12
Wednesday: Luke 18:10-14
Thursday: 2 Corinthians 7:10, Psalm 34:18
Friday: Isaiah 61:1-3
Saturday: Luke 15:18-20
Monday: Matthew 4:24-25
Tuesday: Matthew 5:1-12
Wednesday: Luke 18:10-14
Thursday: 2 Corinthians 7:10, Psalm 34:18
Friday: Isaiah 61:1-3
Saturday: Luke 15:18-20