The Bridge Church
Happiness According to Jesus - The Pure
August 25, 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."
"happy, privileged, favored by God, fulfilled."
Pure (Greek - katharos) - clean, unstained, undivided.
Heart (Greek - kardia) - the heart is the core of who you are.
Heart (Greek - kardia) - the heart is the core of who you are.
How do I become pure in heart?
1. Receive a pure heart through Christ
1. Receive a pure heart through Christ
How do I become pure in heart?
2. Guard your heart
2. Guard your heart
How do I become pure in heart?
3. Live purely for God's glory
3. Live purely for God's glory
"Purity of heart is to will one thing."
- Soren Kierkegaard
- Soren Kierkegaard
"For the eyes of the LORD roam throughout the earth to show himself strong for those who are wholeheartedly devoted to him…"
2 Chronicles 16:9a
2 Chronicles 16:9a
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. Read Matthew 5:1-7. Of the first five beatitudes we’ve looked at in this series, which one has resonated with you the most? Why?
2. Discuss the order of the beatitudes so far. Why does Jesus order them in this way?
3. True or false – our world is concerned with outward appearances. Discuss and provide examples.
4. Read Matthew 5:8. What does it mean to be pure in heart? Define pure. Define heart.
5. Read Proverbs 27:19 and Jeremiah 17:9. How is this definition of “heart” different from others you might experience in our world and culture?
6. Read Jeremiah 17:9. Discuss how this is evident in the world around us.
7. We seem to think of purity as actions, but Jesus is talking about our hearts. Why do you think we associate purity with actions?
8. Read Matthew 23:25-26. Why does God desire inward heart change over the outward?
9. Read Romans 10:9. How are we declared righteous and pure? Describe how this happens.
10. Read 1 Corinthians 6:11. Describe what washed, sanctified, and justified mean in this passage.
11. Have you ever seen a heavy-duty vault or safe? Describe what makes it so secure.
12. Read Proverbs 4:23. Where will an unguarded heart lead a person? Describe a time when you’ve seen an unguarded heart lead a person down a wrong path.
13. Read Proverbs 3:5-6. How is this different than “following your heart”? What does our culture say about following our heart vs. guarding our heart?
14. Read 2 Corinthians 16:9a. What does it look like to be wholeheartedly devoted to God? How is a pure heart also an undivided heart?
15. Describe a person who displays living purely for God’s glory. What characteristics display this?
16. How is perfectionism vastly different that living purely? How are we able to live purely?
17. What part does repentance and confession play in having a pure heart?
18. Read James 4:8. What does it look like to be double minded? How about single minded?
19. When we sense that our heart is divided and/or distracted, what helps us return to a God focused heart?
20. Discuss how, when our spiritual heart is right with God, we see God working in our life. How do we view people, creation, the Bible, and our celebrations as well as our challenges?
21. Read 1 John 3:2-3. What promise is found in this passage?
22. How did Jesus exemplify this beatitude while living on this earth?
23. How can we daily live out this beatitude in order for God to receive all the glory?
Live It Out:
How do we become pure in heart?
1. Receive a pure heart through Christ. Every human being is born with the same need – we need help with a sin problem. Through faith in Christ, we are declared righteous and pure through Him. If you are not a yet a follower of Jesus, begin a relationship with Him today! Read Romans 10:9 and use it to guide you as you talk and share your heart with God. If you make the decision to follow Christ, we’d love to know about it!
2. Guard your heart. When you think about the state of your heart, how would you describe it? Is it pure? Is it holy? Consider the following “heart” questions: What do you think about when your mind slips into neutral? How much sympathy does your heart have towards immorality or impurity? What do you want more than anything else? Instead of following your heart, guard your heart. This week, as you read and listen to the world around you, run it through the filter of – is this wise? Helpful? Righteous? Pray to God, asking for wisdom and discernment in the areas you need to guard your heart the most.
3. Live purely for God’s glory. A pure heart is an undivided heart. God is looking to use people who are wholeheartedly devoted on Him. This week, and beyond, be consumed with one thing – a focus upon God and His glory. Focus on all the ways you see God working in and through your life. Write them down, pray and thank Him for them, and let your heart reflect to others that you live for God alone!
1. Read Matthew 5:1-7. Of the first five beatitudes we’ve looked at in this series, which one has resonated with you the most? Why?
2. Discuss the order of the beatitudes so far. Why does Jesus order them in this way?
3. True or false – our world is concerned with outward appearances. Discuss and provide examples.
4. Read Matthew 5:8. What does it mean to be pure in heart? Define pure. Define heart.
5. Read Proverbs 27:19 and Jeremiah 17:9. How is this definition of “heart” different from others you might experience in our world and culture?
6. Read Jeremiah 17:9. Discuss how this is evident in the world around us.
7. We seem to think of purity as actions, but Jesus is talking about our hearts. Why do you think we associate purity with actions?
8. Read Matthew 23:25-26. Why does God desire inward heart change over the outward?
9. Read Romans 10:9. How are we declared righteous and pure? Describe how this happens.
10. Read 1 Corinthians 6:11. Describe what washed, sanctified, and justified mean in this passage.
11. Have you ever seen a heavy-duty vault or safe? Describe what makes it so secure.
12. Read Proverbs 4:23. Where will an unguarded heart lead a person? Describe a time when you’ve seen an unguarded heart lead a person down a wrong path.
13. Read Proverbs 3:5-6. How is this different than “following your heart”? What does our culture say about following our heart vs. guarding our heart?
14. Read 2 Corinthians 16:9a. What does it look like to be wholeheartedly devoted to God? How is a pure heart also an undivided heart?
15. Describe a person who displays living purely for God’s glory. What characteristics display this?
16. How is perfectionism vastly different that living purely? How are we able to live purely?
17. What part does repentance and confession play in having a pure heart?
18. Read James 4:8. What does it look like to be double minded? How about single minded?
19. When we sense that our heart is divided and/or distracted, what helps us return to a God focused heart?
20. Discuss how, when our spiritual heart is right with God, we see God working in our life. How do we view people, creation, the Bible, and our celebrations as well as our challenges?
21. Read 1 John 3:2-3. What promise is found in this passage?
22. How did Jesus exemplify this beatitude while living on this earth?
23. How can we daily live out this beatitude in order for God to receive all the glory?
Live It Out:
How do we become pure in heart?
1. Receive a pure heart through Christ. Every human being is born with the same need – we need help with a sin problem. Through faith in Christ, we are declared righteous and pure through Him. If you are not a yet a follower of Jesus, begin a relationship with Him today! Read Romans 10:9 and use it to guide you as you talk and share your heart with God. If you make the decision to follow Christ, we’d love to know about it!
2. Guard your heart. When you think about the state of your heart, how would you describe it? Is it pure? Is it holy? Consider the following “heart” questions: What do you think about when your mind slips into neutral? How much sympathy does your heart have towards immorality or impurity? What do you want more than anything else? Instead of following your heart, guard your heart. This week, as you read and listen to the world around you, run it through the filter of – is this wise? Helpful? Righteous? Pray to God, asking for wisdom and discernment in the areas you need to guard your heart the most.
3. Live purely for God’s glory. A pure heart is an undivided heart. God is looking to use people who are wholeheartedly devoted on Him. This week, and beyond, be consumed with one thing – a focus upon God and His glory. Focus on all the ways you see God working in and through your life. Write them down, pray and thank Him for them, and let your heart reflect to others that you live for God alone!
Reading Plan:
Monday: Matthew 5:3-8
Tuesday: Proverbs 27:19, Jeremiah 17:9
Wednesday: Matthew 23:25-26
Thursday: Romans 10:9, 1 Corinthians 6:11
Friday: Proverbs 4:23, Proverbs 3:5-6
Saturday: 2 Chronicles 16:9a, James 4: 8, Matthew 5:8
Monday: Matthew 5:3-8
Tuesday: Proverbs 27:19, Jeremiah 17:9
Wednesday: Matthew 23:25-26
Thursday: Romans 10:9, 1 Corinthians 6:11
Friday: Proverbs 4:23, Proverbs 3:5-6
Saturday: 2 Chronicles 16:9a, James 4: 8, Matthew 5:8