Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them. He said: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:1-10

…I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me. John 14:31b

He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. Isaiah 53:2b-3

The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being… Hebrews 1:3a

Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him…Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him. Matthew 21:23, 31b-32

…as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, he said, “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?” Even as the words were on his lips, a voice came from heaven, “This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been taken from you. You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes. Daniel 4:29b-32

Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. 1 Corinthians 1:26-29

“...Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom...” James 2:5.

Those who trust in their riches will fall. Proverbs 11:28

To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Luke 18:9-14

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21

“And without faith, it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Hebrews 11:6

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” Matthew 4:17

Opener Questions: (choose one)

1. If you could instantly master any skill or talent, what would it be and why?

2. What’s the weirdest food combination you actually love?

Discussion Questions (use what’s helpful)

1. Which earthly power—political (status), economic (wealth), or religious (moral superiority)—hooks you most, and why is it hard to let go of?

2. What’s “poor in spirit” mean to you, and how might this differ from society’s view of strength or success?

3. Which Beatitude trips you up most, and what’s that say about your priorities?
· The poor in spirit—utterly reliant on God
· Those who mourn—longing for divine restoration
· The meek—choosing humility over dominance
· Those who hunger for righteousness—seeking God’s justice above all
· The merciful—rejecting vengeance for grace
· The pure in heart—free from manipulation
· The peacemakers—bringing reconciliation rather than conquest
· The persecuted—enduring opposition for the sake of righteousness

4. What’s one way chasing “success” blinds you to Jesus?

5. C.S. Lewis wrote, “If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world.” Can you recall a moment when you felt a longing that nothing in this life could satisfy? How did that experience shape your perspective?

6. Jesus lived a life of love and submission to God rather than earthly power. What’s one practical way you could imitate Jesus’ example in your daily routine this week?

7. The message contrasts the self-righteous Pharisee with the humble tax collector (Luke 18:9-14). Where do you see yourself on that spectrum, and what might it look like to take a step toward humility?

8. The idea of faith as “a desperate plunge into grace” is illustrated with the Charles Blondin story. What’s one area of your life where you’re hesitating to fully trust God, and what’s holding you back?

9. The message challenges the tendency to use Christianity as a tool to enhance our earthly pursuits. How have you seen this tendency in your own faith journey?

10. What’s one “foundation” (e.g., status, wealth, moral superiority) you’re tempted to rely on, and how could you begin to reorient your life toward Jesus instead?