Real Life

“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.” (Matthew 5:1-2)

Introduction to the Sermon on the Mount

• Matthew’s Gospel organized around 5 discourses
  • 1. Matthew 5-7
  • 2. Matthew 10
  • 3. Matthew 13
  • 4. Matthew 18
  • 5. Matthew 24-25
• The disciples as the focus, but the crowd listening
• The Sermon on the Mount as the Discipleship Handbook for living in God’s kingdom

The Beatitudes and What it Means to be “Blessed”

• The meaning of μακάριος – blessed, happy, it will go well with, fortunate, flourishing
• The flourishing life in the kingdom of heaven
• The unexpected

Exploring the Beatitudes

• Exploring them one at a time
• Seeing the “two tables” of the Beatitudes

Living the Good Life in God’s Kingdom

• Knowing and following Jesus
• Responding to Jesus’ invitation to enter God’s kingdom
• Considering what it means to be blessed or to flourish
• Living with God now in light of the end

1. Answer one of these questions to begin:
   1. What do you think happiness is all about in life?
   2. How would you define the good life?
2. This week we begin a new series, “Becoming Real,” from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7. We begin by exploring Matthew 5:1-12, traditionally known as the Beatitudes. Begin your study in prayer, asking God to speak to you through His Word, and then, whether you are alone or with a group, read that text aloud.
3. From what you read in verses 1-2, who is the main audience of this teaching and who is “listening in”? Does this tell you anything about the purpose of Jesus’ teaching?
4. When Jesus “sat down,” He takes the position of authoritative teaching by a scribe or rabbi. What does this communicate about who Jesus is?
5. The collection of sayings in verses 3-12 have a repetitive pattern that makes them memorable, organized around the word “blessed” (Gk: μακάριος/makarios), which means blessed, happy, or fortunate. Given that this passage begins and ends with an emphasis on “theirs is the kingdom of heaven,” what do you think Jesus is trying to say about the “blessed” life?
6. Go through each of the beatitudes and summarize in your own words what you think the basic meaning of each is.
7. Which of these statements speaks most deeply to you right now? Why?
8. Which of these statements highlights an area of your life where you might need to grow most with God?
9. Verses 11-12 augment verse 10. Why do you think Jesus emphasizes persecution amidst the blessed life in God’s kingdom?
10. What is one thing God is speaking to you through this study of the Beatitudes? If you’re on your own, write that down and pray over that this week. If you are with a small group, share your answers with one another before closing in prayer.

• Consider memorizing one or all of the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:3-12.
• Read and meditate upon the Beatitudes one per day on your own or with a friend. Write down one thing you learned each day and share with another person.
• Consider watching Tim Mackie of The Bible Project discuss the Beatitudes
• Explore parallels to the Beatitudes in other parts of Scripture: o Psalm 1:1; 32:1-2; 40:4; 119:1-2; 128:1; Isaiah 61; Matthew 11:6; 13:16; 16:17; 24:45; Luke 1:45; 10:23; 11:27-28