D)
A pure heart.
Matthew
5v1-12
A Mini Sermon
‘Blessed are the pure in heart for they
will see God’.
·
In Matthew 5v8
‘the pure in heart’
are those who love God with all
their heart.
·
In Deuteronomy 6v5,
Gods law is impressed on our hearts.
·
In Psalm 24v3-6
we ‘see God’
when we come with clean hands and
pure heart.
·
Of course, we will only
‘see God’ fully in heaven,
but in Hebrews 11v27,
Moses ‘saw’ God
by faith and perseverance.
·
Abundant spiritual crops
come from
good hearts and perseverance,
Luke 8v15.
·
Christ looks into our
hearts not at our outward religious rituals.
·
Are we ‘joined up’
Christians –
do our actions spring from a pure
heart?
·
What inspires us as we
seek to be disciples of Christ?
Who has
inspired you in your life?
Please don’t say Jesus – yet!
Psalm 24
could provide the basis for worship. Use this time creatively to
express your praise and devotion to God.
These
verses are called The Beatitudes. They are a series of attitudes.
Blessed can be translated, ‘happy’. There is a close connection between
holiness and happiness.
Read question 1
before Reading Matthew 5v1-12
Pause and
reflect silently before looking at the questions
Questions:
1. Which
of these Beatitudes catches your attention today? Which of the
‘second lines’ of each Beatitude is your heartfelt desire today?
 2.
The disciples and the crowd were ‘sitting with Jesus’, there was
something about Jesus that drew people to follow Him. What attracts
you to Jesus? How has He inspired you? Why were people so attracted
to his call for total commitment when it would cost so much?
3. How do
these attitudes impact on our work, family or church life? Remember
that God is interested in our whole life; wherever we are and
whatever we are doing.
Martin
Luther’s quote is a challenge to us all.
Extra Question:
In v11-12, Jesus
suggests that we can be ‘happy’, even rejoicing and glad when insulted
for following Christ. How do theses verses help?
Pray that
your inner faith may be seen this week , attractive and pointing
people to Jesus.
Challenging question:
What comes first for me; What I give or
what I am given?
The
cost:
The effort of
giving my whole life to Christ.
Do I have integrity? Am I a ‘joined up’ Christian?
My response:
Is to ‘sit with Jesus’ and listen to
what He is telling me.
You might like to
read Matthew 5v13-16 before the next meeting.
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