1 THIS WEEK'S SCRIPTURE As we begin to unpack the

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Making Jesus Known by Living like Him A Series from the Sermon on the Mount January 3, 2021

THIS WEEK’S SCRIPTURE Context: Jesus preached on a hillside near the Sea of Galilea. He was offering his new Kingdom, which was about the heart, as opposed to the outward rules and regulations of the Pharisees. They simply wanted to control the people and placed a heavy burden of legalism on them.

As we begin to unpack the Sermon on the Mount, you’ll discover that when you live according the values of Christ’s kingdom, people will be attracted to what you have to offer. They’ll see that Jesus is all about grace. You’ll make Jesus known by living like him. Key Scripture Matthew 5:1-12: 1Seeing

the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came

to him. The Beatitudes 2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. 6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. 7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. 8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

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“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

DISCUSSION & APPLICATION 1. Jesus starts each phrase with the word “Blessed .” The term means “happy” or “fortunate.” Do you think that Jesus wants you to be happy? Why or why not? What is the difference between happiness and joy?

2. The theme of the Sermon on the Mount is the kingdom of Christ. His kingdom is entirely different than what the Pharisees were offering. They were legalists who tied people up in knots. What kind of legalism do you see in the Christian world today? Are you legalistic and unfair to yourself or others? How can you remedy that?

3. A Series f

NEXT WEEK’S TOPIC The Mission of Being Salt and Light Making Jesus Known by Living like Him Matthew 5:13-16, 17-20

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